Mercedes-Benz C Class 2002 $9,995

Vehicle Overview A C320 sport wagon has joined the C-Class lineup, and a new C32 AMG sedan equipped with a 349-horsepower V-8 engine and AMGs SpeedShift transmission arrives later in the 2002 season. Before the new model year got under way, a smaller C-Class Sports Coupe arrived as an early 2002 model. Otherwise, Mercedes-Benzs smallest sedan carries on with minimal changes for 2002. The redesigned C-Class sedans of 2001 received two new engines, more youthful styling and more interior space. The C-Class sedan is a perennial rival to the BMW 3 Series, and it comes in two forms. The C240 has a 168-hp, 2.6-liter V-6 engine with a six-speed-manual transmission or an optional five-speed automatic. A 215-hp, 3.2-liter V-6, offered only with the automatic gearbox, goes into the C320 sedan. Exterior Wedge-shaped styling features a steep rake to the windshield and back window. A familiar Mercedes grille with a three-pointed star insignia on the hood sits up front. Headlights and turn signals are integrated into elliptical shapes. At 178.3 inches long overall, the C-Class sedan is 2 inches longer than the comparable BMW 3 Series. The wheelbase is 106.9 inches long, and the sedan measures 68 inches wide. Interior Five passengers can luxuriate in a sizable wood-trimmed interior. Power front seats have ample rearward travel to accommodate tall people. Split, folding rear seatbacks are optional. Standard equipment includes dual-zone automatic climate control, a tilt/telescoping steering column, remote keyless entry and a cassette player. Occupants of the C320 get to enjoy leather upholstery and a Bose sound system. Steering-wheel controls can adjust the stereo, change dashboard information displays and place calls with the optional cellular phone. Trunk capacity is 12 cubic feet. A Cockpit Management and Data (COMAND) option operates a satellite-based navigation system, the sound system and a telephone using voice commands, buttons on the steering wheel or controls arranged around a dashboard screen. Tele Aid emergency communication service is standard. Using its own cellular system, Tele Aid can summon emergency help (automatically if an airbag deploys), track a stolen vehicle or call Mercedes roadside assistance center. Under the Hood Two V-6 engines are available. The C240 uses a 168-hp 2.6-liter engine that teams with a standard six-speed-manual gearbox or optional five-speed driver-adaptive automatic transmission, which incorporates Touch Shift. The 215-hp 3.2-liter that powers the C320 comes only with the automatic transmission. Safety Dual-stage front airbags, side-impact airbags for the front seats and door-mounted rear side airbags are standard. Curtain-type airbags that deploy from above the side windows to protect the heads of occupants are optional. With Mercedes BabySmart technology, sensors in the front passenger seat disable the airbags if they detect a child-safety seat in position. All C-Class sedans have antilock brakes. Mercedes-Benzs Electronic Stability Program also is standard on the C240 and C320 models. Driving Impressions The C320 is a precise, fully capable and rewarding road machine, but it has a few irritating features. Rather than a full set of gauges, for instance, the driver must click through a sequence of electronic displays to get such information as coolant temperature. The tachometer is small, and controls leave something to be desired in terms of easy use. Ride quality is firm but highly pleasing. The C-Class sedan can hit a nasty bump, but recovery is invariably close to instantaneous. The sedan is notably stable on the highway, and it requires minimal correction on straightaways. Steering is extra-precise, which provides response to driver inputs that could hardly be better in a family-size sedan. But the C320 doesnt feel quite as sure of itself on the road as some of its rivals. Performance from the 3.2-liter engine is strong and eager. For passing and merging, the automatic transmission reacts quick

• City 17/hwy 26 (2.6L engine/6-speed manual trans)
• City 19/hwy 26 (2.6L engine/5-speed auto trans)
• Halogen headlamps w/auto on/off & driver programmable daytime running lamps
• Auto lamp substitution
• Halogen fog lamps
• Single red rear fog lamp
• Auto heated pwr mirrors w/auto dimming left-side mirror & parking assistant right-side mirror
• Color-keyed door handles w/chrome trim
• Heated windshield washer system
• Rear window defroster
• 8-way pwr front seats
• Hand polished wood trim on doors dash & console
• Leather seating inserts w/ leather-trimmed 4-spoke steering wheel & shift knob
• Manually adjustable 4-way tilt/telescopic steering column
• 3-position front center armrest w/climate controlled lower storage area
• Velour carpeting & front/rear floor mats
• Programmable alphanumeric message center w/odometers clock outside temp digital speed coolant temp trip computer radio statio/CD track navigational directions programmable vehicle settings warning messages
• Pwr windows w/one-touch express up/down for all windows
• Remote keyless entry system w/code protection & selective lock/unlock
• Remote pwr window operation (open/close)
• Integrated universal garage door controller
• Cruise control w/digital speed readout
• Anti-theft system w/tow-away protection remote panic Tele Aid notification
• Automatic climate control air conditioning w/REST mode residual heater
• AM/FM stereo cassette player w/weatherband scan & seek music search (7) speaker audio system
• Fiber-optic CD changer/cellular phone pre-wiring
• Tele Aid
• Auto-dimming rearview mirror
• Dual illuminated visor vanity mirrors
• 2.6L SOHC SMPI 18-valve aluminum-alloy V6 engine
• 6-speed manual transmission
• Rear wheel drive
• Electronic stability program (ESP)
• Automatic slip control (ASR)
• 3-link independent front suspension w/coil springs & stabilizer bar
• 5-arm multi-link independent rear suspension w/coil springs & stabilizer bar
• P205/55HR16 performance tires
• 16 x 7 7-spoke alloy wheels
• Pwr rack & pinion steering
• 4-wheel anti-lock disc brakes w/brake assist
• Anti-lock disc brakes
• Brake assist system
• Auto slip control (ASR)
• Dual front airbag supplemental restraint system
• Side-impact air bags for all outboard seating positions (body protection)
• Side-impact head protection curtains
• Adjustable 3-point front shoulder belts w/emergency tensioning retractor height adjustable shoulder belts & lower points attached to seat frames
• Outboard 3-point rear seat belts w/automatically adjusting shoulder belt anchors
• BabySmart automatic child seat recognition system
• Programmable daytime running lamps