Used 2005 Mercedes-Benz C-Class Consumer Reviews
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Unbelievable car
This is the best car I have ever owned, it rides so smooth and accelerates really good for a 4 cylinder thanks to the supercharger, and it will brake one a dime. And the fuel efficiency is even better I average 30 to 35 mpg on highway and about 20 to 25 in city. And there is plenty of space in the car and trunk. The things that I wish were different on my car is the front brakes and I wish that the tires wouldn't ware out so fast, after about 20,000 miles the front tires were bald and they were new when I bought them. Other then that I will always want to have a mercedes because of this car.
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Awesome car
You can't beat a Mercedes. Well made beautiful cars..I purchased this car new and it is now going on 12 years old and in perfect condition due to my care & maintenance. I am now getting a new one.
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- C230 Kompressor SedanMSRP: $9,999150 mi away
- C230 Kompressor SedanMSRP: $6,900162 mi away
- C230 Kompressor 2dr HatchbackMSRP: $7,990168 mi away
Looks and drives like I spent more than I did!
What can I say, I love this car. It is so comfortable it feels like it was made for me. It handles well, has tons of power, and looks great. I upgraded to this from a 2002 C240, and it is a million times better. AWD is so nice. I will be hanging onto this one for a long time, only has 98,000 miles! It looks and feels like such an expensive car, but you can pick up a pretty clean C240 for a very reasonable price. Would highly recommend this if you are looking to get into the world of luxury german cars.
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Best car I have ever owned
I have owned this car for about 5 years and in that time I have grown to love it. I have owned 5 BMWs, a Lexus and an Acura and this is by far the best of the lot. The 4cyl engine is superb and smooth. I get 30-32 on the highway and 22 around town. The only downside is that Mercedes tend to eat rear tires, and since the wheels are staggered they only last about 17K miles. I will not sell this car...... ever!
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Great car but w/typical euro bugs
I've had this car for about 3 mo's and bought it used with 78k and so far it's been a decent car. My gripe is mainly the lil buggy issues. 1. Driver side front parking lamp went out, now it's working again. 2. Instrument cluster stopped working however the center digital center gauge is working fine and the dash lights still work. In other words, all the needles are at 0. It's an excellend drive and it's pretty quiet on the road/freeway but Mercedes is suppose to be a well made automobile, but with little annoying things like this coming up it could potentially make the driver not want to purchase this brand of car again. Ps: This car has automatic trans.
2005 C240 4matic
I've had the car for about 4 months, and it's a great ride. Acceleration from a stop could be a little quicker, but once you get up to speed, this car rides nice. The 4Matic works great in the snow, and heavy rain. The car feels extremely solid for a smaller luxury car, and it handles very nicely. The interior design for 2005 makes a big difference, and looks much better than Audi, or BMW.
Just Crashed and survived
We loved our C230 2005 Kompressor, decent all around car. slightly expensive to maintain, but thats not unreasonable for this type of car I write this review today for 1 reason, i flipped the car 2 x and took out a light pole on the freeway @ 60 in the rain both my lovely wife and i walked away with some very minor bruising and sore muscles, the car is totaled, all 10 air bags burst and i believe this saved us from a lot of trauma. I rate this car an 10+ for safety, if you saw it after the wreck you would have been amazed, a lesser car would not have done so well, writing this at home 24 hrs after the crash is amazing best to all
A Tiger on the Road
I bought my 2005 C230K at 67,000 mi for $13,000 three years ago and just turned 165,000 mi and am very pleased with it. I drive between Phoenix, Los Angeles and Las Vegas weekly and it has really never let me down. Plenty of kick from the supercharged 1.8L 4 cyl engine and the slap shift auto trans is great although it tends to over rev when putting it through extreme shifts at 70mph+.
There's nothing like owning one!
This is my second C-Class. My first (2001 C240) was so phenomenal that I hesitated trading it for this one. I can honestly say that this car is an improvement over my old one! Naturally it is more powerful (almost too powerful!) and it commands your attention.
Nothing but problems
Since we purchased our c-class it's been a horrible experience. Engine had tapping noise since day one, dealership said that knocking / tapping noise is normal. It leaks like crazy, you can smell oil buring in the car. We have replaced the rear main seal ($1300.00), valve cover gaskets ($650.00) and now the transfer case has to be replaced, $3000.00. Still smells and leaks. We came from Acura to MB because I have owned several older MB's and loved them but we wanted a new one. The dealership is the worst, Chevrolet dealership disguised as a MB dealership. The car is total junk, never own another one. Going to back to Acura.
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Great Car - Bad Tires
I love the car. However, in spite of the fact that I drive it less than 12,000 miles a year, and always on well-kept expressways, I have had to replace 4 of my Continental tires in the past 15 months for bulges in the sidewalls "caused by pot holes" according to my MB service rep!
Great Car with exceptional balance!
Bought it used at 13k miles in 2/2006 and it's 62K now in 6/2010. No problem whatsoever (but I don't race or abuse it though, always garaged), solid and well-built, it's powerful when needed (thanks to the Supercharger), fuel economical when driving conservatively (4 cylinder topped 36mpg in 2 hour trip on secondary hwy with A/C set to 1, backseat fits 2 adults almost 6 feet tall (my car pool). Panoramic roof fills the car with openness, trunk is so roomy and practical with both backseat folded down, styling is subjective (just the right balance- I love it!)
Great car
I love this car. It's sleek, fast, comfortable, and handles well. Fuel economy is good for a V-6 (premium fuel). The only things I would change would be the cup holders that are too small and flimsy and it would be great to have the manual transmission available. The centre console is not a lot of use if you don't opt for the Mercedes phone.
2005 C230 Kompressor
Just bought the car after comparing the Audi a4 and the BMW 3 series. Am totally sold on the Merceds design, quality of fit and finish and performance. It is the only one of the three that is distinctly recognizable as what it is. The BMW and Audi look alot like many other brands ie, Audi=volkswagen, BMW like many Japanese cars. I Love it.
This is the CAR
My First MB. It is fun to drive, takes curves like it is on rails. 1/4 clocked at 100 mph. With the adjustable steering wheel and CD Changer and all the options, it is such a luxury. My 3 year old eggs me on "Go Faster Daddy". Don't bother buying this car without the 4matic. My neighbor has one and he spends more time digging it out from the snow than driving it.
Great fun little toy, enjoy
It was a bumpy ride at first. I bought a dealer/loaner C230k from the dealership. That said, I've only had one problem with it, a blown oil line which leaked all over my garage. The maintenance is kind of costly, but it is the best auto I've ever driven. I've driven a lot cars around the world (Military). If you want a fun car this is it. Fast on the draw and will suprise you how quick it is. Sometimes it does sputters when moving at slow speeds on the highwqy trying to dodge in and out of traffic.
Best yet
I've owned 10 cars and this car keeps delivering me smiles. I've gotten 35 mpg on the way to la. I consistently get 27 mpg. This car meets all my needs and more. I bought this car used with 40k miles and it has 55k miles on it now. Carfax report says car has had transmission work done. Tranny sometimes stays in first if car is cold then shifts roughly. This is a rare occurrence.
Sleeper economy car
This car is a blast to drive and gets great fuel mileage. Average driving I get around 24.5 mpg back and forth to work (some city and some hwy) and during road trips I have gotten as high as 36 mpg. This blows away my old Taurus and this one is actually fun to drive and fun to be seen in! Bought mine used with 36k and now have 52k on it. At the last service had to have the drivers door switch panel replaced because the truck switch rattled in tune with the music (had to fight a little to get covered under warr), dealer also replaced center speaker and then replaced the cylinder head due to excessive carbon, all under warranty. Love the car and love the dealer until I see the cashier!
Not too bad...
Wanted the new SLK350, but not enough to wait for it, so I settled for a 2005 C320 4MATIC (back in August) and saved a few $'s. It's a good solid car - relatively comfortable, drives well, brakes exceptionally evenly/smoothly. Looks nice in metallic silver with the ash interior - seems to shine a little bit brighter than most other 'silver' cars (of which there are too many these days). Quality sound system. Limited back seat room when taller front seat passengers 'move 'em back'. Generous trunk space. I've had better AC systems in less expensive cars; the center arm rest/storage console is a strange size, limiting its uses. I'm happy w/the car, but not blown-away. Kind of expected to be...
Great Road Trip Car
We were looking for a midsize wagon, the C-Class was the right size for our needs, the 05 changes to both interior (big improvement to the tach and speedo layout),and exterior (wheels and body work) make this one of the best looking wagons on the market. The ride is comfortable, but firm enough for good handling and control at speed through turns.
Many Repairs
Bought this '05 4Matic certified pre- owned two years ago. I have never had a car which was this new, in the shop as many times as this! Valve cover blew, problems with the automatic window/sunroof "summer" feature in the door handle, voltage regulator replacement after dash lights kept dimming, differential replacement, and now, knocking in the front end. Interior feels cheap, radio is absolutely horrible. "Leather seating inserts" are a crafty way of saying "mostly vinyl." Loud clunking of windshield wipers, and blasting loud defroster which first makes the windows totally fogged up, then clears them. Go figure with that one.
Love it Love it Love it
Bought this car about 3 months ago used with 37k miles from the 2nd owner. It's what you expect from a german car, tight and solid but yet refined while hugging the road like a sports car. The ride is perfect, not harsh and not too loose like other non AMG models. The engine roars you through the rpm range and makes a great sound. The car is plenty quick, but it would be a monster with the 5.4 Supercharged version found in the E55
My Son's FIRST Car
Handed down by a family member, it is solid and keeps going even after 175,000 miles. Engineering is excellent and has the whole family rethinking MB for their next car. It has to have high octane gas but the mileage is excellent for it's amount of power being 6 cylinders.
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Wow!
I came out of a Porsche Boxster wanting something with four doors and performance. I did my homework and decided on the C55 AMG. I couldn't be more happier. It's faster than a Boxster and doesn't draw near the attention of a 2 seater sportscar. The tiptronic style transmission with the paddles on the steering wheel is nice but I usually simply put the car in "D". After 6 tanks of gas I'm averaging just over 20 MPG. Not too bad. The climate control works well and the cruise control and other "don't have to take you hands off the wheel" controls are perfect. The enterior as a whole is well done with the center glove box being adjustable up and down- nice touch- Awesome car
Disappionted
This car looks amazing from the outside. The handling is exceptional, too bad there are too many problems. I drove this one off the lot and have had nothing but problems. The car veered to the right and it took Mercedes 3 trips to the dealer to fix. At 10K engine leaks. I have been in the shop 7 times in 18 months for a non working radio. After having a loaner for 14 weeks I finally got MBUSA to buy back this car. Too bad because I love to drive this car but tired of the problems. Mercedes is not what it used to be. Replaced it with a 2007 Lexus 350 .
Solid - Formed Out of One Piece
I've had my wagon for almost 3 years now and love it. It has a very solid feel - it just feels like it's formed out of one piece. The seats, seating position and layout are extremely comfortable. I highly recommend this car/wagon and would quickly buy another. Beware of 'expert' reviews. I've had an Audi and the quality and feel is just not the same. My MBZ is not the fastest, but it is sporty and has plenty of pep when you need it. It handles nicely. The interior is classy (not overdone) and the exterior looks great.
A beautifully smooth ride!
Perhaps it's the Michelin tires on the car, but this has to be one of the smoothest riding cars we have owned. The only drawback, if you want to call it that, is the acceleration. Once it's moving though, it's easy to find yourself doing 90. For comparative purposes I drove the sedan, and the two ride completely different. I can't see spending another $20,000 to get the E class wagon, simply to get more speed. I doubt it could be more comfortable that this one. The gas mileage is good and will only improve once it's broken in.
Disappointed
I had always wanted a Mercedes, (who doesnt) The first six months were great, then things started to go wrong. The lighter never worked ( I'm not a smoker so it took a while for me to notice) I've needed a new catalytic converter, starter, spark plugs, vacuum hose, plus it makes a squeaky noise sometimes, not too loud but annoying just the same. It's a new car. I should not be on a first name basis with the people in the service department, though they do wash my car after every visit
So much fun
Tthis car is awesome. I have never been so excited to just go out and drive. Getting my car a little sideways at times, and racing occasionally have brought back my love for driving. All of this, and a very comfortable ride, and just unbridled power. Mileage is a little small. However I guess compared to competitors, it's better. So that's a plus for me.
A fun to drive fuel efficient hatch
Wanted to share with everyone my experience with the 2005 C230 coupe. Bought the car when it had 17000 miles from a Nissan dealer. So far have put 11000 more miles. No problems at all. Best of all the fuel economy on the car is superb. I usually get 300-320 miles out of a tank combined city/highway driving. And I live in NYC. That should say a lot. Car has great handling, not very fast, but I think it's because I have an auto, not a stick. Nonetheless for someone who wants a Benz that is compact, problem- free and fun to drive I really recommend the car. One other feature I like is that it comes from factory with a sport exhaust. Has that nice low sound when you accelerate. Thank you
Interior Leather Quality
Great car but few problems since I bought the car. Engine is excellent. Interior leather is not of a good quality especially arm rest and center console-peeling. Other small problems such as sensors malfunctions.
When your New Benz Breaks Down
I bought this car on August 1st and she was in the shop on August 5th. Things happen. But guess what....Mercedes does have 2005 parts in stock in US...or Germany. After two months of driving a loaner. I started with letters to MBUSA. Threat of Lawsuits...etc. Finally, since the dealer was waiting till the cows came home. MBUSA intervened, they have asked someone to send the part over from factory. It is now October 20 and I am still waiting for my car.
The Machine
This is the best "sedan" on the market for less than 60K. After a test drive in the S4, I was sold. The C55 is worth the extra $8K. The visability in the S4 is terrible and the Audi "V8" feels and sounds more like a turbocharged V6. I looked at the CTS- V and didn't bother to test drive it. The interior looked like crap. Caddy needs to get on board if they plan to sell cars in that price range. The C55 is a machine and handles like a car should. I test drove a CL65 ($235K)and the car did not make the driver feel that you were in control. The C55 is the only Mercedes-Benz that I have driven that felt like a BMW. I cannot understand why one would buy an E320 or E500 instead of a C55.
A few prob. but A DREAM to drive & own!!
The style of this baby benz is AWESOME! I have a black interior, black exterior 2005 C240. I bought it on 7/27/04.It shines like a jewel!I also bought a vanity plate for the front. It cost $85 extra-it is black with a silver benz symbol & a silver frame. I love driving this car! I get LOTS of compliments, and there are many great features to brag about. Rear window shade, 6 CD changer, wood trim, rain sensor, retractable sunroof, the list goes on & on. I bought every available warranty that was offered on this car -tire warranty, windshield warranty, paint, interior & exterior finish warranty, GAP insurance, extended warranties - the works, it's worth the extra cost.
Best Car I've ever owned!
I love this car, it is not the fastest car I have ever owned but is more than fast enough. It is not the best MPG car I have ever owned but gets far better mileage than any other car I know of with similar performance. It turns heads even though it is a 5 year old design, I love the Mars red color. I haven't had it long enough to really evaluate reliability, but have talked to several owners who have had now significant problems including one who's daughter has been driving one since she got her license and with 156k on it still loves the car. Mine is a one owner and has only 40k miles on it, it looks, drives, and smells like a brand new car. My Mileage has averaged about 20 city, 30 hwy.
first but not the last
I test drove the 325 BMW and thought it was the car for me. The C230 has more style, more sex appeal, and has alot more bells and whistles than a 325 of the same price range. The engine pulls with gobs of torque, quick response steering and is built to last. It is my first Mercedes but wont be my last. I have had 37 cars over the past 20 years. It is one of the best purchases I have ever made. Buy it, you won't be disappointed.
Pocket Rocket
Although a little pricey, this car is worth every cent. After owning other Mercedes, a BMW, a Corvette and a Ferrari, I can honestly say that this car is the most fun and the most practical to drive. It has excellent road manners whether in the city or out on the highway. Even after opening it up on the road, it still gets around 20 mpg. The engine is a masterpiece in sound, speed and appearance. The suspension is fantastic and the tires work very hard. I can only begin to imagine what the C63 will be like.
A Solid Sedan
I traded my 2000 SLK 230 for this car, and I don't miss my old roadster. Handling is awesome and impressive-- better than my SLK. This car is solid Mercedes all around and feels like one of the more expensive models. I had the 230 Sport loaned to me one day and it doesn't even come close to my car in performance--the 320 is a better package. The quality is superb and I find it more fun to drive than my Dad's new E500. The car turns heads and the design is sexy. Interior design is great, but can use more room in the back seat. No complaints so far, except, I could use a little more power when I punch the gas at the stop light... One day I'll upgrade to an AMG model!
Excellent Used Car.
I bought a pristine 2005 used C240 4Matic in 2007 and have been extremely thrilled by the car and service from MB. Drives great, interior is the best in its class and I think the exterior is very iconic. The 4matic has been a great feature for the Snow here in Rochester, NY. The car is extremely solid and you feel very safe no matter your driving conditions.
What a beast!
What a car...If you want unbelievable performance and the highest quality small sports sedan, this is it! Driving down the road is a unique experience, a "wolf in sheeps clothing"! Those who know about this rocket burner give you an unsolicited thumbs up! Those who don't know about this car just stare at it wondering if it is "something new". But it can be quite tame around town, kind of a duel personality! I've driven them all... BMW's, Audi's, other Mercedes, This one drives with an edge rarely seen in a production car. What do you expect? The engine is hand built. The others don't offer that!
AWESOME
This car has far exceeded my expectations for a lower end Merc. Its absolutely wonderful to drive. Deliberate at slow speeds, aggressive with optimized shift points, growl, with more torque than a BMW 330i which I was going to buy. Much better looking ride and a dealer who deals. Middle aged men and women stare at car commenting daily. Safety is unreal.
first one on the road
This car is fun to drive as the power is incredible. acceleration and handling excellent. drawbacks are the car rides stiff and rough due to the low profile tires. the tiptronic sometimes downshifts by itself and the integrated phone system is not very good.
YOU NEED THIS!
there is absolutly nothing that you need besides this car. we waited until this year because the last model's headlights and interior were cheap feeling/looking but any more!
One Bad Benz
I love this car! As a (former?) Porschephile I can appreciate the raw power and the usual German quality this car provides. It's a keeper. Sometimes the transmission seems to have a mind of its own as I find myself in manual mode at the strangest times. Maybe I'm hitting the paddle and not realizing it? The power is awesome, the low profile tires make it really handle well and the exterior is mundane enough as to not draw attention from the cops. What a deal!
Diamond Black C55
This vehicle has surpassed my expectations. I had two M3's before this car. I miss the exterior design of the M3, but nothing else. This car's interior is first rate. The stereo is first rate (unlike the M3 it can handle bass). The ride is nicer than the M3 as well. I understand they cancelled the C55. I guess they couldn't fit the 6.3 litre motor in the compartment. Its a shame because I think this is a perfect small sports sedan. One of the best I have driven.
C320 4Matic
This is every bit a Mercedes. It may be the entry level but it lacks nothing in handling, luxury or safety and fit. You pull up next to a Cadillac and you know why you chose Mercedes.
Best Car I've ever owned
My main features: Noise and MPG. Almost no wind noise, very little road noise, and slightly more engine noise. Quieter than my 1995 Lexus ES 300, yet not nearly as quiet as the 2007 ES 350 I test drove. Best mpg in its class (compact luxury vehicles). I routinely get 26+ mpg on the freeway and 20-23 in town. It has tighter German suspension than the US and Japanese cars I've been driving and it accelerates smoothly and quickly. All in all, its the most fun car I've ever driven. I actually go out of my way to find longer routes because I enjoy driving it so much. Cons: $200 for 1 key, $2000 to use the installed phone, $500 to hook up my ipod. Ridiculous! Even Cobalt has this free.
Great car, fast and responsive
I loved mine, it ran great, handled like a go-kart. The steering was very responsive, very predictable in corners. I looked at the Mini, as well, and both came with the 6-speed manual trans, I chose the Benz. More room, the hatch-back and rear fold-down seating allowed great cargo space. As a musician, carrying a couple of guitars and an amp. Now, I do have one huge gripe; and this was after the car was paid off. The stereo crapped out. The dealer wanted a ton of money to replace it, if I recall it was $1000 more or less. I found a used one for a LOT less. I talked the their Corporate HQ in New Jersey and was told that the dealer could program it to my vehicle for a small fee. I took the old one out, put the new one in, it worked for about 30 seconds, the displayed an error message that it needed programming. OK so far. I took the car to the dealer, and here is where my relationship with Mercedes ended, and it could have been so easy, because I really loved the car. The service department treated me like I was an idiot. He told me they would need to charge me 200 dollars to diagnose the problem. I laughed and asked if he was serious! He said yes. I told him about the conversation I had with their Corp HQ, and he flat out refused to do anything without the 200 dollar "evaluation fee." I told him to give me back my keys, went home, go the title, and traded the car for a Ford Mustang at a different dealership. I will never own another Mercedes because of this. It may seem trivial, but as a matter of principle, I will not patronize any company that treats their customers like that. I should add that I am an Engineer; I work on very complicated medical equipment, and am quite capable of determining if a radio is working or some other problem makes it seem like the radio is defective.
The Best Used Car You Can Purchase
Bought this car used for 13.5K in 2010 with 60K miles. Surprisingly at this price point in 2010 other cars of different brands did not come equipped with side airbags (Chevy, Ford, etc.) excluding BMW which was more expensive and Asian cars which I wouldnt touch for fear of build quality. Even though this car is the entry level model of Mercedes build quality is unreal. When you shut the doors you feel like you are in a concert hall. Very good audio, hardly any rattles, incredibly solid and heavy door feel and overall what you expect from true German engineering. Next comes the drive.. Oh My Gosh. The supercharger kicks in at very low RPMs and the steering is tight and precise.
Maintenance Queen
Had car since it was new. 2005 Mercedes C-230 Kompressor. Don't get me wrong the car is beautiful and is a jet when it comes to ride and handling but thats not what we use it for. The car is a daily to work and back car and every now and then a road trip maybe one state over. it seems like every week there is some expensive service that needs to be done on it. The car eats tires due to a poor suspension geometry, and you have to change the brakes every 20k miles it seems like. The car leaks oil and constantly showing error messages. I pride myself at maintaining my cars but I cant seem to stay on top with this one. Getting rid of it as soon as possible. 90k on it now.