Few cars have been the subject of jokes and punch lines as much as the Mercedes “C” class has been; its ancestor the “190,” got the worse rap ever by being called/ referred to in popular culture as: “The little Mercedes….” But as once someone said to me many years ago: “It looks good, and besides: how much more could one want in life,” however: if you’re successful you might want to move up to the “E” class, and if you’ re like they say: “affluent,” you’ll probably be interested in the “S” class…. So much for the topic of lineage/ancestry, this article is about the 2003 C class, and one thing which can be said with a degree of certainty is: it’s a Benz…Many luxury cars out there like Infiniti, Lexus, Jaguar, and even Audi; share parts with some of their less expensive siblings (Audi/VW, Infiniti/Nissan, Lexus/Toyota, etc.), not the Benz though: it’s a Benz through and through.There were three models offered in 2003, the coupe, sedan, and wagon. As is always the case/tradition with luxury automobiles; there’s a big difference from the base models and the upscale ones… For example: the base C230 kompressor sedan as it’s called, started at $27,000, but the C32 AMG sedan cost well over $50,000 well equipped. Also in the tradition of great European automobiles, numerology is everything: 230 (2.3 engine), 240 (2.4 engine), 320 (3.2 engine), the higher the number; the bigger the engine, etc…As is the case with AMG models (Mercedes’ high performance cars division), they are very pricey.Few cars mimic their top of the line automobiles like the “C” class does. Take Jaguar for example: the X type will never be or look like the XJ or XKR/XK8; likewise can be said about the Audi or BMW, it just doesn’t work; but Mercedes does a very good job on their “C” class automobiles…”Big Benz” cues abound on this vehicle, which from the outside almost looks like a miniature replica of the “S” class, inside things are bit more skeptical, but overall, this is a great little car with a decent amount of space for its size/price.Of course if you get behind the wheel of an “S” class AMG, and then get behind the wheel of a little 2.3 engine “C” class, you’ll be in for a huge disappointment, but most people are realistic to a certain degree, and know that a car which brand new costs $35,000, will never act/handle/perform like a car which costs $150,000; but the “little Benz” is more than worthy of its title, and handling is quite good: let’s just say you get your moneys worth at least two folds. If you opt for the C 320 (3.2 engine), its very perky making the drive very pleasant and rewarding. Dual-stage front airbags, as well as side-impact, and even sensors which detect if the person on the passenger seat is a minor/ baby: MBZ calls this “Baby Smart Technology!” All and all you can’t go wrong with this vehicleBlue Book is around: $15-20,000 with around 50,000 miles or so. Category:Home › Other • Pomegranates: A newly discovered superfood • Where did the joke why did the chicken cross the road come from and why is it funny? • Can mothers diagnosed with bipolar disorder make good parents? • Spiritual evolution of human consciousness • Tips for getting a college basketball scholarship • Living with Pseudotumor cerebri (PTC) • Caring for the caregiver • Technologys impact on society