RyanSL500
Senior Member
- Joined
- May 5, 2019
- Messages
- 102
- Reaction score
- 93
- Location
- Portsmouth
- Your Mercedes
- 2002 Mercedes SL500 and 2014 Mercedes C220
Hi all,
I’ve recently become a member of this awesome forum (my introduction thread can be found here: https://forums.mercedesclub.org.uk/index.php?threads/new-member.175078/
I’m the recent owner a 2002 SL500 R230(picture in the other thread) which has been in the family for many years. This adds to my very small Mercedes collection which consists for a 2014 C220 coupe W204 (pictures in the other thread) and a 2016 A180d W176 (no pictures of this as you can probably see one down your road as they are so common!).
Now, I am aware of the reliability problems of the R230, but all of the big problems have been sorted (the car is on 85k miles). The only thing I’m planning to is reseal the boot and roof seals as I won’t have access to a garage. However, I am intending to purchase a half decent cover to avoid any issues. I am also planning to flush the ABC system and get the gearbox oil changed for peace of mind (sorry I’ve strayed away from my point!).
As the car is one of the higher mileage ones, I’m not fussed about resale value and as mentioned above, the big issues have been sorted already, I’m thinking of selling my C220 which is my daily car and using the R230.
Just to give you an idea of my rough mileage, I only do about 10 miles a day commute due to a change in location. So I’m my eyes, having a diesel is pointless for this sort of mileage and will end up problematic with DPF issues. However, there are instances where I need to drive it long distances such as Portsmouth to birmingham for 6 weeks a year (drive up on Monday and back Friday). Then I go out of long weekends around the country and drives around some of the decent roads near by. However, doing this in a Diesel is never satisfying - although cheap!
I’m currently paying around £300 a month for the C class so in my mind, those payments would go straight into a ‘when the SL500 breaks fund’. I would avoid the biggest the problem which affects most modern Mercedes which is depreciation! The C class will only ever drop in value whereas the SL will either drop at a much slower rate of just stagnate at its current value (however, as previously mentioned, I’m not fussed with the resale of the SL).
I can imagine that as you’re all reading this, you’re all getting the impression that I’ve already made up my mind in that I should sell the C200. But if I look at this situation from someone who views cars as simply an expensive lump of metal point of view, surely even the thought of getting rid of a reliable modern Mercedes for an old unreliable one is crazy?!
Therefore, I’d quite like to know all of your opinions. I’m sure most of you are like minded individuals in that you don’t view cars as convenient items like you do a fridge or other white goods. But, I would appreciate hearing comments from people who have been in similar situations and/or have experienced this and what issues arose. I’d also like to know what you would do in this situation?
I’m currently keeping both cars as I’m not desperate to sell either as both cars are brilliant (the SL is one of my favourite cars, and the C class is dependable, comfortable and looks more expensive than equivalent cars which i could buy for £300 a month. However, if one is to go, it would be the C class as that’s the car which doesn’t do anything for me. It’s simply a very good car. Whereas the SL is something I’m proud to show off!
From a financial point of view, I’m not in negative equity in the C220 and would have a decent amount left over from selling it and clearing the finance. I also think that this would be the time to sell it as I go new tyres on it last year (so I’ve got some of my money’s worth out of the tyres) and it’d Come with 8 months Mercedes their 1 warranty which I bought, so I know I wouldn’t have the new owner calling me up accusing me that I’ve sold them a dodgy car or anything as I would pass the warranty over to them for peace of mind.
Let me know what you think!!
I’ve recently become a member of this awesome forum (my introduction thread can be found here: https://forums.mercedesclub.org.uk/index.php?threads/new-member.175078/
I’m the recent owner a 2002 SL500 R230(picture in the other thread) which has been in the family for many years. This adds to my very small Mercedes collection which consists for a 2014 C220 coupe W204 (pictures in the other thread) and a 2016 A180d W176 (no pictures of this as you can probably see one down your road as they are so common!).
Now, I am aware of the reliability problems of the R230, but all of the big problems have been sorted (the car is on 85k miles). The only thing I’m planning to is reseal the boot and roof seals as I won’t have access to a garage. However, I am intending to purchase a half decent cover to avoid any issues. I am also planning to flush the ABC system and get the gearbox oil changed for peace of mind (sorry I’ve strayed away from my point!).
As the car is one of the higher mileage ones, I’m not fussed about resale value and as mentioned above, the big issues have been sorted already, I’m thinking of selling my C220 which is my daily car and using the R230.
Just to give you an idea of my rough mileage, I only do about 10 miles a day commute due to a change in location. So I’m my eyes, having a diesel is pointless for this sort of mileage and will end up problematic with DPF issues. However, there are instances where I need to drive it long distances such as Portsmouth to birmingham for 6 weeks a year (drive up on Monday and back Friday). Then I go out of long weekends around the country and drives around some of the decent roads near by. However, doing this in a Diesel is never satisfying - although cheap!
I’m currently paying around £300 a month for the C class so in my mind, those payments would go straight into a ‘when the SL500 breaks fund’. I would avoid the biggest the problem which affects most modern Mercedes which is depreciation! The C class will only ever drop in value whereas the SL will either drop at a much slower rate of just stagnate at its current value (however, as previously mentioned, I’m not fussed with the resale of the SL).
I can imagine that as you’re all reading this, you’re all getting the impression that I’ve already made up my mind in that I should sell the C200. But if I look at this situation from someone who views cars as simply an expensive lump of metal point of view, surely even the thought of getting rid of a reliable modern Mercedes for an old unreliable one is crazy?!
Therefore, I’d quite like to know all of your opinions. I’m sure most of you are like minded individuals in that you don’t view cars as convenient items like you do a fridge or other white goods. But, I would appreciate hearing comments from people who have been in similar situations and/or have experienced this and what issues arose. I’d also like to know what you would do in this situation?
I’m currently keeping both cars as I’m not desperate to sell either as both cars are brilliant (the SL is one of my favourite cars, and the C class is dependable, comfortable and looks more expensive than equivalent cars which i could buy for £300 a month. However, if one is to go, it would be the C class as that’s the car which doesn’t do anything for me. It’s simply a very good car. Whereas the SL is something I’m proud to show off!
From a financial point of view, I’m not in negative equity in the C220 and would have a decent amount left over from selling it and clearing the finance. I also think that this would be the time to sell it as I go new tyres on it last year (so I’ve got some of my money’s worth out of the tyres) and it’d Come with 8 months Mercedes their 1 warranty which I bought, so I know I wouldn’t have the new owner calling me up accusing me that I’ve sold them a dodgy car or anything as I would pass the warranty over to them for peace of mind.
Let me know what you think!!