Engineer in love with Mercedes

[st4]

Yep, I drive a lot and I do drive on the "spirited" side. I over estimated each for a worst case as I go on trips/holidays with the car etc.

 

[renault12ts]

On a take home of £1892 pm, do the maths.

 

[A1GSS]

Surely it all depends... on how many miles are driven? What driving style? Diesel or petrol (or lpg)? Engine size? Manual or auto? Is the car a complex top end spec, or a simple basic one? What mileage is already on the car? Services already done and those imminent or already due? MOT history? DIY or local specialist or Main agent? Size and type of wheels and tyres? State of the tyres at purchase? Attitude to fixing trivial problems? all that kind of stuff.

If you make some assumptions to derive an answer, the answer will probably be right for those assumptions but not necessarily accurate for the specific case. So (with respect to our engineering friend) if he wants an engineering grade answer rather than a guess, he needs to provide the data required...

Or, my guess - call it 30p a mile all in excluding finance costs ...

 

[tippandy]

A 2002 C class will cost whatever you want it to in terms of maintenance. Does that answer the question. If you had asked without the crass mention of salary you would get a lot more help.

What does your salary have to do with it. Tell us whether you're married, with kids, with a mortgage etc...be realistic, the only person who can make a call as to the running of anything, not least a car, is the person paying the bills and having all the facts to hand. My answer is yes you can afford it, but then maybe it's no you can't afford it. How can anyone tell? I'll send you a financial fact find, fill it in and then we can discuss.

After all, you can only solve and engineering problem given all the facts. It's common sense.

You sir, very quick to pick up another members typo ,please read the last line above. Nobody is perfect. "solve and engineering problem".

 

[MOCAŠ]

You sir, very quick to pick up another members typo ,please read the last line above. Nobody is perfect. "solve and engineering problem".

You, sir, are very quick to pick up another member's typo; please read the last line above: "solve and engineering problem". Nobody is perfect.

Pot, kettle...

 

[markjay]

Aw.. just go on and buy the car. It'll be fine!

 

[tippandy]

You, sir, are very quick to pick up another member's typo; please read the last line above: "solve and engineering problem". Nobody is perfect.

Pot, kettle...

That is exactly the point i was trying to make , nobody is perfect. I joined this forum because it was all about helping people but of late there seems to be a lot of nonsense going on.

 

[markjay]

MOCAŠ, tippandy, please stop it or the engineer will join a rival forum...

 

[Merco]

I like engineers.

 

[MOCAŠ]

That is exactly the point i was trying to make , nobody is perfect. I joined this forum because it was all about helping people but of late there seems to be a lot of nonsense going on.

To be fair, the 'nonsense' is just a bit of fun, and is usually restricted to threads that were started specifically for that purpose.

 

[219]

400pounds for fuel seem like a lot of money? Are you sure you are paying that much?

I'd be pleased if I was paying ONLY £400 per month on fuel .

A fill-up costs me around £100 and for that I can travel approx 300 miles - if I am lucky I can eke that out to last a week , on the other hand I have seen me use 2+ tankfuls in a DAY . £150 per week is nothing too unusual .

The flip side is that my cars cost me hundreds rather than thousands , insurance is cheap ( one of the benefits of being over 50 ) , and I do almost all my own maintenance on cars which are already very reliable so that costs very little too .

If I were starting out on a budget , I would start out with something like a 190E : a model built to last , of legendary durability and reliabiity , more importantly with zero or even negative depreciation and , even better , something that little bit different to the cars one sees being driven around by 'everyone else' . Trouble is , they're not that easy to find , unless you happen to come across a 'one owner from new' example in a bereavement sale as those who have good ones tend not to be selling them and they don't come up much otherwise .

 

[st4]

I'd be pleased if I was paying ONLY £400 per month on fuel .

A fill-up costs me around £100 and for that I can travel approx 300 miles - if I am lucky I can eke that out to last a week , on the other hand I have seen me use 2+ tankfuls in a DAY . £150 per week is nothing too unusual .

The flip side is that my cars cost me hundreds rather than thousands , insurance is cheap ( one of the benefits of being over 50 ) , and I do almost all my own maintenance on cars which are already very reliable so that costs very little too .

If I were starting out on a budget , I would start out with something like a 190E : a model built to last , of legendary durability and reliabiity , more importantly with zero or even negative depreciation and , even better , something that little bit different to the cars one sees being driven around by 'everyone else' . Trouble is , they're not that easy to find , unless you happen to come across a 'one owner from new' example in a bereavement sale as those who have good ones tend not to be selling them and they don't come up much otherwise .

Derek-I think thats half the problem with finding a decent "older" car. The really good ones, unless you are in the know, are hard to find and unless you are DIY competent (I am sure an engineering graduate has to be, otherwise the university system is a very sorry state of affairs) they are not cars for everyone. Plus the fact the good ones are kept by enthusiasts and now are cherished the opportunity to get a good one may take some time whereas finding a nice 5yr old 203 very easy.

 

[pipmk]

I like engineers.

So do I, but I can't eat a whole one.

 

[renault12ts]

MOCAŠ, tippandy, please stop it or the engineer will join a rival forum...

He already has and is getting lots of advice there too.

 

[renault12ts]

You sir, very quick to pick up another members typo ,please read the last line above. Nobody is perfect. "solve and engineering problem".

Who cares about typos? I don't, unless they are comical like 109E, and in that case I think the poster was more than capable of defending himself if he had thought it was necessary. I will not correct yours, I think you did them on purpose to draw me into an argument.

 

[jonnyboy]

He already has and is getting lots of advice there too.

I don't blame him.

It's high time we stopped shooting people the second they join the forum. Save that for the spammers. IMHO.

 

[tippandy]

Who cares about typos? I don't, unless they are comical like 109E, and in that case I think the poster was more than capable of defending himself if he had thought it was necessary. I will not correct yours, I think you did them on purpose to draw me into an argument.

Nothing personal to you or anyone else intended and certainly not trying to draw anyone into an argument. As i said earlier there just seems to be a lot of criticism going on over recent weeks which i think is unnecessary.

 

[WDB124066]

How much have we all had to drink here? Don't drink & post, it just causes problems.

Give the guy a break. It really was a simple question and it deserves a simple answer.

I think the OP should think about saving for a house and developing his career first and foremost. That is where the money needs to go now. With a bit of luck and a lot of work there will be plenty money for a cracking car or two later, but your priorities really lie elsewhere right now. Get yourself a cheap reliable car that you can rely on for many years, and you will be slipping into a Benz of your choice in 5 to 10 years.

When I was in his position I bought a diesel Toyota Starlet. Ha Ha Ha. BUT, the best car BY FAR I have EVER owned in terms of cheap reliable transport. It got me right through my mortgage and through two pieces of land for investment, all mortgage free & I still have it. I just can't sell it. Yes I am the laughing stock of all my mates and even people who aren’t my mates. We all like to make fun of it, it is a great party joke that has brought many laughs over the years. But the biggest joke is I can get a petrol equivalent of over 100 mpg out of it, with air conditioning and power steering to boot. It has a great factory stereo and all the torque in the world, great for overtaking in 3rd. I have only replaced one light bulb, a rear brake slave cylinder, and one o ring on the injector pump inspection cover, in 150,000 kms. THAT"S IT. Not even a clutch, an exhaust, or brake pads and it has been driven hard. It has never been waxed, never been in a garage, sits in the weather all year round. Greatest mortgage payoff device ever invented for the traveller.

The other way to go, just to get it out of your system, would be to go buy a C Class and see how it goes for while. If it is getting in the way of your house, sell it and get a cheapie. That is the very best advice I can give you.......

 

[markjay]

Who cares about typos? I don't, unless they are comical like 109E, and in that case I think the poster was more than capable of defending himself if he had thought it was necessary. I will not correct yours, I think you did them on purpose to draw me into an argument.

Argeed.

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

Right. It sounds like there are lots of unknowns in your life right now - you mention renting. Get a cheap set of wheels to be mobile that's done it's depreciation, and get your accomodation sorted first.

Once you know how much it costs to live (which will vary wildly depending upon where you live and your standards/lifestyle) and you know how much is left over, and how much driving you'll be doing, then buy another car.

Good luck with your new job.