No Merc yet, gathering advice

[Incubroz]

Hi all,

I was out of work for a while and, now I'm back to it I've had to pick up a cheap runner just to get by with.
There's nothing really wrong with my car, it does the job and I'd probably be happy to make do with it for a good while, if it wasn't for the fact that, twice a day I leave my house to take the dog for a walk and wander straight past a 2015 E220d... and I love it!

A matter of taste, I know but I love the overall shape of it and, having a crafty look in through the windows as I pass by I can tell that it will be extremely comfortable as well.
Given that I drive about 2 hours a day just for work, that's something that I value.

So essentially that's why I'm here. Whatever car brand I've owned in the past, I've always found owners forums to be a goldmine for honest opinions and advice about the various models available and my plan is to snoop around for a while, as I try to build up enough money to eventually pick up my own Merc.

 

[Blobcat]

Hello and welcome,

I’d keep with the cheap runabout until finances and job stabilise…

After that, you need to think about how many miles you’ll be driving and where. ULEZ isn’t going away and councils are using them to try and prop finances up, so they’ll only proliferate further…
So Euro 6 if diesel which leads to many an unhappy owner with AdBlue and NOX emissions equipment issues.

Also, most members come to forums because they have issues with their cars… so you’ll tend to get a negative view of any brand on a forum.

 

[00slk]

Hello and welcome
My 2 pence worth, petrol V8, SLK, you'll never have to visit the forum for issues with a car like that

 

[Malcolm Johnson]

like yourself, mileage was something i did when working. Always gone down the sizable size as we had three bread snappers sat on the rear seats,
Gone through, Audi 100, Citroen xm, Rover 825 sterling before settling on S class's. work/family car. Now a drive ornament.
A 4 pot diesel would be a sensible choice if you do the miles. Our youngest son has a Mazda 323 diesel as he does miles.
look at the maintenance costs, spare price's. Try to find a car that has been correctly serviced. That does not necessarily mean Mercedes service history.
To my mind only covers the bare minimum that will get them through the warranty period. IMHO

 

[DSK]

I had the 2010 E350 and got a 2007 CLS. They are nothing special but, they can deliver you nicely after a 2-3 hour motorway trip feeling decent enough. Many will say they are awesome but, compared to a lot of decent stuff they are sadly average. Bit like a picture on a menu being better than what you really get. They are fine in a average kind of way. (A Lexus GS as an example would destroy them for quality and comfort.)

Not a patch on my 20yr old Volvo for silence and comfort mind you. That is where the w221 steps up and is better value for money over the E and CLS in my opinion, if serenity is the order of the day seating proper adults in the back easily, putting the nipper to sleep and wafting very nicely.

If an E is what you want regardless, read up carefully or, ask about the specific model and years as there’s lots to be aware of. There will be lots of clocked cars about to so you will need to be very diligent.


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[SL63 Mark]

Another vote for the petrol V8. A lovely smooth motor, and surprisingly frugal if you go easy on the loud pedal.

 

[old man Logan]

W210 if not worried about ulez,superb motorway cruiser

 

[SmartAmg]

 

[harrye500]

An E class is a handsome motor for sure. I've got a 220d estate. Great car but my miles have reduced somewhat so I am considering changing for a petrol due to the widely known expensive adblu issues. But 100% a very nice car. I also have an E convertible 2010 with the V8. Summer use only now, but a cossetted, fun and very much enjoyed car. So as others have noted, consider your mileage - diesel if you do many miles upwards or over say 15k a year and petrol of you're a low-miler. Also remember any MB is expensive to buy and generally owner costs can match that experience! Good luck!

 

[old man Logan]

W210 v6 e280 petrol I do few miles in a year,21mpg around town and up to mid 30,s on a run but soooo comfortable

 

[Incubroz]

All, thanks for the welcome comments and advice so far, I'm taking it all in.

To clarify a few points:

@Blobcat
After that, you need to think about how many miles you’ll be driving and where.

I live in Stoke and drive to Telford for work every morning. However, there's nothing really tying me to Stoke nowadays. If this job works out and I settle in, I'm totally open to relocating.
This means that I'm certainly not set on buying a diesel model, that just happens to be what I walk past every day.
My plan here is to scope out different options then make a decision based on my circumstances at the time, when finances permit.

@Malcolm Johnson
Try to find a car that has been correctly serviced. That does not necessarily mean Mercedes service history.
To my mind only covers the bare minimum that will get them through the warranty period. IMHO

You're absolutely right. I have owned a few Honda's and, around our way the main dealers for a number of makes are all franchised out to one specific company. I generally had the cars on PCP so used their servicing facilities but I was never convinced that they were doing what was claimed.
With cars I've bought outright, I'd always prefer to find an independent who specialises in that make.

@DSK
I had the 2010 E350 and got a 2007 CLS. They are nothing special but, they can deliver you nicely after a 2-3 hour motorway trip feeling decent enough. Many will say they are awesome but, compared to a lot of decent stuff they are sadly average. Bit like a picture on a menu being better than what you really get. They are fine in a average kind of way. (A Lexus GS as an example would destroy them for quality and comfort.) ...

If an E is what you want regardless...

I suppose it's all relative to what you're used to. Don't get me wrong here, I'm not looking for a Rolls Royce.
One of my favourite cars was a 2008 Civic Type-R (the one with the triangular exhausts). It was a firm ride but the seats were designed to hold you in, the trim was solid and rattle-free and everything worked properly, the gear shifts were a dream, for example. Later, I owned a 2015 Civic 1.6 i-Dtec SR and, although very different it was also excellent, I still miss that car now. It was quite a high spec, with heated leather seats, a panoramic sunroof and, aside from air con (common issue), it never missed a beat.
Now on the other hand, I currently drive a 2015 (pre-facelift) DS3, 1.6 diesel.
Many argue that there's nothing wrong with it and it's a great bargain but I just cant get on with it, the ergonomics are awful.
The pedals are set really high so, at 6ft tall I have to push my seat back pretty far to avoid my legs being bent too much and catching the bottom of the steering wheel (which can't be raised). They clearly knew this was an issue because they made the bottom of the wheel flat and try to paint that as a styling initiative! So with my seat pushed so far back, I'm then reaching too far forward to hold the wheel. Essentially you need to be built like E.T to be comfortable in there and I'm returning home most days with backache.
There are other niggles, e.g. the stalk controls for the stereo / cruise control are completely hidden behind the wheel so you have to know them from memory and, turning off the centre console screen (which can be distracting on dark drives) also turns off the fuel gauge on the dash(!), plus it blows a different bulb once a week... but, apart from that I suppose it's fine haha.

Sooo, you can imagine why I look inside that Merc and think, "That looks comfy". I'm not looking for a road yacht, I just want a nice, comfortable ride with a bit of power, quality and looks nice.

 

[SL63 Mark]

I'm still going for the V8 in the E class. You won't regret it.

 

[Incubroz]

I'm still going for the V8 in the E class. You won't regret it.

I have no doubt at all that I'd enjoy a V8 but I'm not sure I could stomach an efficiency of ~25 mpg combined, morally if nothing else!
As I said above, I'm not always going to be doing huge distances so I won't necessarily need something overly frugal but that's probably a bit extreme

 

[Blobcat]

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[Incubroz]

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Oh don't go tempting me yet! hahaha. I need to get some money together first.
That's nice though, pretty much the sort of thing I'd been looking at. I'd also browsed slightly newer models but, of course the purchase price was creeping up so it all depends on how patient I can be

 

[DSK]

Those E classes are easy for 6ft plus folks of which I am one.

I like the fact that the floor is in close proximity to the seat base so your legs are kept fairly straight unlike in other cars. There’s also decent movement of the seats and steering column to find what works just right for you.


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[M80]

Till you move from Stoke you'll be needing something with fat tyres.

 

[harrye500]

Oh don't go tempting me yet! hahaha. I need to get some money together first.
That's nice though, pretty much the sort of thing I'd been looking at. I'd also browsed slightly newer models but, of course the purchase price was creeping up so it all depends on how patient I can be

I guess the longer you can wait, the better or newer model you could get as the price comes down. Definitely an E Coupe is a nice thing

 

[Incubroz]

Till you move from Stoke you'll be needing something with fat tyres.

To ride over the potholes?

 

[Dean Fletcher]

My only advice on this thread is to go for the bigger engined models. I had a E250 and after a few weeks I wished I’d got a e350.