2001 C320

Test Drove a 2001 C320 yesterday..feels like a very solid car..only 34k miles..and 26k to boot.from mercedes of westwood..any thoughts?

How is the C line?

Andrew

 

top

 

Is it the new body? Or the old box body?

My brother has a 2000 C230 Kompresor. It's a really fast car and it only costs about $15,000 and can be easily modded for an extra 100 horses. He is selling it though. He wants to buy an E46 M3.

 

I have a '04 C 320C six speed and just love it. It was a special order due to transmission and color (Citron Green). Lots of get up and go and great handling. It has the panorama roof too. We drove it to the USGP last year and coming home the computer showed an average speed of 65 mph with 25 mpg - we run primarily V-Power Shell in it. I played with it on the way to work one morning as I wanted to compare it to the SLK 350 we got in December. In 4th gear I was at 75 with 2000 rpm before redline and two gears remaining whereas with the SLK 350 (also a six speed) in 4th I was just above 90 with 2400 rpm and two gears to go.

I really like my C320.

Carol

 

I don't know much about the C class, but my dad purchased his CL from their dealership and they have taken really good care of us. Service has been fantastic. The Cl's battery was dead this mornign and within half an hour a guy came out to replace it in the mercedes service wagon. Great sales people I thought. The facility is incredible! The black CLS 55 in the showroom is really nice too! Good luck with your decision.

 

C and CL are on different ends of the spectrum...

Personally, I would rather a 3 series. It is more 'sporty' by a LARGE margin.

 

I've had a 2002 C320 for almost four years now. I got the first one way back in July 2001. It's been a great car and I'm now giving it to my daughter to drive.

I've replaced the a/c vent that directs air to the floor or dash about 4 times now. The last two times were not under warranty and it costs about $1,000 to pull the entire dash to do this job. MB has no fix for it so you just have to keep changing it out or deal with your a/c blowing on your toes instead of on your face.

I've replaced the blinker wiring harnesses a couple of times under warrant. This is a common problem as well. The wires get hard and brittle and crack and then short out and your blinkers stop working. I have replaced the stop light bulbs about 20 times. They burn out very quickly for some reason.

The gas cap lid locked on me once but Tele-Aid sent a mechanic to the gas station to open it up for me.

The car drives great and has about 75,000 miles on it now. No major problems, it's never left me stranded anywhere and it looks brand new. Mine is black on black with all available options except for NAV.

I think these cars retail for about $20k now which is more than half of what they cost new so they have held their values pretty good. This was my second C-Class but I'm now looking at Jags.

 

ditto, the three bmws, are more sporty and have a better reliablity record per consumer reports

 

well I want to buy within the next few weeks but some family members are saying.."your 23 years and and your (insert job title here)..you don't drive a mercedes..a mercedes is a rich mans car."

the one I want is 23K!! How is that a richmans car?!?!?! 2002 C320 with 44k miles..dealer is marking it down from 28 grand! what is so snobby about this? I spoke to my best friend about it he thinks it would be good if i want it..and hes not a car guy.

I am somewhat concerned about image..coworkers reactions etc...people think mercedes and they think money..I think 23k for a car is not rich...thoughts? mine are scattered.

Andrew

 

Does this car come with the extended warranty to 6 years / 100k miles? If not... yes, this car will wind up being a rich man's car when things break / high insurance costs / maintenance bills down the road...

 

I've got a '94 C280 with the old straight six. It is a great solid car. Compared to my Jag it handles like a dump truck but it feels like a bank vault over crappy roads. 2001 is the first year of the new body style I think. I don't know what got carried over. The most expensive part that breaks on the old ones is the wire harness for the throttle body. The whole TB must be replaced and it is $2k for the part. And the A/C just went out at 90k miles. It is $1900 to fix.

 

Thanks for the info..im holding off until I can afford a 2003 model WITH an extended warrenty..due to consumer reports I have read (www.consumerreports.org) I have determined that 2003 models have a lot less problems mechanically and electronically then previous years.

Also does anyone know a site where I can find repair information on these cars? as far as a chart on what things cost to replace?

Andrew

 

You might try mbworld.org