I will say this about my clk's the engine never let me down, it was always something else. :)

Hmm, well I think that I will try to stay away from sports cars until I'm about 25, when I am wiser. Right now, my goal is to get a 2012 ML350 BlueTEC within two years, hopefully when I am working at the MB dealership in Anchorage so I can see how a dealership operates before I dive into my own.

Why not a G? They're made (and always have been) in Austria, not by people who breathe through their mouths except when gorging on the pink slime in fast food places.

The C Class in a nutshell from my experience:

W202:
Pros- Its a MB, Sport Package give sharp style, handling is amazing, mono wiper is great.
Cons- Small, not the most comfy car to live with, interior is cheap looking and feeling, the paint quality is not good, the transmission shifts hard, the ride is stiff.

W203:
Pros- Ride quality is great, quite ride, the looks are great, the paint quality is fantastic and rich looking, more comfort then the 202, plush looking interior, AWD as a option that is amazing and will get you to a safe place in any weather, the tunk space has lots of room, the car is very, very reliable and has never let me down. The upkeep is very cheep vs my 202. I owned it for 4 years now and only did a battery and rea springs.

Cons- Well there are a couple things. Interior creeks, lots of cheaper plastics used and creeks and rattles more then any other car I have ever owned except the Infiniti Q45 and GMC Suv. The interior is very small and it is hard to fit 4 people inside with comfort. The coupes are awful.

W204:
Pros- Looks, performance and style of the inside and out. Coupes especially that look sexy. The size of it is larger then the 202,203. The handling is great as well. It car stands out where you go and people do not think it is a C Class.

Cons- Well there is the interior! Cheap, Cheap, Cheap! Squeek, rattle. Layout wise it is fine but cheap. The seats are VERY uncomfortable and find my w203 much more comfy. The drive is not too exciting. Sure you get a more power V6 in the 204 vs the 203 but it feels boring and almost like a japanese car to me.

Overall-If you must buy one... Take the W203. I find it to be the best out of all of them. 05-07 being the best and a sedan of course.If not a w203 just skip the C all togeather.

Whatever. Justifications can be thrown about however one will, but I for one will never be spending money on a Mercedes with frogandnip input anywhere for any reason. I doubt Mercedes Corporate structure will be losing any sleep over my opinion but then again I have enough trouble just trying to acquire a "real" Benz from from my rapidly receding youth to bother myself with whatever the hell they think they are now.

- Peter.

que sera sera ;)

I wouldn't mind one, I think they look awesome, but right now, I am looking for a fairly large MB that gets good fuel economy. I am thinking I'll try for a 2012 R350 BlueTEC because it gets 18city, and 24highway, and is only $3,xxx more than the ML. Of course, this will be for my wife, when I get married. I might get it before I'm married, but there is no sense, because I'll have Bonnie. I'll have sold my nasty old truck by then, no need for it. I am hoping to move to Anchorage in just over two years.

The early years of the W203 did indeed include some night mares.

I bought one of the very first that made it to the States in September 2000. It had so many electronic Gremlins that I finally gave up on it and sold it. It was a rare six speed car and was FABULOUS to drive, but had many problems. I think they solved the issues by the 2004 MY or somewhere along there.

Last time I'll be the first to buy first of a series of anything.

Yes, the drivetrain in my 2000 C Class was rock solid.