looking and some advice wanted

[snapper]

Hiya new hear and sorry to say as yet I do not own a merc, but I am currently looking.

At the moment my better half is driving around in a ford c-max and I am not happy about it, not very reliable, but apart from that is an OK ish car, if you don’t think about the big dent her father put in it last week. ****** Range Rover drivers.

But I want her to have something bigger and safer for her and the kids.

So far we have looked at several different cars, and I like the C-class Avantgarde estate 220cdi or I believe there is a sport version of the estate? the E-class has come up in conversation as well but seems to be around 10k more so thats not an option

Sorry also it has to be silver.

Reason for posting is I am trying to find out as much as possible about these cars problem areas, best extras to have and ones to avoided.

So far we have on our want list

C-class Avantgarde or sport estate 220cdi

Silver
Auto gearbox

Leather or mb-lex
Parking sensors (a must)
Auto folding door mirrors
Cruise control and speed limiter
ESP


Sports pack?
Is the paddle gearbox worth having?
Privacy glass would be a bonus, as would a tow bar.

Now the down side, we only have around the 12 to 15k to spend

The only ones we have found that tick all the boxes so far have been at dealers and out of our range,

I have to say despite telling the dealers our price, why do they still show you cars that are 22k? And expect you to finance the balance

I am sure I can add to this list but it’s a good starting point

Any info you have problems you’ve had would be appreciated

Thanks in advance

Mark

 

[Blobcat]

Hi & Welcome,

There are some very good online search engines to find used Mercedes. I wouldn't tell any dealer or private seller how much you have to spend as they will always spend it and more for you.
The autogearbox is so good that you don't really need the paddles and apart from playing with them I doubt you will ever use them. Cruise & limiter is standard with the autobox and leather and parking sensors is quite common. However with the bombsite on front and the car finishing just behind the back window do you really need them? If you do you can get them retro fitted if you find the right car without them.

http://www.vcars.co.uk/used-cars/used-mercedes.php

 

[snapper]

Thanks

Thanks for the very quick reply bobcat

"You can get them retro fitted "

Yes we've been told this before

The dealers seem to make up there own mind to the cost of this, one dealer quoted us £500 plus for the front and the same again for the rear. While another it was less than £500 for both?

One even called us to say he had found the perfect car but it wasn’t leather or parking sensors but they can both be fitted whole new interior for around £1000, what’s the point of that paying over an extra grand, might just as well buy a car with it already fitted < but he could see that! Really pushed for us to view the car!

Thank for the info on the paddle gearbox so its just novelty than never really needed or used.

Mark

 

[Blobcat]

I would look at comand.co.uk for retro fitting of the toys, I wouldn't have a dealer do it unless it was part of the deal. Trawl the Internet and set your must haves and keep looking. I spent 9 months searching for my first E320 and 5 months searching for my second. I went to Birmingham for my current car and if that hadn't been right I was about to go to Perth to see one.

 

[snapper]

oops

Sorry I got you addy wrong its Blobcat and not bobcat .

I notice you've a cbr600 ! good little bike ! and a BMW 1100 too , sound like you have to much play time !

I am a Fazer 1000 man myself ! Its my little toy !
A friend of mine has just purchased cbr600 not sure which model but he is raving about it ! loves it to bits !

Mark

 

[Blobcat]

Sorry I got you addy wrong its Blobcat and not bobcat .

I notice you've a cbr600 ! good little bike ! and a BMW 1100 too , sound like you have to much play time !

I am a Fazer 1000 man myself ! Its my little toy !
A friend of mine has just purchased cbr600 not sure which model but he is raving about it ! loves it to bits !

Mark

I get called quite a few things so not an issue I cannot say I have too much time on my hands just possibly a few too many toys...

 

[jberks]

On your list - MB parktronic is nice but there are some very good after market kits available for a fraction of the cost of retrofit. Id go down this route if it isn't already there.
The 220 is by far the most popular model so there should be lots around.
I wouldn't get too hung up by the leather though. I've had mercs with and without (my current E class has leather) and to be honest, I think MB fabric is actually nicer. Its very hard wearing - probably better wearing than the leather and it doesn't sag like leather does. It also doesn't need treating.
Just a thought.
You're spot on with the auto, as Bobcat says - cruise is standard on the autos so thats covered. ESP is standard across the range. Silver is pretty much standard too!
Sports pack is ok but to be honest the standard AG is already sporty - and drive one first as you may find the ride a bit harsh.

There are loads of them around so a little patience and you should find what you want. A mate wanted an E320cdi elegance (rare) with sunroof (rarer), memory seats (rare) and 17" wheels (common on the AG but not the elegance). I said "No chance". it took him 3 weeks and the bugger found the perfect car! It was 200 miles away but dealers come to you so he was able to buy it - so don't be put off if the right car is miles away. They're not selling much at the moment and dealers are laying off sales staff, so it is a buyers market irrespective of what they try to tell you.

 

[moosehead]

I have the Sport Pack on my AG estate and at times wish I hadn't - the ride can be very harsh. If you have leather then the heated front seat option is nice to have in the winter. I had a local windscreen company tint the glass from the B pillar back. From memory it was £250. It's probably worth speaking to your local MB to find out which company they use for windscreen / glass work rather than the cowboys from one of the big national companies. Regarding paddle shifters I think they are a complete waste of time. I drove the new C220CDI Sport which was fitted with these and after playing around with them for 10 minutes couldn't understand why anyone would want to pay for this option.

 

[snapper]

oh poo !!!

Well I am sold and now I want the c-class ,
but !!

Now the misses keeps looking at the grand voyager and the new dodge journey arrrgggghhhh ! either will also be alot more money !!

Her reason being the rear leg room in the c-class is fairly limited !

I know I am paying but she'll be driving it about most of the time !

Fickle creatures women

But I'm not giving up that easily

Mark

 

[Blobcat]

Well I am sold and now I want the c-class ,
but !!

Now the misses keeps looking at the grand voyager and the new dodge journey arrrgggghhhh ! either will also be alot more money !!

Her reason being the rear leg room in the c-class is fairly limited !

I know I am paying but she'll be driving it about most of the time !

Fickle creatures women

But I'm not giving up that easily

Mark

Buy an E class estate then, or at least get her to test drive a Mercedes for a decent length of time once your try you won't go anywhere elch.

 

[hawk20]

If it is safety you want and space and rear legroom have a look at an ML. You'll get one for the money you are talking. great value at the moment due to oil prices etc.

People in 4x4s are 50 times less likely to be killed in crashes with another car than those of small and medium-sized cars, according to the Department of Transport.
The safest cars for drivers are the Land Rover Defender, Mercedes ML class, Toyota Landcruiser and Isuzu Trooper.
The cars with the worst records for driver deaths and serious injuries are the old-style Mini, the Fiat Panda, pre-1993 Nissan Micra, Daewoo Matiz and Suzuki Swift.
The DoT looked at police reports of more than 138,000 crashes from 2000 to 2004. Drivers of small and medium-sized cars involved in collisions with another car had a one in 200 chance of being killed, compared with fewer than one in 10,000 for drivers of people-carriers and 4x4s.
Just three per cent of 4x4 drivers were killed or seriously injured in collisions, compared with seven per cent of small-car drivers.
The figures were published on the DoT's website but the study has not been publicised.

Some people say why would you put your eggs in any other basket?

 

[snapper]

Ml

Thanks Hawk

We looked into the ML and found it wanting !

Seems to be a lot of car for the money but it has to many down sides

"Verdict It may look attractive on paper, but it's not everything a Mercedes should be"

From here !

http://www.whatcar.co.uk/used-car-summary.aspx?rt=2297

Mark

 

[jberks]

The new ML is nice - I was never that struck on the old one tbh. Friends and I have run Chrysler stuff - not in the same league. As regards rear legroom, yes its a bit limited on a C but how much do you need. I regularly used to cart 4/5 around in my C and never had any complaints. Its better than a 3 series and as good as the rear swab is a bit bigger.
If its an issue, as has been said, do look at the E. With my 5'2 Mrs driving mine, you could play basketball in the back of my E!

 

[hawk20]

Thanks Hawk

We looked into the ML and found it wanting !

Seems to be a lot of car for the money but it has to many down sides

"Verdict It may look attractive on paper, but it's not everything a Mercedes should be"

From here !

http://www.whatcar.co.uk/used-car-summary.aspx?rt=2297

Mark

You must be talking about the old model. The new model is everything you would expect and hope for from a Mercedes. Huge safety, which you seem to care about, loads of space, wonderful engines, excellent ride - just drive one.

 

[silverhorse]

You cannot go wrong with an E class diesel estate in leather I would not part with mine and it a 1998 model . The new ones are superb with a lovely ride and bags of performance in the 320 . Ask your wife to try one . There is plenty of legroom in the rear seats. Cheers Ron