Valued Opinions Please

[Jonno900]

Hello all,

I wondered if I can draw on the collective knowledge of the members of the board.

I am looking to buy a Mercedes, I have around £10k to spend and am looking for a C class or E class, auto, diesel, automatic with leather. I will probably look to keep it for around 3 plus years.

Do I go for early model, 2002/2003 with low mileage or a newer model with higher mileage, say 2005 with 120k on the clock?

Anyone now what a properly maintained engine is good for these days?

Thanks in advance.

 

[colechelle]

go for the later model, miles dont matter, the more the better, stay away from the 2002-03 models!!

 

[television]

As Colechelle 04-04 on you get the nano paint so much better.

Welcome to the forum

 

[Juddian]

Pop onto Honestjohn and see his latest auction report.

2 x 55reg C class coupe 220cdi's 26K and 49K for approx 10 and a half grand apiece sold.
or 55reg E class 280cdi 36K avantgarde at £13900 sold.

Far more worrying to me was a 96P E320 coupe 124 59K miles for £1800 sold.

Things are getting bad boys and girls.

 

[simon_wall69]

For 10k, you should be able to get what you're after and a newer model. I have heard of people getting very significant discounts from main dealers. High mileage shouldn't put you off if it has been maintained well.

 

[dava]

For 10k, you should be able to get what you're after and a newer model. I have heard of people getting very significant discounts from main dealers. High mileage shouldn't put you off if it has been maintained well.

Discounts? In June I tried to buy a C class off a Merc dealer who advertises on E Bay, 57 plt 5k on the clock £20900. I offered him £19000, he nearly swallowed his toungue, no way could we discount it that much, possibly £400. It appeared on E bay again in Oct, same car 12K on the clock, oh and it has a small dent to the rear and some stone chips to the front. No probs I can sort that out, it was up for £21900????? I phoned and again question his reasoning for the price hike, notice the word hike, no no not the same car, I got both auctions up on my screen, same reg on both???? Top book on this is £18000, again he coughed, best we could do is £900 discount.

I cant understand what they are playing at, I'm now convinced they are trying to falsify the MB market and they realise if they drop the prices the are loosing money big style and are hoping to ride it out and catch the odd guy who has not done his research on places like this.

Big cars are plumetting, second hand car dealers wont touch X5's etc they are loosing money big style.

 

[psmart]

The same experience when I was interested in buying a B-Class. In Stuttgart, they wanted 42KEUR (~33K pounds) and wouldnt budge on price, in the UK could get it at 26K, via on-line companies at 24K.

Looked at pre-reg/ex-demo, and I wouldnt touch them with a barge pole, the way they are treated by the sales rep (the sales reps use them as their daily drive) is appalling, your just as well off buying an ex-rental car! Also the price they want for them is just way too much!

I got my ML priced up about 18 months ago, 14K, when I asked what a trade in was on it last month, 3700! Same car in Germany, 15-18K euro!

If you can wait, there will be loads of cheap cars around, 10K should buy you a good vehicle.

 

[Blobcat]

Just checking values my 50K miles end of 06 E320 CDI appears to be worth £11.5K, and no I'm not selling it before anyone asks.

 

[dava]

Just checking values my 50K miles end of 06 E320 CDI appears to be worth £11.5K, and no I'm not selling it before anyone asks.

Thats a lot of car for that money.