Baby blue
04-04-2004 | 10:39 AM
#8
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Mqandil: The pictures indeed make for an interesting comparison. If I see the wheels correctly, your C-class is a Sport model -- is it a C230k or a C320? In either case, it'd be great if you could compare the two in terms of handling, ride smoothness (esp. on bad city pavement), NVH, space inside, etc. I am hesitating between an 8 or a C to replace my now 8-year old GTI. I like both, have test-driven each pretty extensively, and am still undecided. I plan to buy (or order, in the case of the C) in early May, so any feedback you could provide as an owner would be highly welcome.
04-04-2004 | 08:22 PM
#11
clocks are striking 13
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 163
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From: K-bay, HI (imported from MI)
illegal??
laser jammer??
i hear those are illegal and i do mean very illegal....
unless WA has different laws....
btw where did you get it?
i may have to think about getting one now
i hear those are illegal and i do mean very illegal....
unless WA has different laws....
btw where did you get it?
i may have to think about getting one now
04-05-2004 | 12:29 AM
#13
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From: Vancouver, WA
ayilar
I have the C230 Kompressor 4 door. It has a sport tuned suspension, 17" wheels, and 4 Cylinder super charged engine producing 189 HP. To help you out here are my impressions of both cars
Handling: RX-8 gets 10 , one of the best handling car any where, and the C230K gets 8.5. The handling is surprisingly great for a sedan. It will keep up with RX-8, and many other sports car. Probably one of the best car's traits.
Accelration: RX-8 is much faster. Said that the C230 will probably do 7.5 sec to 60 MPH. It slow to accelrate, but as you go in 2nd gear it really takes off
Ride: RX-8 gets 9 out of 10, the C230K gets 11 of 10. The best ride in its class, and does so well on bad grooved roads. But remeber the RX-8 is not that bad either on any surface, but certainly C230 wins this catagory. We have horrible roads here, grooved, and uneven.
Economy: RX-8- 16-21 MPG and the C230K gets 25-36 MPG. I sometimes forget it needs gas.
Finish: both are great, but C230 has so much class, and comfort. On longer road trips the C230 shines
Price: RX-8 $30,100 all options except Nav, C230 31,000 W. almost everything except NAV.
Said all that I would personally prefer the RX-8 is much fun, but C230 gives a family car a whole new meaning. Hope this helps, please let me know if you have additional questions
Mark
I have the C230 Kompressor 4 door. It has a sport tuned suspension, 17" wheels, and 4 Cylinder super charged engine producing 189 HP. To help you out here are my impressions of both cars
Handling: RX-8 gets 10 , one of the best handling car any where, and the C230K gets 8.5. The handling is surprisingly great for a sedan. It will keep up with RX-8, and many other sports car. Probably one of the best car's traits.
Accelration: RX-8 is much faster. Said that the C230 will probably do 7.5 sec to 60 MPH. It slow to accelrate, but as you go in 2nd gear it really takes off
Ride: RX-8 gets 9 out of 10, the C230K gets 11 of 10. The best ride in its class, and does so well on bad grooved roads. But remeber the RX-8 is not that bad either on any surface, but certainly C230 wins this catagory. We have horrible roads here, grooved, and uneven.
Economy: RX-8- 16-21 MPG and the C230K gets 25-36 MPG. I sometimes forget it needs gas.
Finish: both are great, but C230 has so much class, and comfort. On longer road trips the C230 shines
Price: RX-8 $30,100 all options except Nav, C230 31,000 W. almost everything except NAV.
Said all that I would personally prefer the RX-8 is much fun, but C230 gives a family car a whole new meaning. Hope this helps, please let me know if you have additional questions
Mark
04-05-2004 | 12:52 AM
#16
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From: Vancouver, WA
rotary-convert
Laser jammers are legal in most states. Rader Jammers are not and they do not work anyways. Laser jammers are called Laser phasers, and few do actually work very well. Please see http://www.radartest.com/article.asp?articleID=8502 for more details. Mine is Lidatek Laser Echo LE-10 which is the older version and works extremly well, but it is discontinued due to high cost. The new model that replaces it is Lidatek Laser Echo LE-20, and does not work, don't buy it (see link I listed above). I recoomend the escort laser jammer. Again these are laser jammers and not rader jammers. They only jam the laser gun, which the rader is useless against, as by the time you detect it, the cop already got you. hope this helps
Mark
Laser jammers are legal in most states. Rader Jammers are not and they do not work anyways. Laser jammers are called Laser phasers, and few do actually work very well. Please see http://www.radartest.com/article.asp?articleID=8502 for more details. Mine is Lidatek Laser Echo LE-10 which is the older version and works extremly well, but it is discontinued due to high cost. The new model that replaces it is Lidatek Laser Echo LE-20, and does not work, don't buy it (see link I listed above). I recoomend the escort laser jammer. Again these are laser jammers and not rader jammers. They only jam the laser gun, which the rader is useless against, as by the time you detect it, the cop already got you. hope this helps
Mark
04-05-2004 | 09:14 AM
#18
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Mqandil: Thanks a bunch for the reply, it's very helpful. Your mileage on the Benz is higher than what I had expected. I do have some more questions:
1. I will be using the car 75% of the time in the city, where potholes (patched or unpatched) abound. Does your bad-road experience extend to such an environment? This type of surface is where I have the biggest fear for the 8, and the Mazda dealership is too far from where I live for me to be able to get the car there and test for myself on familiar terrain.
2. How do both cars do in the rain? I don't just mean handling, but your overall impression -- including wipers, overall visibility, etc. Do you wish you had a rear wiper on either car?
3. How do the HIDs on the 8 compare to the C230k's halogens? The latter are alledgedly some of the best conventional headlights (according to a French car mag that recently carried out extensive tests) -- do you vouch for that, or is the difference so stark that you wish you had xenons on the MB?
4. How do the shifters compare? The MB is getting a new one for 2005, but I'd still like your opinion. The 8's 6-speeder has been universally praised, while the MB's has been vilified. Yet on both RX-8s I drove (total of about 60 minutes, the salesman was very nice and patient), I had trouble finding fifth, and sixth was a bit notchy. In contrast, my impression from the Benz was that the shifter was not bad at all (comparisons: 1995 GTI and 2002 Passat V6, both endowed IMHO with very decent shifters).
5. Have you had ratles on either car?
6. Any comments on the seats? The AC?
1. I will be using the car 75% of the time in the city, where potholes (patched or unpatched) abound. Does your bad-road experience extend to such an environment? This type of surface is where I have the biggest fear for the 8, and the Mazda dealership is too far from where I live for me to be able to get the car there and test for myself on familiar terrain.
2. How do both cars do in the rain? I don't just mean handling, but your overall impression -- including wipers, overall visibility, etc. Do you wish you had a rear wiper on either car?
3. How do the HIDs on the 8 compare to the C230k's halogens? The latter are alledgedly some of the best conventional headlights (according to a French car mag that recently carried out extensive tests) -- do you vouch for that, or is the difference so stark that you wish you had xenons on the MB?
4. How do the shifters compare? The MB is getting a new one for 2005, but I'd still like your opinion. The 8's 6-speeder has been universally praised, while the MB's has been vilified. Yet on both RX-8s I drove (total of about 60 minutes, the salesman was very nice and patient), I had trouble finding fifth, and sixth was a bit notchy. In contrast, my impression from the Benz was that the shifter was not bad at all (comparisons: 1995 GTI and 2002 Passat V6, both endowed IMHO with very decent shifters).
5. Have you had ratles on either car?
6. Any comments on the seats? The AC?
04-05-2004 | 03:37 PM
#22
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From: Vancouver, WA
Originally posted by ayilar
Mqandil: Thanks a bunch for the reply, it's very helpful. Your mileage on the Benz is higher than what I had expected. I do have some more questions:
1. I will be using the car 75% of the time in the city, where potholes (patched or unpatched) abound. Does your bad-road experience extend to such an environment? This type of surface is where I have the biggest fear for the 8, and the Mazda dealership is too far from where I live for me to be able to get the car there and test for myself on familiar terrain.
2. How do both cars do in the rain? I don't just mean handling, but your overall impression -- including wipers, overall visibility, etc. Do you wish you had a rear wiper on either car?
3. How do the HIDs on the 8 compare to the C230k's halogens? The latter are alledgedly some of the best conventional headlights (according to a French car mag that recently carried out extensive tests) -- do you vouch for that, or is the difference so stark that you wish you had xenons on the MB?
4. How do the shifters compare? The MB is getting a new one for 2005, but I'd still like your opinion. The 8's 6-speeder has been universally praised, while the MB's has been vilified. Yet on both RX-8s I drove (total of about 60 minutes, the salesman was very nice and patient), I had trouble finding fifth, and sixth was a bit notchy. In contrast, my impression from the Benz was that the shifter was not bad at all (comparisons: 1995 GTI and 2002 Passat V6, both endowed IMHO with very decent shifters).
5. Have you had ratles on either car?
6. Any comments on the seats? The AC?
Mqandil: Thanks a bunch for the reply, it's very helpful. Your mileage on the Benz is higher than what I had expected. I do have some more questions:
1. I will be using the car 75% of the time in the city, where potholes (patched or unpatched) abound. Does your bad-road experience extend to such an environment? This type of surface is where I have the biggest fear for the 8, and the Mazda dealership is too far from where I live for me to be able to get the car there and test for myself on familiar terrain.
2. How do both cars do in the rain? I don't just mean handling, but your overall impression -- including wipers, overall visibility, etc. Do you wish you had a rear wiper on either car?
3. How do the HIDs on the 8 compare to the C230k's halogens? The latter are alledgedly some of the best conventional headlights (according to a French car mag that recently carried out extensive tests) -- do you vouch for that, or is the difference so stark that you wish you had xenons on the MB?
4. How do the shifters compare? The MB is getting a new one for 2005, but I'd still like your opinion. The 8's 6-speeder has been universally praised, while the MB's has been vilified. Yet on both RX-8s I drove (total of about 60 minutes, the salesman was very nice and patient), I had trouble finding fifth, and sixth was a bit notchy. In contrast, my impression from the Benz was that the shifter was not bad at all (comparisons: 1995 GTI and 2002 Passat V6, both endowed IMHO with very decent shifters).
5. Have you had ratles on either car?
6. Any comments on the seats? The AC?
2- The C230K does better and only because of the horrible tires on the RX-8. If the RX-8 with better rubber will be as equal or better in every aspect.
3- MB lighting technology is the best. You turn night inton day light as you turn them on. While the RX-8 has probably one of the best lights out there. No other car can can touch the MB in that area.
4- The shifter on the RX-8 is adelight. The C230K shifter sucks period. I meant ot mention this in my earlier post, but I forgot. I hate it, especially on 1st and 2nd gear shift. The remianing gear shift are ok. I have been trying to find a short shift kit in the after market for the car. The shifting between 1st and second is so rough, and vague that I have to constantly remind myself to be carefull. Of course it does not help to have the RX-8 to compare against as the RX-8 shifter is awsome. Perhaps comparing it to the GTI it will be close, but is still worse. Probably only issue on the C230K. Do not buy the automatic either. It is a dog.
5- No rattles in the car after 11,000 miles, even when driven on the roughest roads. MB quality shines in this area.
6- The seats are some of the best in the industry. I can never be uncomfortable in these seats. You will always find a good seat position. While the RX-8 seats are great, the C230K is even better.
Hope this helps if you still have more questions, please do not hesitate to ask
Mark
04-05-2004 | 03:47 PM
#23
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From: Vancouver, WA
Originally posted by roboracer
about the laser jammers,
did you think the "k40"? i think is good
the one that is molded on the liscense plate frame
any good?
about the laser jammers,
did you think the "k40"? i think is good
the one that is molded on the liscense plate frame
any good?
Mark
04-05-2004 | 06:06 PM
#24
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Joined: Sep 2003
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Once again, thanks a real bunch. Your answers pretty much cover all the questions that I needed answered by a long-term driver.
A couple more questions.
1. Insurance: Compared to an RX-8 or a C320, I have been quoted an additional $400 per year (about 35% extra) for a C230k sedan. Does this difference match your experience?
2. The brakes on the 8 are IMO phenomenal. How would you rate them relative to those of the MB (BTW, I am assuming that your car has the new, larger, C230k brakes with the Mercedes-Benz name on them -- please correct me if this assumption is wrong).
A couple more questions.
1. Insurance: Compared to an RX-8 or a C320, I have been quoted an additional $400 per year (about 35% extra) for a C230k sedan. Does this difference match your experience?
2. The brakes on the 8 are IMO phenomenal. How would you rate them relative to those of the MB (BTW, I am assuming that your car has the new, larger, C230k brakes with the Mercedes-Benz name on them -- please correct me if this assumption is wrong).
04-05-2004 | 06:24 PM
#25
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From: Vancouver, WA
Insurance on the C230K is a little cheaper than the RX-8. I pay $420 for 6 month full coverage - w/ $100 dedtactable, versus $488 for the RX-8. But I also get a 10% car discount on the second car which is the C230K, and thats still puts it a little cheaper than the RX-8.
Brakes for the RX-8 are phenomenal. The C230K has the larger disks. As for break performance goes it is very good, but not exceptional. It is better than most sedans, but not as good as the RX-8 or the BMW. They work great, but the bar has been raised with the RX-8.
If you still have more questions, please let me know
Mark
Brakes for the RX-8 are phenomenal. The C230K has the larger disks. As for break performance goes it is very good, but not exceptional. It is better than most sedans, but not as good as the RX-8 or the BMW. They work great, but the bar has been raised with the RX-8.
If you still have more questions, please let me know
Mark