Some advice please.

Jonathan Schofield

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My C63 (59 reg) is going to pass 90,000 miles this week. When I bought it 12 months ago it was on less than 70k but I've used it as a daily and covered many motorway and dual carriage miles. I have loved every mile.

The car has been mollycoddled during my tenure, I suspect that it had received slightly less than optimal attention by it's most recent owners. When I got it I insisted on a gearbox oil change, a simple service and a through going over by Richard Hollins (York, I recommend them highly). What Richard has suggested I have had done: New disks at the front, new bushes where required, wheel bearing, replacement brake pipes (MOT failure), full service etc.

It has only ever drunk Shell V Plus, I NEVER go over 2000 revs until the oil has reached operating temperature, I will NOT use the car unless the journey is enough to get it thoroughly warm. However as I am self employed some jobs barely cover the cost of the petrol!

So the qustion I am wrestling with is:
  • Do I do the sensible thing, sell it and get a more economical car (C Class 250D Estate, about 3 years old).
  • Keep it and buy a banger for work (that's as far as the funds will go).
  • Keep it and hang the mileage, I've already done my brains in on the car anyway.
Essentially at what mileage does the car become almost worthless. I have seen one for sale for £13k with 136,000 miles.

Thanks

Jonathan
 

V6Matty

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If it we me I’d buy a second car, something like and old 203 estate and keep the 63, the 203 with the 220 engine should be good for a couple of hundred thousand miles and if you can find one that’s well looked after then maintenance should be minimal
 

LostKiwi

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To give you a clue as to my thought process I use an E class we paid £600 for as my normal daily drive.
The SLs turn less than 5k miles per year.
 

Wighty

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There is also the question of what age does the car become worthless , regardless of mileage .
 

fabes

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Have a word with your accountant and buy a 'company car'.

Simpler, will reduce maintenance costs etc and mean the c63 stays special

You should be writing the c63 down against jobs and tax anyway till now so there's money to 'be had' ....
 

John Laidlaw

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Although there is the thought process ‘why have a car and not drive it?’
I’ve 2 cars now, both quite different but I drive both most weeks, I’ve had up to 4 in the past and gave up on at least one of them so a bit pointless imo
In your case I’d probably be tempted to get an E350, decent power and economy so you’d miss the 63 less ( you’ll still miss it so don’t kid yourself!)
 

LostKiwi

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Although there is the thought process ‘why have a car and not drive it?’
I’ve 2 cars now, both quite different but I drive both most weeks, I’ve had up to 4 in the past and gave up on at least one of them so a bit pointless imo
In your case I’d probably be tempted to get an E350, decent power and economy so you’d miss the 63 less ( you’ll still miss it so don’t kid yourself!)
Aside from the 129 all ours get driven, just the 210 in the week and thec230 on weekends or special occasions.
The 129 hides in the barn most of the year but then it's 25 years old!
 
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Jonathan Schofield

Jonathan Schofield

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Thank you all for your comments, I am minded to go down the banger route but I know from experience that one man's banger is another man's CLS 350 Shooting Brake on a ruinous finance deal! I also know that if the banger was just that, an old hack, I'm not sure I would have the discipline to leave the C63 alone.

When No.2 son leaves Uni next year I can use his student rent for a lease deal on something sensible..... (CLS 350 Shooting Brake).

In the meantime I might consider a really cheap old Merc as suggested by LostKiwi.
 

AMGeed

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I went the banger route when I was still working.
The E55 stayed at home all day and got used in the evenings and weekends and a £750 Ford Focus took care of the miles at work
So good was the Focus my wife sold her old A160 and had my Focus when I packed in work. Its only just been sold for a newer Kia Rio.
 

JBell

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Have a word with your accountant and buy a 'company car'.

Simpler, will reduce maintenance costs etc and mean the c63 stays special

Just means you get clobbered with BIK Tax!!! Plus running 2 cars

You should be writing the c63 down against jobs and tax anyway till now so there's money to 'be had' ....

Probably not enough though, all fuel can be written off and some maintenance
 

Blobcat

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I used to run a 911 and a smart for2 convertibubble as "company cars" - 911 for distance and fun and the smart for commuting. Business miles on a 3.8 petrol meant good rate and 0.8 diesel gave great economy (and fun). Made great economic sense for me at the time
 

Craiglxviii

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Just means you get clobbered with BIK Tax!!! Plus running 2 cars
Probably not enough though, all fuel can be written off and some maintenance

Say after me, "company pool car" as long as you have 2 employees or more and of course use it strictly for company business plus incidental personal use such as stopping off at the supermarket on your way home.
 

malcolm E53 AMG

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My opinion, run two cars the C63 should be just a weekend/occasional use car. There are plenty of good old MBs out there to use as your daily
 

JBell

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Say after me, "company pool car" as long as you have 2 employees or more and of course use it strictly for company business plus incidental personal use such as stopping off at the supermarket on your way home.

For a "self employed" person that is impossible and "pool cars" are being investigated very thoroughly, a friend of mine recently had to go to extreme lengths to prove it was a pool car as he uses it most but only for business
 
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Jonathan Schofield

Jonathan Schofield

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Thank you one and all for your comments, I think initially I will go down the banger route but I'm suprised there were no remarks to my mention of a CLS 350 Shooting Brake, does no one like them?

By the time you read this I will have crossed the 90k threshhold so my other original question is at what mileage am I destroying any residual value? I have some friends who have very nice vehicles (Audi RS4 and the odd Porsche) who do very few miles and like to keep it that way to keep up the value, but what is the point?

There's 80M on the Euro Millions tonight so I may not have to worry any more......
 

Craiglxviii

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On the CLS350 SB, HELL YES go for it. They’re lovely and on my wish list to replace the E class estate one day.
 

JBell

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On the CLS350 SB, HELL YES go for it. They’re lovely and on my wish list to replace the E class estate one day.

I agree, beautiful cars and my be my next purchase to replace the C Class
 

EmilysDad

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I agree, beautiful cars and my be my next purchase to replace the C Class

I prefer the preface lift models ie up to 2014 ... the model that doesn't have an iPad glued to the dash
 

Jim2

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And what kind of mileage has that one done ??? :)
 

JBell

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I prefer the preface lift models ie up to 2014 ... the model that doesn't have an iPad glued to the dash

I agree on the dash but I prefer the outside of the facelift so will have to put up with it (should I go down that route)
 


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