Used 2003 Mercedes-Benz C-Class Consumer Reviews
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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 WagonMSRP: $4,49978 mi away
- C320 SedanMSRP: $3,850113 mi away
- C240 4MATIC SedanMSRP: $6,950124 mi away
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.
I like the CD player
I just picked up my C230 Kompressor Sport Sedan 5 days ago and have only put about 200 miles on it, so I can't comment on too much. That being said, I have read in several places that many people feel that MB made a mistake by not putting an in-dash CD player in the car. Actually I think it works best the way it is now. Each member of my family has their own CD magazine, or two. It is much easier to swap magazines than mess with CDs and jewel cases, especially while driving. The fact that the changer is located in the glove box (left side, even better) makes it much easier than the in-dash player to swap music around while driving solo.
Enjoying the experience
This is my first Mercedes and I must say that I am impressed. Everything about this car seems 'solid'. The standard features are excellent and the handling is very 'sporty' for a sedan.
Oh What Fun
I just got my car in June of this year and find every excuse to go out and drive it. It is responsive, fun and good looking. My only complaint is that it uses premium fuel, but I just love it.
Mercedes C240
Car was purchased by my wife. It is not too big to handle in small spaces. The car performs well and has very good acceleration given relatively low horesepower. It handles almost as well as our BMW 326ic with more comfort and more amenities. It holds four adults comfortably and the trunk is big enough for two sets of golf clubs and some luggage. My opinion is you get a lot of car for the money and this car is underrated....or more appropriately..never rated. Why they call it a 240 I will never know..it has a 2.6 liter engine. Perhaps they were afraid of a lack of marketing distinction between the 240 and the 320. This car is solid.
Surprising Wagon
I have owned it for 1 month, and so far there have been no problems. The car rides good and drives great. I love the feel of the car. The only concern is that sometimes the engine seems very sluggish from the start, especially when it is hot out.
2003 C230 - 5 speed automatic
My first Mercedes. So far so good. The car is very quiet. It drives like an improved version of my '99 Passat. Considered an Acura RSX, but for a few dollars extra, you get a lot more car.
frist time with a mercedes
fun to drive, better looks than bmw and solid built.....
glad I bought it!
Never listen to critics! This car is fun to drive and reliable. My friend bought hers last year and feels the same way. Much better quality than Lexus IS300 and the Infinity and more for your money!
New 2003 C240 Sedan
All in all, I love my new Mercedes Benz C240. It's comfortable with both short distant stop and goes, and long distant trips. Luxury abounds.. which is a nice change from the older more spartan Mercedes. Definately a good buy in my opinion. With 4 years of service included from Mercedes, you can't go wrong.
Sweet ride
Real fun to drive, Solid design, Excellent acceleration. Compared to the Acura RSX, the torque on the C230 crushes the Acura, hands down. Overall, a safe, and fun car to drive. Usually, safety and fun dont often go together but in this car, it just does.
I Luv my baby!
I am so happy with my purchase. I got the 2004 model. This is my first mercedes and i think i will never purchase anything else from now on. I knew that i wanted something in the c- class, but wasn't sure what model. I tested the c240 and it wasn't what i was looking for. It was hard to drive. I step on the gas and it doesn't go, and i step on the brake and it doesn't stop. :( Then, i test drove the c230. What a differeance! It's very easy to control and drives like a japenese car. Not the usual stiff european car. I am very in love with my new baby, and am enjoying every minuete driving it.
Very Nice Ride
beautiful exterior as well as interior - full of tech gadgits to play with. Handle great and excelleration is not was poor as some people said it to be. Over all a great car.
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).
Matt's Review
Great Fun Ride, love the sound system and the feel behind the wheel. Could do better with suspension like BMW does, and the black paint can get spiderwebs which do not look good after awhile. You have to keep buffing.
Luxury at affordable price
Fun car to drive. Good experience at the dealership experience. Car's great. has 25-30 more standard features than in BMW 3 series. The features are nifty and absolutely wonderful. Great fuel economy for a 3.2 l V6.
No regrets at all
This is marketed as the "cheapest" MB available on the market, but despite its price, it is really fun to drive (6-speed manual) with excellent performance with fuel economy. The optional leather seats and sunroof sure adds up the cost, but it's still great price for a car that has the style and performance not far from the CLK320, and looks much more interesting than the ubiqutous BMW 3series. I must add that when I test drove the BMW330Coupe, it has excellent performance too, but my wife and kids hated the ride as front and back passengers, which made them nauseated, so I settled with the Mercedes in which they tolerated well as passengers.
I love this car.
I took over a lease on this car from the original leasee who drove the car for a year. I love this car. It is fun to drive, handles like an expensive Mercedes and has a user friendly price tag. The extras are staggering and I am still discovering features in this outstanding German made automobile.
240 excellence
This automobile rides on clouds. You think that you are in an airplane, first class. 29 miles per gallon on the highway. Noiseless even when going over bumps. Hard to beat.
Great Car
First class automobile and fun to drive. Really turns heads and gets compliments. Service intervals are very impressive (11000 miles before first service visit)Wow, do that with a domestic!
Best Car I Have Owned
This is the perfect sports sedan for the American road. I have driven and owned 911s and other performance cars, but nothing comes close to the overal package that the C32 presents. The gas economy is GREAT for a performace car; the only faster car in accelleration that I have owned is a 911 twin turbo; it will out handle any sedan I have driven and most sports cars. In addition, despite being 10 inches shorter it has almost as much room inside as a BMW 5 series. If you want a true perfomance sedan that is comparable to an M5 for less money get a C32
Great Car
Don't be put off by the C230's 189hp. It is more than enough. Bi-xenon headlights are a must because the standard headlights are not clear, check some pictures. The car handles well and gets pretty good fuel economy. The standard audio is decent and the front seats are terrific, the back seats are also nice, but don't offer a lot of leg room. The build quality was excellent, I never had any problems. The only thing to be aware of is that the sport tires have to be replaced every 15,000 miles (about $1,000). I recommend the tire rack if you are looking to save money. We just sold ours for a 2005 C230 (pewter).
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.
Fun to Drive
After driving in a HUGE Chevy Tahoe most of the time with my kids, it is so fun to get into the Mercedes C-Class and drive when it is just me. I love the car!! I feel great in it!!
Best car I have ever owned
Before purchasing this car I looked at and drove the CTS, BMW 3, and the ES330. This is by far the best of the lot. If offers a very comfortable, quiet ride and many features that are standard with the C240 and not even available with the others. Full maintenance is included in the warranty. This vehicle is a joy to drive every day.
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.
c230 Kompressor coupe
Simply just a blast!
Fun at a great price
I love my little Mercedes. It is so distinctive to look at and very fun to drive. It never lets me down. When I press the pedal down - off we go. I was a little leary about buying a starter level Mercedes - the thought of paying for just the name. mBut that wasn't so. What is so is the dealerships treats me like royalty, whether is spent $27K or $270K. THey and Mercedes have made a believer out of me. I don't think I'd ever go back to a non-Mercedes vehicle. Buy it with confidence and Enjoy!
MY CAR
I LOVE MY MERCEDES..C240..THE ONLY THING I WISH I HAD IS A CD PLAYER ACTUALLY INSTALLED AS PART IF THE RADIO. THIS IS MY SECOND MERCEDES AND NOW LOOKING FOR MY THIRD FOR 2004..I AM SPOILED..I HAVE DROVE ALL THE CARS ON THE MARKET...AND THE SECOND TIME I WENT BACK TO A MERCEDES..THIS THIRD TIME, I WON'T EVEN WASTE MY TIME...IT WILL BE A MERCEDES..!! THANK YOU..JEANNETTE
2003 C32
Great car. No problems
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.
Oh so smooth!
Have had it for eight months now and simply love my C230. Solid road performance; accelerates, handles, responds. Smooth ride. Sunroof makes it feel like a convertible. Controls easily accessible. Had problems with the sound system (CD and antenne stopped working) but the MB dealer fixed both in no time, hassle free.
The car is tops.
I am in love with this car. It is my first Mercedes and won't be the last.
Wonderful car
this is the best car i have ever had in my life.
On Rails
First MB wont be my last. Test- drove every comparable car in its class including the G35 SC. Solid ride in a small car, you think youre driving a tank. Quality better then I expected.
awesome ride
great in every way. sporty ride and acceleration. comfortable. nice CD and sound system. can't wait for the snow for the 4wd
7 months & still in love
Just took the 230SportSedan in for Service A this week (13,600miles). In that time, mileage has gone up from 28mpg on the highway to 34mpg on the highway! This car is very comfortable on long trips, and is quite fun to drive through twisty mountain passes. The amazing thing about this car is how effortlessly it does everything! The car never loses its composure, and never causes stress for the driver. Almost the perfect balance between sport and luxury! (maybe a coupla more ponies would be nice)
C320 - Car of a Lifetime
My '03 C320 is terrific! Excellent handling, plenty of power, superior performance all around. I love all the features overlooked by many car manufacturers. I haven't had it long enough to judge reliability, but so far it's the nicest car I've ever driven, much less owned.
Geat car!
great car ! totally dependable and reliable ! sweet body and an awsome engine ...
Oh Lord, please let me drive a Mercedes
This vehicle is a head turner. I had it moving very fast on the highway...The higher the speed the smoother the ride~absolute beautiful vehicle. I would like to say the heated seats are wonderful~Would recommend rear heated seats~Mercedes does not offer this in the rear~not a problem though, the rear heat is excellent~