Used 2003 Mercedes-Benz C-Class Consumer Reviews
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I Love my Car
Luxury all around, the car looks and feels like a $50,000 car. Very Comfortable. Gets wonderful gas mileage. The perfect luxury car to take my mind away from the horrible commute. I looked at everything else, the Acura TL, the Infiniti I 35, the BMW 3 Series, the Jaguar X-Type, the Lexus ES, the Volvo S60, nothing else came close to the luxurious feel of the Mercedes C240. This car feels like it should be far more expensive than it is.
Oh, the Electrical Woes.
What a great car to look at! Fun to drive, except when you have to get a loaner when the radio won't work. Or like the time there was a sparking wire making the driver's seat dangerous. Or the time the windshield wipers stopped working. Or the time the left headlamp would not light each time it was switched on. Or the time I had it in the shop when the right headlamp would not light when it switched on (the whole component had to be rebuilt). Other than that, the car is a pleasure to drive. But since it is a glorified Chrysler now, expect it to be in the shop quite often to fix annoying problems. Buy a Benz, see the world in a loaner car!
- C320 WagonMSRP: $4,49961 mi away
- C240 4MATIC SedanMSRP: $6,950108 mi away
- C320 SedanMSRP: $3,850129 mi away
Mercedes-Benz for life!
I bought this car because I thought "Wouldn't it be cool to own a Mercedes?" The answer is yes. The car takes care of everything and just lets you drive. Rain-sensing wipers, automatic climate control, speed sensitive radio volume, excellent handling, decent power; they thought of everything. I am tall at 6'2", and I actually don't put the seat all the way back! At $23k for a 16 month-old car it's a bargain. I've only had one problem; the automatic climate control stopped working one very hot (100+ degrees) day, and I had to switch to manual controls. It started working again the next day. This car had been more reliable than my Toyota Celica, and a hell of a lot more fun.
Simply the best!!!
Lets face it. There is no other small size car with so many features that drives like it. I test drove A4 AWD, G35 AWD, Jaguar AWD. After driving a 94 C280 for 10 years with no problems the C240AWD was the only car able to convince me that it was time for a new car.
Stay away
I have had many mechanical issues and the to fix the cost is an arm and a leg. I have spent so much money trying to get it up to par to no avail. Every time something is fixed another problem comes up!
RUN RUN RUN
I have had my 2003 C320 for about a 1 1/2 yrs and it was the worst purchase of my life. I bought the vehicle with 119k miles so I knew it would need some TLC but I never thought it would need as much as it has. 2 weeks after purchasing the alternator light came on. I have that replaced for about $400. Luckily I purchased an extended warranty and they covered half of the cost. I live in Indiana where the winters can be VERY cold and snowy. Rear wheel drive in the winter IS NOT FUN. During the summer it drove great but as soon as the temps reached below 50 the car started having issues starting. I would go out in the morning to start it and nothing. completely dead. I thought maybe it needed a new battery. So I spent $167 on a new battery. STILL HAD ISSUES. I am a single mother so I do not have time nor do I have the money to get this fixed. This car has made me late to work with it's starting issues multiple times. Thank God I will be trading this vehicle in soon. I also had other issues fixed that cost me around $900. This might be a flashy car, BUT NOT RELIABLE. I am done paying for premium gas and $60 oil changes. If you have to extra cash to throw around on this car to fix its issues everyone other week, then buy one! But I have had nothing but problems. The passenger seat also decided to stop working. There is just too much electric powered everything and the battery can not keep up or it is just made poorly. I will now be sticking with American made cars for the rest of my life. Thanks Mercedes-Benz for making a crap car and making me spend over $1000 just to get to point A to point B.
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Love this car.
Fun to drive. Definnitely turns heads. Comfy and lots of storage with the hatchback style.
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good car
Car is amall yet powerful, it blows out other car from the line up traffic light easilly.
Don't Do It!
I bought my 2002 MB C240 19 months ago and it has been in the shop over 20 times. This car has had every electrical function replaced, many times more than once, and we're still counting. MB has stated that as long as there is a cure for the problem, I have to deal with bringing it to the shop all of the time. If you value your time, don't buy this car!!!
Perfection
Just got my 2003 C32. Handling is unbelievable - sticks like a magnet. Perfect balance of ride and comfort, not as harsh as M3. Understated elegance - looks intimidating but not obnoxiously so. Seats are great. Engine is awesome - sub 5 second 0-60 (haven't pushed it yet, still breaking it in). Problem is, I'm definitely spoiled.
A Silver Bullet (with a 5-speed Automatic)
Bought it new for my wife, leather seats, 17" wheels with the Sports package. Originally wasn't too keen on the view from the rear - the front looks great, especially the round "eyes", (MB design has gone downhill since...). Wonderful handling and ride, especially enjoys those twisty turns, and occasionally the smug grin on my face when I pressed hard on the throttle... Now 123K miles later, the car still feels the same, except for those slight hesitations when switching to higher gears on start, and in the cold. The "look and thrill" of the panaormic roof has faded on me (my age?), in fact, the last trip to the dealership for service had revealed that the moonroof does not open any more, just the shade; and the dealer recommended leaving it alone, (too expensive, or even nobody knows how, to repair?) The relatively flat "torque curve" (as I had discovered in one of those car magazines) was probably what makes the drive so pleasurable, and the respectable fuel economy - my record was 37 mph on a 120-mile trip. (I have to also confess to my original reluctance to purchase a MB vehicle was primarily based on what I considered "unacceptable" fuel economy - I still remember those nightmarish single-digit mpgs of my old used Oldsmobile Delta 88 and Cadillac Fleetwood. My first new car was a Dodge Colt/Mitsubishi "mini" with an American badge. The car has been serviced by the dealer after the complimentary 4 years (a fantastic deal), never had a major problem, though there was a minor issue - parking brake release mechanism didn't actually completely released, leading to excessive brakepad wear, the diagnostic cue; and the dealer said it was probably not worth the money to try to fix it. Now, we only drive it in summer. Yes, it was terrible in snow, and impossible on ice.
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Rocket !!
style + quality + performance + power + speed + agility + 4 doors + 5 speed manumatic = Perfect (MB C32 AMG)
This is a great car!
Purchased my C240 in December 2002 and have driven it about 3,600 so far. The ride quality and handling are excellent - significantly improved over the last C-class I drove (1998). Although some might say 2.6L engine may be a little weak, overall I find the acceleration fine. For the price you get a well equipped vehicle with loads of safety features - some of which aren't even offered on the competition. So far only one very minor problem - the outside temperature gauge was reading the incorrect temp. This was fixed in one short visit to the dealer.
One of the Few
Cant understand why there are not many of the c320 4matic wagons on the road. Drives better than the sedan. looks better than the sedan. and still holds skis and snowboard inside or on top.
A Great Car for the Money
I've owned my C240 for a little over 4 years. Having previously owned a 1997 Toyota Camry, I've found Mercedes to be quite reliable, though not as reliable as the Camry. The exterior has worn well, with a good deal of shine still left in the paint (I have no garage). The interior, however, is quite cheaply made and it shows. A later redesign dealt with this issue. I plan to buy another C-Class sedan when the redesigned 2008 model appears.
Great for now
This car is my second Mercedes and my 4th car. I like the style and the handling. Gas mileage is great. The computer is great too. I notice small things like the windshield wipers not coming on when the door is open so as not to throw water on you (among several other neat attributes). The dash display seems to be shorting a bit or simply burning out. The sunroof doesn't close fully in auto mode as it should.
Should've, Could've...
Bought it in August, and it's been back in the shop 3 times. It was delivered with wheels off balance. Rear sunshade doesn't retract on every try. Auto lose sunroof doesn't always work. This car has rattles coming from the center dash, trunk area, driver and passenger side roof lining. Dealer can't find the rattles. The visor mirror cover is made of cheap plastic. The steering is WAY TOO sensitive off center at freeway speeds, way to heavy at parking lot speeds. This thing will not track straight on the freeway. The doors don't close with the MBZ thump. The transmission lingers in the lower 3 gears. This is not a good deal.
What other good looking AWD sedan?
I spent a long time thumbing my nose at the snobs who put down good money at these 'luxury' cars. With Canadian winters the way they are, I was looking for a decent small AWD sedan, and to cut to the chase, I ended buying this car. Lets face it, as far as good looking AWD that handles well, this has no real competition today. Sure, it puts a hole in your finances, but think about it, would you be happier driving a Suzuki Aerio or a Toyota Matrix when you see someone drive by with a C240 4MATIC? Never mind.
I will never buy another brand of car
After being stationed in Europe and having a chance to drive the 3 major brands of European autos (Audi, BMW, and Mercedes). I was already a bit biased towards Mercedes Benz for the comfort of the ride alone. After purchasing the C320 with the 4-matic and having driven it for awhile now, I am just amazed at how well this car handles and performs. On longer trips, my wife has trouble staying awake because the ride is so smooth, a feat not accomplished in other vehicles we've owned.
BUY A JAPANEESE CAR, NOT MERCEDES
I must admit this is by far the worst car I have ever bought. I must add that the Mercedes-Benz customer service depertment in New Jersey is not much better, actually they need to call it "Cusatomer Avoidance". Very poor attention to customer needs. My engine's top end (Head) blew at about 13,000 miles. After extensive research on MY part, I found MB knew anout the issue and sent no service bulletine to the field nor was a recall deployed to get these bad engines back. My car has been in the shop for 68 days now and I still have no date at to getting it back. My suggestion to a possible buyer of a C230, is to go buy a Japaneese car!!!!! I wish I had....
Its OK
It was a nice car when I bought it, but now it seems like junk. Things are starting to break. My computer goes crazy sometimes and the dealerships excuse is, "The Technology is too new for them to have fixed all the glitches." If that wasent bad enough , I get between 8 and 12 mpg.
Nice Car
Nice car to drive, esp. if it is your first Mercedes
320 Sport Wagon
Fun to drive, great fuel economy. Only negative is the poorly designed cup holder.
STAY AWAY (REALLY)
I've never been more disappointed in the quality and value of a vehicle. Initial purchase was used from a dealer. Vehicle had 43K at the time. Replaced door handles that literally broke off inside door panel. Air conditioner had musty odor and has even after spending $400+ still has odor. Air ventilation baffle (determines vents to blow from) is broken and too expensive to repair. Failures at 63K miles: Ignition coil (3) $700+ Starter motor $600+ Transmission plug gasket $200+ Spark plugs $300+ Transmission mounts $200+ Motor mounts - not repaired yet Control arms - not repaired yet just spent $2100 this month and about $2000 more to go. STAY AWAY.
c240
good so far....i love it, sporty good reaction response from such a small car. love it.
First Benz - C230 RWD Sport Sedan
The smallest of Benz sedans, the C230 RWD Sport Sedan is well worth the money. The C230 is very roomy with plenty of interior, front and rear, passenger room as well as plenty of trunk space. It's great on gas, I am averaging about 28 mpg highway driving. It's a blast to drive, although rear wheel drive isn't the best in the snow.
I love my M-B !
Excellent ride, smooth tranny, quiet engine, superb handling & cornering. First class exterior and looks like scaled down, much more expensive S- Class. I have it for two weeks now and no problems so far.It has far superior ride and exterior design than Audi A4 and Volvo S60 that I also test drove.The interior is not as sophisticated as Audi's but much better than Volvo's.The engine is strong enough for quick take-offs from the line and has enough reserve for additional kick when passing at 75 mph. Auto-tranny is as good as it can possibly be. Suspension is perfect balance between sporty feel of Audi and cruiser feel of Volvo.
C 230
One of the best parts of owning this car is the dealership it came from. They have amazing customer service. Unfortunately I have had to use it a few more times than I would have liked. There was an electronic glitch that shut off the engine when I turned the wheel too hard. However, it is still GREAT to drive. I love blowing past everyone on the freeway (even the new 8 series BMW I saw the other day).
Proved excellence !
I just got my first MB and impressed by how the car feels - very solid and compact at the same time. Now I now myself there is MERCEDES and other cars in the word.
My Baby Got Back
Was pretty sceptical about buying this baby at first, but I just couldn't pass off on owning a benz at such a low-low price.
c-230 compressor
The c-230 has great interior features and is most comfortable. The front end has not been in alignment since the day I bought the vehicle. I have taken it in twice and the Mercedes dealer can not get the car to run straight.
2003 Mercedes-Benz C230 Coupe
I don't have many miles on the car yet, but so far I'm impressed by the quiteness, solid feel of the ride and controls, and the maneuverability provided by rack and pinion steering with rear wheel drive. I've driven the larger S Class Mercedes' and this C230 gives you the same substantial feel of quality. I suggest you get the leather interior because the cloth interior design cheapens it's appearance (looks like the cloth in a Tercel or Neon. UGHHH!). To us, it didn't matter if the badge said Mercedes or Daewoo, we realized it was well-built, good- looking, functional car that was also enjoyable to drive. A lot of car for the price.
C Coupe after a year
I waited a year before writing a review. Purchased the C Coupe over BMW 3 and Acura CL. Car came loaded except for navigation system. 18,000 miles later, it is still a lot of fun. Extremely solid for a small car. Performance is wonderfully tight. I love the gas milage (18K per year adds up). The supercharged engine is provides more than sufficient power while saving MPG. The steering wheel controls are very convienient. Plenty of cargo room. I fit 2 patio chairs and a table in the hatch. The Bose stereo is a must. It can handle a Doors CD turned up to an 11. A great coupe for the price point.
Fun to drive when it works.......
Since the day I have taken delivery, I have had problems with the car dropping out of cruise control. There is a problem with either the Brake Assist System or the Electronic Stability Program or both. I am getting ready to take the car to the dealer for the 4th time. I don't blame the dealer - think I just got a bad car off the assembly line. Absent this problem, I think it is a great car. I love driving it.
We'll See
We just got the car and so far, I am very impressed. For a 1.8, it has alot of power. We were given a loaner while we waited for the car, which I thought was very nice. My wifes Z-28 died on her and we were short a car. We tried a short list of the Maxima and the 325i and overwhelmingly picked the C230. I am alittle worried about reliability because the C240 loaners sensors kept telling me the ABS, BAS and the ESC were out. "VISIT WORKSHOP" Flashed all the time.
Too many trips to the dealership
I love driving this car: powerful, grips the road, beautiful look. But geez, I've been to the dealership about a dozen times: 3 times for the radio, replaced keys twice, electronic problems, suspension problems. What a pain!!!
An automobile better than anyother.
We just bought the car acouple days ago and it's amazin. Its cheap and perform the best. The stereo is a blast the speakers will blow u away. I like the sportish look to it. It's alil small that was the thing I dont really like bout it. So if your lookin for a family car go with the C320.
my c240
It was like love at first sight when I purchased my 2002 Mercedes Benz c240. It is such a beautiful car!! I have compared many cars before buying this and after driving it I just knew this was the one
What a fantastic commuter car!
I have 10,000 miles on my first benz and absolutely love my long commute now! The car has been a dream to own and I am blessed to ride in such luxury to work each day. I researched several other entry level sedans and drove the audi A-4, BMW 3 series, Lexus ES 300, Infinity G35 and kept coming back to the Mercedes C240. There was no comparison in my mind that the Benz was far superior to the other autos. The price is so reasonable for what you get. The dealership actually let me take the car home for two days to test it out! I have been extremely pleased with the performance and comfort of the C240!
the c classes best
well this benz is great when i go into the belin turnpike heads turn and the noise coming out of the exhaust sounds marvolous it truley is a great car i drive it evey day and it has 9450 mles still i cant belive it has great milage i give it 2 thumbs up and the rims wows the only thing to say i even name my screen name after it cant stop saying how great this car is the body kit makes your c32 stand out from the other c's i put it next to a c320 and it looks so differnt and when you press the gas the car wants to move if you truley want a mercedes benz get a amg versoin more importantly a c32 amg with 349 horsepower your head will spin.
Great Hatchback
This is a great hatchback. It is quiet, handles well, great build quality, and gets good gas mileage. For a little more than a Honda you get a Mercedes with all maintenance paid for 4 years. The C230 is peppy and fun to drive.
CONSUMER BEWARE!
Starting about 20 min after buying this car I started to have serious problems. 1)Dead battery, jumped start. 2)Auto- transmission stuck in 2nd, car towed and computer reprogrammed. 3)Rough braking, all discs/pads replaced. 4) Pulling right, car was re-aligned. 5) Small crack in rear plastic window, car needed new window and body panel which needed re-painting. The car have 600 miles, + been for about 2 weeks out for repairs. The dealer refuses to take it back. I am being forced to try the lemon law.
C320 Review
We've had the vehicle for 3 months and driven it 6,500 miles. It's proven totally reliable, no rattles, and provided an average of 25 MPG. I'm surprised how much we were able to get in the trunk. Everyone who sees it or rides in it loves the car. I traded an ML 320 on this car and have absolutely no regrets.
Excellent!
Had the car for about 3 weeks, excellent handling and power. So much torque at any speed, especially fun in highway cruising speeds.
Another satisfied customer
30 mpg highway; 0-60 = 7 sec +/-; plenty of room for 4; carries 8' surfboard or complete drum kit handily (+ driver/passenger); solid and safe; exceptionally quiet @ speed; Bose system = no complaints; incredibly tight turning radius; oem Continentals need replacement @ 20k but ok for Z- rated; our family is hard-pressed to find fault w/ this 6 speed coupe -- see BAS note below.
Fun to drive
A car that will run 152 mph, gets 33 mpg highway, great looks, and a Mercedes to boot. Look no further than the C230. One drive and my wife and I were hooked. Driving a big SUV took the fun out of driving. This car is a blast.
Never Again
The C240 is severely underpowered, and I experienced two serious electrical problems in a 9-month span. In hot weather (90+ degrees), the car struggled to even move from a dead stop, such as a traffic light. Once you got it moving, it wasn't bad. I've since stepped up to the C320, and the difference is phenomenal.
I love my C320 Sport
My car is as fully loaded as it can get, including the COMAND system, sport pkg, and voice control. Contrary to what alot of car magazine editors are saying, I have absolutely no problem using the navigational system or the voice recognition program or all those helpful buttons on the steering wheel. And they call themselves car enthusiasts. Hah! I would have gotten the C32, but my wife said that I would have gotten myself killed.
Silver Bullet
I just took delivery of an almost new C- 230 Sport Sedan (thanks dad!) and drove it from Wisconsin to California. Averaged 32 MPG driving 75+! Performance was excellent on the twisties in the mountains near home! The interior is a little tight for cross country touring, but the seats are outstanding. Acceleration from a stop is mediocre, but the 80-100 mph is quite good. Excellet brakes and steering, good ride. Mine is Brilliant Silver with Ash interior and the look with the blue tint windows is well, stunning.
2003c-320 review
first mbz owner, was a little concernes about room, iam 6-3..no issues with tis car, plenty of room, excellent performance so far..a true gem.