PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum - View Single Post

pawoSD · #8 01-18-2009, 10:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gjpappas

I am a 21 year old getting ready to graduate college and get my first job. I am thinking about getting a gasoline S class Mercedes,1996-1999 and wanted some insight into what I should expect as I have never owned a foreign car. Will the car be affordable to operate, reliable and just a general feel any experiences you have had with these type vehicles.

Would you suggest the S320 with a V-6 or the higher S classes with V-8s?

I have been told these car's engines will last for about 300,000 miles and I am looking at vehicles with between 100,000-150,000 miles. What happens if the engine goes as far as price?

Are parts availability and cost prohibitive or pretty much in line with other similar cars.

Thanks in advance for your input.

Getting a 1996-1999 S-class is a very very expensive proposition. Unless you're graduating as an electronics engineer you might want to stay away from them. $4-5,000 per year in maintenance is not an unrealistic number to keep one of them going properly. They are ultra complex vehicles and practically everything needs a dealer tech to be fixed. The engine might last a long time, but the space shuttle subsystems that keep that engine (and the rest of the car) operating do not.

I'd go simpler. Older Mercedes.....or a Toyota.

As for "graduate and get my first job".....its a tough world/market out there....I'd focus on the job before the expensive S-class.

I've been doing 8 months of consulting and temp work since I graduated...because there are very. few. jobs.