Merc wanted upto £4000

[johnmac]

Hello I am new to merc,s I have never owned one but have fancied one after reading loads of articles on this forum. I would love to have a big saloon but could not afford to run one. but to be honest I am looking for something with comfort and reasonable mpg, speed is not important to me.
If by any chance someone is looking for a 8 seater mpv I will be putting mine up for sale or would even swop for the right car.
thanks john.

 

[joem]

I have just bought an E220CDI which was less than you budget to buy costs £350 a year to insure and does over 40mpg.

 

[A210AMG]

Hello


Quote "but could not afford to run one"


Has this now changed though, as although you could get some Nice mercs for your budget running costs as in servicing even at an indy will cost more than the equivalent Ford / vauxhal for example.

Do you still need a lots of seats / estate or something slightly smaller?

 

[joem]

Do they really cost more than a Ford or Vauxhall?

My W202 has done 40,000 miles with me and has needed nothing other than normal servicing at my local garage for £149 a time plus a bit extra for Mobil One not standard Semi-synthetic. I think the only parts I have bought are a £6 non return valve for the washer mechanism, £13 of ball joints and £8 of anti roll bar bushes. A Ford could not be that much cheaper plus my experience of Ford company cars is the exhausts fail prematurely and the diesels in particular needed servicing every 6000 miles although I guess this is different for a new one. I also seem to remember Modeos blowing stop/tail bulbs constantly although I accept these are not that expensive.

 

[johnmac]

Yes I can afford to run one.

Hello '
Thanks for replies, what I meant by not being able to afford to run one was that I as well as many other people would love to run one of the big cars but unfortunately I have to travel 40 miles for work and it would be to much in fuel.
35 - 40 mpg sounds great to me and that will do me fine. I always get my cars serviced as if they break down I would not know how to get to work any other way.
I don't need as many seats now as my daughter is getting a car so she can ferry the family about now.
If by going of what I have read on here loads of members have very old cars that are still going strong so surely that says something for mercs ? I was hoping to get something around 8 - 10 yrs old.

 

[johnmac]

Yes I can afford to run one.

Hello '
Thanks for replies, what I meant by not being able to afford to run one was that I as well as many other people would love to run one of the big cars but unfortunately I have to travel 40 miles for work and it would be to much in fuel.
35 - 40 mpg sounds great to me and that will do me fine. I always get my cars serviced as if they break down I would not know how to get to work any other way.
I don't need as many seats now as my daughter is getting a car so she can ferry the family about now.
If by going of what I have read on here loads of members have very old cars that are still going strong so surely that says something for mercs ? I was hoping to get something around 8 - 10 yrs old.

 

[mattsurf]

For £4000 you can get a 1999 / 2000 C 220cdi with 100k miles - this will do more than 40mpg easily and if you find a good, well maintained car, won't break the bank, despite being a high mileage car.

You will find some E300 TD s for sale at this price - however, this is the older technology diesel and will only do 30 - 35 mpg - although the E class is a fantastic car with a big Merc feel. The 300 TD engine is great, in 1997 it was the fastest diesel car you could buy, and some tests compared it to the smoothness of a petrol - it is also a very well proven engine, I was in an Italian Taxi (in Naples) yesterday which had 500k kilometers on the clock - the way that the driver drove suggested that the car did not live an easy life, yet it felt smooth, powerful and quiet

 

[jberks]

Normally a merc won't break the bank. However do be aware that some components are very expensive and it you move towards the 203 where electronics start to arrive in bulk and there is always the potential for cost. Do remember that a Merc cost twice to 3 times as much as a Mondeo so whilst servicing is servicing, (unless you go to a main dealer) some components are built for a 30k car, not a 10k car and are priced accordingly. Not everything but I dare say an exhaust system for a merc will be a lot more than a mondeo one. If you're spending £25,000 on a car and a repair costs you £1,000 it hurts but you cope. Not necessarily the case when you paid £4k - and remember, its the same car.
Not a reason to avoid merc, but something to go into with your eyes open.

I think Mattsurf hit it perfectly. A nice 1999 C220cdi would be my recommendation too. Its the 202 so old school reliable technology and the 220cdi engine is well regarded. You could do a lot worse than follow his advice.

 

[joem]

Decent mileage W202 C220CDi's are a very rare beast though.

 

[johnmac]

Looks like I will be buying a C220cdi then.

Thanks everyone ,
Its been very helpful, and I understand what you mean about parts going up in price accordingly to price of car, but you have all convinced me to get myself a Merc and I am sure if I am careful and shop around I will find one that suits me.
thanks again and if anyone has a one for sale let me know, I live in Newcastle upon Tyne but am willing to travel within around 100 miles.

 

[gpm72]

mine still up for sale, c220cdi check my previous posts to view the car, it is a corcker