Used 2002 Mercedes-Benz C-Class Hatchback Consumer Reviews
See Edmunds pricing data
Has Your Car's Value Changed?
Used car values are constantly changing. Edmunds lets you track your vehicle's value over time so you can decide when to sell or trade in.
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.
Nice Luxury - Lacking in Sport Dept.
A nice comfortable car with lots of electronic goodies, however the suspension is a little soft and their is a significant amount of body roll. I drive it on a 40 mile comute, it is very comfortable and safe. Very quiet and cruises nicely at 80. When I hit the backroads it doesn't match a BMW. The car is quick and gets about 27 mpg on my commute. The Kompressor is a nice engine but again doesn't match BMW's inline sixes.The automatic is smooth with a little Kompressor lag if you are driving mildly but you get used to it. The radio isn't the best but with the CD changer it is more that adequate. Made by Alpine. Seats are firm and comfortable.
- C230 2dr HatchbackMSRP: $6,995208 mi away
- C240 SedanMSRP: $4,450333 mi away
- C240 SedanMSRP: $4,500375 mi away
Betzy
Best car I have owned and almost fun as a 356. Gas mileage 24 to 26 local, 29 to 31 interstate. Very neutral handling. Have had a couple electrical problem but it just gave a warning on the display and I had them fixed. Vision in reverse a little confusing caused by the glass between the tail lights. The 2.3 liter Kompressor is the most powerful and torquie four banger I have driven. Comfortable on trips. Got the glass roof but it started making noise. Dealer fixed the noise but wish I got one without glass roof. Love it.
Great Baby Benz
I purchased my C230 in December after having researched and test driven the BMW 325i, Honda Accord EX, and Nissan Altima. After driving the C230, there was no more need for comparison. The car has a solid build coupled with great looks. The supercharger makes it fast and fun to drive. I opted for the 6-speed, wheel package, and CD player. It still came in under $27K. The true joy of life is the trip. Mercedes C230 makes it more enjoyable.
Fun, Fun, Fun!!
I've had this car since 11/02, after waiting 4 months on order. Only regret - not getting a 6-speed - but I drive in too much rush-hour traffic for that. The car is fast, corners like a dream, and goes through Z-rated tires like mad. Integrated phone can't be beat - added on after purchase. Blind spots are easily adjusted for by turning mirrors out to the far side, which takes getting used to, but I no longer need to swing my head back & forth. Has been back to the dealer quite a bit for struts, suddenly dead battery, and electrical errors. I will keep it long after it's paid for!
Always in repair
In three years had the car in for 15 repairs and it's going in again. Fun to drive, and gets lots of comments. Not worth it though with all the problems. Will probably never buy another Mercedes. Have heard of quality issues with higher end models as well.
Great Car!
I wanted somthing somewhat luxurious, sporty, comfortable and partical. This car fills the requirements almost perfectly. My car is a gourgeous bright red 6-spd with the stereo upgrade, heated seats and handlamp washers as the only options. Even after owning the car for a year and one-half, I get almost as many looks as I did in the C3 Corvette I sold to make room in the garage for the Benz. I get 27 MPG highway and 19 MPG mixed, mostly city. My experience with this car has been trouble free. When my 17 year old every day use VW GTI expires this car will replace it and I am sure will last even longer.
Selling this car
I got this car two years ago and loved it. But after 6 months everthing started to fall apart. My sunroof doesn't work. And the dealership said it would cost around $1000 to fix. My engine has had so much work done and has taken 5 weeks total. And it still needs more work. And the exhaust needs work too. This car is a money pit!
great car
I've really enjoy the build quality and preformance. Its hard to image a hatch back could get much better. The 230K has many of the nice features from the Smart. Cool
By and large, a great car
This is a great car and a lot of fun to drive. Excellent handling, very solid feel, wide doors, surprisingly spacious. Also very good the controls built into the steering wheels. The only real down side so far is that the sunroof is very squeaky; I hope the dealer can fix it at the first service.
fun time
The 230 has been a fun car, good power to overpass others or, to win merging wars at on ramps. radio (non bose) is fair, installing after-market radio can be a bear! tinting of windows should be done by a REAL pro if not, you will make a trip back to the dealer to replace both the am/fm powered ant and the alarm ant.! "b" piller is poor hard to see others on both sides! back seat is good for small kids front seats are not great if your a larger person. sunroof is big and fun.
Love it
For an entry-level MB, this torqy little four-banger takes off from the stop light leaving all others in the dust! So much fun to drive. Mine is arrest-me red with 17inch alloys.
Great car
To start, I am a Mercedes loyalist. When I was forced to buy a new car, I considered the BMW 3 series, volvo S60, and the Audi A4. I am really glad I chose this car. It's fun to drive, great to ride in, has great handling, performance, etc. Long trips are fun; short trips are fun.
Poor quality
I purchased this car for my daughter to take to college. The intention was to get her a sporty fun car that would have the vaulted Mercedes quality and safety. I was convinced that Mercedes would not fall victum to the dreaded first production year quality issues tha other brands have been plagued by. Unfortunately the car has been a resounding disapointment. In the shop for repairs 7 times in 15 months is rediculous. The fact that the car can not be trusted has forced me to look into replacing it. This is not a car that I would trust with my daughters safety as she travels back and forth to college. I would not recomend this car to anyone.
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 Car, Little Problems
Overall this is an excellent car, but it seems to be bothered by small, nagging problems with reliability. Over 7500 miles several small problems (none are close to being critical) have come up, which is a little disappointing. But, compared to the positives (decent power, crisp handling, excellent brakes, solid feel, safety, luxury), the shortcomings (rattles, notchy 1-2 shift) are easy to overlook.
Value you just can't beat!!!
I've had it for 3 weeks now and have already passed the 1000 mile mark and I love the car. I got it because I drive alot for my job and needed a fuel efficient, comfortable car...and I got it! It cools well. The sunroof is great. The Bose sound system is better than other Bose systems I've heard. But, I wish I could fit a full set of golf clubs in the trunk (I also have a convertible BMW 328, and they managed to do that). Also, I have the Nav and w/o the CD changer, you can either listen to CDs or do the Nav (not both).
Easy to drive and manuever.
Excellent manueverability and flexibility. Easy parking and driving . Quick take off and speeding when entering freeway. 6 CD player
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!
Fun fun fun~!
Just got my baby C 1 week ago. Man, once I start the car, I don't want to get out. A lot of power for a small car, and the 2.3L eng. makes beauifull sound...
Nothing but problems
It's been in twice for engine work. The sunshade has broken twice as well first the front and then the back. The shift casing is constantly coming off. They had to replace my radio once because it kept fading in and out. It's too bad because I love it when its working, but now I'm trying to get rid of it. Also any dealer that has voicemail in their service dept. should be flogged.
J-C230k
Afterall, it is a Mercedes
Practical and Fun
I was waiting to retire to buy a car that is fun to run around in, but also safe. Then I realized that it was dumb to drive a stodgy old car while I still have to commute. Why not get that new car and enjoy it now? So I picked the C230 Komp and never looked back. It has plenty of cargo space with the back seat down, is very maneuverable - a plus on the freeway - and fits my 6'7" husband comfortably with the seat adjusted. In short, it is a nice mix of function and fun.
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!
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.
DON'T TRADE-IN
OURS NEEDS CHANGED SO WE WERE TRADING IT IN FOR THE MERCEDES SUV. WE HAD ALL THE UPGRADES (LEATHER) IN, WHEN WE WENT TO TRADE IT IN THEY ONLY WANTED TO GIVE US$18,000 AND ONLY 7000 MILES ON IT. THEY DEPRECIATED IT HALF WHAT IT COSTS. NEEDLESS TO SAY WE STILL HAVE IT, UNFORTUNATELY A CAR WE LOVED, NOW WE FEEL STUCK WITH. ON TOP OF THAT THE MERCEDES DEALERSHIP WE TOOK IT TOO WAS EMABARASSED TO HAVE THESE CARS ON THE LOT. SAID IT WAS A MISTAKE MERCEDES MADE BY PRODUCING THIS MODEL.
Nice little taste of Luxury
The car is delightful to drive, fast, handles nice, etc. Car looks better coming, than going! Love the ability to make seat position really high for us short folks. Visibility is good, front seats are very comfortable. Lots of room in back seat area. Got great mileage at 60 MPH on long trip, averaged 35-38 MPG. Engine is quiet, ride is great. Dealer recommends the highest grade gas, but I've used the cheaper and it works fine.. no pings, appears to have same pick-up, etc. Love the sunroof, although have had problems with rattles and sticking. Overall though, I love this car!
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.
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!!!!!!
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.
Love it!
i drove the vehicle for 10 straight months to commute appro. 50 miles each way and it handled everything! it is so comfortable and smooth... difficult to keep you honest on a 65mph speed limit highway because you don't even realize you are going 80. the subtle details are absolutely appreciated... especially the way it lights up when you remotely unlock your doors. i like that they did not add rear-winshield wipers to compromise the design concidering it is not that useful and looks tacky on a small car. another great feature is whole fog light system!! i test drove several cars in it's range and none felt as solid, classy and worthy of the cost... i love it.
Great Little Car
Fun little car. I needed something practical but still a good time and this fit the bill. I have 66,000 on it and no major problems. It handles well, accelerates well, and does well on gas. Halfway between a Porsche 911 and a Honda Civic Hatchback. Great little computer to remind of every maintenance and when you are short on fluids. Automatic wipers and lights. All you have to do is drive, the car does the rest. Sometimes the wipers are fooled by repeating shadows but it is not a huge nuisance.
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.
Excellent Car!
This is the first Mercedes I have been purchased. After having it almost a year, I have to say that the car is fantastic! I have had no problems at all as the odometer approaches 37,000 miles. It's a great car for anyone who wants a Benz but doesn't want to go broke paying for it.
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.
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.
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.
Almost entirely reliable for me...
I've driven my 2002 230 Kompressor (Manual Transmission) for about 40,000 miles. I purchased it at 80k. There has been some routine maintenance... tires, brakes, and I did a $700 suspension refresh (shocks/struts/arm bushings/motor mounts/transmission mount) at 110k since the cushy Mercedes rubber had worn a bit. I could have continued to drive with the suspension as is... I chose to be preventative. The only time the car has let me down was related to the anti-theft system. The steering column lock has a junky little Chinese-made motor in it that prematurely fails. Mercedes won't sell you the part, so you are forced into letting them replace it ($2200) or being locked out of driving the car. Thankfully, I was able to buy a $25 emulator from England to cut that part out of the security system entirely. Then, I cut the lock off the steering column with my angle grinder = no more problem now or in the future. For what it's worth, Nissan, Suzuki, and others are having the same steering lock issue. The difference is that those manufacturers will sell you parts for it while Mercedes will not. I find the car to be sporty with above average acceleration (plenty of supercharged torque to spin the wheels), acceptable fuel economy (26mpg avg), and reasonable handling. It feels a bit top-heavy to me, but that's probably because of the copious safety features. This would be a solid car in an accident... much better than the Mazda I drove previously. Lots of air bags, tank-like safety cage, etc. I love the panoramic roof on mine... almost like having a convertible. There's a kit to reinforce the little motors that open it. The kit will keep it running flawlessly for a long long time. The interior is lovely and comfortable; the AC works well. Grippy tires are a must as it's rear wheel drive. Grippy tires (Pirelli P7 Cinturato+) transform the car in inclement weather. My only regret with this car is that it isn't a convertible, lol. Oh, for those on the fence, the 2002 manual transmission model is the C230K that offers the most tuning options (crank pulley for 40+ more horsepower etc) and the least engine/mechanical problems... it's the one to buy if you are looking. One caveat: the paint on these sucks. This was the start of Mercedes water-based paint, so it didn't always get sprayed evenly. As a result, cars driven in snow will need to have a few rust spots corrected earlier than competitors' cars. It sounds like I'm picking on the car a lot here, but I purchased a German engineered Mercedes Benz - the most costly hatchback ever at the time it was sold - for $5,000 with 80k miles on the odometer. Minor issues aside, it was an absolute steal, and I've enjoyed my time with it. I'm guessing that with the maintenance I've done, this car will easily see 200,000 miles with little more than oil changes. The 16 year old engine doesn't drip a thing... clean, dry, and reliable. This was the last year of the supercharged 2.3L, and it was essentially perfected.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
Great deal.
The car is built well, with German eginering and the Mercedes desgner looks and performance, this car runs great, it protects your transmission by locking your 1st gear when speeds go past 10 MPH...its built well, no bad comments on this one...
Just Right !
I spent many months trying to find a fuel-efficient, 2-door sports coupe, with lots of power and room for 2 or 3 ice hockey bags. The C230 Komp was, and still is, the hands-down winner. I've carried mountain bikes, built-in ovens, televisions, and hockey and lacrosse bags in this little gem. The versatility, fun-factor, and sporty appearance of this car are hard to find in any other car.
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.
Bitten by the "Benz Bug"
My 2002 Mercedes-Benz C230 Sports Coupe is fun to drive. It has great pick up and it gets great gas mileage on long highway trips. It is a very good looking car with a lot of get up and go. The car looks like it has no room until you open the trunk, lay down the seats and load it up.
Great Car
I purchased this car in May of 02 and always wanted one ever since I saw them on msn autos. Runs great, gas mileage could be better, the front looks awesome but the rear could look better. The front looks similar to the SL class. Still a thrill to drive and sure do get looks. Afterall, it is a Mercedes and you get a lot more for your money, definitely a smart buy for a sporty car.
Never buy this car
I bought this car with 50000 miles on it. I drove it off the lot of the whole sale dealer and the day after started having problems. It may be because it's used and I don't know how the person before me treated the car. I've had the car for a year and put over $4,000 into it already in repairs. As soon as it's fixed something else seems to go wrong. Not to mention the gas mileage is terrible!
great car
i bought the car a year ago i put close to 3 thousand miles an not a problem an the car still runs great
Quality issues
I have a 2002 C230K for around 1.5 years. It has been in services for number of times: . 5 times for SRS light. . 2 times for ESP and BAS lights. . 2 times replacement for CD-changer. . 1 time malfunction front-end stabilizer bar. . 1 time broken instrument button. . 1 time loosen weather strip. . 1 time replace all rusty wheels' fasteners. . 1 time broken speaker mesh cover. . In addition, a very rust break caliper but refused to be replaced.
Sport Coupe - Excellent
I bought the second 230C at the dealership, a black bottom spec loss leader. It has been a fantastic car, the best I've ever owned in 25 years of driving. Fast, handles well, great mileage, versatile... everything I learned to expect from a Mercedes. When you buy American, you get a low end car with things tacked on. This has all the components and build quality of a high end car, minus "stuff" (electric seats, leather interior, etc). A great trade off.
EPIC FAIL!!!
I owned this car for 6 months. it was good for a while until the compressor, traction control, stereo, moonroof, transmission all went out at the same time! otherwise it drove like a real sports car with extremely good interior comfort before the probs. i traded it in for a mazda6 and glad i did
SURE BEATS WALKING
I THINK THE REVIEW BY EDMUNDS MISSES THE POINT, ITS NOT ABOUT GETTING THE CAR ALL LOADED UP WITH A BUNCH OF STUFF, BUT HAVING THE CHOICE TO PICK OUT A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT YOU REALLY WANT TO HAVE IN A GREAT LITTLE CAR. MINE CAME IN WELL UNDER 30 WITH TAXES, I SMILE EVERY TIME I SEE THE CAR. I STILL CANT HANDLE THE FACT THAT ITS MINE. I LOVE THE WAY IT DRIVES AND THAT ITS NOT SOME BIG HACKIN SUV, THAT HAS AN OWNER TO MATCH. YEAH WELL I JUST GOT MY SOUND IN AND THE CD'S ARE KICKIN ON MY BOSE :) SO I AM HAPPY. OUT
Perfect
No more to say