Are Mercedes Kompressors any good?

[Shaner]

So I'm in the market for a new car and am seriously looking.
The other day I drive by a used car lot with a lot of nice cars.
There's Cadillacs, two porches, Lincolns, etc.
There's also a 2003 Mercedes Kompressor.

It appears to be in mint condition, although I haven't driven it yet.
There's just over 90,000 km on it.

Asking price is just under $19,000.

That seems very cheap to me, considering it's a Mercedes. I figured just the name alone would drive the price up.

So is it worth it? Anything I need to know.
I'm seriously considering buying it.

[weedb0y]

I've seen IS300s for $18 in TO

[chickenbones]

I would say there's a reason the car is selling for that low. W/O warranty Mercedes is very expensive to maintain. I would say it's not one of the most reliable car there is either.

[corrupt123]

You're better off buying the higher model of a "low end" car then buying the lowest model of a "high end" car. Put it that way...

[VivienM]

Is it a coupe or a sedan? What model year?

If we're talking about the C230K hatchback coupe, those were MSRPing starting at about $34K back in MY2002...

[MP3_SKY]

You're better off buying the higher model of a "low end" car then buying the lowest model of a "high end" car. Put it that way...

Agree, those 97-01 Audi A4 are from 8000$-15000$, not expensive at all neither, but maintence and potential repair will kill you. Mostly their electrical problems which hard to fix from other garages.

See if they have extended warranty, if they have....considerable...

[Gordon]

Kompressors are dirt..

Get yourself a C240 instead.

[belgiangenius]

MB's are like any German car....buy a tow truck at the same time.

[ViperZ]

MB's are like any German car....buy a tow truck at the same time.

This is the most ******** saying I have seen on RFD in a looooooong time.

[ViperZ]

MB's are like any German car....buy a tow truck at the same time.

This is the most ******** saying I have seen on RFD in a looooooong time.


On-topic: C230 Kompressor is a 1.8 Turbo engine. I checked it out when I was buying a new car last month, pretty cool when driving with a stick, a bit numb with automatic.

[jda]

On-topic: C230 Kompressor is a 1.8 Turbo engine.

supercharged engine

[bluetroll]

these cars are junkers.... the suspension is too soft... it feels like it would flip over if u take a turn hard.... and the engine sounds like a car made in the 1980s.

[Gordon]

these cars are junkers.... the suspension is too soft... it feels like it would flip over if u take a turn hard.... and the engine sounds like a car made in the 1980s.

Agreed. Thats why I got a C240 over the Kompressor.
It was WAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY better in the test drive.

[MrDisco]

Gave up on the Tib?

[dealhunting]

If I remember correctly the coupe came with 2 different engines for 2003. The 104 (grey and red valve cover. Older and noisier design) or the 171 (black valve cover. Newer , quieter and more HP). They do have problematic front suspensions. Common problems with cracked/noisy torque strut bushings, noise sway bar bushings and link rods. Auto tranny leaks. Interior squeaks and rattles, panoramic sunroof issues.....etc. The exact same problems that all the C-Class models suffer from. Check out some Benz forums and see what other owner's say.

Owning and maintaining a Benz can be expensive. The Kompressor coupes aren't actually that bad reliability wise. Very few get towed in and those that do are usually dead batteries, flat tires or lost keys. They are the on the lower end of the tech scale for Benz = less to go wrong. But on the other hand, not every corner garage will be willing or able to to work on your Benz since they use a lot of proprietary and special tools not available to the aftermarket.

While 90k is alot for 3 years, those are most likely highway miles (unless it was a rental) and Benz are designed to be driven (ie: autobahn). Like any used car, have it checked out before you buy. Don't just let anyone look at it. Make sure you get someone familiar with German cars, preferably one that has got MB experience.

For me, I would, as someone already said, buy a higher end model of a cheaper car line.......

[dealhunting]

these cars are junkers.... the suspension is too soft... it feels like it would flip over if u take a turn hard.... and the engine sounds like a car made in the 1980s.

Have you driven a Benz lately?? While I'm not exactly a fan of German engineering, I can't deny the fact that they do design cars that can handle......

[VivienM]

On-topic: C230 Kompressor is a 1.8 Turbo engine. I checked it out when I was buying a new car last month, pretty cool when driving with a stick, a bit numb with automatic.

The 2002 had an older generation 2.3 supercharged... then for 2003, they moved to the 1.8L supercharged.

[konfusion666]

I wouldn't buy a used, out-of-warranty German car unless I was either a trained mechanic -- or someone with a bag of cash equal to half the vehicle purchase price to spend on maintenance alone, for the next 2-3 years.

ignore my bolded statements at your own risk ;)

note, this post does not constitute "German-car-bashing", so BMW-lovers shut up please :lol:

[InterestingDeals]

I wouldn't buy a used, out-of-warranty German car unless I was either a trained mechanic -- or someone with a bag of cash equal to half the vehicle purchase price to spend on maintenance alone, for the next 2-3 years.

ignore my bolded statements at your own risk ;)

note, this post does not constitute "German-car-bashing", so BMW-lovers shut up please :lol:

That is very true.

If you're gonna buy a Benz, buy it brand new. Never know how that Kompressor was treated.

I drive a 1991 300se and the maintenance on it still kills my wallet.

[stealth]

Isnt this the same car as the Chrysler Crossfire?

[VivienM]

Isnt this the same car as the Chrysler Crossfire?

The Crossfire is based on the MB SLK... with the 3.2 V6, not the 2.3/1.8 supercharged.