Should I keep the car?

[ian l]

Hi guys I would really appreciate your thoughts ...
Two years ago, just after retirement, I bought a new c220cdi elegance with the idea of keeping it until I part exchanged it for a motorised zimmer (or something similar).

For the first 30K miles the car was absolutely perfect - not a single trip to the dealer for any warranty work, no stone chips nor scratches. However in the last 10,000 miles the instrument panel has been replaced, the front wheel bearings have been replaced and now the whole back axle and differential is going to replaced - all under the excellent warranty!

I have had a number of c-class vehicles with no major problems with any of them in over 500,000 miles.

I am now wondering if my current car is developing into a jinx and should be sold before the 3 year warranty expires. When its not in the dealer's workshop being fixed, the car is just great to drive and meets all of my expectations of what a MB should be.

Just don't know what to do; replace it soon or keep it but buy an extended warranty (never felt the need to buy an extended warranty before - maybe I have been lucky!) Any thoughts? Many thanks

 

[Andy Wr]

I would keep the car, I went through a similar thing recently with my Renault van which was a bit of a lemon and regularly in the garage, I took out an extended Renault warranty for 2 years, cost £800 but gives me piece of mind that the expensive things are covered.

 

[whitenemesis]

I would be tempted to sell it before the warranty runs out and either upgrade to a nearly new better spec car or the brand new c-class.

Once one loses confidence in a car it tends to niggle away all the time, sell it and start afresh

 

[Parrot of Doom]

Keep the car. The cost of depreciation on a newer model will be significantly more.

The longer you keep it the less you'll spend.

 

[dieselman]

Sign up for the Service Plus programme and then as bits drop off or break they will be replaced under the scheme at no additional cost.

Is this a pre or facelift W203?

Financially it makes sense to keep the car but it can be soul destroying to have a permenantly faulty car.

 

[Brett]

How much more can go wrong? You've had the major bits swapped under warranty, so if I was you, I'd stick with it.

 

[Geezer]

Yup, stay with it and get Service Plus.

 

[mister_cee333]

Food for thought.

Your current car trade in value (according to Parkers) £15000 - £16000.
Assuming it will lose approx ¼ of its value per year then in say 3 years its worth ballpark £6000 - £7000.
Total depreciation loss for next 3 years £9000 or so.
Add on some extra maintenance, lets say £2000 over the 3 years (which should be counting it high, especially as most could now be done by an indie).
Total cost over 3 years £11000.

Or

Buy a new car at £24000 or so.
Assume a similar 25% depreciation and its worth in the region of £10000 - £11000 after 3 years.
So thats £13000 depreciation.
Maintenance, dealer servicing and anything else not covered by warranty etc. Lets say perhaps the same £2000?
Total for 3 years £15000.


Carry the equation forward to the following 3 years...

The first car is now only worth £2500 (so £4000 depreciation), and has cost another £2000 to maintain = £6000.

The second car now only worth £4500 (so £6500 depreciation), and has cost the same £2000 to maintain = £8500.

Add the two 3 year periods together and keeping your existing car for 6 years costs you £ 17000.
Buying a new car and keeping for 6 years costs £23500.

Obviously the figures are ballpark but it gives you a rough guide.

ps hope that doesn't sound too confusing, I can hardly understand it myself lol

 

[A210AMG]

Hello,

Being honest if you can afford to Sell it...

Buy an AMG anything before its too late and that Zimmer is being delivered.

Enjoy

 

[ian l]

Thanks for all your comments. The range of responses perfectly demonstrates my quandry! Sense would suggest that I keep the car but ... ...

I think a visit to my dealer is called for to get a quote for service plus - that might sway me one way or another.

Will let you know after the New Year what developes, meanwhile, have a great Christmas.

 

[Rory]

mister_cee333 makes a very point - that's the calculation I went through when I was unsure about keeping my 3 yr old C270CDi. Some people may think that the difference isn't very great, and might be happy to splash out on a new car.
In my case (I'm touching a large piece of wood here) my car has been completley faultless - until its MOT it had only been to the dealer once for an A service - so I thought I might be tempting fate changing it!

In the end I decided to keep the car but to a get ServicePlus contact.

However, I only do about 12,000 miles per year - you look as if you're doing 20K/yr, so ServicePlus might be pretty expensive. Mine was just under £80/mth (inc VAT).

ServicePlus can run to 6yrs old with a maximum mileage of 120K but it can only be taken out for whole years. I took mine 3 mths before the car's 3rd birthday as I was thinking it might need pads and disks and there's a 3mth delay before you have routine servicing done. MOT (plus repairs necessary to pass) is covered anyway from day 1.

One thing to add: If you go for ServicePlus, take for the maximum amount of time - that way the price is fixed. It can be cancelled with max 3mths notice.

 

[ian l]

Thanks Rory for the info re ServicePlus, I did not know you could cancel with 3 months notice. Yes, you are right, I'm doing about 20K/yr so as you say the costs might be quite a bit higher than your quote.