Advice on 2nd car for commuting please

[dsolds]

Hi all,
Being fairly new here and also never having owned a merc older than a 51 plate ML320 I seek the wisdom and opinions of the more time served among you.
I have just been invited (told) I will be doing a new project at work from next month on which would seem likely to involve travelling to Cardiff from Tamworth 3 days a week. Presently I work from home all the time so this is a bit of a downer but, hey, I have a decent paying job.
Anyway, I am not about to ruin my E500 with huge motorway miles since it took me ages to find and I really don't fancy the depreciation either.
So I reckon a 2nd car for the job is the order of the day. I quite like the look of the 190 series but there are a lot of models to choose from with vastly varying prices. I was looking at about 2 grand tops. I also guess a diesel is sensible but not sure I could live with an old noisy gutless version. List of must haves is: Aircon, Auto, 30+mpg, comfortable mile eater. Really nice to have would be cruise and leather. If it was cheapish to service that would also be good.
Thanks in advance.
Dom
PS. I might be able to stretch to a 190 Cosworth but not sure about the fuel side of things. Are they thirsty?

 

[Dieselman]

I'd buy THIS and get the damage fixed.

I don't know if it's got leather or not but am so taken with it generally that I was going to buy it, but having one Bio-burner already I don't need another.

 

[TonyVianoAmbiente]

I'm biased, naturally, but I would recommend a 1993-1995 "facelift" W124 E300 Diesel like my own. It has 136 bhp, a responsive auto box, excellent air conditioning and a very comfortable ride.

Controls are much the same as your E500, just slightly less power.

I have been averaging 36 mpg with a mixture of town and country driving. 32-34 mpg around town and 38-40 mpg on a run, sticking to speed limits.

The car is also said to be well suited to using SVO (vegetable oil) without modification. I am currently running an 80% SVO / 20% DERV mix without any problems.

The vegetable oil I use is rapeseed because it has the lowest viscosity. It costs 78p per litre in most supermarkets, but if you shop around you can get it for 56p in some Sainsburys in 1 litre bottles or for about the same price in 15 litre tins from Costco or Makro.

As I said, I am biased, but this would be a fine car for long distance commuting.

 

[dsolds]

Thanks both. Damage repair is not really for me. Shame though, lovely car.
Excuse ignorance but is W124 the older E class?

 

[A210AMG]

Another option

for 2K you could have the latest multipoint gas in the E500 donut tank in spare wheel under floor.

40mpg equiv, and you get the saftey of your car with all the modern luxurys. You have searched that long for one why drive a 2K 2nd car?

Ok so the E500 will depreciate but it will anyway if its sat on the drive, why not enjoy it.

You then have MOT's, servicing, insurance, tax etc for the second car.

Failing that I would get something like this, it will do for the trips to the tip and b&q runs, probably 50mpg with the gas..sorry no leather but a late one 1996..

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/322965.htm

 

[Will]

Hi dsolds,

Quite a reasonable order of stuff there for 2 grand (for a MB) to be honest

Ie - the aircon and leather, diesel, cheap to service, 30mpg etc.

190s are great cars, you'll find a very decent, nicely specced, clean 2.0 auto for about a grand or two, but air con is unlikely to be present (and probably not working if it is), and leather is probably just as rare! The 2.3-16/2.5-16 'Cosworth' ones won't fit into your budget or criteria I'm afraid.

The diesel ones command quite a premium, are very rare to find (especially in a condition worth having), and won't likely have the spec that you're after.

I'd say that for £2K you might have to look elsewhere than MB unless you go for something like the 300D in Dieselman's link (wonder what it'll go for, £1K or so?)

It sounds as though you need something fairly reliable and nicely specced - I'd try and raise the budget, maybe to £3/4K and you'll find decent late 124s, early 210s, decent 202 C-classes etc that are worth owning and looking after.

Buy any of the above wisely (ie well maintained, possibly high mileage but sound), look after it and you should see very little depreciation in the short to medium term.

Good luck with the search

Will

 

[Shude]

40mpg equiv, and you get the saftey of your car with all the modern luxurys. You have searched that long for one why drive a 2K 2nd car?

Ok so the E500 will depreciate but it will anyway if its sat on the drive, why not enjoy it.

You then have MOT's, servicing, insurance, tax etc for the second car.

There is a mathematical issue here. If this project lasts for a year then we're talking about 40k miles.

The £2k beater will need servicing 4 times (£50 each time?), probably 2 sets of tyres (£200 per set?) plus say £700 for insurance, tax and MOT.

The beater is going to cost about £3100 in a year.

If you use your existing car then it will still need servicing but probably only 3 times more in the year than normal (£250 each time?) 1 set of tyres more than you'd normally go through (£400 for a set?) no more for your tax or MOT and your insurance might go up by £100 if you choose to tell them.

Using your current car is going to cost you £1250 plus whatever 40k of depreciation would cost you in a year.

I've assumed that both cars have the same MPG and that no additional maintenance will be required for either vehicle.

Just thought I'd throw some numbers into the process. Good luck with whatever you choose to do!

EDIT: alternatively you could consider the train, if there is one although I know that east-west type journeys are a nightmare.

 

[Will]

Nice thinking there Shude, but I would hazard a guess that in 40,000 miles a £2K beater will need more than £200 spent for repairs/servicing/maintenance?

Obviously 40K miles on a E500 isn't going to help the resale value either, but just trying to get a fair picture.

Will

P.S good to see you back

 

[dsolds]

These W124's look nice. Thanks for this. Have had LPG vefore so no issue with that but definitely won't be putting it on the E500. Strange but the 2 cars I had with LPG wer both difficult to sell, not sure why.
The 300 Diesel engine in these, is it the same as in the later E class? (R plate)
A pal of mine has a R plate E300 estate which is a lovely motor. Bit rich on the later model for my pocket.
But these W124's look cracking value, much more so than an older 190e's.
Thanks all for this, I reckon a decent W124 is the order of the day.
Dom.

PS. Train?????? You mean (draws deep breath> Like Public Transport?? <gulps> No sir!
The maths I reckon shows good logic but the fact is I rally don't want to stsck up miles on teh E500. Has one hell of a spec and took ages to find. But also wouldn't want to run it without warranty which is going to be a problem renewing later this year if it goes over 100K. Currently 53K. Need the estate as I shoot and have dogs so makes the rarity even worse, E55 AMG Estates are not around much either. So definitely keeping the E500 as good as I can.

 

[Shude]

Have had LPG vefore so no issue with that but definitely won't be putting it on the E500. Strange but the 2 cars I had with LPG wer both difficult to sell, not sure why.

For some reason people don't like to buy cars with LPG already fitted. There is probably a simple answer to this: have the LPG system fitted in a way that means it can be removed later. When it's time to sell, remove the LPG system and then sell it separately or keep it for the next car.

Thanks all for this, I reckon a decent W124 is the order of the day.

124s are the business.
EDIT: Don't dismiss mega-milers, please read this thread, if you get bored skip to closer to the end for the results Very high mileage - is buying a mad idea

 

[Fady]

When I was faced with this dilemma, I simply put sentiment to one side and looked at bread and butter Fords, Vauxhalls and Peugeots etc. A 2 litre 51 plate with 60K miles-ish with a reasonable spec (i.e. aircon) doesn't come in at much more than that. And you know the thing is going to be reliable - no getting stuck on the hard shoulder and any old garage can service it, whereas classic Mercs are a labour of love. That said, in the end, I was able to do the journey by train!

My 2p.

 

[grober]

These W124's look nice.
The 300 Diesel engine in these, is it the same as in the later E class? (R plate)
A pal of mine has a R plate E300 estate which is a lovely motor. Bit rich on the later model for my pocket.
can.

95-97 the w210 300 DIESEL was essentially the same 4valves per cylinder engine as in the w124 series with 136 bhp. Post 97 the w210 300D was turbo charged to give 177BHP and a lot more oomph! I'm guessing your mates is a turbo motor??

 

[hawk20]

Hi all,

I have just been invited (told) I will be doing a new project at work from next month on which would seem likely to involve travelling to Cardiff from Tamworth 3 days a week. Presently I work from home all the time so this is a bit of a downer but, hey, I have a decent paying job.
Anyway, I am not about to ruin my E500 with huge motorway miles since it took me ages to find and I really don't fancy the depreciation either.
So I reckon a 2nd car for the job is the order of the day. I quite like the look of the 190 series but there are a lot of models to choose from with vastly varying prices. I was looking at about 2 grand tops. I also guess a diesel is sensible but not sure I could live with an old noisy gutless version. List of must haves is: Aircon, Auto, 30+mpg, comfortable mile eater. Really nice to have would be cruise and leather. If it was cheapish to service that would also be good.
Thanks in advance.
Dom
PS. I might be able to stretch to a 190 Cosworth but not sure about the fuel side of things. Are they thirsty?

Basic facts are you will doing a 280 mile round trip 3 times a week and notching up approaching 40k miles per year. You will be spending up to 20 hours per week in the car travelling.

1. Buying a £2k car to do that kind of mileage makes no sense to me at all. I would want a car no more than 3 years old and up to 50/60k miles max.
2. Surely your firm expect to pay you a good mileage allowance so you can get the proper kit for the job -or provide you with a company car?
3. Safety should be a major issue for you. I did that mileage most years at one time and staying alive has to be a priority. Safety standards in cars have gone up staggeringly in recent years.
4. Is this a one year only commute or could it be for several years. It really affects what you should choose.
5. I am sure this won't appeal to you but there is a good case for exchanging the E500 estate for a 3 year old diesel, with fairly low miles, and then joining Service Plus to cover all your bills.

 

[TonyVianoAmbiente]

Thanks both. Damage repair is not really for me. Shame though, lovely car.
Excuse ignorance but is W124 the older E class?

Yes, the W124 is the E Class model before yours which is a W210.

And the damaged one needs a lot more than a bumper and a tail light!

 

[imadoofus]

What bizarre 'logic'.

I don't understand why you'd spend decent money on an E500 and then not want to use it. Have you kept plastic covers on the seats so the next owner gets a clean car?

As Shude said; spending money on buying and running a second car might well outwiegh the additional depreciation from using the E500.

 

[GrahamC230K]

I am with Fady and Shude on his mathematical side of things.

Going from a modern luxury vehicle that you don't do mnay miles in to doing a long commute in a w124 is going to be a shock to your system. Simply I don't see it working. If nothing else why expose yourself to a large mileage and choose a car with such outdated safety design (pure assumption don't go getting all text book on me).

A Mondeo or a Vectra is required if you really want to pay over the odds to keep the E500 mileage in tact. Modern, cheap.

 

[A210AMG]

I would as mentioned use the E500

Its losing a shed load anyway? big engined cars in a couple of years will probably be dead the way things are going.

For driving up and down the motoways I would rather be in something new and modern with its satey features, luxury's.

Good point about millage allowance? you must be getting something? If not ask for more

Use the E500 and bank £3000 straight away (the 2K you would have spent and £1000 for the serviceing, mot, insurance, for the year).

Whats the E500 worth? £15-18K ?

I use 3K depreciation a year which is low really.

Assuming 17K now

14k year 1
11k year 2
8k year 3


Even with 130K mile 8K sounds reaonable?

 

[Dieselman]

There is a mathematical issue here. If this project lasts for a year then we're talking about 40k miles.

The £2k beater will need servicing 4 times (£50 each time?), probably 2 sets of tyres (£200 per set?) plus say £700 for insurance, tax and MOT.

The beater is going to cost about £3100 in a year.

If you use your existing car then it will still need servicing but probably only 3 times more in the year than normal (£250 each time?) 1 set of tyres more than you'd normally go through (£400 for a set?) no more for your tax or MOT and your insurance might go up by £100 if you choose to tell them.

Using your current car is going to cost you £1250 plus whatever 40k of depreciation would cost you in a year.

I've assumed that both cars have the same MPG and that no additional maintenance will be required for either vehicle.

Just thought I'd throw some numbers into the process. Good luck with whatever you choose to do!

I'm not disagreeing with you here Shude but feel your maths is a bit flawed.

With an additional 40K miles on it in one year the E500 will plummet in value. I would expect it to lose an additional 5K above it's regular depreciation value, possibly more.

As far as items like tyres, with mainly motorway driving a car should see 40k out of one set and that there is the fuel, the 500 will possibly see 30mpg on all the long runs, the diesel will see 40mpg, maybe more.

In addition the 2K beater isn't going to depreciate much, if at all so you shouldn't write that value off completely, unless you write the E500 value off as well.

so say;

Beater car.
Depreciation £500 (I'd be surprised if that particular car loses a penny), fuel £4700 at pump price diesel, servicing £1000 = £6300 ish.
Run it on Bio and the fuel cost reduces by 10-20%.

E500
Depreciation £8,000, fuel £6250, servicing £1500 = £15,700

I agree with the safety aspect but the o/p was originally asking for cars like a 190. A W124 is streets ahead in terms of passenger safety if only because it's a bigger car.

I picked the later E300D as the multivalve OM606 engine is quiet, frugal, powerful and supremely reliable.

For information for the o/p later multivalve engines have the grilles in the front wing.

 

[pammy]

I think you're looking at this from the wrong angle. What is your priority? How much will your company pay you and what do you intend to do with the car other than commuting. is it simply an additional car to serve this purpose or do you want it do do other things.

I'd be looking for something reliable and safe and economical and prob not in the league of MB etc. I would be looking at something like a Vectra too. I would suggest a Mondeo but the problems my Dad is having with his injectors and the issues Ford have in diagnosing and fixing the known issue would deter me from the Mondeo.

We have a similar dilemma to face. Mr P does a lot of miles in visiting family etc and economy is important but what to get, coz his heap is going . I'd love another MB but I just don't think it's going to be viable looking at the other things the car will be required to do so we will be looking at other marques.

 

[Rose Chap]

It would be painful to walk outside in the morning, and climb in the crappy diseasel commuting car rather than the quick and comfortable "proper" car parked next to it.

Why do we spend our hard earned cash on nice cars if not to drive them?

If I were you I'd either do the commute in the E500, or sell it and buy a C220 CDI, and something genuinely sporty and fun for the weekend. Caterham, Elise, Westfield, etc.