I'd like to thank everyone for their very valuable comments today on the C230! You've given me some excellent tips and what to look for when I eventually get into the position to begin looking for one. I appreciate your help very much! Looks like '98 and '99 will be the model years that I will concentrate on. After searching for some C230's in this model year range, I saw that there are quite a few available for very reasonable prices with low mileage.

At first, I never liked the C-class sedans because I thought the brake lights were really ugly and really off-set the back-end of the car. But with any good thing, it grows on you after awhile, and you think to yourself, "Ah, it's not so bad after all!"

My interest in the C-class was renewed after a recent trip to Florida. A friend of mine bought a 2000 C230 Kompressor, and after sitting in it and looking it over, I began to fall in love with it again ... not hard to do I'm told. I have a Volkswagen Jetta TDI right now, and it's been a great little car, but it has transmission problems that are really plaguing it. After the warranty runs out, I'll be getting rid of it ... don't want to be caught with a $5,900 transmission repair bill from VW. Will definitely look at the C-class. After the experience with my 190e, I'm looking forward to having another one.

Thanks again, friends - all the best!

-Michael.