Used 2002 Mercedes-Benz C-Class Consumer Reviews
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Huge disappointment
This was my first and probably last MB. $32000 was paid and within 2 years the AC system was replaced twice. Electrical systems are a constant headache. Front right blinker stopped working and was redesigned (not recalled due to ongong failure)and then one day started working correctly again. Quality of the product is poor. I had hoped for an experience like my last car, a Toyota. Drove the Toyota for 200K miles. I would not recommend a MB to anyone.
C230 Kompressor
The only problems to date have involved error messages regarding the traction control/ESP. The dealer claimed to have fixed the problem with a new cable, but they have returned. Beyond that the car is an absolute joy to drive, The torque from the engine is pletiful and the gas mileage (with 4 adults) has been over 32 mpg on the highway.
- C230 2dr HatchbackMSRP: $6,99591 mi away
- C240 SedanMSRP: $4,450217 mi away
- C230 2dr HatchbackMSRP: $950381 mi away
Beauty & the Money Pit
This was MB's attempt at wooing the younger generation to become MB owners. Unfortunately, once you get past the great looks and supercharged fun driving and look at what you got, you become very disappointed - cheap, ugly cloth seats, plastic pieces that break easily, cheap looking faux-carbon dash and frequent trips to the mechanic for problems they just can't seem to chase down because it's all computerized. Just avoid them. I tried to love it, I really did but it's just not reliable.
Great Car
The 2.3L is fun to drive, has good hp and torque over a rather large rpm band. The Editor's reviews have cupholders getting as much weight as the engine performance. No, the cupholders aren't too functional (although their "ejection" mechanism is cool), but I'll take the car's performance/value ratio over the cupholder/big gulp ratio.
You can't go wrong.
I am a police officer specializing in traffic reconstruction. I have seen many crashes involving all kinds of vehicle makes and model. NOTHING impressed me more than a Mercedes Benz. AMG elevated Mercedes to a higher level. Not only can an owner enjoy the safety Mercedes offers, AMG provides the horse power other manufacturers strive to achieve. It has four doors. In my opinion for its price range, it is the best value. Owning one truly gives me the best of both worlds. A car that is built like a tank that can run with Porsches and Corvettes. Not that I do, but knowing I can is good enough. It is a wolf in a sheeps cloak.
Love this Car!
I am a case manager so I travel a lot. I love this car and don't know if I will ever let it go. It is fun to drive and handles like a true mercedes.
sweetness
It's a miracle I love this car!!!!! I never thought that I would be able to afford a mercedes untill the C230 came out. this is one of the best deales around!!!!!!
What a Turkey....
This car looks lovely, but is an absolute piece of junk. First, the purge valve was so noisy that it could be heard above the stereo. It took 4 visits to 2 dealerships to get it fixed. The ABS has failed twice in the past 3 weeks, and just today, the climate control system as well as the automatic mirror adjustments have stopped working. The car, as well as MB service are stuff that nightmares are made of.
Best Looking Wagon
Purchased used for $20K with 22K miles. Has Command system with Nav & Cell phone. Probably best looking wagon on the road. Firm but compliant ride. Handles well and stops on a dime. Averaging about 20 mpg in mixed driving. No squeaks or rattles. Very good build quality although some interior trim pieces could have been of better material. Command system a bit complex but not bad after you become familiar with it. Steering is a bit heavy a slow speeds.
From VA to IL
This car has been by far the most fun yet most complicated car I've ever owned. When people see it I usually hear things like: wow! Mercedes. If they only knew the depreciation I've taken on it, Hyundais would be Maybachs per comparison. Based on its current value it is like a yugo made by MB. As reliable as the wheather man (but hey I always get a mercedes benz loaner so who cares) when it works it is a jewel, controls easy to reach but seat comfort is relegated to passengers rather than driver. Overrall it is okay, it looks agressive so it appears fast. Tires R-bad but so- R our other car's.
Little monster
Awesome performance! This car is a "sleeper". It looks like run of the mill C-class sedan but it is real fun to watch the astonished faces of the drivers of Mustangs, BMWs and such, including kids in tricked out Honda Civics, when it rockets off the traffic light.
it's a Chrysler
repairs so far - differential whine - replaced p Gears; rear seals leaked - replaced; 4 new shocks; OE Micehelin sports dead after 9000 miles; replaced computer; replaced CD; replaced cupholder. Interior squeaks and rattles will drive you nuts. Engine is crudely loud and exhaust note is tinny. Gear shift is notchy. However - handles very well, has good power and gets great gas mileage. My first and likely last MB.
C320
Having owned a 3 series and driven most other sports sedans, I think this car is underrated by the BMW-biased media. For everyday driving, city/rural/sports/casual, this car has an exceptionally well executed blend of competence, composure, speed and safety....without the attitude of the BMW sales & service staff. Add the "Evolution" package rubber and rims from the C230 for even better handling and appeal.
Incredible Car
So much can be said about this model. Mercedes/AMG has struck the perfect balance and created a classy performance machine that can be driven everyday as your daily driver while also capable at any moment, and without hesitation, of mixing it up with almost anything out there.
THIS CAR ROCKS!
This is my second car ever and I love this one. I love how little it is without having to compromise confort. Even people that sit in the back have plenty of leg room because of the way the back of the front two seats are curved in. My dad, who has had tons of cars, most more expensive than mine had fun playing with the automatic wipers .. with the hose!
Incredible Value
Mercedes has an absolute winner with the C230. BMW, Audi nor Porsche have a similiar entry-level offering at this price. Great Mercedes marketing strategy to hook new buyers, I'm sure this will be the first of many more Benz autos that we will purchase.
Good looking, horrendous quality
Quick, responsive, fun to drive fast or slow. Lots of wow factor for passengers (voice command, navigation). Integrated phone is very handy. Great dealership and service, too bad I am there all the time. What have I had replaced in the past year? Keys (5 times), floor mats, purge valve, a/c controls, voice command (3 times), rear seat belts, drive train shudders, pneumatic seat pump, phone, shifter trim, washer/turn signal stalk (3 times), washer pump (4 times), cd changer, driver seat frame, seat memory, mildew, outside mirror malfunction.
Awesome MPG
Today I was was getting 41 MPG on the highway and the trip was about 40 miles. The car is fun to drive and I don't feel too guilty when I know that I am going to get 400 miles per tank. The seats are supportive when going through sharp corners. Automatic wipers are very nice option. Panaramic sunroof works well. Cons: Wish I had a digital led for the climate control. The bass in the stereo should be stronger.
Problems and more problems!!
Love the styling, handling and performance, but I'm not sure I made the right buying decision. I have had the car (with only 15000 miles) in for repairs four time so far. All the problems have been with the electronics systems going bad and having to be replaced. Thes have included... stability control (twice), alarm system (twice), sunroof (twice), rear sunshade, infrared keys, rain sensing intermittent wipers. I have owned the car for less than a year and a half! With a Yugo, I would expect this, but a Mercedes?
C320 Wagon
This car has been a nice treat to drive and own. It pampers and cossets you with all it's gadgetry and convenience features. Drop your foot on the gas and the propulsion is downright amazing, if ESP does not intrude on your launch. The back seat has been a sore spot among friends - smaller than a 300TE by quite a bit. The engine seems more responsive than in our CLK 320, although it's the same engine.
Quality?
Got it instead of a loaded Passat. Fell in love with the handling, the pick up, and how quiet it is. Now that I have had it for almost 6 months, the true mass market to America is rearing its ugly head. Mercedes cannot seem to get the rattles fixed, the A/C is spazzing out, the sunroof shade sticks and sounds like a shotgun going off when the spring pulls it away, and the cupholder is already jamming up. This is a great car performance wise (quick, great cornering, and quiet), but not worth the 31k that I spent. I am probably going to sell it now before the 2003's come out,so I can get the best bang for my buck.
C230 Coupe
4000 Miles no problems excellent car and value for the money.
Athletic
Can only be described as an athletic car. Durable, fun, quick, handles solid, built like a tank. Manual Transmission is a MUST. Good on gas. Engine sounds nice with sports package. Great wheels. Fantastic interior. Leather is of the best quality. I like everything about it.
Even better than my 1982 240D(220K)!
Dead solid perfect automobile. Five- speed auto "bat" R/L instant downshift- upshift. Man, my brake-pads are gonna last 50K mi. at this rate. Getting consistently 20-21mpg in-town, or with the occasional Houston trip, upwards of 26mpg. Only two problems in 32 mos.(Both warranty--no cost): 1. Replacement horn. 2. New left front turn-signal lamp.
Heck of a Mercedes
I have had 2 BMWs in the past, and I find that the MB is more comfortable and rides nicer. It will not handle as well as a BMW, but you get comfort and style in place of handling in hard corners. I enjoy this car greatly and love the way people look at me while I drive.
Guide Missile disguised as a Wagon
Tested the G35, Passat GLX-V6, Volvo S/60, C240, C230K sedan and C320 wagon. Bought a 9 mo old dlr demo for less than Blu Book wholesale (had 10k miles on odo). Immaculate Body & interior. Power aplenty. Refined chassis & powertrain. Car exudes with understated luxury. Is roomy enough for 4 tall adults. Powerful brakes, better handling than sedan, quiet on highway. Extremely confortable on long trips. Had couple of minor issues w/ key release - fixed without questions by dealer. Fuel gauge went zero for 20 minutes. Again fixed by dealer. Road side assistance is impressive...Bub Bye AAA. 26mpg at 95mph. Bottom line. It's a Benz!
Great Car!
The cheapest AMG model, but definetly value for every dollar spent! Although being my first car, it's hard to judge until i drive others.
Sexy Little Money Pit
I purchased my 2002 C230K in May of 05 as a certified pre-owned, so it came with an extended warranty as part of the deal. The car has been back to the dealer 5x since May.2 of the visits was just small stuff.1 visit was for the radio not working when you turn on the rear deforst. Dealer replaced back window, all is well. 2 visits were for the A/C system. Dealer can't find the leak, but it does.Maybe I need a new dealer!. This car performs very well and is bigger on the inside than it seems. I have yet to find another car that has the same amenities that performs as well and gets the same gas mileage.Buy the extended warranty, you will need it.This is a car that you want to love but can't.
Mercedes C230 Hatchback
I bought my 2002 Mercedes-Benz C230 with 11,000 miles on it and have put 20,000 on it already. It is an awesome car. Its fast, fun to drive, and I have never been treated better at a car delaership. Services on the car has been free because of its warranty. I see no reason to go back to Acura or Honda. This car beats front wheel drive cars and is a truly safe vehicle on the road. It has lots of automation to keep your hands on the wheel and your eyes on the road. This is the best car that I have ever owned!
I am growing to love this car
I could not pass up purchasing a MB for under $30K. I was luke warm on the back end styling and really wanted more trunk space and 4 doors, HOWEVER, after owning the car for over a month it has really grown on me. It does so many things well that I have changed my mind on the styling and found that I can easily live with 2 doors. I had two minor cosmetic flaws which are being taken care of. Otherwise, the car is fun to drive, full of gadgets (I am still not finished reading the owners manual), and has real curbside appeal.
New but Used
I purchased this car about six months ago and it had 35,000 miles on it. I had no intention of buying a Mercedes but when I drove it I fell in love. So far it hasn't let me down. It has been flawless and I absolutely love driving it. If you aren't certain you want to buy one, don't drive one. It will suck you in! I worry about the long term reliability when the warranty runs out. I understand if anything does go wrong it is very expensive to fix.
MB AMG First Timer
Great automobile, the best balance of performance and luxury that I have experienced to date with an emphasis on performance. Outstanding brakes, suspension and drivetrain. Some minor ergonomic/design issues with interior controls such as cruise control and heated seats. Better quality and structure than BMW M3. So pleased that I am ordering a next generation SLK AMG for my wife!
Best Choice
I never associated MB with value, but that's what the C230K gives. It is incredibly fun to drive, and lots of looks from other people as I drive by. The Kompressor growl going up hills is great. The C230K can easily accomodate 4 adults (its bigger inside than it looks). The panoramic sunroof makes an ordinary sunroof look downright inadequate. The C7 wheel package is a steal, and makes the car look even better. Like others, I was considering an Acura RSX hoping to save some bucks. The C230K is worth every penny of the price difference, and more. Drive the two cars and you will know immediately which one you want.
Good effort for new model, recommend
I like my car, having owned it longer than many cars in the past. I have improved HP through new supercharger pulley, put AMG wheels and 17" tires in place of the silly Michelins, but otherwise, it was well designed out of the box. It's fun to drive, the automatic transimission works well, and manual mode is useful. I like the nav system, and generally most everything works as advertised. I know resale isn't great, but there is nothing Mercedes can do about that. Resale comes from perception. But my first car was a VW Corrado, and this car is the closest thing to an upscale Corrado anyone has ever made. Would love to see AWD as an option.
Over Priced Neon
Noisey! Sunroof constantly squeaks dealer unable to eliminate. Drivers seat squeaks. This is the noisest car I've owned since my 1980 Citation. Stereo system sub-par. Can't hear rear speakers (mounted in lower door trim) Way over priced
Practical Total Performance
Keeps getting better with age! Awesome to drive for long periods - no fatigue due to excellent seats and suspension calibration for high speed driving. Acceleration is better than advertised - M3s beware!! And the brakes are eye popping. Not to say this vehicle is not without shortcomings, but the shortcomings are relatively minor.
C230 Coupe
Some minor problems initially (oil leak and rattles)that were corrected by the dealer within the first 7K miles. I've got 27K miles on it now and the car has been flawless. I ordered this car and have been driving it daily since Nov 2001. Great in the snow as long as you have four snow tires mounted.
Benz
Got my C230 in Jan. love the way it handles, good speed in the mountains.
Honda Civic with a different logo
Buzz, rattle, clank beep beep "random fault code" clank rattle beep beep creeeeek
Bang for the buck plus 3-star MB badge
Before I bought my C230 Kompressor, I looked at other entry luxury vehicles. I found this car was the best entry level luxury vehicle at it's price point. I would honestly rate the C230 Kompressor with high marks even if it didn't have the MB markings on the car. I didn't want to drop a mini-fortune (for me) on a CLK or E-series. So, I bought the C class and I have been very happy. I initally thought this would be the first and last Mercedes Benz I would purchase, but now I'm considering a CLK or E class for my future car. I've fallen in love with Mercedes. It's an entry level MB, but it has many more bells and whistles than others cars in it's price range.
Love it!! Love it!!
I shopped around looking for a nice-looking, fuel efficient, powerful vehicle. Checked out Infinity, Mazda, Lexus and MB. This car has it all and won hands down. I can load up 6 sets of golf clubs, a dog, 2 kids. Plus this sucker is fun to drive. The craftsmanship is somewhat on the chincy side, but this puppy hums. Wish it had an I-pod hookup (but this is an '02). Test drive one, you won't regret it!
A Chrysler in MB clothes
Don't fool yourself that MB quality is great.Car has 16,300 mi and been in for;supercharger,hatch,foglight,cupholde r,hatch repaint. It starts rough at times and I'm concerned it's another repair waiting to happen. Thankfully, it's all under warranty. Upon recent B service at MB of Hagerstown, rims came back scratched. I wouldn't expect that of your local garage, let alone an award winning MB service department! They promised they'd be "touched up" next service. Despite its faults, a blast to drive. Overtaking is easy and onramp/offramp driving loads of fun. However, we will be getting rid of ours prior to the warranty expiring for fear it will be a burden.
Fun to Drive
This car is simply fun to drive. The automatic transmission matches very well the engine characteristic and the manual shift option is just perfect for those mountain roads. With black interior and leather option it looks and feels very high quality. The seats are perfect, the huge glass roof is gorgeous and there are just too many little useful implementation details to list. The list of safety features is just complete matching high end full size cars. However the major difference to my previous new cars is that 9 months later it still totally excites me to drive this car very much like in the first week.
Fun for the price tag
This is my first MB. I had a great deal that I could not pass up. Now, after about a month. I don't regret it. I love the car. Handles well in corners, performance is above average. The supercharged engine really helps. When I need pick-up, it is there.
Smooth and sporty
A great vehicle in all aspects. Silky V6 engine provides good acceleration and excellent passing power, especially with the TouchShift transmission. Sporty styling almost makes you forget it's a sedan, back seat is good for two people with decent leg room. Trunk swollows 2 or 3 regular size suitcases but not much more.
Needs a New Stereo System
The car is enjoyable to drive. It responds well to the throttle. Nice size for carrying groceries and making trips to the beach. Controls are fairly easy to use. Good commuter car.
It's a love/hate thing
I bought this car b/c I love hatchbacks and Mercedes. I love the drive, feel and performance of this car. BUT, I have had problems similar to other owners: tape deck replaced, fuel pump/tank replaced, front differential replaced, squeaky sunroof. The service is excellent but that's I'd prefer to not know my service rep on a first name basis. I will definitly buy another MB, but will consider turning this one in at the end of the warranty.
i geess i got one of the good ones
not alot of people are happy with the c230. the only reason i purchesed mine is because the dealer drop it $6500.00.m-b gave the dealer $4k because of slow sales.discounted it another $2500 , took it. have 10,000 miles on mine and have had no trouble with it other than having to replace the sun shades.it gets 33 mpg on the hwy.i dont care for the stiff ride or the way the auto shifts. and dont even try to put xm radio with the m-b radio.cd is about $900 extra if the dealer puts it in, and no other cd changer will work with the bose system. i would not recomend this car as many of the coupes are having too many problems.
Buy one if you can find one.
If you enjoy driving a pure sports car but don't want to sacrifice passenger space, this car is perfect for you. The 6spd manual tranny provides peak power at any speed. It corners like a dream. The supercharger sounds sweet. Sometimes I put the window down just so I can hear it getting on the highway. Desite its small appearance, it fits two 6' tall adults comfortably in the backseat. After two years, $0 repair/maintenance cost. It's all covered by Daimler/Chrysler!
Ten thousand miles so far...
I have a lead foot yet still exceed 22MPG - Daily commuting plus some long trips. Absolutely nothing has broken, rattled, fallen off or otherwise caused concern. It still makes me feel good to see it light-up in welcome whenever I press the remote. I have gotten to tolerate the rear view - the three pointed star helps. Still cannot believe the value for money. One of the best value cars ever.