C32 AMG or C180?

[OliverLloyd96]

Hi everyone, I'm new to this forum. I have been nearly driving for two years now, as I'm 19 years old, and I need to get car for this September, as I will be starting an Apprenticeship. I have been using my dad's c220 a few times each week for the last year but now I will need a car to get to work everyday.

I was looking into getting a c180. I saw a decent one a week ago, 2004, 45,000 miles for £5000.

A few days ago I filled out an insurance quote for a c32 amg, for a joke really to see how high it would be. I was expecting to see at least £5000. The quote I was given was £2600, which I think is amazing for a 19 year old with no NCB.

I am aware of the fuel costs, I would expect to get 18mpg, but I am unsure on the total running costs(replacement parts, servicing costs etc), and have seen mixed opinions on the reliability of them. Would you recommend getting a C32?

Many Regards, Oliver

 

[Deleted member 37751]

Reliable C32's are very few and far between Oliver and there's more important things a 19 year old should be spending his money on than a bottomless pit.

 

[Starky]

The 32 will ruin you on a apprentices wage.

 

[KillerHERTZ]

C180, a C32 AMG will bankrupt you at your age.

 

[Neil Mackay]

Yep cost would ruin you!! Mine generally costs £5k a year to run (petrol, insurance,tax and servicing)........I pay £2k less than your £2,600 insurance quote......so looking more like £7k for you....I don't do high mileage either

Don't forget the rust factor of the pre facelift C classes..................its legendary!

 

[OliverLloyd96]

£5k a year! I didn't realise it would be that much! I think I might have to stop dreaming haha, get a c180 then get a c32 in couple of years. Would you say the running costs of a c180 would be about half of the c32? I think I'l be able to run a c180 because the apprenticeship pays a decent amount, I think it's about £280 a week, and I have have no other commitments. The insurance quote for the c180 was £1700, which is quite good.

Thanks for all of the responses guys! this is a great car forum!

 

[BenzedUP]

It depends mate, you need to ask your self, are you a sensible driver? most 19yr olds aren't.
Can you afford to run an AMG properly? no point buying an AMG if you can't afford to run it properly as you'll struggle.

If you can afford one then i'd suggest to look for a C55, don't worry about mileage as the engine & gearbox are bomb proof as long as the car is been looked after well and serviced properly.

I was driving an E55 AMG at your age, had no issues at all.

 

[OliverLloyd96]

I would say i'm a sensible driver, I've been on a 2 litre merc for a year, I know when it's safe to go fast.

the insurance company I have been getting quotes off is bell admiral. I put a reg of a c55 into a quote and they said they wouldn't insure me, I have to be 21. Anyway, the c55's are a bit more expensive, and guzzle a bit more fuel.

 

[Neil Mackay]

I would say i'm a sensible driver, I've been on a 2 litre merc for a year, I know when it's safe to go fast. the insurance company I have been getting quotes off is bell admiral. I put a reg of a c55 into a quote and they said they wouldn't insure me, I have to be 21. Anyway, the c55's are a bit more expensive, and guzzle a bit more fuel.

I rarely drive mine quickly these days and I get.......16mpg.......albeit short journeys

 

[Driver15]

2004, 45,000 miles for £5000

If it was me at 19.. I would of done the same thing and got something like that.....(I had a 2.0litre as my first car,) but now me giving advice a decade on, i would forget spending £5k on a 11 year old car.

I would buy the newest car possible for £5k on the basis of lowest possible running costs and repair builds which means more free cash for nights out with the lads pulling birds!

 

[190]

When I was your age in the 70's I bought a Kawasaki 900 motorcycle which was reckoned to be the fastest mainstream production motorcycle of it's day. The insurance was outrageous and only one company would insure it at all. Nothing remotely sensible about the whole proposition but I still have the memories and the cost is long forgotten. You are only young once and for most people being young and single is usually the only time you can afford to be outrageous for some time.

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

A well maintained peach of a C32 will cost barely more than the C180, but as already suggested they're thin on the ground. Sadly a lemon will cost an awful lot, and may always prove to be troublesome.

How about a personal lease? You can get some serious metal for relatively little. A Golf R springs to mind. And as it's new, it will be reliable, without unexpected bills, and safe

Good luck with whatever you choose.

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

PS Bell Direct, as they were then, were the first to offer me sensibly priced insurance on a sporty car. It was a Toyota MR2, what a car!

 

[Jonesy161]

Oliver, you have already had some great advice above, I would go a little bit further and say that you should forget a merc for a couple of years and get something that will not be a massive financial drain just to run on a daily basis.

You can get a fairly late car with relatively low maintenance costs eg. Mini/Golf/Focus/Fiesta etc. and many more on your budget.

Don't go to work just to pay for a car.

 

[AMGeed]

At 19 yrs old my money was invested in women, beer, travelling and having a good time.
Plenty of time later on for an AMG. Enjoy your youth while you have it and don't waste your cash on cars yet.

 

[poormansporsche]

Its a lot more difficult to keep it up all night when you are 40 than it is to drive a fast car when you are 40.

When I was 17 I had 4 jobs at the same time. By 18 I'd saved 20 grand for a flash motor (and in them days it was a lot) but I discovered booze n birds. By 19 I'd blown it all and was driving a battered escort van

Do I regret it, not a chance !

 

[Lenny63]

The good old B&B :lol: legendary

 

[Palfrem]

Some sound advice on here.

I wish I was 19 again!

 

[jotter22]

Reliable C32's are very few and far between Oliver and there's more important things a 19 year old should be spending his money on than a bottomless pit.

I would think at 19 he would love to spend all his money on a bottomless pit

just not one you drive.

Tony.

 

[tec]

Between the ages of 17 and 21 all my cars received damaged bodywork in various accidents, not all my fault but most were.

For this reason I would not encourage anyone under 21 to buy an expensive car, as it's a fact that young people have the most accidents.

Put your money into a nice house, and then buy a nice car when you can afford to run it properly without skimping on servicing and repairs.