A Mercedes for $25K
and it’s worth every cent
By Michael Binstock
Acorn Automotiver Editor

$25,000! For a new Mercedes! Unlikely, that’s what I thought, but when I saw the new C-320 Sports Coupe I realized that Mercedes-Benz had done the near impossible, a car that is pure fun to drive at a price that even I could afford.

Five years ago the engineers from Stuttgart asked themselves a question: "What can Mercedes do if we let our hair down?" Or, more accurately, "What can we do if we let our hair down without a convertible top and our collective hair fluttering in the breeze?" The new 2002 C-Class sports coupe hits all marks squarely.

Every surface of the C230 sports coupe is unique to the model. Not one body panel interchanges with the other C-Class models. The sporty nature of the new sports coupe is accented by the grille-mounted star, unique elliptical headlights and aluminum interior trim.

At the rear, the sports coupe features a high tail with an integral rear spoiler, which actually creates downforce at speed. Normally, this would block a portion of rearward vision, but the sports coupe employs a tinted panel below the spoiler to allow extra vision to help in parking and other maneuvers.

The 2002 C230 sports coupe enables Mercedes-Benz to address young affluent buyers who have never before considered a Mercedes. Until now, these buyers were only able to consider a pre-owned Mercedes. The C230 sports coupe will be a first-time car purchase for many people who wouldn’t have even considered a Mercedes.

I spent a most enjoyable week with the C230 sports coupe, a lot of the time explaining to many exactly what it was, that it definitely was a Mercedes and why it was so small. My test car had a five-speed automatic transmission with Touch Shift, allowing manual gear selection. An all-new six-speed manual transmission is on its way.

On board the new C230 sports coupe, all the electronic control units are networked by means of three digital data highways. Fiber-optic cables replace copper wiring. Information is now exchanged through light pulses rather than electric signals. I think that there are over six computers built into the car’s systems. For example, if a front turn signal bulb blows, this intelligent network instructs the fog light at that corner to take over turn signal operation until the bulb can be replaced.

The panorama sunroof uses two expansive glass panels that provide an almost uninterrupted skyward view from the windshield header to the back seat for both front and rear passengers. Electric blinds can cover both openings. An unusually large glass panel slides rearward over the roof when opened. In addition, a curved tinted panel affords a helpful rear view below the integral rear spoiler and between the taillights, which makes backing up easier.

Inside, the sports coupe offers unique flair. The dashboard is designed in two halves. The top seemingly hovers over the instruments, center console and glove box, and is finished in a dark, anti-reflective color and texture regardless of interior color choice. Departing from the C-Class sedan’s instrument panel, the top half of the sport coupe’s dash forms a more tailored hood over the speedometer, tachometer and fuel gauge.

Getting in and driving was a most pleasant surprise. Thanks to supercharging and intercooling, the C230 sports coupe delivers the horsepower and torque of much larger six-cylinder engines, while returning better fuel economy. The 2.3-liter, 192-hp engine develops 200 lbs.-ft. of torque. More impressive, though is that it develops that torque peak across a wide band from 2500 rpm to 4800 rpm. This makes for quick acceleration, with either transmission, a feature that I enjoyed.

I’m getting used to all the different systems for playing race-car driver while driving an automatic transmission. Touch Shift allows the driver to manually select all five forward speeds by pushing the gear lever slightly left to downshift or right to upshift while in the Drive selector.

This is one of the few cars that I really didn’t want to give back after my test period.

The Mercedes-Benz C230 sports coupe is in dealerships now. SilverStar Mercedes-Benz in the Thousand Oaks Auto Mall will be only too happy to let you drive one of their vehicles. Just don’t ask them for a week!