sponger_pr

Im currently in the market and these two cars are very similar accross the line in most aspects other than the price tag. The C230 can be found pre-owned for what a TC is going new. With the TRD supercharger, the horsepower almost equals, with the slight advantage to the TC. Nevertheless, this is a MBenz.

What is it about the maintenance of a MBenz that everyone fears? The car is mechanical and not driven by a nuclear plant. I might be wrong Please help me understand the comparison or lack of between these two cars. Clearly a newer car is always a better deal, but I've read plenty of guys have considered the C230 but have not elaborated in depth as for why they did not choose the C230.
The TC is a beautiful car but unfortunately does not carry the WoW factor that any Mercedes brings to your purchase. Also, I cannot find any performance upgrades for the C230
Thanks----awesome site.

TheQuietThings

I'm pretty sure the tC will catch more looks than your average/lower end mercedes.

Mercedes are just EXPENSIVE to keep up with. A mercerdes axle may cost double of a toyota axle. - This just a principle, not a specific example.

GT4Dreams

Insurance, cost of part if an when something goes wrong, insurance....

io333

I made the comparison the other day in another thread...

I just went digging around and can't find the thread.

Anyway, I made the point in that thread that the tC is pretty much a copy of the MB -- except that the MB is a PIECE OF JUNK. Seriously.

I've been driving European cars pretty much exclusively for the last 25 years, except for an Integra or two. European cars are just overpriced for what you get. I think the MB is a slightly nicer looking car, but I'll take Toyota reliability over that any day.

THE_DON

If it was a simple as just picking between the two, I'd take the Benz.
When you actually have to PAY for one or the other, it's all about how much you want to invest.
People (especially economy car owners) can trash the C230, but you get what you pay for.
Comparing it to a tC is apples and oranges.

Sure, you can look at performance numbers, but are you buying a Benz with the intentions of "racing" Scions at the stoplight?
My friend had a C230 sedan, and rolling in it made you feel like a million bucks. Much more upscale and comfortable than most cars in it's class...
He never had any problems with it, and all of the scheduled maintenance was free. He bought it new though, around $31k loaded.






-THE DON

TcDepo

A Benz will always be a Benz

A Scion will always be a Scion that all i gotta say

Skunk

My friend down in Tampa just traded his Grand Cherokee in for a 2003 C230 Kompressor sedan last week. Pewter with black/carbon fiber interior and sport package. He has sent me pictures of it, and I can't wait to go down and check it out. Very nice looking car. I hope he doesn't have any problems with it, though most problems with modern MBs are limited to electronic issues.

His dad just bought a loaded Navigator on 24" Giovannas that used to belong to one of the lineman for the Bucs two days ago. Traded his Expedition for $26K, bought the Navigator for $35K and is selling the wheels for $5K. Not a bad deal at all!

io333

We're not talking about the newest sedan, rather the C230K coupe that was discontinued in 2005. It really was a piece of junk. Horrendous problems, especially electrical. It can't be trusted to get you to the grocery store. It is much quieter inside though, cause of the 6th gear and much more sound insulation. I wish the tC had more sound insulation from the factory and a 6th gear -- although if it did, it would start cutting into Lexus sales.

Setarcos4131

I have a tC and my friend has a black c230kompressor. All I have to really say is that yes, they are nice..but I noticed you mention hp...the MB is HEAVY.... at 200hp supercharged rwd 4 cylinder...it loses a lot of its hp...and all the sudden..they aren't as fast anymore...I think if ur looking for luxury go for the MB and if u want speed, and well more aftermarket options as a whole..the tC is where it's at hands down with not nearly as big of a price tag like the C230k would have...With this said...this is why my friend is exactly in the works of trading his c230k in and getting a 350z

TcDepo

if u want a quick classy comfortable car get the MB

if u wanna do racin and get into trouble get a sports car

the MB symbol badge in the front of the car would make me feel good

dskinner

The only reason to get into the MB over the tC would be to have the status symbol of driving a "fine German automobile." Just do one thing before even considering the MB, look at the track record and reliability ratings. MB is currently in the Cadillac and VW class of reliability.

iyzmi

Cadillac and VW are bad? I've never heard bad things about Cadillac and few about VW. Are they really that bad?

iyzmi

Personally I think the exterior is ugly, I'd take a tC over it any day, but the interior of the c230 is very nice. I wouldn't buy the coup, I'd get the sedan if I had a choice. Overall, tC, but your asking this on a Scion forum, opinions might be a bit biased .

ddsboi

ugly, id tke a yc or even a box over tht anyday

SilverRSXJezus

Cadillac isn't that bad in terms of reliability...


VW, on the other hand, is sort of infamous.

OldYeller

Mercedes quality is not what it once was. The Japanese cars regularly get better consumer ratings. If things are what they use to be, you would expect to pay double at least for parts.

sponger_pr

All good points. Today I saw a c320 AMG. I had never heard of it. I was told is the 6-cyl big brother of the c230 coupe and rated somewhere in the 230 hp. Those cars are nice inside but parts seem to be scarce.

As far as reliability, today I also found that maintanance is done on an average once a year and is determined by a self diagnosis triggered by the ECU. The speedometer will flash a maintanance light. The Dealer will charge aroun $320 for the yearly maintance and according to the dealer, they use Mobile 1 synthetic. I never heard a car getting an oil change once a year, obviously depending on your driving style. Furthermore. MB will refuse to perform maintance if your time is not up. Apparently doing maintanance before the diagnosis will screw the pattern.

iyzmi

Synthetic oil only needs to be changed once a year. I've never heard of a dealer using Mobile 1 synthetic for oil changes, they usually use cheap crap.

Vroooom

mersedez, BMW, Porshe, Vw/Audi all put on Mobil 1 0w-40

TrafficinLA

Nice to hear that the MB badge makes you feel good, but I'm not one for badge-whoring so I'll take my best-value Scion and save the other $14,000 or so for other things.