2002 Mercedes-Benz C-Class C240 2.6L 168hp from North America
Summary:
It's an okay car without the stupid things that go wrong with them
Faults:
I'm shocked with the quality of the newer Mercs. My friend told me not to get a new one because the newer ones aren't like the older ones... boy was she right.
My passenger door handle (interior) became loose.
The driver's door handle (exterior) is off track.
The seat panel fell off of the back of the driver's seat.
The wiring for the exterior lights STILL has a glitch, which is something Mercedes should've fixed 10 years ago. However, when I took it to Mercedes Benz of Greensboro (NC), the guy showed me a trick. When the car says check tail light, all you have to do is bang on the joker a little bit.
The controls for the car lighting, Car settings, etc.) are entirely too complex...it's time consuming.
The B-service -- ok wow. All Mercedes does is change the air filter, oil change, new wiper blades. They "check" (not replace) to see if you need brakes, suspension and a whole bunch of other things they just check. The B-service is not worth $480 when all you have to spend is $200 on wiper blades, oil change, and an oil filter.
General Comments:
I put 15,000 on the car without doing ANY work to it except an oil change. The ENGINES and TRANSMISSIONS in Mercs are phenomenal!!! Damn the cosemetics.
If you guys haven't noticed... the C240 IS the slowest Benz made in the 21st century (in the US). I wanted a C230 Kompressor... but my parents bought me the C240.
I HATE the "adaptive pedal" because if I go slow in the city, and get on the highway, the car will take off slow and shift early... and it's the opposite when getting OFF the highway... after doing 80mph, and coming to a stoplight in the city, the car will take off like a rocket.
I love the fact that Mercs WILL NOT exceed the maximum RPM (pedal to the metal, the car's RPM gauge doesn't exceed 6 hitting the red zone I LOVE IT).
The "window-trick" DOES WORK regardless if you think it doesn't. In order for the windows and sunroof to open while holding the unlock button on the remote, the remote has to be pointed directly at the sensor on the DRIVER'S door handle (if you don't have the sensor, then you don't have this feature). I've learned that it only work depending on weather conditions.
EVERYONE thinks the upkeep on a Merc is SOOOOOOOOO expensive. I'm only 20 years old, and I took care of my car with NO problem. Think about it. Non Merc drivers have to get oil changes every 3,000k miles @ $25. Merc drivers get oil changes every 6,000k miles @ $50... which is typically the same.
THE ONLY Merc I will purchase is the new S550, or the 2010 E CLASS (OMG it's gorgeous). The 2010 E Class will debut sometime after June! It's a beast! Look or it.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 2nd April, 2009
2nd Apr 2009, 13:32
Since dumping Chrysler, Mercedes now has hundreds of millions put into improving their QC, it should start showing with newer models, such as the new C-class.
Any car for a 20-year old is expensive to maintain -- just be thankful car payments don't add to it, since it was given to you.
You'll be glad with the simpler, more conventional C240 engine in the long run. Kompressors have superchargers -- added complication, not everyone can work on them, and the parts are unique and will be expensive when they break. Keep it simple.