Hi, I just registered and this is my first posting. I am currently shopping for a W202 C-class for my father. He recently totalled his 1995 C220 which had over 200k miles and was a very good little car.

It wasn't his fault, someone pulled in out directly in front of him ona 55mph 2 lane rural highway. He hit her in the back rear/quarter panel at about 45-50 mph and she was probably almost stopped. Both airbags in his C220 deployed and the car held up very well (as expected for the little tank). He is OK with a few bruises but the car is a write off.

I am helping him look for a replacement W202. We are looking for a car in excellent shape with as low miles as we can find.

He is open to both a C280 and a C230 Kompressor. My question is how reliable are the Kompressors vs the C280's? What needs to be looked at specific to each one.

Should one definitely be considered over the other from a reliability/problem standpoint?

I am very familiar with buying used German cars, but need to be educated on the W202's.

Thanks.

 

Where are you located I have a 2000 C280 Sport for sale with only 70,000Miles. Check my post on the forsale/classified area of this forum.

 

Jim,

I'm a noobe too this is my second reply! No posts yet!

My wife and I bought our2004 C230 Kompressor in August 2007 and it had only 22,000 on it. We bought it certified pre-oned from a delaer in WV. I was very happy with the car.

For us, this car is not a daily driver. We take it out on the weekend, mainly sunday drives, but I occasionally speed around the turns to have fun

I just wanted to say I love our car and I think you dad would like one too.

My only comments I have against it are that sometime I cant shift very quickly in the lower gears 1-3. I attribute this mainly to driver error, but the trans does seem a little tight. I also find the automatic wiper sensor gets a little carriees away in light rain. Other that that no complaints.

In my reaserch, I found a lot of performance fanatics say that the V6 was not quite as powerfull in the high end. Plus the 4-matic seemed to slow things down a bit. The gas MPG was a little less, but the low end was exceptional, and the ability to get around in snow better than the RWD Kompressor. There's pro's and cos'n either way for me.

I am partial to 4-matic, however mine was too good of a deal to pass up. I cant speak for the relieability, since we have only had ours for less than a year, but no problem yet!

Good luck in your search!

 

Jim, I just got a '07 C280 4matic and I couldn't be happier. I have a feeling that you will get this responce most of the time. These cars C280, C230 doesn't matter. They are great cars and like Enginerd, I am a 4matic fan. I had an A4 v6 Quattro for 9 years and had a lot of seperation anxiety as it too was a great reliable car. After a few days in the Benz I was saying ....What Audi? As far as MB reliability goes, you should search the web. I think what you will find here are mostly the lovers of these cars. There are a ton of people that never come here yet have issues. One more thing. I also agree with Enginerd on the wiper thing. The automatic wipers can get ouit of control in a light rain. I think they think we are doing 90 in a down pour and then all of a sudden they realize where they are.

Good luck, Greg

 

"I think they think we are doing 90 in a down pour and then all of a sudden they realize where they are." Its almost like what they say in the MB commercial her ein America wher it shows the ML63 AMG Driving thre rain at high speeds. The person says "Someone will need a wiper that performs at autobahn speeds"