Should I buy a 2014 E250 RWD? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

iamtheosprey · #1 08-10-2018, 02:55 PM

I drive 50K miles a year for work so I need a durable car that gets good mileage.

Is there any reason any of you know of that I shouldn't get a 2014 E250?

The one I'm looking at has 100K miles on it but looks really good.

They're asking $18K which I thought is fairly reasonable.

shertex · #2 08-10-2018, 03:30 PM

They're pretty bulletproof from everything I've heard. That's what the PO of my CDI bought. However, I don't know if there are many high mileage examples out there to give you an indication of what you might run into.

If everything is perfect and you have a maintenance history, the price seems very fair.

jay_bob · #3 08-10-2018, 05:01 PM

That is going to be the OM651 inline 4-cylinder engine. Not too many around here have one of those.

I think that engine has dual turbos, a small one for quick transient response, and a large one, so the small one doesn’t melt while trying to go up a mountain grade.

I was looking at these myself before buying the (OM642-powered) 2008 E320. I have to say I like the look of the W211 more than the W212 myself. The 211 has at least a passing resemblance to the current design ethic (the W213, the new W222 S-Class, the new W20x C-Class, etc) so it actually doesn’t look like a 10 year old car. The 212 is all hard edges and looks like nothing MB is producing now.

97 SL320 · #4 08-10-2018, 05:05 PM

Edit: I missed the part where the car in question is a diesel. However, don't pay " double " for a diesel that only reduces fuel costs by some % that isn't double. Or have higher maint costs that eat up any fuel savings. Also, a diesel " car " does not last longer than a gas " car ". Modern gas engines last far longer than in days past so the " diesel runs forever " mantra may not apply.

Regardless of the car you pick, how far do you want to push it before you get another one? You might be better off paying a bit more for less miles and getting an extra year out of it.

I'd think that the E250 ( or most any car ) at 6 years old / 200,000 miles will have a residual of about zero.

Something else to consider, an off lease car ( which the E250 probably is ) might have not been maintained through it's life as there is little incentive to do so unless stated in the contract.

Grandpa's Buick with 30,000 miles might be a better choice in that it can be fixed in podunk USA with parts on the shelf at any decent auto parts store.

And then there is this:
https://www.roadandtrack.com/car-culture/a29446/the-difference-between-a-reliable-and-a-durable-car/

pawoSD · #5 08-10-2018, 11:29 PM

I have one, a GLK250. Same engine different body. Its an awesome powertrain. It will accelerate up a steep grade in 6th gear @ 50mph at 1,500rpm with ease. Endless torque. MPG are incredible, I got 33.8mpg today going 80mph with the A/C blasting.

Highly recommend!

They are also super quiet and smooth on the freeway. @70mph its turning around 1,850rpm, at 80mph around 2,150.

tjts1 · #6 08-10-2018, 11:39 PM

False economy. Modern diesels don't make sense compared to modern equivalent gassers.

97 SL320 · #7 08-11-2018, 12:25 AM

Or if our guy is considering a hybrid for highway use.

https://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/hybridCompare.jsp

I will challenge the numbers somewhat because the MPG shown is " combined " giving the appearance that a hybrid will make better MPG on highway than a standard car. A hybrid will make better numbers in city than a standard car but if the hybrid is driven in city 5% of the time and highway numbers are similar, the benefit of a hybrid is minimal if at all especially after considering battery replacement.

pawoSD · #8 08-11-2018, 01:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tjts1

False economy. Modern diesels don't make sense compared to modern equivalent gassers.

If one is striving for purely economy none of these modern vehicles really come into play, other than really old beater ones. (like my 320 wagon or 190) But for driving enjoyment....the torque of the OM651 makes for a very rewarding feel when driving.

Modern high tech gas engines are not without problems either, I just prefer the feel and experience of the diesel....it does save me about $6-7 every hundred miles I drive (easily) vs my Metris, and close to $50 per WEEK in fuel vs driving my 420SEL everywhere.

sixto · #9 08-11-2018, 01:44 AM

Suspiciously cheap. That’s about what a comparable E350 costs. Get a PPI!

Sixto
98 E320s sedan and wagon
02 C320 wagon

MTUpower · #10 08-11-2018, 10:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tjts1

False economy. Modern diesels don't make sense compared to modern equivalent gassers.

What gas engine car with similar features/luxury/fuel economy would be a better choice for someone who drives 50K per year (I assume the great bulk of that is hwy miles)?

tjts1 · #11 08-11-2018, 10:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pawoSD

If one is striving for purely economy none of these modern vehicles really come into play, other than really old beater ones. (like my 320 wagon or 190) But for driving enjoyment....the torque of the OM651 makes for a very rewarding feel when driving.

Modern high tech gas engines are not without problems either, I just prefer the feel and experience of the diesel....it does save me about $6-7 every hundred miles I drive (easily) vs my Metris, and close to $50 per WEEK in fuel vs driving my 420SEL everywhere.

A modern 4 banger hybrid will be far cheaper to own and more reliable than that OM651

Quote:

Originally Posted by MTUpower

What gas engine car with similar features/luxury/fuel economy would be a better choice for someone who drives 50K per year (I assume the great bulk of that is hwy miles)?

LOL

sixto · #12 08-11-2018, 11:48 AM

https://www.roadandtrack.com/car-culture/a7170/the-most-fuel-efficient-car-in-america-is-a-luxury-car/

Quote:

The Prius is a tremendously efficient package, too, with a bigger backseat than the E-class and a usable hatchback for cargo. It's reasonably quiet,
quick, and smooth. And it returns unbeatable fuel mileage, even on the open road when the big benefits of its hybrid system are minimized.

Unbeatable fuel mileage, yes, but not unmatchable. The Mercedes E250 Bluetec returned effectively the same mileage as the Prius, and yet it's not focused
on fuel economy at all. It's a big (15.7 inches longer than the Prius), massively overweight rear-wheel-drive luxury sedan. Save perhaps carrying cargo and
rear-seat passengers—and pissing off everyone else on the road—it does everything better than the Toyota. It's different-league fast, relaxing,
comfortable, and luxurious.

Sixto
98 E320s sedan and wagon
02 C320 wagon

97 SL320 · #13 08-11-2018, 02:09 PM

Fuel economy isn't the whole story, actual cost per mile is when including depreciation, repairs and a rental car when the primary one is down.

I remember when VW Rabbits were being bought at high prices by panicked masses whom wanted to save $ on fuel costs. I doubt they broke even in a reasonable time frame considering the loss they took on the trade in.

Somewhere there has to be an online calculator / spread sheet for cost per mile.

Looking at low end of current trade in values:

The 14 E250 diesel at 100,000 miles is about $ 11,000 , at 200,000 miles it is 5,600

Going back to a 11 E350 diesel ( no E250 for that year ) with 200,000 has a trade in value of $ 4,000 .

sixto · #14 08-11-2018, 05:47 PM

Around here a 2000 Camry with 200K miles is worth about as much as a 2000 E320 with 200K miles. The E320 owner takes a bigger depreciation hit but hopefully got more “value” over those miles than the Camry owner.

It isn’t the absolutely most durable or economical car to drive 50K miles but it is among the more durable and economical options, and I imagine among the most pleasant to cover miles in. How do put a price on that? It’s not DIY fiendly and I don’t imagine someone who drives 50K miles a year has time to mess with SDS so get an extended warranty if you rely on it for work.

Sixto
98 E320s sedan and wagon
02 C320 wagon