Car swap decision - help

[grober]

2012 C207-REAR SUBFRAME FAILURE FROM CORROSION? Tricky enough with the car in the UK. the C207 is based on the W204 CHASSIS

 

[survey]

i have a 2014 e-class coupe which I’ve owned from new - well specified with ACC, matrix lights, pano roof etc. It’s been faultless (pre-AdBlue) and a pleasure to drive. Never misses a beat. Yes, it’s awkward to get in the back seats (although once you’re in there’s plenty of room). But apart from the grandkids there’s rarely anyone else in there.

We also have a 2020 VW Golf Mk8 which has had several visits to the dealers for warranty repairs including a new steering wheel (repeated false warnings due to faulty sensors which are there to detect hands-free driving) and a new infotainment hardware unit (original gave up).

The Golf was the first to use VW’s new software platform and safe to say it hasn’t gone well. Brilliant engine, DSG gearbox, clever coasting and almost imperceptible stop/start via a belted starter/generator instead of the starter motor. But completely let down by the software and the number of bings and bongs makes it a pain.

I think things may have improved a bit on later versions.

Anyway, the Merc shows every sign of going on for ever. I‘ve just started getting her serviced at a specialist independent rather than the main dealer. Mush better value. At nine years old, depreciation isn’t an issue. If she starts giving major problems then she’ll have to go - but it will be painful. Otherwise, she’s a keeper.

Being honest though, I don’t think the Merc would be great as an only car. Bit big for the shopping runs etc.

The Golf will be traded in soon for an EV.

By the way, and a bit off topic, I suspect a home-charged EV for the shopping and school runs coupled with the Merc for longer days out and holidays is (for us) an ideal combination.

Well HandyDave, Your story regarding your E coupe is so similar to mine! Mine has been brilliant apart from one emissions sensor failing in Spain a few years ago. The car has been amazingly reliable and a real pleasure to drive. Generally its only our grandchildren who use the rear seats but if we have adults to transport we tend to use the wife's Yeti for ease of access. Certainly the MB is not the car for shopping trips as I'm always nervous about damage by others opening their doors on mine. I started using an indie several years ago and they seem to do a great job; they always test brake fluid rather than just replace it, when I asked them to fit new discs and pads they phoned me and said that there was plenty of life in the existing etc etc - totally honest to their own detriment.

Your comments on VW group are noted. Our Yeti is our second one and both totally reliable (but fist one sold and then had a clutch slave cylinder problem. I think that the software problem has now been addressed by VW but who knows!

 

[survey]

2012 C207-REAR SUBFRAME FAILURE FROM CORROSION? Tricky enough with the car in the UK. the C207 is based on the W204 CHASSIS

Mine is in for service in a couple of days, so will get the subframe checked out. Thanks for this!

 

[BigJase88]

Well HandyDave, Your story regarding your E coupe is so similar to mine! Mine has been brilliant apart from one emissions sensor failing in Spain a few years ago. The car has been amazingly reliable and a real pleasure to drive. Generally its only our grandchildren who use the rear seats but if we have adults to transport we tend to use the wife's Yeti for ease of access. Certainly the MB is not the car for shopping trips as I'm always nervous about damage by others opening their doors on mine. I started using an indie several years ago and they seem to do a great job; they always test brake fluid rather than just replace it, when I asked them to fit new discs and pads they phoned me and said that there was plenty of life in the existing etc etc - totally honest to their own detriment.

Your comments on VW group are noted. Our Yeti is our second one and both totally reliable (but fist one sold and then had a clutch slave cylinder problem. I think that the software problem has now been addressed by VW but who knows!

The software has not been sorted. I can confirm this as i frequent many VAG forums.

 

[MrGreedy]

Nationwide flex plus account has European breakdown as standard. It's about £12 a month fee for the account, and also include mobile phone insurance and some travel insurance.

The breakdown cover (also applies in the UK) covers the passenger, not the car, so I don't believe vehicle age is an issue.

If you open it at a joint account, that's two people covered.

 

[survey]

The software has not been sorted. I can confirm this as i frequent many VAG forums.

Thanks for this info!

 

[BTB 500]

I'm with Green Flag and I think it's 12 or 13 years. Was ok of course with mobilo aas there's no age limit but I prefer my indie for servicing.

Vehicle age limits vary from company to company, so you do have to be careful. The AA and RAC (and some others) currently have no restrictions on this though. There's nothing to stop you taking out short-term cover for a specific trip, which is what we used to do before we had standard European breakdown cover. The RAC certainly offer this to all ... you just pay slightly more if a non-member.

As an aside the other thing that varies a lot is the size of trailer/caravan they will recover if you break down while towing - we moved from the RAC to the AA last year because of this. The RAC (and Green flag) have a 7 metre limit, and our single axle caravan is 7.3 metres long. The AA have trailer weight and width restrictions, but no limit on the length.

 

[BigJase88]

Thanks for this info!

Post #7 where i linked the article says the hardware updates will come 2024. The software is probably as best as it is going to get right now the hardware as says in that article [backlit sliders] and steering wheels are due then.

However i would wait until the next gen of VAG cars where hopefully they have scrapped the touch sensitive sliders etc as that article pretty much suggests they have had an own goal with that route of "progress"

 

[Mactech]

I bought an 07 C180 Estate back in 2014 with 100K miles on it. I ran the car as a stop gap for another trouble free 20K miles and 2 years after that.
Since then it only appears to have done another 200K miles(!) before retiring last year on 320K miles!
Your Mercedes has not even got through its teenage years yet....

 

[jdrrco]

I used AutoAid the last two trips - both my cars are old - the Merc is 2011 and the Alfa 2000. To be honest the main thing i look for is how the repatriation works as that's the part that holds most fear for me!

AutoAid are Eurorescue