C class or Saab Diesel

[mattsurf]

My brother is looking for a diesel estate to replace an ageing citroen Xantia estate. His requirements are that it must be and estate big enough for a family with 2 young kids, reliable, cheap to maintain, and last at least 5 years (he does 12k miles a year). His budget is £5k

Looking at current prices, he could easily afford a 2005 Saab 93 with 60k miles (I know that it is realy a Vauxhaul Vectra underneath), a good Honda Accord is also about right (2004 with 60k miles).

However, as a hardened Mercedes fan, I have been looking to see what he can get in terms of a Mercedes C class - for 5k he would get a 2001 / 2 C220CDI or 270CDI (price seems pretty much the same for either).

I have to say that the Saab looks quite nice and it seems to have a good reputuation for reliability.

Back to my point: Should he get an older Mercedes (the C270 looks nice) or the Saab, or go for Japanese reliability?

Anyone here have a nice C220 CDI or C270 CDI estate with under 90k miles for sale under £5k?

 

[Ashley H]

The Vectra/9-3 argument is much the same as the Mondeo/X-type one - with the exception that both the Mondeo & X-type are good cars (light blue touch-paper & retire to safe distance...)

More seriously, don't be put-off by the Vectra underpinnings. I hire a lot of cars at the moment and recently had a 1.9 DTi Vectra and a (poverty-model petrol) 9-3 in the same week. I've also had a diesel 9-3 within the past month or so. There was no comparison between the GM cousins.

The Vectra was - let's try to be nice here - complete crap but the 9-3 was a delight in difficult circumstances (flew in to East Midlands at 23:00 and drove straight home to Ayr); it was comfortable, quick, relaxed - generally a very pleasant place (although the interior felt a bit fragile). It was also amazingly economical at 42 mpg (yes, it was petrol). The previous diesel was also impressive in a cross-country dash from Belfast to Donegal and back.

Mrs H loves her (original model) C180 but I will certainly get her to try the Saab when it comes to replacement time (just a pity they're so ugly now).

Good luck to your brother - an interesting pair from which to choose...

 

[MartinPerry]

Although in a slightly different price bracket, we had to choose btwn a 2007 Saab 1.9 TDi, and a 2005 C220 CDI (both estates, both around 40k miles). Saab was £10.5k, MB was 13k.
As someone who cannot stand buyers remorse, I pondered over the choice for a couple of weeks with multiple test drives of each.
Pros and Cons
1. MB was fuly loaded (Xenons, Parktronic, memory seats, COMAND, full leather seats), Saab had half leather seats and needed a TomTom.
2. Saab was newer, but had been driven further per year.
3. Saab boot was larger, and engine more responsive (sport)
4. But the big factor was the resale value. The MB would be worth £7k in 3 years, and the Saab would only be worth 3k.

After previously owning a Saab hatchback (and loving it), the MB is head and shoulders above it.
Martin

 

[jberks]

I fully understand your desire to introduce your brother to the joys of merc ownership ..but ..
to be fair, a 2004 saab/honda should be relatively reliable and sensibly priced to run. The coparable merc, whilst we all know to be a superior machine in every way, being substantially older and probably higher mileage is going to be a hard sell. looking at 2000/2001, you're also hitting the poor build quality years so it's not without risk. I'd wait until his budget is a tad higher and he can look at something 2005-> For now, I'd go for the Saab. (Don't like Hondas).

 

[drmw]

^ +1 for Saab - my wife has one - monotonously reliable

 

[st4]

What about a VW Passat, Audi A4. Not a massive Saab fan and think the cars are overated. My mates folks went from a 320d BMW into a Saab 93 1.9TDi and regretted the decision badly.

They are now looking at proper german made cars again. Says it all really.

 

[Alex M Grieve]

What about a VW Passat, Audi A4. Not a massive Saab fan and think the cars are overrated. My mates folks went from a 320d BMW into a Saab 93 1.9TDi and regretted the decision badly.

They are now looking at proper German made cars again. Says it all really.

Good point Steve. Bear in mind, Skoda are the guys winning the quality awards in the Volkswagen/Audi Group - they are not known as "The thinking man's Audi" for nothing. Well put together, reliable, ready supply of parts from the corporate parts bin, and economical too.

 

[st4]

Indeed Alex, some of the new Skoda's make very compelling purchases. The new superb-beautiful. Someone on the other place traded their 210 for one and is very happy with their car, drives nice, comfy, safe, solid and good for mega miles.

 

[roofless]

VW passat tdi .......... economical....fast...reliable....well built
neutral looks wise but a sound buy

 

[pandasharka]

I'd be tempted to look at a VW Passat Diesel estate as well. Had one a couple of years back and it was bullet proof, gave excellent MPG and was ultra reliable.

My perception with SAAB is that they become increasingly expensive to service, offer mediocre drive and not easy to sell with mileage on the clock (unless at a big loss)

Honda has a reputation for reliability. My only experience was owning an S2000 so not really in the best place to comment on a diesel estate?!

I think the trouble with Mercedes at that price range / age is that there are big and expensive traps to fall into if you get it wrong, that could quickly kill the perceived value of owning one.

Good luck with the search!

 

[wemorgan]

Last summer my father sold his 1 owner from new 2001 (W203) C220 diesel estate classic, with low mileage but base spec for £5.5k. The point being there are some nice cars out there as long as you're willing to wait and be flexible of spec.

Saabs are nice, but a a different kind of car where depreciation is heavy even for second-hand cars. The 9-5 is a very affordable and large estate car where the 2.3t and 2.3 Aero are good engines.

 

[Boogs]

I have a 2007 Saab 93 Estate. Contract expires in July and I am desperate to get rid.

The diesels suffer from EGR issues (run a google search on Saab and EGR). Mine has gone into safe mode twice and the third time the EGR valve has had to be replaced. I have had gear box issues (at 150 miles!) leaking door seals, seats that fall apart, seat sensors failing, the alternator went bang and screwed the electrics, door mirror has had to be replaced, the list goes on (mainly small stuff but irritating and I'm glad I have not had to foot the bill). In 45000 miles I have been to the dealers about 12 times to have items fixed.

I could go on.

It's not just me either as I have met other customers waiting for the EGR to be dealt with in the dealers, my boss has a 93 convertible that needed a new gearbox after 6 months and has had other issues (it has turned into a sport between us).

However when it works properly it is a very nice car, problem is there has constantly been something wrong with it for the last 3 years.

 

[Boogs]

......on the other hand all those with Mondeo's are full of the joys of spring

 

[rovingHawk]

I have a diesel mondeo estate. I looked at SAAB, BMW, MB, etc but couldn't find anything anywhere near as good for the money. Despite being a life-long ford hater I bought it.

#2595 bought me a 54 plate with 136k on the clock; I've done 16k in 6 months with no issues other than a puncture. I get 52mpg and servicing is incredibly easy with very cheap & easily available parts. Certain optional extras are built in and the interweb thingy provides the key to accessing them (one-touch windows, autolocking, remote windows, etc).

I'll probably sell mine when I get to 200-220k and buy the same but newer- your brother could do a great deal worse.

RH

 

[dbanbery]

i liked the 9-3s when my dad have one a few years back, but the ride is unsophisticated compared to his W203. if he spends some time finding a 2003 W203 at the right price then there will be no issues. i have experience of a 2001 model and the 2003 model and the quality is a lot better on the latter.

personally i wouldnt buy anything else but another merc, but i'm biased. even at the tender age of 26 i can see the difference between the vectras/9-3s etc and there isnt really much comparison between them. perhaps it might be worth suggesting a late model W210 diesel?

not had much experience of newer mondeos at all, but a lot of people have been happy with them.

 

[crockers]

Has he considered a Skoda Octavia estate ?

 

[grober]

One of the VAG products makes a compulsive argument. Which one depends on your snobbery quotient Audi>VW>SKODA and is probably the opposite in terms of value for money. Saabs seem to be better cars as petrols since there does seem to be some problems with the FIAT sourced 1.9 4 cylinder diesels. Early Honda diesels had problems with excessive oil consumption but otherwise OK. Subaru legacy estates offer a tremendous car for the money if you can live with the petrol consumption or buy a diesel.

Viewed overall I reckon the latest VW Passat estate in basic diesel form offers a well finished, good looking, reliable , economical and roomy estate and achieves an acceptable position in the "prestige" stakes.

 

[stripe]

The Passat is a very good car, the missus has had one now for over 5 years and apart from the annual service it has cost us very little to maintain. IIRC we are looking at less than £500 including tyres.

She likes it so much she is planning on running it for a long while yet.

 

[dbanbery]

The Passat is a very good car, the missus has had one now for over 5 years and apart from the annual service it has cost us very little to maintain. IIRC we are looking at less than £500 including tyres.

She likes it so much she is planning on running it for a long while yet.

is this the one with the electronic handbrake?

i had a jetta as a company car [no electronic handbrake] and the handbrake popped off on a few occasions [without me knowing] and the last time it did it it went sailing down my road [v.steep and yes i did put it on properly] and ended up in a wall.

generally i found it OK..... apart from above it was very frugal and ok to drive long distances. engine was rough as a badgers backside though - it didnt rev or purr, it sort of snorted its way through the gears.

 

[grober]

is this the one with the electronic handbrake?

i had a jetta as a company car [no electronic handbrake] and the handbrake popped off on a few occasions [without me knowing] and the last time it did it it went sailing down my road [v.steep and yes i did put it on properly] and ended up in a wall.

generally i found it OK..... apart from above it was very frugal and ok to drive long distances. engine was rough as a badgers backside though - it didnt rev or purr, it sort of snorted its way through the gears.

The latest B6 Passat has indeed got the dreaded electronic handbrake and this has caused some owners grief- possibly by incorrect use but that's another story. Sadly its only a matter of time before this redundant technology becomes more widespread! The later common rail diesels are quieter than the old Pumpe Duse engines but not quite so bullet proof.