Pondering about a CL500

[dchaddah]

As the title says I've recently been pondering over getting a new car, I only do 6000 miles a year so fancy something special.

Started looking at some SL350 and came across the the CL500 which as first I thought no way but it actually a lot more affordable than I thought insurance is under £400 (Not bad for a 33Y old male, I was expecting a 4 figure sum!)

So I'm looking at 07/08 CL500 around the £23-26 Mark ideally from a merc dealer is there anything I should watch out for? I've seen a couple on auto trader around £20k with non main dealers is it worth the risk with such a car?

Thanks in advance.

 

[John]

I don't know much about the CL500 but generally speaking, I bought my E55K from a non-franchised dealer and am very pleased with it.

I got it inspected by the independent I now use - which paid dividends for the deal I got.

Anecdotally from here, it seems the 'approved used car' offered by main dealers is a crock (they may as well print a form out from MS Word, wash the car and tick the boxes on the form whilst having a tea break), and they seem to try and squirm out of paying for quite valid warranty claims. This won't be in all cases - but hardly peace of mind.

I can't see my buying from a main dealer again - and certainly not MB.

Good luck with your search...

 

[dchaddah]

John Thanks those comments may just widen my search.
I've seen one that comes with a 12mth RAC warranty, anyone got experience of these warranties?
My biggest fear is I buy something and a few weeks down the line there's a major engine / electrical problem.

 

[John]

I believe Warranty Direct offer the 'best' warranty and try the least hard to wriggle out of paying.

The rest just seem to claim 'wear and tear' for most things.

Arguably it's a personal choice, but I'm with the camp that is the 'put the money you would have spent on a warranty by and use it when you need to'.

Of course you can be unlucky or very lucky and there are extremes, but depending on how risk-averse you are - I would probably look at a WD warranty if you are and take a chance if not putting by what you don't spend.

 

[Vilus]

There is a live 8 page thread on owning and buying a w216 currently running on another forum which may be of interest to you.

Just google ' looking for a 2007 w216'