My brother-in-law has a 2004 MB C230. It is a nice car with vented and cross drilled front rotors etc. Looks fast, but under the hood is only 190HP. My old '98 2.8 A4 was 190HP. When we screwed around we were always neck and neck. He is an automatic with tip and I was a manual. Now I have the 4.2 and there is no contest. In fact, I drove 3 cars before I bought the 4.2.

1. 2002 BMW 540i -4.4L
2. 2002 MB C430 -4.3L
3. 2001 A6 -4.2L

All have V8's. The 540i handled really well and felt much sportier than the latter two. I even drove the manual. Didn't seem like it made a lot of power in 1st and2nd, but higher up it did ok. The MB was just plain mush all the way through. The gearbox felt like it was struggling. No snappy torque at all. The AMG is another story. The straight line acceleration and torque felt much more direct with the AUDI especially between 60-110 mph. The car flatout pulls like a tractor.Plus, the interior luxuries (I have every option and package available) smoked the other two. There was no comparison. If I was to do it again, I would strongly consider the 540i.

The C230 was a huge dissapointment when I drove it. You have to be way up in the RPMS's to make power. It's too bad. The cars really look sharp and it has a stance that says 180MPH, but they just don't have it where it counts. We are talking stock here too folks. Modded is another topic. The C230'sare considered entry level Benz's. My favorite by far is the E55 AMG. Just too much for the pocketbook to handle....Anyways, your 1.8T @ 180 HP should have been neck and neck with the C230.

 

correct, if its a Kompressor it will be badged........AMG models have it badged on the side..............well unless of course the owner takes it off

 

Sorry, there was no C430.......there was a C43AMG but that was from 1998-2000, and until 2005 that was the last time a C class had a V8 in it. From 2001 -2004, the only models available were the C230 (4cyl Komp), C320 (V6)and C32 AMG (V6 Komp). In 2005 the models stayed the same but the C32 AMG was replaced with the C55 AMG (5.5l V8 no Komp)........now there is the C63 AMG which is also natural aspirated making close to 500hp.......not bad for an "entry" level Benz.

 

again, a stock C230 komp. and a stock A4 (1.8T) will not be neck and neck......the Benz wins everytime. You said it yourself, your 2.8L was neck and neck with the C230........was your 2.8L and a 1.8T neck and neck? I didn't think so........don't mean to bust *****

 

but my 1.8t is not stock... and correct me if i am wrong but the c230 is also rwd which would mean less power loss through the drive train..... even if he is stock

my tunning just take me to 10 or so hp more at the crank, but do to me being awd i will loose alot of that through drivetrain loss


ok, here is my list of mods, some functional some not:
apr - 91 oct. tunning
2.5 exhaust from flex pipe back, into a ebay muffler
cone filter
stratosphere dv
17in s4's painted flat black
window tint(35%)
kamei badgeless grill
m3 spoiler
debadged
s4 euro headlights(hid's)
center vent pod(equios guage)


i also have a 0-60 video with 2 guys in the car and i ran a 6.8 here it is
http://youtube.com/watch?v=_WsTXRz3VEs

 

whatever....the friggin 430...the coupe....not a MB guy...drove it and it was dissapointing...are you trying to say there is a difference betweem `80 and 190 HP...small potatoes...comes down to the driver..over all...under 200 hp is hardly competition.....the 430 was no comp. against the 540 and 4.2....unless you spend high $$..there is nothing that shines with MB....happy friday night peeps!!!!

 

I used to own a C230 sport coupe. It's a 1.8L and supercarged. This car is pretty quick. It would light up a stock A4. I agree though that a chipped A4 would probably win out. As for the comment about POS 4 cylinders, My Evo has something to say about that.

 

Thats funny, for the 4 years that I've owned the C230 Kompressor I had NO idea it was supercharged.......Thing was quiick, but it doesnt touch my A6 nor my parents S500....

 

oh the 430 coupe.......was probably a CLK430....nice car, but a bit of a tank........in terms of power that car was a disappointment.

 

with the mods you have, yes you would spank the Benz......i was just making the point that stock vs stock our A4's would get smoked.
You are correct, the Benz is rwd. I've owned them both, and I have had both cars chipped, and the A4 just flat out performs better.