When to change a car

[silverhorse]

Had a 1996 Jaguar XJ6 fr a year. Needed Exhaust incl cats Quoted over £1500
Thought not worth it Sold car. Bought Modeo while looking for another Jag.
Had Mondeo a year Sold it. Decided to change for a Merc. Bought an E300
saloon 1998 model . Loved it. Caught in pile up on motorway , Fiat ran in back of me. Write off. Sold for scrap. Bought an E300 D Estate 1998 model
with 130000 mls last year. Absolutely love it and will not go back to Jags
Too many problems.
If I ever do sell it I will be concerned about upgrading to a newer model as
once 1998 is passed there seems to be more complicated faults arising on
more recent cars due to modern technology eg electronic gearboxes and electrical faults. Are THE OLDUNS THE BESTUNS I ask.

 

[jberks]

pros and cons. Yes the newer ones are more technical and less well made but on the other side you also get the benefits of the new technology - better brakes, better economy, better handling etc.
As for when to change, I'd say, when it really starts costing. A good merc will last 20 years so those that change every 3 years are missing out. Ok, mines only 3 1/2 but now she has >50k on the clock, she's finally feels properly run in. The ride is better, the engine smoother and more potent, the gearchange slicker - she's just a hell of a lot better to drive than she was 3 years ago. I suspect she'll keep improving for another 50k yet before she levels off. I was toying with changing in December, just to keep up to date really, but with economics plus the way she is running at present, not a chance.

As nice as new ones are, keep it for 3 yrs/36k and you really miss out.

 

[Silver Arrow]

Yes, I kept my 123 diesel for 20 years and sold it when it reached 99K.
I got an e-mail from the new owner who said it was superb.

 

[Alembic6]

My view is that cars are getting like hi-fi, cameras, badgets in general - stuffed full of gimicks, stuff to make you buy new. Older cars are much better made, and can be more reliable because they are more simple. Its true that the moe complex it is, the more there is to go wrong. But that's an engineer's view. I work with stuff under the sea that has to produce oil for 20years without any maintenance - simple is beautiful.

Co-incidently, I was surfing some Japanese auction sites last night - there are loads of old Mercs on offer out there, some really low milage, and shipping is allegedly around a grand+. I saw a glistening '94 37,000km E320 saloon, at less than £2k. It's got me thinking seriously - get a really solid W124 or other 'proper' car, not even fully run in, for banger money. And of course, the seats wont be worn out.....

 

[CMR]

Unless owned by Tokyo/Kyoto boy racers the car will be well looked after, particularly the bigger mercs. Japanese take good care of their cars. One reason they may be selling is that some time ago everyone had big cars, now its the complete opposite, everyone is going for small economical runabouts. It is a trend that seems to be happening gradually here when you look at new cars coming out.

 

[silverhorse]

I agree small cars are getting more popular here especially with younger age groups but if you enjoy having a large vehicle like I do - Merc 300 E Diesel, then I could not easily downsize to a small runabout. I think there are a lot of drivers like myself who still enjoy motoring in a larger size car with space and comfort on a long journey.

 

[CMR]

Quite agree. My twin brother always wanted a mercedes but I beat him to it, however he chose a XJ6. Lovely car, I always marvel at the engine. They always refer to the interior of Jags as a being in a gentleman's club and quite rightly so. I must admit I do like the styling of Jaguar. I was a bit dismayed when visiting brooklands on a gtg and seeing some of the newer cars, some bits were very obviously plasticky!

 

[Alembic6]

I think your 'style', 'mojo' or whatever is a major influence too - I'm over 50, and like a cruiser of a car now. Waft about in comfort, with 250ish horses on tap for the open road. A '95 e320 cab does that for me. I've been through the high revs, fast cornering, snappy change stage - got it out of my system. In fact, I last had a TT, and sold it simply because I got tired of being rattled around like a pea in a drum. Nice car on a smooth surface, a motorway, but roads are terrible in the Guildford area, and I found I was literally driving around the drain gratings.

Maybe I'm more at peace with the world these days. Fuel cost is an issue, but for 6-10k miles a year, its nothing compared to depreciation, so I dont worry about it. That's the advantage of an older Mec - they hold their price better, so that offsets any extra fuel consumption compared to a newer vehicle. And the greenest thing you can do is to keep driving the car you have - buying new just consumes more resources.

 

[drainaudio]

Co-incidently, I was surfing some Japanese auction sites last night - there are loads of old Mercs on offer out there, some really low milage, and shipping is allegedly around a grand+. I saw a glistening '94 37,000km E320 saloon, at less than £2k. It's got me thinking seriously - get a really solid W124 or other 'proper' car, not even fully run in, for banger money. And of course, the seats wont be worn out.....

Could you possibly share the info on the Japanese auction sites?
I've been out there 9 times in the past few years and they treat their cars so well especially the prestige stuff.
I'm currently driving an 05 Cooper S with all the toys but am tired of "new" cars and am starting to seriously look for a W124 (just pure class) - am prepared to pay the top shelf price for an immaculate low mileage example (must be black w' leather tho).
The Japanese option sounds very interesting and worth investigation.

Cheers, Geoff.

 

[MB Novice]

drainaudio
a good jap. site is tradecarview.com It is not an auction site but rather a site which shows you cars available for export from all dealers. The MB prices are fantastic.

 

[st4]

The only issue with the older cars is crash safety.

Watch and learn.

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=k3ygYUYia9I

 

[CMR]

drainaudio
since you are based in London, another option is this, many Japanese come here to work and then go back home again after a couple of years, they then do a house clearance sale before they go, amongst the rice cooker is the immaculate kept car, often low milage and well kept and sometimes a bargain! - get in private before it goes to one of the UK/Japanese car dealers here for mark up. I realise you are quite specific about what you are looking for though you never know!
gambette ne!

 

[jberks]

The only issue with the older cars is crash safety.

I must admit, that fact does put me off the idea of a 'classic' car.
When I look in some of the vintage stuff and see the big bolts on the wheel boss and hard metal dashboards on say an old moggie minor, it does make me shiver. That plus their cramped interiors and I can't help seeing them as mobile coffins. Even 60's Jags - just couldn't do it.

a 1990 - Merc on the other hand may not survive as well as a new mondeo but it's still pretty good for safety.