Buying advice...perhaps?
07-29-2014, 10:53 PM
#1
MBWorld Fanatic!
Thread Starter
Buying advice...perhaps?
Just for fun KBB:ed my car value.
2010 E550 with all options but no night vision. Price tag as new at $72000.
KBB says with current 70000 miles it has value only of $25000 for private sell, a couple of Ks less as a trade-in.
Well, this is not a big surprise as people only go by the miles on the gauge not knowing what the miles mean. Mine are 85% interstate hwy meaning that the engine has seen only about 30% mileage compared to a car in city traffic, probably even less. The transmission has seen all of the miles though.
But as it is, if you are BUYING the car BUY THE ONE WITH OPTIONS YOU LIKE AND WANT AND DON'T PENNY PINCH WHEN MAKING THE DEAL.
If you buy the car that starts to bore you after a couple of years it will eat you up to keep driving it when you know it does not make sense or you cannot afford to trade it in because of the lost value.
Distronic is one heck of an equipment to have you enjoy the ride even after your car is a few years old.
2010 E550 with all options but no night vision. Price tag as new at $72000.
KBB says with current 70000 miles it has value only of $25000 for private sell, a couple of Ks less as a trade-in.
Well, this is not a big surprise as people only go by the miles on the gauge not knowing what the miles mean. Mine are 85% interstate hwy meaning that the engine has seen only about 30% mileage compared to a car in city traffic, probably even less. The transmission has seen all of the miles though.
But as it is, if you are BUYING the car BUY THE ONE WITH OPTIONS YOU LIKE AND WANT AND DON'T PENNY PINCH WHEN MAKING THE DEAL.
If you buy the car that starts to bore you after a couple of years it will eat you up to keep driving it when you know it does not make sense or you cannot afford to trade it in because of the lost value.
Distronic is one heck of an equipment to have you enjoy the ride even after your car is a few years old.
07-29-2014, 11:14 PM
#2
MBWorld Fanatic!
As with cars and many other things, boredom can cost you a lot more than you bargained for.
I agree with you on getting the features you want if they are available to you. You won't be tempted by the newer models when they don't offer substantially more than what you already have, assuming you don't have other problems with your car. Shopping used cars has it's obvious limitations compared to ordering a new car when it comes to getting exactly what you want.
When it comes time to move on, if you have the patience to hold the line on a private sale, you will eventually find a buyer who wants the well optioned car you have at a fair price. Unfortunately miles are miles as no buyer can tell how hard a car was driven unless it's obvious from the repair history. Once you get close to 100k miles (that psychological barrier for most buyers), you have to decide how much longer you plan to keep the car to know if it is time to act.
I agree with you on getting the features you want if they are available to you. You won't be tempted by the newer models when they don't offer substantially more than what you already have, assuming you don't have other problems with your car. Shopping used cars has it's obvious limitations compared to ordering a new car when it comes to getting exactly what you want.
When it comes time to move on, if you have the patience to hold the line on a private sale, you will eventually find a buyer who wants the well optioned car you have at a fair price. Unfortunately miles are miles as no buyer can tell how hard a car was driven unless it's obvious from the repair history. Once you get close to 100k miles (that psychological barrier for most buyers), you have to decide how much longer you plan to keep the car to know if it is time to act.
