Car change required

[16vWestie]

Dear all,
presently run a '99 320 CLK convertible and absolutely love it. My problem is that I have racked up 30,000 miles in the past year at approx 30mpg. I am now up to 72k and am thinking that I should be getting rid of it at around about 80k miles due to resale values. I do like the car but am having to be a bit more sensible in my car options
The options I have are;

1. Keep car and continue putting 30k a year on it and accept that it will be "worthless" in a couple of years. Perhaps even get a LPG kit on it?

2. Trade and buy a newer E320 diesel and run for 3 years (high mileages don't seem to affect the prices so much)

3. Trade and buy a older Merc diesel and run on x% veg oil (already do this legally on a 4x4 Mitsubushi,). Bit worried about reliability on this though

Your thoughts on my predicament much appreciated

 

[jberks]

Been here.
Basically, the best thing you can do is probably to keep the car. You lose the most on a car buying and selling. You pay retail and get trade, however the figures look. Over one year, this difference is massive. Spread it over more time and the depreciation starts to look nicer.
Sure you could buy a diesel, but you pay a premium to get one due to their desireability and have to make that premium back before you start saving
.
A 320clk will do big miles quite happily if you look after it. Sure it will be worth less at the end but if you work out how much you will lose from now, compared to what you'd lose on anything else, there is less in it than you might think.
Petrol/diesel - even over 30kpa there isn't that much in it.

I traded my 2000 E240 for a 2004 E270cdi. Over 25kpa I reckon I save between £20 and £30 per week in fuel. Sounds like a lot but remember I effectively spent £20k to achieve these savings! Ok, the 270 will depreciate less, but I paid more for it in the first place. If I'd kept my 240, I'd be £25 pw worse off but better off by £20k (or the payments).

An LPG conversion will cost you around £2k and will take over 2 years just to break even at 30kpa. Remember, the fuel is cheaper but the fuel efficiency is less so you don't get a 1:1 ratio, more like 1.5:1 for petrol. Plus without losing your boot entirely, a tank is too small to run solely on LPG. Factor in the incovenience and I decided that I was better off without.

If you like the car, just keep it.