C230 Kompressor

[iceburns288]

Ok, my sister wants one of these. As a first car! I'm trying to talk her into some sense. The fact that she's a bad driver and paying for more body panels for the German car from parking lot incidents won't be any fun...

Well, I recommended a TON of BETTER cars for the money. Or even less money!
Scion tC
Honda Accord
BMW 3-series
BMW 6-series (you can get an 01 645 for the same price as an 02 C230)!!! (or a 5-series)
Audis... various ones... A3, A4, etc
Toyota ANYTHING

I'd honestly love for her to get this car just so she can see what a stupid decision it was. When it breaks every week, she'll see what I mean by "Mercedes quality control problems". The problem is that she thinks that, because of the badge on the hood, the car will be amazing. I told her there's a reason it's the bottom of the line car! I try to tell my dad... but I think he just thinks I'm jealous that she may get a Mercedes as a first car. wtf?? I hate this thing! I think they both think I hate it because I'm jealous.

Anyways, I'm looking for y'all's opinions on this car. And what I should do. And alternatives.

Thanks in advance, especially to M5Power because he can give me some awesome paragraph about how much he doesn't like it

Related-ish thread:
https://www.gtplanet.net/forum/showthread.php?t=29459&page=2&pp=20&highlight=c230+kompressor

 

[McLaren]

Yeah, there are much better.
The C230 Sport Sedan isn't bad, but the Kompressor?

C'mon, she wants it because of the logo. To make her look cool.

 

[JCE]

Yeah, there are much better.
The C230 Sport Sedan isn't bad, but the Kompressor?

C'mon, she wants it because of the logo. To make her look cool.

Offtopic: Hey McLaren which of the 3 years is your 1st gen VR4? You should take it by my work one of these days and let me take a peek at it. I miss my '93 VR4 I had. I swear if I ever find a cheap '93 or '94 I'm buying it just because. 👍

Ontopic: Oh god...another topic about a girl's first car being an expensive Merc...will it ever end? I suggest she get a tC, Honda Civic (god I hate these, but they are great first cars for teenagers), Nissan Altima, Mazda6 Sport, Hyundai Tiburon (V6 model since the 4cyl is rubbish), or maybe an A3 if she wants some more luxury vs the others I mentioned. A Merc is just asking for trouble I think...but that's just my opinion. 👍

 

[Emohawk]

I don't think there's any way to talk her out of it, and it doesn't seem likely you'll be able to talk your dad (who's paying for it?) out of it either. I'd focus on him though.

I try to tell my dad... but I think he just thinks I'm jealous that she may get a Mercedes as a first car. wtf?? I hate this thing! I think they both think I hate it because I'm jealous.

Didn't you say you have a 360 Modena? How could you possibly be jealous of a C230?

 

[Young_Warrior]

Eh how will mercs break down everyweek. Unless your some idiot driver who rapes the car everytime he drives it and then doesnt service it by competent mechanics when its ment to be serviced then like everycar it will break down. In the UK I have yet to see a merc by the roadside that wasnt older than 15 years. Same goes for audis and BMW's. As long as you service them when you should they will run just fine.

Why reccomend a 6 or 5 series to your sister when its a big car that shes alot moe likely to have shunts in and surely she doesnt need such a big car in the first place.

Tell her to get a A3. She could get basically a new 2.0 quattro with everytoy and upgrade imagineable and it would still be cheaper than the merc and they hold their value well but so does the merc.

Audi all the way really perfect small luxury car for a woman.

 

[Young_Warrior]

Didn't you say you have a 360 Modena? How could you possibly be jealous of a C230?

He's 15.

 

[Cap'n Jack]

Bah, my sister wants a Kompressor too.

 

[benzoboy]

Oh god...another topic about a girl's first car being an expensive Merc...will it ever end?

I totally agree, some guy near my house, his 17 year old daughter had just passed her driving test, he bought her (He's quite rich, got a nice Lambo) bought her a Mercedes-Benz CLK320 Kompressor, 2 days later the front bumper was destroyed, now his Lambo has gone due to the money he had to pay, OUCHY!

 

[Wolfe]

Ok, my sister wants one of these. As a first car! I'm trying to talk her into some sense. The fact that she's a bad driver and paying for more body panels for the German car from parking lot incidents won't be any fun...

Well, I recommended a TON of BETTER cars for the money. Or even less money!
Scion tC
Honda Accord
BMW 3-series
BMW 6-series (you can get an 01 645 for the same price as an 02 C230)!!! (or a 5-series)
Audis... various ones... A3, A4, etc
Toyota ANYTHING

I'd honestly love for her to get this car just so she can see what a stupid decision it was. When it breaks every week, she'll see what I mean by "Mercedes quality control problems". The problem is that she thinks that, because of the badge on the hood, the car will be amazing. I told her there's a reason it's the bottom of the line car! I try to tell my dad... but I think he just thinks I'm jealous that she may get a Mercedes as a first car. wtf?? I hate this thing! I think they both think I hate it because I'm jealous.

Anyways, I'm looking for y'all's opinions on this car. And what I should do. And alternatives.

Thanks in advance, especially to M5Power because he can give me some awesome paragraph about how much he doesn't like it

Related-ish thread:
https://www.gtplanet.net/forum/showthread.php?t=29459&page=2&pp=20&highlight=c230+kompressor

Sounds like all of the comments I got before I bought my car... "What? You won't get a BMW for your first car!" and "The 318i is the bottom-of-the-line model, it'll be crappy!" and "It's an E30, those break down a lot, if you really want a 3-series, get an E36 or E46."

So, considering I know what it's like to be on the other side of this type of argument, the first thing you need to do is calm down, stop yelling and using the word hate (an interpretation from your post here), and suggest things that would be better than the Merc because they're better, not because the Merc is worse.

Show her some of the positive aspects of the cars you're recommending, and do it in a friendly way. Keep at it if you believe so strongly in it, and if she gets the Merc anyway, feel free to gloat if it backfires. If it doesn't, then you might have a credibility problem, as far as your dad and sister are concerned...

 

[McLaren]

Offtopic: Hey McLaren which of the 3 years is your 1st gen VR4? You should take it by my work one of these days and let me take a peek at it. I miss my '93 VR4 I had. I swear if I ever find a cheap '93 or '94 I'm buying it just because. 👍

Ontopic: Oh god...another topic about a girl's first car being an expensive Merc...will it ever end? I suggest she get a tC, Honda Civic (god I hate these, but they are great first cars for teenagers), Nissan Altima, Mazda6 Sport, Hyundai Tiburon (V6 model since the 4cyl is rubbish), or maybe an A3 if she wants some more luxury vs the others I mentioned. A Merc is just asking for trouble I think...but that's just my opinion. 👍

Got a '93 as well.
I had mine, however, shipped from Hawaii.

 

[Danoff]

I think it's a good choice. They're good looking, comfortable, they handle well, and there's ample power. Sounds like your sister is smart.

 

[1X83Z]

It's a disgusting choice, and a horrible car. Truly one of the worst values on today's market. Do as you (or your sister) wish(es).

I've owned a Mercedes for twenty months and not experienced a single problem with it. I bought it lightly used, too (it was a demo car for the first four or so months of its life). Note that this is my own personal experience and not the gospel.

(you can get an 01 645 for the same price as an 02 C230)!!!

Honestly, I'd pay upwards of $150k for an '01 645. Hell, I'd probably pay $200k. Of course, I'd also pay to see a flying pig, a frozen hell, and a well-engineered Saab, three other things that don't exist.

 

[iceburns288]

I think it's a good choice. They're good looking, comfortable, they handle well, and there's ample power. Sounds like your sister is smart.

Nearly all of those qualities are subjective... I personally think it's ugly.

She isn't smart though. She doesn't want the car, she wants the badge. So far, she says she won't drive anything Japanese or American. Or a BMW.

That leaves out... Honda, Toyota, Lexus, (I think 3 of the 4 highest-rated car companies in terms of reliability and service) and Acura... followed by all the American Big 3 derivatives (Dodge, Chrysler, Plymouth, all that) and of course BMW. Which leaves... Audi and Mercedes. And she won't drive anything that one of her friends has, and one of them has an A4. So nevermind.

On another note, sorry about the mistake on the 645... I just tried to remember what I saw in a classified mag while both of us were looking at it. It was something... similar. I dunno.

Anyways, it just makes me mad that the only reason she wants the Merc is because she won't drive anything else and it's really snobby! I mean, have you seen the standard options list on a tC? It's absolutely incredible for such an inexpensive car. I'd personally love a tC, I've even told my dad that.

Also, I dunno if I emphasized this in the first post... she's not a very good driver. I'd actually go to say she's nearly a bad driver. Mercedes are just simply not for teenagers with no experience who are even bad drivers compared to other teenagers. She already hit two things with our Yukon...

 

[JNasty4G63]

On a side note to this topic, I really hate it when people call these cars "Kompressors" when talking about them. If it says "230" on the back, its got the supercharger, thats a given. That would be like Subaru calling it the WRX Turbo. We know its turbo, its a WRX. Just bugs me, thats all.

Hilg

 

[1X83Z]

Agreed, though I'd like to point out that original C230s (1997 and 1998) weren't supercharged:

1994-2000 Mercedes C-class

 

[JNasty4G63]

True. Let me rephrase. If it says "230" on the back, AND its a newer C-Class, its a given that its supercharged. But, I'm glad that I'm not the only one who's bugged by that. Its even worse on the bigger "55" and "65" models who have the big badges on the fenders. Ugh, thats lame.

Hilg

 

[Young_Warrior]

Audi A3.

 

[TsLeng]

True. Let me rephrase. If it says "230" on the back, AND its a newer C-Class, its a given that its supercharged. But, I'm glad that I'm not the only one who's bugged by that. Its even worse on the bigger "55" and "65" models who have the big badges on the fenders. Ugh, thats lame.

Hilg

LOL! same over here. Any merc with a 'K' or kompressor badge is usually called a KOMPRESSOR!

Worse, any merc or BMW with 2 doors/look like a sports car is called.......'a merc/BMW SPORT'

Try telling someone you drive a merc sport...hahahahahahaha....

And those who usally do this think they know loads about cars.

 

[Ghost C]

...Snip...

Also, I dunno if I emphasized this in the first post... she's not a very good driver. I'd actually go to say she's nearly a bad driver. Mercedes are just simply not for teenagers with no experience who are even bad drivers compared to other teenagers. She already hit two things with our Yukon...

Tell her to buy a Cadillac. Pretty much any Cadillac. Better value, better car, less chance you'll die or be seriously injured in an accident.

When she won't do it, and gets the C230, I'll drop by your house and race her. When she gets flailed on by a fifteen year old grandma car, she might reconsider and want to sell the thing.

 

[Young_Warrior]

Since when were modern cadillacs good cars?

 

[Ghost C]

Since when were they not? If you're going to come in with some sort of cheap shot like that, you should probably back up your opinion with some sort of logic, as you're going to get laughed at any other way.

 

[Young_Warrior]

The escalade comapred to say a x5 is crap.

 

[Young_Warrior]

and the bls and xlr arent exactly challenging for class leading position neither.

 

[Ghost C]

That's it? All you have to back up your opinion is more opinion? And then you go on to mention the 300C (Nice edit, by the way), which isn't even a Cadillac. I especially enjoy talking to people who rule out American cars as a whole, as they usually think they know what they're talking about when they don't(id est, you).

Do the research, and grow up. Come back and talk to me when you have a clue.

 

[Danoff]

Nearly all of those qualities are subjective... I personally think it's ugly.

She isn't smart though. She doesn't want the car, she wants the badge. So far, she says she won't drive anything Japanese or American. Or a BMW.

Well then you're right, she isn't smart. But The Mercedes is still a good choice, regardless of how she came to the conclusion. I don't know how you can think it's ugly (we are talking about the sedan right?).

C230 Kompressor ^^

It's a disgusting choice, and a horrible car. Truly one of the worst values on today's market.

That depends on your criteria.


Edit: I'm starting to think we're talking about the coupe, which I tend to block out of my mind as ever having been made. If we are, then I'm with you guys. I don't like to be reminded that one exists.

 

[Young_Warrior]

That's it? All you have to back up your opinion is more opinion? And then you go on to mention the 300C (Nice edit, by the way), which isn't even a Cadillac. I especially enjoy talking to people who rule out American cars as a whole, as they usually think they know what they're talking about when they don't(id est, you).

Do the research, and grow up. Come back and talk to me when you have a clue.

You said it caddy was better than merc. They are not that was my whole point.

 

[iceburns288]

I mean that thing...

 

[Omnis]

My grandma has a C230 Kompressor. It's a pretty cool car, actually. Not my favorite in the WHOLE ENTIRE WORLD, but it's a nice, go-karty ride. My dad drives the **** out of it, though. It's only boring depending on how you drive it. 👍

 

[Danoff]

I mean that thing...

Yea, that thing is awful. Like I said, I try to forget that it even exists in the mercedes lineup. Try to convince your sister to get the sedan.

 

[Wolfe]

That's it? All you have to back up your opinion is more opinion? And then you go on to mention the 300C (Nice edit, by the way), which isn't even a Cadillac. I especially enjoy talking to people who rule out American cars as a whole, as they usually think they know what they're talking about when they don't(id est, you).

Do the research, and grow up. Come back and talk to me when you have a clue.

The new Caddy's are impressive, but they're hardly class-leaders, as Young_Warrior said. There are GM quality issues, as usual, including the fit and finish of the interior, the sportier models' handling characteristics are merely "on par," and the more "luxurious" components, such as the navigation systems and whatnot, are usually below-standard, yet cost a good chunk of cash.

Now, let me ask you why you think the Caddy's are so much better, especially when it comes to crash safety?

And why do you feel the need to say (severly paraphrased) "omg my car has a powerful engine so I'll make your sister feel stupid by driving fast in a straight line"

(Edit: Oh, nevermind, I've seen your cardomain page, now...I thought you were one of those guys with a crazy sleeper american sedan...now I see that you just have a 4.9L-engined DeVille that can out-accelerate the 2.3L C230 to 60mph by about half a second...)

I don't enjoy talking to americans who rule out foreign cars as a whole; they usually assume they're the only ones who know what they're talking about, and will pounce on anyone who disagrees with them in a bloody rage.


@iceburns and danoff: Aww, what's wrong with the coupe? I think it's a neat little car. Next you're gonna tell me you also hate the BMW 3-series compacts...