Awesome!
I'm not a car expert, but I know what I like - and this car is it! I purchased my 2002 C230 coupe in 2005 with only 22,000 miles on it. It was the best decision I could have made. Truthfully, I debated on taking a chance on buying this car after reading so many negative things about the reliability issues that plagued Mercedes. After one test-drive though, my heart overruled my head and I bought it. I'm glad I did. It was in pristine condition and had obviously been well taken care of. It now has almost 48,000 miles on it and still going strong. I've just had to change the tires so far, which I knew beforehand would wear out quicker than on other cars. Other than that, just routine maintainence. As much as I love this car, I'm not naive. Things can go wrong - and they can be expensive. I realize that the upkeep on this car is going to cost me more than other vehicles. If you buy this car, be prepared to put aside at least $100/mo. for expenses. No more running into Jiffy Lube for a quick oil change - in the DC area, service A or B can cost between $300-$500 or more. It can hurt. To cut down on potentially expensive problems, I made sure that I got as few electronic "gadgets" in it as possible. Obviously, the more electronics, the bigger chance things can go wrong - and there is usually only one person in the whole area (probably named Dieter) who can fix it. If you still feel fearful, spring for the extended warranty. Despite these issues, I would still recommend this car to anyone. Like I said, I'm not an expert on torque or whatever, but I can say that while the acceleration is not as brisk as my 1996 Honda Prelude, this car can really move. It is super fun to drive and I actually enjoy my daily commute to work. Everyone who drives my car loves it - and it turns heads everywhere it goes.
- Happy Driver, 2002 Mercedes-Benz C230
