Drove a New C240 Today.
 

This ain't really a tech help question but OD is just crap now. A friend's 03 E320 is back in the shop (it's there a lot!!) and the dealer loaned him a new C240. He handed me that funky little key and told me to take it for a drive. Car had 1300 miles on it so I wasn't afraid to "test" it. Guys, I was not impressed with this thing! I know they're right at entry level but I really expected more from MB than this. The cockpit was no better than many cars costing 75% of this car and the steering was terrible! It felt like the front tires were flat!! Also nine seconds 0 to 60 was painfully slow. Car was fairly attractive as they look like a smaller E class, but you won't see one in my garage.

The dealer keeps giving me a Loaner C 240 while servicing my car.
Always glad to get my own car back.

What about a C320? Anyone driven this car?

Haasman

Cap'n, at least your friend got a MB. I got a Ford Freestar minivan. I couldn't park the thing and I kept driving over curbs! :eek: I have driven older C280 MBs and wasn't impressed so we (the wife) bought the E300DT. Guess that's why MB made a Kompressor for the C class. Merry Christmas (I'm old fashioned!)

What kind of dealer would punish an MB owner with anything other than an MB?
Seriously, it wasn't one thing that turned me off. It was the whole package. The car has no personality. Im sure the 320 is faster, but there are plenty of less exspensive cars that offer more bang for the buck. All I can say about it was that it was a Mercedes. For a lot of people I suppose that's enough.

A friend of mine has been test driving 2005 C230K sedans, And has been extremely impressed. he thinks the interior is better than his 2002 M3.
Also he thought the stereo was excellent and the suspension and steering right there with the BMW 3 series.
The AMG standard bodywork on the car for the price they are asking he felt was great value.
A six speed version of the car would be his ideal transport.

He also test drove a E55 from Fletcher Jones in Calif., he said that car was unbelievable, one of the greatest cars he has driven.

My friend thinks the new BMW's are to ugly except for the Z8 and X5, that Mercedes is the only car to buy now.

That's what my friend thinks! But seriously, He an avid BMW fan was mightly impressed with the 2005 C230K sedan. And have you been reading the reviews on the new SLK350, extremely positive and that car is based on the C sedan chassis.

The C240 is grossly underpowered. Especially since the C230 Sport Sedans are out. They are cheaper and quicker! Plus you can get a 6 speed in the C230 Sedans... I have had a C240 4Matic before and it was nice but much slower than my C230K Coupe is. Then again the coupe is a 6 speed as well. I do like the auto tranny though, it is smooth as glass shifting. The next C is supposed to have more powerfull engines as well. The C320 is the engine and car to have, too bad the price premium is so high for that engine and car. The C320 Coupe's are a great deal at only 2500 more for the 6 banger than the C230 Coupe's. I have had a W211 E320 as a loaner and ML350 as well. We get only MB loaners and they are the current model year as well....

I've driven the C240 a couple times as a loaner - even though it's a little bland on the inside, I was still pretty impressed with the car. Not much in the way of handling or acceleration, but nice for long-distance bombing down interstates. Smooth (esp. that tranny, I agree), quiet, comfy, a zillion airbags, etc., etc. Audio could use some work, but I've never seen a Benz with a decent factory system.

I'd be interested to see how the 2004.5+ sport models compare, they get the updated interior plus the handling upgrades. Plus the new manual transmission, I bet that would be a fun drive..

p.s. I prefer the e46 3-series to the W203's inside and out, but for some reason I've never been impressed with BMW's interior durability. Especially the leather - it seems like they use really soft, thin leather that's great new, but looks terrible after 5 years.

Anyone know the top speed of the C240 compared to the C320?
I know the E320 is limited to 130mph. I can get my little 1998 C230 up to 118mph the quoted top speed, though speed-o-meter will read around 122 or so.

Curiously after checking Car&Driver, Road&Track, MotorTrend on line none of the sites has a listing of all the cars tested top speed like I use to see in the print edition. Though they may mention top speed in some articles. Do the mags still have the price, 0-60 and top speed list like of old?

Top speed is limited to 132MPH on all the non AMG W203's. My wife has had our Sport Coupe up to 132 max before and with no V-Max that one is supposed to hit 148-149... The new sport sedans are nice as well, with there 4 Pot Brembo's and cross drilled rotors as well as the staggered 17 inch wheel setup. AMG body kit is nice from the factory as well....