Gas Guzzler Rebate - what to do? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

raymr · #1 06-10-2009, 12:31 PM

The proposed rebate makes my old 380SE worth up to $4500 on a trade. That's about 4 times its actual value. Needless to say, no new car will hold up for 24+ years like that old Mercedes, but still......

E150GT · #2 06-10-2009, 12:41 PM

Don't do it. I was sitting in a brand new Mercury Milan the other day. The stereo sounded good and it smelled like new car. Too bad you could feel the cheapness all around you. I do not like to feel the cheapness in a car I just paid 25k for. Of course my 86 420sel is not a gem and is not anywhere near as nice as a new car, but there is a quality that is sensed that just isnt there on a lot of new cars. Just my opinion.

aklim · #3 06-10-2009, 02:34 PM

But how far does that $4500 go? One car is paid for and working. The other is newer but you have to make payments. OTOH, if your current car is going to nickle and dime you to death, take the credit and go buy something new. If not, why bother put yourself in the position where you have to make payments unless you want to stimulate the economy.

#4 06-10-2009, 02:52 PM

I for one would not trade my old diesels for 99% of the new cars out there and even if I would I cannot afford another payment right now......

aklim · #5 06-10-2009, 02:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by helpplease

I for one would not trade my old diesels for 99% of the new cars out there and even if I would I cannot afford another payment right now......

I'd trade my 99 in if I didn't mind a new car payment. In a heartbeat. If we ever stop driving 160 miles a day and move closer to work and the 99 got wore down or we got a good trade, I'd go to a gas model. My Excursion will have to stay since I cannot find a better SUV that has a turbo diesel engine since I need to tow.

Skid Row Joe · #6 06-10-2009, 03:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by raymr

The proposed rebate makes my old 380SE worth up to $4500 on a trade. That's about 4 times its actual value. Needless to say, no new car will hold up for 24+ years like that old Mercedes, but still......

Why would you buy a new car? New vehicles are so overpriced, the rebate is overcome by depreciaition instantly...... Forget the lure of the rebate, is what I'd do, IIWY.

pawoSD · #7 06-10-2009, 03:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by raymr

The proposed rebate makes my old 380SE worth up to $4500 on a trade. That's about 4 times its actual value. Needless to say, no new car will hold up for 24+ years like that old Mercedes, but still......

Its no deal, so they give you $4500 and crush your quality MB.....then you have to buy a "new" car....which will be vastly inferior in quality, and then you'll have a car payment to cover the other $15-20k+ that the 4500 didn't cover!

Not to mention insurance on a new car will be a lot higher than on the MB....and so on.

Its not any savings at all, its a trap to get stuck with car payments and inflated insurance. All in the name of saving a few MPG's.....a 380 is still more efficient than a huge amount of cars out there.

aklim · #8 06-10-2009, 03:07 PM

New cars are nice to have if you plan to keep it forever. OTOH, most people don't so I would get a leased car where you can be more sure that maintenance was done. Just buying a used car that someone off the street is selling because he can't make the payments is risky. Likely he wouldn't have taken care of the car and you might be buying a problem which makes a new car attractive.

pawoSD · #9 06-10-2009, 03:13 PM

The newest I'd go would be a few year old off-lease MB that has the starmark warranty. So the initial owner can absorb the 50% depreciation in those 2 years/ 30k miles.

SwampYankee · #10 06-10-2009, 03:18 PM

Do you all expect me to believe that our elected leaders would try to sell us a bill of goods?

raymr · #11 06-10-2009, 03:29 PM

Its a dilemma.

The Mercedes runs, for now. It is 125K miles since the last timing chain replacement, the drivers seat is worn through, the dash is cracked in 3 places, rust bubbles are starting to form under the paint and chrome, and it emits spontaneous smoke billows at random times. To its credit, it still has the solid thunk of the doors, most everything works, and it still looks stately (from a distance).

My son has been driving the 380 but he's heading off to college. No he's not handy so the car will be staying behind. My wife wants to get out of the van, so maybe the combination of the two on a trade could end up being a good deal. I'm just saying.

aklim · #12 06-10-2009, 03:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by raymr

Its a dilemma.

The Mercedes runs, for now. It is 125K miles since the last timing chain replacement, the drivers seat is worn through, the dash is cracked in 3 places, rust bubbles are starting to form under the paint and chrome, and it emits spontaneous smoke billows at random times. To its credit, it still has the solid thunk of the doors, most everything works, and it still looks stately (from a distance).

My son has been driving the 380 but he's heading off to college. No he's not handy so the car will be staying behind. My wife wants to get out of the van, so maybe the combination of the two on a trade could end up being a good deal. I'm just saying.

That is a different story. Maybe it is time to trade that thing in while the getting is good.

Skid Row Joe · #13 06-10-2009, 04:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pawoSD

The newest I'd go would be a few year old off-lease MB that has the starmark warranty. So the initial owner can absorb the 50% depreciation in those 2 years/ 30k miles.

Now yer talkin'!

Unfortunately, most car buyers are so focused on the monthly payment, every bit of rationality gets forgotten when intent on a new car with cheap payments, and a silly a** non-existent rebate. LOL!

raymr · #14 06-10-2009, 06:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skid Row Joe

Now yer talkin'!

Unfortunately, most car buyers are so focused on the monthly payment, every bit of rationality gets forgotten when intent on a new car with cheap payments, and a silly a** non-existent rebate. LOL!

I generally agree. I buy used, except for the family van which we bough new. Those kind of vehicles get treated pretty rough, so I won't take chances there.

They should make the rebate apply to buying used cars as well but I guess thats asking too much..

aklim · #15 06-10-2009, 06:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by raymr

They should make the rebate apply to buying used cars as well but I guess thats asking too much..

Used cars as in what? Cars that have already been bought and sold back? Those cars that the big 3 are done with making? Why? They have no interest in used cars. New cars will help them make their money back more than used cars. We did sink big bucks into the big 3.