I'm currently looking at used Mercedes and want some input as to what is a better choice, the
C230 Kompressor 2 dr coupe with 4 cylinders, or C320 2dr with the V6?? Both are 2003 models

 

If you mean C230 like in your post, this applies. If you mean CL230 as in the title, it doesn't I'm confused... :P

I have the C230 Hatchback/coupe. It gets good enough gas mileage, drives nice. It handles well and drives smoothly. Friends of mine who have ridden with me have noticed most of all that it drives very smooth. Not too much road noise or wind noise. Handling is pretty good. The leather upholstry is a little too stiff, doesn't feel as luxurious as some others. The back doesn't have much room at all. Long items don't fit in the trunk, but if you fold down the back seats you have a ton of storage. There isn't a trunk release button inside, or on the remote - you have to open it from the back by the handle. (On mine this is annoying because it doesn't open easily - needs to be fixed.) I like how it looks.

It has 190 HP and only 4 cylinders, but still feels zippy - not Porsche like granted, but not too bad. At start up the engine will sound odd, but that's normal for the C230. It sounds normal after a minute or so. (Something about the supercharger) It's a pretty fun car to drive, but I haven't driven the C320 to compare. All I can legitimately compare it with is the S500 - my dad's car, and that isn't exactly fair since that car costs more than twice as much.

The C320 should have a bit more power to it though, but I didn't even know if they had a coupe version of the C320 when I was looking at the C230. I don't know how easy it would be to find one. I have only seen one and it was a 2005.