SLK 200,Which One To Buy ?

[Vito]

My daughter wants one and I have been given the task.
I have found two locally and they are as follows.

2004 170 ,63K ,Full MB history,Full electric pack,Leather,Grey, £4750.

2006 171,154K,Full MB history,Fully loaded,Red,£5850.

Both cars are in superb condition with one previous owner and mountains of paperwork.

My head tells me to buy the lower mileage one but the red one is really good looking.

Should I listen to my head or my daughters heart ?

 

[lordlee]

Wait until October and the frost has set in - prices will drop then. I wouldnt go for the high mileage car if it were me as it will be very hard to shift come resale time.

 

[Deane x]

R170 for sure , the last of the old shape is always better than the first of the new shape

 

[Mike Walker]

What you really need is an SLK 230 Special Edition on a 54 plate with 42K miles, 2 previous owners, FSH , MOT, Tax, heated black leather seats airscarf...............

 

[nick mercedes]

Should I listen to my head or my daughters heart ?

A 171 is always going to be the better bet, but any car with an M271 in it is worth avoiding, does she like Mazdas?

 

[Deane x]

A 171 is always going to be the better bet, but any car with an M271 in it is worth avoiding, does she like Mazdas?

Why ? Please explain

 

[nick mercedes]

Why ? Please explain

M271 engines have timing chain issues, which often lead to the engines being uneconomic to repair, and used engines are hard to find and expensive given they all have the same problem.

Like the rust, this has been going on for years, yet the newest M271 engine has all the faults of the oldest, the problems are never addressed.

 

[Vito]

A 171 is always going to be the better bet, but any car with an M271 in it is worth avoiding, does she like Mazdas?

I have been reading a lot about them in the last couple of days and it does appear to be not one of Mercedes best buys.

I knew very little about the M271 but after reading some of the horror stories and combined with roof,electrical,water leaks and rot problems I think it best to avoid this model.

She quite likes the MX5 but they seem difficult to source in automatic, which she much prefers.

She has driven my 170 and 129 but feels them too big for her.

Maybe an Audi TT but they are not without well known problems ?

Many thanks for your input.