Love for 5.5L old S211 estates??

[Adamski151]

Been thinking seriously about an old M273 engined ( i know - balancer shafts etc) nice estate, facelift E-class from 2007/8.

In many ways - lots to like. Good looks, nice interior BUT 1) absolutely vast annual road tax seemingly +£700 p.a.? 2) airmatic suspension as standard with all the attendant problems 3) The example I'm looking at seems nice but it doesn't have a sunroof or heated seats - I mean who buys a top of range car like that and doesn't tick the cheap heated seats option, bizarre.

Interested for your collective thoughts, I can see it in the driveway on day 1, but then I look at the diesel E320 equivalent for about half the price, with conventional springs and no balancer shaft issues and lower road tax, insurance etc., and still you get alot of car for the money......

Hmmmm.....

 

[MrGreedy]

Having looked at loads of 211s, one of my must haves was heated seats. Blooming love them at this time of the year.
Mrs Greedy's new Tiguan doesn't have them as she doesn't value them, but every time I've got in over the past couple of months I'm thinking why wouldn't you want them!?!?

The other thing I'd want is the last to be release audio/command, which was 08/09 I think (from memory) and had I believe an easy tell tale sign of a central SD card slot. Or if that's a non issue, I'd definitely want to know the process/costs involved in a relatively new audio upgrade that can easily link with my phone and take calls and play podcasts over bluetooth or at the very least wired adapter to a phone.

Also, I think 'ruffled' leather door card inserts could have been a sign of nappa leather, whereas smoother inserts are artico/pleather (if that's of any interest)?

 

[Adamski151]

Yeah - just checked the actual road tax. It's like £735 for one year, and if you pay by instalments, it's actually almost £780! I mean, that must have a bearing on its capital value / purcahse price, because if I buy it at 40K miles, (masssively low mileage car) I could easily spend 10 grand on it across a decade of ownership just in road tax let alone mainteanance etc....

 

[MikeInWimbledon]

Brilliant family cars with much to recommend them.

To me, the issue is provenance and condition. You are more likely to get “all the extras,” but it is difficult to find reasonable mileage and service history.

The road tax and the fuel economy is a pain, but the trade off is that it forces the vehicle acquisition price down.

As for the diesel / petrol divide, well that’s all about Ulez taxation and love of the diesel. Some love V8’s, some are called to the dark side.

 

[abecketts]

Odd that they didn’t spec the car with heated seats, our e280 211 estate with heated seats has just found a new owner, thankfully the replacement m class also has them.

 

[DSM10000]

Yeah - just checked the actual road tax. It's like £735 for one year, and if you pay by instalments, it's actually almost £780! I mean, that must have a bearing on its capital value / purcahse price, because if I buy it at 40K miles, (masssively low mileage car) I could easily spend 10 grand on it across a decade of ownership just in road tax let alone mainteanance etc....

People do seem to get wound up over RFL, the rate you are quoting is around £2 a day, less than the price of a coffee and maintenence costs are commensurate with running a V8.

If you want this type of car there are going to be higher running costs but if you buy a 320Cdi you are going to be looking at turbo charger replacements, EGF and DPF issues plus increasing RFL due to their emissions plus more city's are introducing additional daily charges for diesel cars.

 

[MikeInWimbledon]

As always, the only way to understand a car's running costs is to grab a fag packet and write down the numbers; fuel, maintenance, RFL, depreciation, cost of capital and repairs for the mileage you expect to do.

A seventeen year old car is astonishingly cheap to run compared to stumping up the capital for a seven year old, and then taking the inevitable hit for depreciation.

 

[DSM10000]

As always, the only way to understand a car's running costs is to grab a fag packet and write down the numbers; fuel, maintenance, RFL, depreciation, cost of capital and repairs for the mileage you expect to do.

A seventeen year old car is astonishingly cheap to run compared to stumping up the capital for a seven year old, and then taking the inevitable hit for depreciation.

Many people fail to fully appreciate the true cost of running a car. RFL and maintenance are probably two of the lower costs.Depreciation and finance payments are almost certainly the highest cost.

I bought a 2013 Range Rover Supercharged 5 litre V8 petrol some time ago. It was low mileage (circa 40k)and in excellent condition.

Yes the RFL is high compared to some vehicles, the fuel consumption is hardly frugal but it suits our needs (I say "our needs" as it mainly drags a horsebox and half a ton of glue on legs around!) and I paid for it from our own funds as we are in the fortunate position to be able to do that, we could buy new cars but I like the chase of finding a car and also, not wasting money on massive depreciation.

It's all horses for courses