96' W210 - Should I keep it or sell it? - Page 2 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

yosshimura · #16 03-30-2004, 10:03 AM

He said he spends $1,500 / year in repairs and that is "reliable"?

I LOVE these cars, formerly had a '00 E320, and probably buying another in the future... but it amazes me how blind some "enthusiasts" can be

A car that you have to buy an extended warranty for or spend $1,500 / year in repairs doesn't sound very reliable

...

I am just being realistic, love the cars but not blind...

csnow · #17 03-30-2004, 10:28 AM

$1500 per year in maintenance is a bargain.

Compare that to depreciation on a newer car, and it is an insignificant sum. Consider both depreciation and cost of capital when calculating net operating costs.

People tend to get nervous putting repair money into an older car, but have no problem with the fat payments and steep depreciation on a new one. Strange psychology at work here.

The trick is not to look at repairs relative to residual value, but instead relative to use value.

G-Benz · #18 03-30-2004, 11:18 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by csnow
$1500 per year in maintenance is a bargain.

Is that parts only or dealer-maintained expenses?

I'd otherwise have to agree with yosshimura...I'd be a bit peeved if in any given year I had spent that much in repairs for all of my MBs combined!

Short of the possible head gasket or A/C issues (which should occur once in the car's lifetime, hopefully), I'd expect $$ spent for routine fluid changes, wear-related items, and occasionally, a set of tires, but that's about it.

You are right about being ahead in your yearly cost of ownership as compared to the "real" costs of owning and maintaining a much newer vehicle...

...but I would still balk at the $1500/yr. figure...unless I was maintaining an R107...

jrmd01 · #19 03-30-2004, 11:59 AM

$1500/yr

That amount is kind of a lot considering your car is a 96. I suspect you will be spending the same amount for the next 2 or 3 years for some major tune ups, transmission service, and suspension work. But after that your expenses should drop to no more than 500/yr

Consider this...many cars now a days have wheels 17 inches or bigger. Tires alone will cost you around (with mounting and balance) $1,000. So $1,500/yr is not that bad (if you figure in the monthly payments for the car too, you're doing VERY GOOD).

KEEP THE CAR.

jrmd01@yahoo.com

blackmercedes · #20 03-30-2004, 01:13 PM

For someone that really drives their car and enjoys keeping it in top shape, $1500 a year is not an unreasonable figure to expect, but keep in mind that is going to be [i]average[/]. Some years more, some less. Some day in the future it'll need a tranny, maybe a rad, maybe a top end. Think long term.

MB Life · #21 03-30-2004, 01:33 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by jrmd01
$1500/yr

That amount is kind of a lot considering your car is a 96. I suspect you will be spending the same amount for the next 2 or 3 years for some major tune ups, transmission service, and suspension work. But after that your expenses should drop to no more than 500/yr

Consider this...many cars now a days have wheels 17 inches or bigger. Tires alone will cost you around (with mounting and balance) $1,000. So $1,500/yr is not that bad (if you figure in the monthly payments for the car too, you're doing VERY GOOD).

KEEP THE CAR.

jrmd01@yahoo.com

Your right on the money JRMD01!

I have 18" tires on AMG rims and they do wear out faster than normal (14" - 16") tires. I am averaging 20,000 miles per set. So yes, out of the $1500 per year about $800 of it is in tires only.
The rest is spend at either the dealer or an indy shop.
I do alot of preventative maintenance or as soon as I detect something is wrong.

YOSSHIMURA:
$1500 may seem alot for yearly maintenance on a car but to me, it is worth it. The car has qualitites that make it worth paying this year after year. If I have to start paying more than $1500 - $2000 per year, I will consider getting a new MB. This is the topic of discussion here.

By the way, my wife has a 98 Lexus ES300 with 146,000 miles on it. Very reliable car. I don't worry about it. I spend about $500 - $750 on routine maintenance per year. Yes its affordable, but, it doesn't give me the same satisfaction as my mercedes.

I have attached a pic of my MB, looks almost new.

#22 03-30-2004, 01:43 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by blackmercedes
Personally, I think you'd be nuts to sell it at this point. The car has "high miles" in the used market, and you'd take a real kicking for the odo.

Look at it this way: (I'll use my local Canuck-bucks, but you'll get the point...)

A new E320 is about $75K.
A 2000 E320 sells for about $35K
A 1996 with 140K-miles is worth about $17K.

I just bought a used E320 with 148k for under 10K

MB Life · #23 03-30-2004, 01:51 PM

CRASH DUMMIE:

Ouch that hurts!
I have way too much money into this car to sell it at that price.
I spend about $12,000 - $14,000 in aftermarket parts like body kit, rims, tires, exhaust, springs, shocks, stereo system.

Guess I will have to drive it till it has to go to the junk yard myself.

#24 03-30-2004, 02:38 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by JamesAMG
CRASH DUMMIE:

Ouch that hurts!
I have way too much money into this car to sell it at that price.
I spend about $12,000 - $14,000 in aftermarket parts like body kit, rims, tires, exhaust, springs, shocks, stereo system.

Guess I will have to drive it till it has to go to the junk yard myself.

yes, see that is why you should keep your car. this one i bought is mint inside and out.

blackmercedes · #25 03-30-2004, 05:37 PM

Sometimes in your life, you just plain 'ol want a new car, and if you can afford it, go buy it. However, if you boil it down to the financial solution, buying the new car never makes sense.

My wife wanted AWD. Mercedes announced the 4-matic C-Class. We went to look. We sat down and crunched the numbers, and it just didn't make sense. We bought a new-price $42,000 Subaru for $21,000 that's barely three years old that will be worth $16,000 in three to four years instead of a $50,000 car that will be worth $22,000 in three to four years.

Now, this keep 'em strategy does NOT always work. It happens to with almost all Mercedes because they retain so much of their pleasure even as they age. We're a little unusual because we know that in 10-12 years our cars will be rust-free, solid, fun to drive cars. This is not so with a Neon.