How does a used 05 E320cdi compare to 2012 Altima or Camry - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

jimbolil · #1 01-29-2013, 11:02 AM

I have been driving very used cars for years while the kids make it through college. Does anyone have a used 05-06 E320 cdi with about 100,000 miles on it and a newer Nissan Altima. Camry, Fusion etc. Im wondering how the ride etc of a very new car compare to a used E3200cdi.

I ask because the Mercedes will cost roughly the same a one year old Altima, Camry, Fusion.

Will I be blown away by the used Mercedes or will it be a wash? Please be objective.

Walkenvol · #2 01-29-2013, 11:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jimbolil

I have been driving very used cars for years while the kids make it through college.

Welcome to the club...3 years to go for me.

Jeremy5848 · #3 01-29-2013, 01:26 PM

A lot will depend on the care that the used car has been given by its previous owner(s). I've never bought a new car in my life so I can't help with the comparison. I'f you've driven the new stuff from japan then you'll be able to make the comparison yourself when you find a CDI. Make sure you ask about the seller's collection of service records. More records give you more information about how the car has been treated.

Jeremy

PackerEdgerton · #4 01-29-2013, 05:27 PM

That's a tough one.

There is no doubt that Mercedes designs and builds really good cars. However, there was a time, as my father said "There is only one "Best Car" in the world, and that's the Mercedes", and that time has passed, I think. (When he said this, he was driving a W111 coupe, and W123s were new in the dealerships)

Nowadays, Japanese design and build incredibly good cars, to the extent that Lexus and Acura and Infiniti have all become established, respected brands of companies that were once known for "economy cars" only.

I have been really really impressed by Camry and Altima, not to mention some of the other marques. Of course, Accord is a great sedan, etc.

To me, I would probably call the Mercedes dealership (or your favorite indy) and check how much it will be for the normal factory maintenance (e.g. at 100K, 125K, 150K, etc.) on the MB. Note that the Camry and Altima, if only a year old, will have Factory warrantee remaining.

Figure how long you will keep the car, and figure the probable depreciation over that time period.

Put everything down in a spreadsheet and compare your total out-of-pocket costs (including things like insurance, fuel and normal maintenance!). You can even put in fudge factors in for things like handling, ride, performance, safety, convenience, etc.) Do a side-by-side comparison in this way.

At the end of it all, I think you'll have your answer. My guesstimate is that the Japanese sedans will come out ahead.

Good luck!

Packman

SD Blue · #5 01-29-2013, 06:29 PM

It used to be what oil to use resulted in never-ending threads. Now it seems to be used car comparisons. You will have to ride in both and do your own apples to oranges comparison. With used cars, especially diesels, mileage is way down on the list for comparison paramaters.

A used car is just that "used" and the only person that can be totally objective is you. I know you can research till the wee hours of the night, to the point of virtual exhaustion, and the end result is the same. Consumer Reports, and others, make a living feeding on this type of question and they still miss the mark most of the time because they don't use the same "parameters". And in all truth, how can they really? Anything used is going to have cost, wear and care factors involved.

If you search for CDI and Altima, you will find pages of opinions about both and still not have a defined objective response that is cut and dried. Drive ten used cars of each make and it will still be up in the air and you will be the only one that can make the call because there will be twenty, or more, "different" comparisons.

jimbolil · #6 01-29-2013, 08:46 PM

I am not worried about how much it will to maintain these vehicles. My only concern was how a 7 year old Mercedes cdi drives and feels compared to a fairly new Altima,Camry etc. I ask because I believe its a good question. Sure Mercedes has the prestige. I just wanted to know how the driver who has both these cars thinks and feels how each vehicle drives and handles. If its the same then maybe the smart decision is to buy the newer for the same price and be ahead of the game.
With so may posters on this forum I thought I would ask the question in the hope that there are some people who can actually answer my question for real. Thanks

If he says that the mercedes drives and handles better then maybe I'll purchase older for about the same price.

winmutt · #7 01-29-2013, 08:52 PM

I've never driven a Toyota sedan that was anything near exciting. Honda on the other hand I found to much more enjoyable to drive. Personally, you should be looking at putting away that extra money at something worthy of putting kids through school. You know, like an RV or a boat or a mog or something fun like an old ghia, sl or porsche.

vstech · #8 01-29-2013, 10:11 PM

do you have any other Mercedes vehicles?
I KNOW my 83 wagon aside from the tractor engine handles, and generally "Feels" better than all but the newest vehicles.
I KNOW my 87 Wagon rides, feels and responds as well as any new vehicle. I'm currently pulling EVERYTHING apart, and replacing all bushings, gaskets, seals, etc and getting the old girl back to the way she was when new, and then I'll KNOW it's better than any other vehicle on the road.

TO ME!

the modern features are nice in the new vehicles. the seat material and design is likely more ergonomic, and will have a more supple surface... but it'll be computer controlled, so apt to fail and be expensive to repair... I've had enough of that with 97-2000 vehicles, and I think I'll stick to what I like.

I'll echo the advice of others on this thread. best to go out and test drive a BUNCH of cars and decide for yourself what you like.

Zulfiqar · #9 01-30-2013, 12:46 PM

I drive a '10 altima CVT and a W124 E300D - both are very different in driving, the E300D is not turbocharged ergo lazy to get up and go, has 4 gears to shift though and sticks the tach at 3000 rpm at 70 mph - getting me 30 mpg

the altima is a bit more rough to feel - the interior plastics are fresher and is more roomy than my W124 but lacks the road hug of the W124 - I have swerved the W124 around a truck tire on the road at high speed and I know for sure the altima would have skidded out.

maintenance wise - the benz takes more as its an older car and its showing its age. The nissan skins you in everything, e.g. the CVTF is about 20 dollars/liter at the dealer and you need to change it every 30K miles - if you dont you are up for a royal check signing at your dealership. The usual failure of the engines that you read on the internet are due to spark plugs failing causing the cat convertor to break up as it overheats - I recently changed them on the car - dont care about the 100,000 mile plug change interval.

Mölyapina · #10 01-30-2013, 01:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jimbolil

I have been driving very used cars for years while the kids make it through college. Does anyone have a used 05-06 E320 cdi with about 100,000 miles on it and a newer Nissan Altima. Camry, Fusion etc. Im wondering how the ride etc of a very new car compare to a used E3200cdi.

I ask because the Mercedes will cost roughly the same a one year old Altima, Camry, Fusion.

Will I be blown away by the used Mercedes or will it be a wash? Please be objective.

If you can pay for a new car/wait six months, the Mazda6 will become available with a diesel in the US...

eatont9999 · #11 01-30-2013, 03:45 PM

Recently, I visited my mother and drove my old 2003 Sentra while I was there. I sold the car to her a year ago. I have been driving the 300SD since I sold the Sentra. There is a huge difference in the two cars. The Sentra rides very rough and you feel every pebble or crack in the street. Also the road noise is terrible in the Sentra. I thought a window was open once I got on the highway. The 300SD does have engine hum on the highway but I can handle that over thinking a door or window is open. The steering on the Sentra is very stiff; I mean build arm muscles stiff! The 300SD floats down the road while the Sentra rattles down the road. Newer Japanese cars have gotten better but I bet the MB has, too.

Drive both of them and buy what you like best. I don't consider money as much as I consider how well I like the car. You'll be driving it for some time to come, so make sure you drive what you like.

pawoSD · #12 01-30-2013, 06:51 PM

There's really no way to accurately compare cars like that, think of the original cost/build level of the MB vs the others.

I have driven brand new cars and was far from impressed. They "get the job done" and thats about it.

European cars are fine-tuned and driver oriented. Japanese cars feel like appliances.

I have also been impressed by VW, they are very well built/solid feeling. Not quite a MB, but certainly closer than a Toyota or nissan etc....

eatont9999 · #13 01-31-2013, 01:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pawoSD

There's really no way to accurately compare cars like that, think of the original cost/build level of the MB vs the others.

I have driven brand new cars and was far from impressed. They "get the job done" and thats about it.

European cars are fine-tuned and driver oriented. Japanese cars feel like appliances.

I have also been impressed by VW, they are very well built/solid feeling. Not quite a MB, but certainly closer than a Toyota or nissan etc....

I agree with you on the newer VWs. I test drove a 05 Passat 5 speed that my sister eventually bought and it felt like a nice car. I would say a solid mid-to-upper-range between a Jap car and a MB.

Edit: Maybe it was a Jetta. I forget. We drove both and I would say the same about either one but the larger car rode a little smoother.

biopete · #14 02-01-2013, 12:04 AM

I love this question . Don't know about "brand new" nissans and toyotas but MB and VW and Audi have best tactile feedback and funnest to drive for me. Plus they are the only diesels you can get. I think vw tops mb a little in a lot of ways. But i think mb solved that finally with the W211. A nice w124 and w210 almost beats a nice vw beetle or jetta or passat but i don't think it quite does. But then again, the MB's i drive are about 7 years older than a comparable VW. Even then it is close to a tie though

I am anxious to test my theory that the 211 finally beats a the vw/audi family in sport and comfort. And VStech is right, a W124 Wagon is one of the best riding cars out there.

JimFreeh · #15 02-01-2013, 07:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jimbolil

I have been driving very used cars for years while the kids make it through college. Does anyone have a used 05-06 E320 cdi with about 100,000 miles on it and a newer Nissan Altima. Camry, Fusion etc. Im wondering how the ride etc of a very new car compare to a used E3200cdi.

I ask because the Mercedes will cost roughly the same a one year old Altima, Camry, Fusion.

Will I be blown away by the used Mercedes or will it be a wash? Please be objective.

Objective mode> ON.

If you are even asking this question, you should NOT buy a used Mercedes. The appeal of a used Mercedes to to a gearhead has nothing to do with objectivity. A lot of rationalization, sure, but it's the subjective aspect that we all get our kicks from.

Jim