What can I get for £15k?

[Davey]

Hi,

I'm looking to sell my Skoda Octavia vRS pretty soon and I'm very interested in buying a Mercedes next as I've always liked the few my old man has had. Just wondered if anyone could throw up a few ideas as I don't have much clue about the models and second hand prices?

Basically I'm after a family saloon (2 little kids + the wife) and I don't really want to pay more than £15000. I don't care about a fancy spec interior-wise as the kids will waste it anyway, but a decent engine would be good. Only do about 7000 miles a year so fuel economy doesn't really come into it.

Also wondering if you'd recommend going to a main dealer/regular dealer/private?

Thanks in advance for any advice you can give.

 

[Will]

What's your budget for insurance and running costs like? If you are fairly flexible in these areas, an AMG could offer decent value if you are looking for a vehicle a few years old.

If running costs are more of an issue, and you don't have a desire for supercar performance in a saloon, you'd be better of buying something newer (maybe still with a warranty)

I'd be tempted for something like a W210 E55 or maybe pushing W203 C32 territory in the not to distant future. Watch out for a full MB service history though to be covered for any rust/corrosion problems.

Good luck

Will

 

[stats007]

Obvious choice for a decent engine would be:

C43 - 4.3l V8 around £12k for a 1999 A1 car with ~ 50k miles.

C32 AMG - 3.2l V6 Kompressor - around £16k for a 2000 model with 70k miles.

E55 - 5.5l V8 - around £12k for a 1999 A1 car with 60k miles.

 

[Howard]

If mileage and fuel economy don't really come into it , how about a C43 AMG or an E55 AMG , both are sporting saloons with 'decent engines '

You could pick up really nice examples of either model for £15k but watch out for the dreaded rust, there are a few threads on here that tell you what to look for rust wise and where to check...

'Grav888' who is a member on here actually has his E55 for sale, but i'm not sure how much he wants for it, but it has had all the rust issues addressed ..

Good luck

H

EDIT :- everyone beat me to it !

 

[bitonw]

I bought one at http://www.directmercedes.co.uk

 

[stats007]

I personally wouldn't touch MB Direct with a very large stick - even with an additional discount from being an MBOC member. All the cars I have ever looked at (SLs) have been tatty and overpriced.

 

[Davey]

Wow, thanks for the fast and detailed replies

Insurance, fuel and mileage really don't matter here so the C43 and E55 look interesting. Is there a great deal of difference performance wise between these 2 and indeed how much quicker are they than a 3.2? My dad had a 320 (can't remember the model) at one point which I drove and found to be very similar to my Octavia which is reasonably nippy.

And what does an AMG tag bring to the party? Is it just wheels/trim etc. or do they play with the engine/suspension too?

Having said all that, a more sedate ride with warranty might not be a bad idea either as Will suggests. 50k miles on a car like this doesn't really worry me though. Guess I'd just need one with good history if I went for the higher miles.

 

[Howard]

Wow, thanks for the fast and detailed replies

Insurance, fuel and mileage really don't matter here so the C43 and E55 look interesting. Is there a great deal of difference performance wise between these 2 and indeed how much quicker are they than a 3.2? My dad had a 320 (can't remember the model) at one point which I drove and found to be very similar to my Octavia which is reasonably nippy.

And what does an AMG tag bring to the party? Is it just wheels/trim etc. or do they play with the engine/suspension too?

Having said all that, a more sedate ride with warranty might not be a bad idea either as Will suggests. 50k miles on a car like this doesn't really worry me though. Guess I'd just need one with good history if I went for the higher miles.

Any of the mentioned AMG models will blow an Octavia RS into the weeds, they are also substantially quicker than the 320.

You can spec AMG wheels on just about any model, but for the performance variants, you are looking for a letter and a double number eg. C55 E55 C32 C43 etc etc unless you fancy a big coupe then you would be looking CL55 or CL65 but you wouldn't get one for £15k ...

Off the top of my head, i beleive the C43 has 306bhp , the C32 has 350ish bhp and the E55 (in w210 shape) has 369 bhp ....

AMG is Mercedes sports division (like BMW's M series)

 

[GrahamC230K]

Your budget is similar to mine recently (was looking to change froma w202 C230 Kompresor).


What element of owning a Mercedes is it that you warm to? It might help.

To be honest, for £15K I can'tthink fo a saloon that fit's the bill of "decent engine" in an vRS or better kind of fashion.

A C43 is aging and won't use your budget in purchase alone and a C32 will break your budget apart from dreaming of Autotrader cheap than they should be's.

How old will you go?

BMW 330i or 330D not tickle your fancy? You would easily find a 4 door non sport I think.

I couldn't recommend a w210 E55 - please read up on the major rust issues these cars have and other MBs before you take anyone's recommendations on board. I sound bitter, but have not actually been bitten myself and would not want to think of a man with a family trading the family car in for a rust bucket with a status badge and a V8.

 

[Davey]

Any of the mentioned AMG models will blow an Octavia RS into the weeds, they are also substantially quicker than the 320.

You can spec AMG wheels on just about any model, but for the performance variants, you are looking for a letter and a double number eg. C55 E55 C32 C43 etc etc unless you fancy a big coupe then you would be looking CL55 or CL65 but you wouldn't get one for £15k ...

Off the top of my head, i beleive the C43 has 306bhp , the C32 has 350ish bhp and the E55 (in w210 shape) has 369 bhp ....

AMG is Mercedes sports division (like BMW's M series)

Yeah, I certainly expected them to be much quicker than the vRS. The numbers start to make sense now and I get the AMG/M comparison.

Those bhp's look..... interesting

 

[Howard]

Do take on board what Graham has said though ... there was a rust issue with the W210 series ...

You could PM Grav888, he would be able to help you as he has had the rust issue on his dealt with , it's also for sale, its a w210 E55 and has been slightly modded to about 450ish bhp ......

 

[Davey]

Your budget is similar to mine recently (was looking to change froma w202 C230 Kompresor).


What element of owning a Mercedes is it that you warm to? It might help.

To be honest, for £15K I can'tthink fo a saloon that fit's the bill of "decent engine" in an vRS or better kind of fashion.

A C43 is aging and won't use your budget in purchase alone and a C32 will break your budget apart from dreaming of Autotrader cheap than they should be's.

How old will you go?

BMW 330i or 330D not tickle your fancy? You would easily find a 4 door non sport I think.

I couldn't recommend a w210 E55 - please read up on the major rust issues these cars have and other MBs before you take anyone's recommendations on board. I sound bitter, but have not actually been bitten myself and would not want to think of a man with a family trading the family car in for a rust bucket with a status badge and a V8.

I like value for money and I believe that Mercedes and possibly BMWs can deliver that if you don't buy new and maybe keep them for some time. Trouble is BMWs don't quite do it for me. My brother has a 3-series Alpina (don't know the model - coupe - W-Reg) which is a lovely car and we're talking quick, but I just don't quite like Beamers.

I bought my vRS brand new for £14k from a main dealer 2 years ago. They were just changing models at the time which is why it was so cheap. It's a superb car for that money and also being new if you can get your head around the Skoda badge. Wouldn't have a new one though as they're a lot dearer and being front wheel drive lets them down for me.

Not too fussed about the age. I'm not into having a brand new reg on the drive, so it's really about mileage. I'd probably be little worried about spending £15k on something with more than 50k miles.

 

[Davey]

450ish bhp ......

Heh heh.

 

[w124coupe]

With £15k to play with and two "nippers", I would be careful of AMG spec Mercs beyond warranty age (which they will be). Check your insurance quote, tyre costs and the "B" service costs (and the mileage-related extras that are needed every xx,000 miles in amongst the "B" services).

Running older Mercs requires you to know them pretty well (to avoid being ripped off) and to be able to take some "down time" to be able to get them fixed without a second mortgage.

Merc will fix them "today" at £115 per hour pus VAT and parts at list price versus a good independent at £60ish per hour who will pass on his trade parts prices (and will not try lots of fixes at your expense until he finds what's wrong - he will have "swap parts" to do that for just labour costs).

Downside is, if he's good he will be fully booked for a few days......

Family transport needs to be predictable - both on reliability and on costs - I would go Merc Direct and:

Buy 1-2 years old (max) A or C class
Pay 8-9% less than the sticker price
Use a "Direct" site that also does servicing and get a "B" service included
Sell it and get another when the warranty ends

£15k does not get a "fast", warranty Merc.......

Better value and still quality from a Golf GTI, another vRs, 3.2 Audi A4 etc.

 

[Howard]

Everyones full of doom and gloom aren't they ......

We bought a CLK430 , 4 years old, no warranty , cash deal , thank you very much sir.....

So far, touch wood, not a days problem.....

Look the car over, get it inspected , and if the deal feels 'right' and you are happy , then go for it .... don't get too hung up on warranties .....

I bought my CE off ebay, for gods sake , the guy drove up, i liked him and the deal felt right, so i bought it ..... niggly things aside, new plug leads etc.... its been great .... no warranty with that either .....

As Stats said, be careful of Mercedes Direct ....... lots of overpriced tat ....

 

[stats007]

With £15k to play with and two "nippers", I would be careful of AMG spec Mercs beyond warranty age (which they will be). Check your insurance quote, tyre costs and the "B" service costs (and the mileage-related extras that are needed every xx,000 miles in amongst the "B" services).

Running older Mercs requires you to know them pretty well (to avoid being ripped off) and to be able to take some "down time" to be able to get them fixed without a second mortgage.

Merc will fix them "today" at £115 per hour pus VAT and parts at list price versus a good independent at £60ish per hour who will pass on his trade parts prices (and will not try lots of fixes at your expense until he finds what's wrong - he will have "swap parts" to do that for just labour costs).

Downside is, if he's good he will be fully booked for a few days......

Family transport needs to be predictable - both on reliability and on costs - I would go Merc Direct and:

Buy 1-2 years old (max) A or C class
Pay 8-9% less than the sticker price
Use a "Direct" site that also does servicing and get a "B" service included
Sell it and get another when the warranty ends

£15k does not get a "fast", warranty Merc.......

Better value and still quality from a Golf GTI, another vRs, 3.2 Audi A4 etc.

On the flip side if you do your homework and buy sensibly then you shouldn't need a warranty from Mercedes - you could, however, get an AA Gold warranty if you buy privately. My last two cars have been non-warrantied private purchases - both 5.0l V8s - neither have caused me trouble.

Newer Mercedes suffer in so many more ways than, for example, a cherished C43 AMG - an A class doesn't even come close to having a decent engine!

 

[Davey]

It's good to see different opinions and gives me lots to think about. Thanks everyone.

 

[imadoofus]

Hmmm

Big engine. Disposable interior.

Holden HSV

PJ

 

[w124coupe]

Re Merc Direct tat...

11 week old 06/06 E280CDI Avantgarge estate in metallic black/grey full leather.

Unmarked inside and out, 4k miles. V5 shows private individual as 1st owner.

Comand, folding towbar, heated seats, telephone prep, parktronic, skibag/though loading, 6-CD.

£29,900 taxed for 12 months (list £41,370 plus OTR costs).

Oh, and Starshield, phone cradle insert, new number plates and a full tank of diesel chucked in on the final walk-away....

I was and still am happy!

This was the Balsall Common site - almost all cars are 05 or 55 - didn't see any tat.,

 

[sym]

Sounds like a bargain !

What's 'starshield' ? Is this something normally applied to the Starship Enterprise to protect from flying asteroids, or something like Diamondbrite paint protection ?

S.

11 week old 06/06 E280CDI Avantgarge estate in metallic black/grey full leather.

Unmarked inside and out, 4k miles. V5 shows private individual as 1st owner.

Comand, folding towbar, heated seats, telephone prep, parktronic, skibag/though loading, 6-CD.

£29,900 taxed for 12 months (list £41,370 plus OTR costs).

Oh, and Starshield, phone cradle insert, new number plates and a full tank of diesel chucked in on the final walk-away....

I was and still am happy!

This was the Balsall Common site - almost all cars are 05 or 55 - didn't see any tat.,