Cheap Mercs

[drbsheffield]

Has anyone else seen how cheap CLK's are on PCP at the moment. I have a beautiful CLK 320 at the moment but I am really tempted to get a new CLK 220 CDi at the current prices! New deals were released today and are even better than before!
What do you all think? the fuel economy would be better than mine, plus mine is 5 years old now but has only covered 33000 miles and could even pass for a car that is a few months old, it is really tempting, has anyone driven a 220 CDi?

 

[Rose Chap]

The W209 CLK is soon to be replaced, so that will affect residual values.

I'd imagine a 220CDI will be pretty steady in the speed and acceleration department and I'm not sure it would suit the character of a sports coupe.

If you can get a good deal though with a good fixed final payment and the lack of grunt doesn't bother you, it could be worth a punt.

 

[drbsheffield]

it's funny, I seem to stress about the long term costs of keeping my car, it is under warranty for another 10 months, i guess it is not even run in yet with 33000 miles, I only cover about 8k miles a year so the benefit of diesel over petrol would not make a huge difference to me, I guss it is just the reassurance of having a new car with all the warranty etc.

 

[A210AMG]

Hello,


Swapping a 320 V6 for a 2.2 Derv, and only doing 8k a year....not for me. I know in the C class its a great engine but in a heavy, sporty CLK not sure. Think you would want the 270cdi at least?

As you say doing only 8k a year the benifits of the derv are less noticable.

So your car is 5 years old, I'm assuming paid for or well on its way to being paid for? depreciation leveled off. Car only just run in (33k). Save your money and fix it when / if it needs it.

When you say cheap, what are the figures like for the 220CLK?

If I were you I'd stick with what you have and maybe look in another year? can you now get a CLK320cdi ? or is the 270cdi the biggest engine?

thing is now you have planted the seed....its a slippery slope to changing

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

The new deals are tempting, and I've been all shall-I/shan't-I for a while now. The sensible thing is to keep what you have, but since when has a car-nut been sensible? If we we're, most us wouldn't be driving the cars we do drive.

If you fancy one, and like the 209 shape then go for it.

Just looked at the offers, and blimey, the GL320 CDi deal is much better than last quarter:

Deposit: Was £8899, now £6999
Monthly: Was £529, now £499
Final payment: Was £29k+, now £26580

Add that lot up, and it's a fair old saving.

R-Class not featured this quarter - due to new 7 seat and 2WD models - I bet they struggle to sell still though. They did even when the offer was on. I noticed a big billboard poster for the R-Class today - first time I've seen it.

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

Just looked at the offers, and blimey, the GL320 CDi deal is much better than last quarter:

Deposit: Was £8899, now £6999
Monthly: Was £529, now £499
Final payment: Was £29k+, now £26580

Add that lot up, and it's a fair old saving.

I just noticed there are complimentary upgrades to GL420 CDi on some stock cars. If that's in conjunction with the above finance deal then that is outrageous value - probably not though...

 

[A210AMG]

GL420 CDI....



Nice..



What the R class they were £399 like the Q7's. Thats a lot of car for little money

 

[drbsheffield]

They are doing an upgrade from 220cdi to 320cdi for nothing, but not in conjunction with the finance, I absolutely love my CLK it is such a beautiful car, it is almost paid for too, the thing against the new 220cdi is the spec, mine has just about every option where as the new one would be pretty standard, would have the sport pack and the leather as well as auto and metallic.
I really am tempted I might go and drive one and see what the deal would be.

 

[A210AMG]

A 320 for 220 money....


Surely thats a no brainer....


Let us know what you think, I guess its a similar engine in the E class? my dads 320Cdi just returned 50mpg on a trip to Dover from Chester and it goes like a train.

 

[drbsheffield]

Yeah the 320 for the price of a 220 is really good but you dont get the finance deal which is worth quite a lot.

 

[Rory]

They are doing an upgrade from 220cdi to 320cdi for nothing, but not in conjunction with the finance, I absolutely love my CLK it is such a beautiful car, it is almost paid for too, the thing against the new 220cdi is the spec, mine has just about every option where as the new one would be pretty standard, would have the sport pack and the leather as well as auto and metallic.
I really am tempted I might go and drive one and see what the deal would be.

You'll find adding options will really bump up the monthly prices. I looked at the E220CDi which looked great value on a PCP, but addding auto, leather & COMAND (all of which I have on my current car) was over £100/mth more.

There's no way it makes financial sense to change your car - but then it almost never does. I must admit that I'd be nervous about running an MB without any warranty cover so rather than change mine at 3 yrs I splashed out £80/mth on ServicePlus. I agonised over whether its ongoing depreciation plus the cost of ServicePlus might mean it made more sense to change it, but adding the options cost (which you never really get back when you sell) certainly kills that.

If I where you I'd mentally (or even physically) put perhaps £125/mth into a savings account and then use that to cover ongoing maintenance.

 

[grober]

Keep your present car till the new model comes out. I notice you havn't mentioned the trade in price you would get for your present car. You might get a shock?

 

[drbsheffield]

Had a trade in price on my car which I was quite pleased with, the thought of needing £125 per month for on going service and maintainance is frightening! I am quite tempted to swap for a MINI Cooper S, 40 odd to the gallon and £150 for 5 years servicing! I know it is not a Merc but .....
It is not the money, it is the principle of the thing, as much as I love cars I don't want my car to be a money pit!
Am I worrying too much?

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

Had a trade in price on my car which I was quite pleased with, the thought of needing £125 per month for on going service and maintainance is frightening!

Is that a Service Plus quote, £125 per month?

 

[crockers]

Had a trade in price on my car which I was quite pleased with, the thought of needing £125 per month for on going service and maintainance is frightening! I am quite tempted to swap for a MINI Cooper S, 40 odd to the gallon and £150 for 5 years servicing! I know it is not a Merc but .....
It is not the money, it is the principle of the thing, as much as I love cars I don't want my car to be a money pit!
Am I worrying too much?

Bet you would NOT get 40 odd to the gallon in a MINI Cooper S....nearer 35...unless you drove very very carefully....

 

[Rory]

Had a trade in price on my car which I was quite pleased with, the thought of needing £125 per month for on going service and maintainance is frightening! I am quite tempted to swap for a MINI Cooper S, 40 odd to the gallon and £150 for 5 years servicing! I know it is not a Merc but .....
It is not the money, it is the principle of the thing, as much as I love cars I don't want my car to be a money pit!
Am I worrying too much?

You could buy a Mitsubishi Colt for £6K (brand new) and a 3 year servicing deal for £150.
Or PCP a Citroen C1 for £99/mth, plus an oil change every year.

There's always a cheaper way - throwing money at cars rarely makes much sense, and the bigger they are the less sense it makes.

 

[Rory]

Is that a Service Plus quote, £125 per month?

£125/mth was my suggestion of the sort of money that drbsheffield should put aside to cover service, maint & tyres on his 5 year old car.

I've no real idea if that's the right sort of amount. In the first 3 years I owned my car it needed an oil change and 2 tyres. Total maint cost cost over 3yrs was £380.

However as it approached 3yrs old I took out 3yrs ServicePlus cover for just under £80/mth.

I figured as drb's car is a bit older then the extra amount will help towards anything unexpected.

 

[crockers]

£125/mth was my suggestion of the sort of money that drbsheffield should put aside to cover service, maint & tyres on his 5 year old car.

I've no real idea if that's the right sort of amount. In the first 3 years I owned my car it needed an oil change and 2 tyres. Total maint cost cost over 3yrs was £380.

However as it approached 3yrs old I took out 3yrs ServicePlus cover for just under £80/mth.

I figured as drb's car is a bit older then the extra amount will help towards anything unexpected.

Wow two services and two tyres for £380...bet that wasnt at a MB dealer

 

[Rory]

Wow two services and two tyres for £380...bet that wasnt at a MB dealer

One sevice (at an MB dealer, A at 18000 miles) which cost £150 plus about £30 for oil which I supplied. Next service is a B which is looing like it'll be at 35000 miles (unless it switches to day countdown beforehand).

 

[crockers]

Oopps I read it as 2 services -- DOh