Should I buy another merc?

[benzo]

I have a C180 classic auto W reg with 55000 miles, for 12 mths. Have had no problems with it and have only had to service it and reset the srs light.

I am thinking of buying a second car so my wife and I will stop sharing. I do not really want to buy another merc and dislike BMWs. I have been looking at the volvo S60 and the SAAB 9-3 (98-02).

Does anyone know anything about these cars? Or should I just stick with mercedes?

Can't find anything useful on volvo forums andthe saab forum is just as bad -anytime anyone posts asking for advice on the cars someone just replies trying to sell him a car. I know I really should not be asking for comparisons on a merc lover's site, but I have been reading this forum for the past year and most of these posts are very objective and honest. So here goes -I await your replies....

 

[guydewdney]

some volvos are good - avoid the renault engine ones. 5 cyl diesels are good. can you be more specific? i have a mate who works for volvo warrenty dept uk who can be..... honest

saab 9-3s are good and reliable - avoid the convertible (my brother has one and when you hack it round a corner, the chassis bends so much the glove box opens ) the v6 2.5 litre / 3 litre (i forget which) is a gm engine, which is good, but needs careful servicing or they explode!

or a merc S/E/C/A class

 

[TonyCoolDaddy]

I have had volvos and Saabs, It depends what your wife likes about driving.

If she is anything like my missus, she wont like Saabs they feel "heavy" to drive, I call it solid.

Newer volvos have rubbish seats and poor visibility for parking.

Both the Saab and Volvo will depreciate must faster than a merc.

On saturday we came to the conclusion that we will only ever buy mercs in the future, everything about them is better, interiors, seats, suspension, quality.

At the end of the day driving around in a merc you take it for granted, it only when you try the "competition" you find out that mercs dont really have one.

Tony

 

[mike65]

Buy a 3 year old Mondeo with air-con/leather etc...ahem.

Mike.

 

[willydog]

have you considered a lexus IS200? rear wheel drive and a bit like a BMW to drive + you get lexus reliability.

 

[benzo]

Thanks guydewdney and tonycooldaddy for your input, thanks also Willydog, but she doesn't like the IS200 -says it looks like the old Avensis with a big 'L' in front -(how do you start arguing with that? :? )

Ford Mondeo- in fact ANY Ford; I dont think so....

Tony your thoughts on depreciation are correct but that also means buying 3 -4 years old, I'll get them cheaper than the merc to start with. Still haven't made up my mind but taking on board some of the things you guys have said, I'll probably be on the lookout for a SAAB 9-3 2.0T or a merc C200 estate

Thanks once again.

 

[OlafMaxwell]

Interesting thoughts on whether to buy another Merc. The depreciation is maybe less but when you factor in the inevitable repair bills and difficulty in warranty repairs these costs far outweigh the savings on depreciation. The Saab is a lovely motor and I have a friend who had one blow an engine at about 75k. Full service history from new, engine replaced, no argument whatever, free loan car while it was sorted out. Apart from that he has never had any unscheduled repairs. No one else I know with a Saab has had any problems. I know plenty that are at 200-330k without any problems.

Maybe the Merc engines will last but a few power steering falures, ABS sensors, mass air flow meters, replacement ECU, rash of wiper motors, window motors and more will be far more expensive than an engine.

I drove a diesel for what I expected would be a saving. However it is only going to take one more [inevitable] repair bill to make a Lexus RX300 cheaper to run than a Merc diesel.

I have explored various websites and the Merc sites are particularly vociferous about customer service and lack of dealer knowledge of the product.

If you are going for a new motor the Jaguar X estate is a gem. If you want a really great motor it's coming late this year with the new Peugeot 2.7 V6 diesel with 200+ bhp. This diesel motor is going to give MB a real run for their money. There is only one car smoother than a Merc and thats a Jaguar.

The thing that is more important to me is not so much reliability as customer service and customer attitude. I can handle a problem when the dealer is competent and honest, tells you as it is and you know he is being truthful. It is so much less stressful.

 

[Loz]

Forgive the obvious question but, Why don't you want another merc? You appear to be happy with the one you have...

I would recomend a Lexus because the shed value in early years and make superb second hand buys for the financially astute customer. Buy privately and avoid rediculous dealer prices. (some are quite keen to be fair).

The IS200 is a good little car but the GS300 is the best value package if you don't mind a good sized car for little money and JD Power award winning reliability.

But don't think me too one sided. I have both Merc and Lexus and can't figure out which one to drive 900 miles in this week? both have 134k on the clock but the lexus is only 4 years old. The Merc is 14. and still I can't make up my mind...

Good luck with your car hunt!

Loz

 

[swiltshire]

Benzo,

I run 2 Saabs, a 95 saloon and a 900 convertible. I love them both although the convertible is long in the tooth, hence my deposit on new SLK!!

Firstly, Saabscene is an excellent forum and nobody tries to sell you anything, so I don't know what forum you've been trying, but suggest you log on there for very good advice.

The 93 convertible is an improved 900 and still prone to shake, rattle and roll, but how hard is your wife likely to drive it? If the answer is 'not very' then it is a very comfortable, large and roomy convertible, at the end of its model life and therefore with most reliability issues fixed if you buy a later model.

The brand new model is supposed to be dynamically much better but, of course, is still expensive as so new.

I'd offer to sell you my convertible but then you'd only say 'I told you so!'

:wink:

 

[benzo]

Sorry I havent checked my post, I did not realise I had received more replies. I actually went out and bought a Volvo S60 2.0 T S and I must say, I am quite pleased with it.

Funny thing is my wife and I both want the volvo now so it's a case of whoever gets up first grabs the volvo!
From her point of view the standard spec is a lot more generous, the seats are more comfy than in some living rooms and it's a good looking car -it's also not so common.

From my point of view it's a lot more powerful than the C Class =>180 bhp and you feel it when you put the pedal down. This though, is not a fair comparison 'cos the merc is only a 1.8 Litre -I am sure a C240 will have just as much punch. The steering of the mercedes feels more precise and the urban handling is better but the volvo comes into it's own on the motorway.
Rear visibility is also poorer in the volvo -but all this said I still look forward more to getting into the volvo

Loz, the post before yours from olafmaxell answers in part your question on why I do not want another merc. Mercedes dealers are expensive and insolent and independents although much more courteous - are not much cheaper.
My A service at Mercedes Colindale cost me about 308 pounds in Nov '03. Having my abs light switch replaced at George Frasers in Jan '04 cost 110 pounds. It took all of 9 minutes!

For now I am pretty pleased with both choices and would not replace one with the other. When it's time to change them I'll probably replace the merc with a merc and the volvo with another volvo though it's early days for the volvo I've only had it 6 days.

The saab forum I used was saabcentral www.saabcentral.com
What finally put me off the saab was the fact I found out it shared some origins with the vauxhall cavalier. I owned a vauxhall vectra for over a year and I definitely will not buy a car that has so much as a vauxhall mat in it.

 

[Loz]

Congrats on your purchase...

Yes I had a similar price scare. £350 to get the ignition barrel replaced at Derwent Mercedes and the £400 at Merc-Care !!! Thought they were supposed to be cheaper?

Good luck with the low pressure turbo. Had a T5 and think highly of the brand as a result. you of course won't be loosing you front tyre tread at every set of lights though! (see Jez Clarkson's review of the V50 in last SUnday's Times)

Loz

Ps. sold the coupe and bought a Legacy Turbo.... looking forward to my next merc...

 

[asahartz]

Saab vs Merc

I'll echo what swiltshire says about the Saabscene forum; as a newcomer to Saab I found it refreshing and helpful.

I can also agree with the cavalier/saab worries; mine is a 9000 which is a 'real' (pre-GM) Saab.

I've only had the Saab a couple of weeks so I can't really say whether or not it's better than the Merc (W124 TE, engine sick). I can say though that despite a higher mileage, the Saab feels smaller (it's not), handles better and goes faster.

I've had Volvos in the past too; the ones I can afford now are too thirsty for me, but the build quality has always been good.

I suppose if you're image-conscious Merc wins hands-down; seen as expensive, Volvo is staid and Saab is anonymous - I'm a teacher and that's the impression i get from the kids anyway.