OT: Mercedes Benz C230.....

[bigbet1234]

Anyone have one of these cars? Been years since I owned a car, have always had a truck. Thinking of trading the ole' Tacoma in for a new car, the new C230's have caught my eye.

BB

[WVU]

have test driven every car in this class. Go with the BMW 325i or 330i. My 2nd choice would be the new Lexus IS 300. The BMW drives nicer than any other car hands down

[lionking]

get a new bmw, my gf's dad has the new one....2006.... classy, sporty, fast and handles like a dream

[bigbet1234]

Like the 325i's. The new BMW body style isnt for me really, dont care for it. I like the M3 BMW has out. I will check the BMW's out too, I like those cars, just not the newer body style.

BBhave test driven every car in this class. Go with the BMW 325i or 330i. My 2nd choice would be the new Lexus IS 300. The BMW drives nicer than any other car hands down

[maxdemo]

http://www.autoweek.com/files/specials/2005_newyork/is350/images/z2006_IS_350_09.jpgLike The outgoing IS, the all-new, second-generation aims squarely for the BMW 3-series. But unlike the last one, this latest model looks to be a real, credible threat to the Bimmer's dominance as Lexus shows a new commitment to pouring more performance into their well-engineered luxury machines. If the 2006 IS follows the path charted by the new GS, it will be more athletic, more involving, and more fun to drive than the previous model. The IS--which bowed at the Geneva Motor Show before making its U.S. debut in New York--will be available as either the IS250 or IS350, each badge indicating a choice of two V-6s. The IS250 (which is expected to comprise 70-80% of volume) will get the same 204-hp, 2.5-liter unit available in the Euro-spec car while the IS350 will be powered by a mostly new, 3.5-liter mill (it shares its block with the engine found in the new Avalon). The larger engine is expected to pump out more than 300 hp--an increase of approximately 100 hp over the outgoing car's in-line six. Transmission options are limited to one in all 3.5-liter cars and the all-wheel-drive IS250: a six-speed automatic. Rear-driven IS250s will be available with either the autobox or a six-speed manual.Highlights include an input port for your iPod, optional Mark Levinson audio, a navigation system with a rear-view camera, and a total of ten air bags. Other safety equipment includes available swiveling Xenon headlights, radar-sensed, pre-crash seatbelt tensioners, and Lexus's advanced stability control system. The 3.5-liter V6 has everything from dual VVTi (meaning both the intake and exhaust valve timing can be varied) to roller rockers to direct fuel injectors. The direct fuel injectors are backed up by port fuel injectors that can further improve cold weather starting and fuel economy while also reducing emissions. All of these systems work together to give the engine a broad, flat power band from idle to redline.

[WVU]

is 350...that's what i meant. Very nice car indeed

[maxdemo]

is 350...that's what i meant. Very nice car indeed

Have you test driven it?? I have a Lexus RX300,,,,nice car and a great ride but it almost paid off. Since I know how great the Lexus cars are ( They have the best maintenance for any car dealer...JMO) I was thinking of getting something to go a little faster.

[WVU]

Have you test driven it?? I have a Lexus RX300,,,,nice car and a great ride but it almost paid off. Since I know how great the Lexus cars are ( They have the best maintenance for any car dealer...JMO) I was thinking of getting something to go a little faster.


I drove in one that a buddy bought. It was definitely a nice ride. You are starting to see more and more of them on the roads.

[BC-Eagles]

agree with these guys, Lexus or BMW is the way to go....Benz is an incredible car, but that little bitch engine isn't worth it for the price

[oldirtyku]

Do not buy any Audi unless you have tons of loot for maintenance. The car is a maintenance nightmare.

[maxdemo]

Do not buy any Audi unless you have tons of loot for maintenance. The car is a maintenance nightmare.

I have a freind that has an A4 and its always in the shop...he said he wish he had bought something else

[oldmanTED]

Try the Lexus ES330. If you are going to enter the luxury class vehicles, then get one that will last a long time and depreciate slowly. I have both the Lexus LS400 and ES300 both 1994's and have maintained them and they still sound and run like they are new. When I have my vehicles serviced, Lexus gives me an ES330 as a loaner. It is a beautifully designed car that runs as smoothly as my LS400. Outstanding long term car for the price.

[maxdemo]

Try the Lexus ES330. If you are going to enter the luxury class vehicles, then get one that will last a long time and depreciate slowly. I have both the Lexus LS400 and ES300 both 1994's and have maintained them and they still sound and run like they are new. When I have my vehicles serviced, Lexus gives me an ES330 as a loaner. It is a beautifully designed car that runs as smoothly as my LS400. Outstanding long term car for the price.

2007 Lexus ES 350 unveiled (http://www.leftlanenews.com/2006/02/08/2007-lexus-es-350-unveiled-in-chicago/)


<IMG title=feb8es.jpg alt="<?php the_title(); ?>" src="http://www.leftlanenews.com/wp-images/media/feb8es.jpg" border=0>
As anticipated, the all-new 2007 Lexus ES 350 made its public debut today at the Chicago Auto Show. The all-new, fully redesigned ES marks the fourth Lexus sedan to benefit from the L-finesse design language. Going on sale in late April, the fifth-generation ES improves upon every level of comfort, safety, performance and craftsmanship in the elegant five-passenger sedan. “We believe the newly revamped ES350 is better in virtually every way than our original LS flagship sedan,” said Lexus Group Vice President and General Manager Bob Carter. “It’s faster, quieter and more powerful than the first LS that redefined the prestige luxury segment in the early 1990s.” The ES 350’s 3.5-liter V6 engine delivers 272 horsepower and 254 lb.-ft. of torque, resulting in an estimated zero-to-60 mph time of 6.8 seconds.

[WVU]

of course none of the cars we have mentioned except BMW 325i are even close to the price range of the MercedesC230

[maxdemo]

I had a mercedes Benz 280e when I graduated high school in 1986...loved th car but the maintenance killed me...never bought a mercedes again

[maxdemo]

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2006 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
C230 Sport 4dr Sedan (2.5L 6cyl 6M) </TD><TD vAlign=top width="33%">
http://a332.g.akamai.net/f/332/936/12h/www.edmunds.com/pictures/VEHICLE/2006/Lexus/100649803/20029141-T.jpg (http://www.edmunds.com/new/2006/lexus/is350/100649803/prices.html?tid=edmunds.n.nvc.nvc..1.*)
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2006 Lexus IS 350
4dr Sedan (3.5L 6cyl 6A) </TD><TD vAlign=top width="33%">
http://a332.g.akamai.net/f/332/936/12h/www.edmunds.com/pictures/VEHICLE/2006/BMW/100530524/20025686-T.jpg (http://www.edmunds.com/new/2006/bmw/3series/100652311/prices.html?tid=edmunds.n.nvc.nvc..1.*)
http://a332.g.akamai.net/f/332/936/12h/www.edmunds.com/media/savedcars/savethiscar_79x9.gif (http://www.edmunds.com/apps/nvc/edmunds/VehicleComparison;jsessionid=GN2hw9BVGXvvtGMy46LY8P5Ytb7Kqz2xGN7JpCBw2w59HMQNT30p!-1678159960?op=0&tab=pricing&isbasecar=false&modelid=&styleid=&refid=&maxvehicles=5&vehicleindex=&removestyle=&numCars=3&ju#)
2006 BMW 3 Series
325xi 4dr Sedan AWD (3.0L 6cyl 6M) </TD></TR><TR class=stripe-five><TD>change (http://www.edmunds.com/apps/nvc/edmunds/VehicleComparison;jsessionid=GN2GXhrvgvqKykRhtM2t6PZpXcPRG2StYrG1t1cNc6H7wkLQWhh3!-1678159960?styleid=100557206&styleid=100649803&styleid=100652311&maxvehicles=5&refid=&op=15&tab=start) | remove (http://www.edmunds.com/apps/nvc/edmunds/VehicleComparison;jsessionid=GN2GXhrvgvqKykRhtM2t6PZpXcPRG2StYrG1t1cNc6H7wkLQWhh3!-1678159960?op=2&tab=pricing&maxvehicles=5&styleid=100557206&vehicleindex=0&removestyle=100557206&styleid=100649803&styleid=100652311) </TD><TD>change (http://www.edmunds.com/apps/nvc/edmunds/VehicleComparison;jsessionid=GN2GXhrvgvqKykRhtM2t6PZpXcPRG2StYrG1t1cNc6H7wkLQWhh3!-1678159960?styleid=100557206&styleid=100649803&styleid=100652311&maxvehicles=5&refid=&op=15&tab=start) | remove (http://www.edmunds.com/apps/nvc/edmunds/VehicleComparison;jsessionid=GN2GXhrvgvqKykRhtM2t6PZpXcPRG2StYrG1t1cNc6H7wkLQWhh3!-1678159960?op=2&tab=pricing&maxvehicles=5&styleid=100557206&styleid=100649803&vehicleindex=1&removestyle=100649803&styleid=100652311) </TD><TD>change (http://www.edmunds.com/apps/nvc/edmunds/VehicleComparison;jsessionid=GN2GXhrvgvqKykRhtM2t6PZpXcPRG2StYrG1t1cNc6H7wkLQWhh3!-1678159960?styleid=100557206&styleid=100649803&styleid=100652311&maxvehicles=5&refid=&op=15&tab=start) | remove (http://www.edmunds.com/apps/nvc/edmunds/VehicleComparison;jsessionid=GN2GXhrvgvqKykRhtM2t6PZpXcPRG2StYrG1t1cNc6H7wkLQWhh3!-1678159960?op=2&tab=pricing&maxvehicles=5&styleid=100557206&styleid=100649803&styleid=100652311&vehicleindex=2&removestyle=100652311) </TD></TR><!-- end thumbnails //--><TR><TD class=section width=100 colSpan=2>Manufacturer Info</TD><TD class=section>C-Class</TD><TD class=section>IS 350</TD><TD class=section>3 Series</TD></TR><TR class=lightfield><TD colSpan=2></TD><TD> </TD><TD><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=2 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD></TD><TD>[/URL]</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD><TD><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=2 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD></TD><TD noWrap>[URL="http://ad.doubleclick.net/clk;30980644;7671328;p?http://clk.atdmt.com/AST/go/dmndsb120010000102ast/direct/01/"] (http://ad.doubleclick.net/clk;28355505;7671328;o?http://ad.doubleclick.net/clk;25021282;12394638;b?http://www.lexus.com/lexusConfigApp/index.jsp?modelName=IS&modelCode=95)</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR><TR><TD class=section width=100 colSpan=2>Pricing</TD><TD class=section>C-Class</TD><TD class=section>IS 350</TD><TD class=section>3 Series</TD></TR><TR class=lightfield><TD colSpan=2>MSRP</TD><TD>$29,200</TD><TD>$35,440</TD><TD>$32,800</TD></TR><TR class=darkfield><TD colSpan=2>Invoice</TD><TD>$27,156</TD><TD>$31,186</TD><TD>$30,030</TD></TR><TR class=lightfield><TD colSpan=2>National True Market Value (TMV<SUP>®</SUP>) Price</TD><TD>$28,245
customize (http://www.edmunds.com/apps/nvc/edmunds/VehicleComparison;jsessionid=GN2hw9BVGXvvtGMy46LY8P5Ytb7Kqz2xGN7JpCBw2w59HMQNT30p!-1678159960?op=0&tab=pricing&isbasecar=false&modelid=&styleid=&refid=&maxvehicles=5&vehicleindex=&removestyle=&numCars=3&ju#)</TD><TD>$35,194
customize (http://www.edmunds.com/apps/nvc/edmunds/VehicleComparison;jsessionid=GN2hw9BVGXvvtGMy46LY8P5Ytb7Kqz2xGN7JpCBw2w59HMQNT30p!-1678159960?op=0&tab=pricing&isbasecar=false&modelid=&styleid=&refid=&maxvehicles=5&vehicleindex=&removestyle=&numCars=3&ju#)</TD><TD>$31,503
customize (http://www.edmunds.com/apps/nvc/edmunds/VehicleComparison;jsessionid=GN2hw9BVGXvvtGMy46LY8P5Ytb7Kqz2xGN7JpCBw2w59HMQNT30p!-1678159960?op=0&tab=pricing&isbasecar=false&modelid=&styleid=&refid=&maxvehicles=5&vehicleindex=&removestyle=&numCars=3&ju#)</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

[juice]

don't touch the BMW.
I have a 2002 325 ci, after that warranty runs out you're paying a shitload in maintenance

[oldirtyku]

Max... My 2001 1.8T a4 is always in the shop. I put 3500 into it in the last 8 months.

The car is currently on the market. I am hoping to sell it this week. I am buying any car that does not cost 800 bucks for a air pump.

[ppeter]

If you get a European luxury car (BMW, Jag, MB, Volvo, Audi, etc.) you are better of leasing. European cars are all POS compared to Japanese cars when it comes to workmanship, maintenance costs, etc. Once the warranty runs out, you are going to be raped. The car will always be in the shop for something, usually related to electrical, transmission or brakes.

If you want to own a luxury car, buy an Acura, Lexus or Infiniti, as has been previously mentioned. Those will run like tops for years or even decades.

[vanzack]

BB - I have the Benz CLS500. Amazing.

Had an E class for 4 years before that and a C class before that.

Will never drive another car.

[mj 23]

BB I have a MBenz E55 AMG the best and quickest car i ever had and it is limited production so resale is hi if i decide to ever get rid of down the road.

[707782]

I own an Audi, but it's a automatic, and a V6, I agreed with the maintenence thing, and reliablity about Audi, but I also gota admit that Audi is great car to drive, but service and repairs sux big time.