What Mercedes

[tony.w]

Can anyone advise, i am lookig to buy a second car (wife gets the best) that i can use to cover around 15k a year, i would like a MB diesel and it will have to be i should imagine around 10-15 years old as i only have around £2000 to £3000 to spend. Can anyone advise on what model is perhaps best and also are auto boxes of that era reliable.

Regards

 

[stumpy]

Hi Tony, I think the best car for you is a 124 E class. The diesels tend to command slightly higher prices, which tells you how well regarded they are. Is there a reason you want a diesel? If it's economy then the 220 petrol offers a good balance of performance and economy and is a bit cheaper and more plentiful.

The auto boxes are very sound on these cars and although the car you buy may already have 100k plus on the clock, it should do that again without too many issues. My E280 I bought with 123k, it is now on 144k and going strong. In a year it has cost nothing apart from regular maintenance.

 

[Bolide]

A W124 diesel would be ideal, but don't discount a good 190 2.5-litre diesel. Don't buy a 190 2-litre diesel. The 190 is the small saloon that pre-dates the C Class

W124 diesels are like hen's teeth so you have to move fast. The post-93 Multivalve diesel is the best but you may struggle to get one within your budget. Both the earlier diesels (250 and 300) are excellent and there's very little to choose between them

Nick Froome
www.w124.co.uk

 

[BarryG]

Can anyone advise, i am lookig to buy a second car (wife gets the best) that i can use to cover around 15k a year, i would like a MB diesel and it will have to be i should imagine around 10-15 years old as i only have around £2000 to £3000 to spend. Can anyone advise on what model is perhaps best and also are auto boxes of that era reliable.

Regards

Theres some very nice looking MBs on Ebay at the moment some with FSH quite a few well within your budget and within your age range. One word of warning I would go and try the car before buying on Ebay. Theres been a few nice looking estates going cheap on there that I would have had a look at but the distance to view was to far

Barry

 

[tony.w]

Thanks for your all your replies, does no one rate the "C" class as there seem to many around !!!
Regards

 

[jberks]

Thanks for your all your replies, does no one rate the "C" class as there seem to many around !!!
Regards

I do. I bought a 1995 C220 petrol back in 1999 and we still have it. She's been totally reliable and now she's only worth £1700 (I paid £20,000!)or so, even though we don't really need her any more, were keeping her anyway.
These cars, properly looked after will do over 200k so mileage should be no issue. Personally, I'd go for, say a 1998 C200 in preference to an older 124 diesel. It will be quicker, just as economical and as a long distance motor they are ideal. Yes, I know the 124s are classics and were the best MBs ever built but the 202 isn't far behind and the 124s are getting long in the tooth now. Sure they are excellent, but their age is going to mean that some seals and connectors will be past their best and they are bound to be more troublesome than something newer.
A quick trawl on autotrader and there is a 79k R Reg C240 sport(bit thirsty but a lovely sweet engine) for less than £2200. That's a lot of car for no money!

 

[maldon]

I dont know how much you would have to pay, but the C230K Est we had was an excellent car.

Personally I'd go for a W124. They are simply unbeatable.

 

[tony.w]

Thanks again for your replies, seems to be down to personal choice (and what available)

Regards