Life's too short to spend 100+ miles a day in a Camry. Not to mention the risk of being killed in one...they're a popcan compared to a W211 or even a VW. A 130k mile TDI vs a 270k mile CDI is a rough one....it would really come down to current condition and maintenance history. I'd lean towards the W211 as its a more comfortable, safer, and robust vehicle.

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-diesel is not just a fuel, its a way of life-
'15 GLK250 Bluetec 118k - mine - (OC-123,800)
'17 Metris(VITO!) - 37k - wifes (OC-41k)
'09 Sprinter 3500 Winnebago View - 62k (OC - 67k)
'13 ML350 Bluetec - 95k - dad's (OC-98k)
'01 SL500 - 103k(km) - dad's (OC-110,000km)
'16 E400 4matic Sedan - 148k - Brothers (OC-155k)

Your wife puts 170,000 more miles on the replacement Jetta. Initial car cost and depreciation work out to 4.4 cents per mile. The fuel millage may also be a little better with the standard transmission. There automatic transmissions are unpredictable as well. Only a hundred and thirty thousnad on a 2006 Jetta diesel has to be considered low millage for the year as well. That is only 6,700 a year.

You have two timing belt changes to reach 300 k to factor in. You can work that into cost per mile. I do not know about there but the scam here is if you move up in years so does the insurance premium.

I too suspect it was the daily distance run and the highway use that got the old one to 300k cheaply. Or cheap enough in maintenance. The jetta desels of that vintage tend to be reliable enough and a safer option out on the highway than a lot of cars brands. The wife put our 2000 diesel jetta upside down against a power pole twenty feet above the ground and lived. Even though the car slammed down on the roof. There was no glass left in the car and not one body panel you could have saved. The doors still opened and closed except the one that contacted the hydro pole.

In many brands of cars I suspect that accident would have killed her. Ask any body shop that repairs them about how strong a car the older Jettas are. The wife liked the Toyota but I took her out of it because it did not seem to be a really tough car for collisions.

My wife is out on the highways a lot as well. She means a lot to me. Keeping her in tough cars is the least i can do. A sixteen year old car needs a real inspection for rotting heater hoses and a raft of age related things. to assure reliability, Will the wife drive a standard transmission? No car is perfect and volkswagon has the shrinking headliner issue.

The maintenance on the Mercedes to do another 170,000 miles on top of the existing 270,000 could be more than you like. I suspect the ten foot pole rule applies. Just my biased viewpoint.

I am keeping an eye open for a 2017 Jetta diesel. Scarce as hens teeth or owners realise their warranty goes to 2027 and are hanging on to them. Has to be low millage as well. Only found one for sale right across Canada so far but millage was too high. Last year of Volkswagon diesel. They may not have sold many either.

You're entitled to your own opinion, but not to your own facts.

The Toyota Camry is a World Class Car. Not sure how you came to the conclusions that your 2005 CDI cost LESS in repair over nearly 20 years, versus a 2005 Toyota Camry. That just doesn't make any sense.....at all.

Not really sure what you mean by world class....maybe in being boring. It does that exceptionally well....a plastic sea of grays interior and average at everything.

I can hear Jeremy Clarkson describing it....... And....it has, an engine, and wheeels!

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-diesel is not just a fuel, its a way of life-
'15 GLK250 Bluetec 118k - mine - (OC-123,800)
'17 Metris(VITO!) - 37k - wifes (OC-41k)
'09 Sprinter 3500 Winnebago View - 62k (OC - 67k)
'13 ML350 Bluetec - 95k - dad's (OC-98k)
'01 SL500 - 103k(km) - dad's (OC-110,000km)
'16 E400 4matic Sedan - 148k - Brothers (OC-155k)

I don't know about Toyota and M-B, but most manufacturers use similar materials during an era. The headliner in our 1996 Plymouth and 2002 Chrysler minivans both dropped. They are a cloth w/ foam and the foam degrades in our hot CA Central Valley (110 F not unusual) w/ evil sun. The foam-resin edges of the backer in the Plymouth seemed spongy so I lined it w/ fiberglass-epoxy cloth, which was tedious, then went cheap and glued blanket cloth (thrift store) w/ spray adhesive. Looks presentable and should last for life. Since the Chrysler is wifey's drive, I used the correct headliner material (cloth-foam) from Joann's Fabrics w/ a pro spray adhesive. Leave plenty of extra in the inside corners so it doesn't later shrink and pull free there. Removing the headliner was harder in the Chrysler since it has wiring atop which had to be peeled off and hot-glued back. There is no connector on the harness to the top (hard-wired). My 1984 & 85 M-B are different, with a woven headliner material which rarely degrades and is clipped in place.

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1984 & 1985 CA 300D's
1964 & 65 Mopar's - Valiant, Dart, Newport
1996 & 2002 Chrysler minivans

If you've read the posts, you'll discover that my 83 300SD had no problems with the headliner. The '99 E300TD and '06 E320 CDI - both headliners failed... 2004 Toyota Camry - no headliner issues...

The bottom line in aggregate here on thread, is that late model Mercedes-Benz' cost a fortune in ongoing repair costs.....both in parts and labor. When contrasted with one of the world's largest and leading automobile and truck manufacturers. It's a well established fact.

Looks like we are going to go with the TDI. We had a 2005.5, and it was killed in an off set head on. Wife just had the mark of Zorro from the seatbelt. wreck was not her fault. That is why we got the 2006. The current one at 300k miles lost the cam and a follower. First problem we have had with that car. IF the CDI had the same low miles, CDI would be purchased. We do not know the history of the CDI other than it came from Georgia. We would be 2nd owner on the TDI, and have the history.

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RRGrassi


70's Southern Pacific #5608 Fairmont A-4 MOW car

13 VW JSW 2.0 TDI 193K, Tuned with DPF and EGR Delete.

91 W124 300D Turbo replaced, Pressure W/G actuator installed. 210K

90 Dodge D250 5.9 Cummins/5 speed. 400K

Skid- PM me if u decide to sell that CDI.

I agree somewhat-
owned 84 SD- great car/low maint.
Own 05- CDI - so far- $2500 Maint- 2 years/20k miles- Thankfully NOT excessive in my eyes- incredible torque
87 SDL- I do see this car as being cheaper- and more reliable- Maint wise versus CDI- I really lucked out and "stole" one out of So. Cal- rust free

Thinking about 99 e300td-- anyone want to talk me in/out of that one?

But yes- Honda and Toyota- will be the Cheaper for all

Here is a thought......why not either fix the engine in the TDI or install a replacement motor and continue to drive it? I mean based on a cost factor that is quite likely the most economical approach. Plus by keeping the TDI you will have a vehicle that you know the history of intimately. You know what has been done to it and how it has been over the last decade. I don't care what kind of documentation and reports you have, buying an older used car always comes with its own unique learning curve and surprises. As for reliability......go to www.tdiclub.com and do some research.......MANY of these cars are still being daily driven with 400, 500, 600, and 700 thousand miles on them! The only weak spots are the cams on some models after about 300K or so (which you are familiar with) and some (notice I said some not all) of the DSG transmissions. Every car model has issues but you only hear the bad news. When is the last time you read a post that says (hey nothing going on with my (insert brand here) car this week......still running ok.

As for a Camry, well if you like spending a lot if time in a car that has an interior that looks like an explosion in a cheap plastic factory, an exterior that in my opinion was the winner in a Japanese design contest for the ugliest, and blandest design, and a driving experience that is as stimulating as watching paint dry, go for it. I might put my Mother-in-Law in one but never my wife.......

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2012 Mercedes ML350 Bluetec 91K (hers)
2005 Corvette 55K (fun car)
2002 VW Jetta TDI 231K (mine)
1998 Volvo S70 T5 Turbo 196K (kids)
1994 Ford F150 4WD 249K (firewood hauler)
1983 Mercedes 300D 376K (diesel commuter)

Since everyone is adding their own anecdotal experiences, let me share this doozy!

My FIL bought my 2009 E320 Bluetec new in 2008 and even got the extended warranty from MB. With all that, he still spent $35k in maintenance on it thru mid-2021 and 230k miles. I have the full line item breakdown, and only the first half was at the dealer before he started using an independent shop.

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2009 E320 Bluetec - 242k miles and a work in progress!

WEagle - sounds like my Land Rover.

Wow! They are scary expensive to keep up with money wise. Is that 2009 E320 yours now?
I think this CDI experience of 20K miles in 8 yrs. with it $$$, has cured me from the MB sector.
I have to believe that the ones that get zero money spent on them in upkeep have fallen into neglect - bigtime....

How many miles are on your 05 CDI?

I bought a new '99 E300TD in '99. My brother owns it since 2014. Has 140K on it. It became a money pit, out of warranty from 80K on. I would not want another one. The factory warranty covered replacement of the turbocharger because the intercooler pipe filled with oil. These cars are fraught with repair costs.

You can PM me for a Buy it now price on my CDI.

Land Rovers are excellent buys when they're bought off-lease, with warranty coverage. When the warranty expires - get rid of em.

If I wanted a transportation appliance, I would be glad to own a Camry. But what’s the fun in that? Glad to spend more on maintenance and drive Benzes!

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14 E250 Bluetec "Sinclair", Palladium Silver on Black, 153k miles
06 E320 CDI "Rutherford", Black on Tan, 171k mi, Stage 1 tune, tuned TCU
91 300D "Otis", Smoke Silver, 142k mi, wastegate conversion

19 Honda CR-V EX 61k mi
Fourteen other MB's owned and sold
1961 Very Tolerant Wife