Hello,

I am new to the Mercedes-Benz world, and am currently considering purchasing a used, single owner, 1998, c280, with 53k miles. The firm asking price is $12,000. The vehicle belongs to a well-off family friend (who is selling it in order to make a bit more on it rather that trading it in, which she has to do in order to get a station wagon for her two newborn twins), and I’m thus fairly sure that the vehicle has been properly cared for.

Does this sound like a good deal? Since I’ve always wanted a Mercedes, I’m dying to get it, but I’m unsure as to whether thats a good price (online sources lead me to think it is.)

Is there anything in particular at this milage (53k) that i should be careful or concerned about? The other car I’m considering getting is a used VW Jetta, around 2000, with less than 30k miles for about $13,000. I’m thinking the VW may be chaper to maintain, since I’m not a wealty person by any means. I’m 26, I rent, and take the bus to work. I currently own a 96 Ford Escort (okay, stop laughing.) I’m a bit scared of potential high costs of maintenence, gas etc. Any opinons? Any help would be appreciated

ps: please excuse me if very similar questions have been asked before, I searched the forum and didn’t see such posts.

 

I have a 1998 C280 and I'm very happy with it. It's a fantastic car, but it's not a Honda (which is both good and bad). My car has had a few minor problems (similar to other owners here), that have been fix under the "starmark warranty". Problems have ranged from the MAS to the transmission control unit. There is some rust at the bottom of the rear door, which I've seen on many C class's and E class's.

VW vs MB. Tough choice (only because the VW is newer), can you tell us more about the options on each car. Without a doubt the MB is the better car, but it may not be "better" for you. I wouldn't worry about the miles, the Mercedes has pretty low miles for the year. Does the VW have a V6? Is the VW auto or stick and does this matter to you?

One question, can you work on cars (and do you have a place to work on them)? Can you change oil and brakes yourself? Sadly, I think, everything for a Mercedes is overpriced (at least in the USA), the dealer quoted $400+ to change my spark plugs...I'll do it myself for $50...The VW will cost a lot less to maintain and fix.

Are you going to keep the Focus (I hope so)? Most if us have "beater" cars, so we don't rack up miles on our MBs. Plus when you drive "downtown" (someplace where your car might not be save, like a nightclub area) it's better to take to beater. Now, I think the MB is being offered to you at a better price (again, tell us the options), I would try and work a better deal on VW, if you choose that car.

Also, do you have some money saved up, incase something goes wrong? I don't want to tell you not to get the Mercedes, but from the little I know, I'm leaning toward the VW.

Tell us more about the cars.

 

thank you so much for your help. sadly i don't know too much about the MB, since I'm a few hours away from it. I mostly know cosmetic things about it (silver, black leather interior, wood trim, automatic, tape player, no major repairs) I really don't know that much more about it. I assume that the warranty is up, since i think it only goes up until 50k miles. I will get to see it in detail in two weeks. As for the Jetta, it's the type of vehicle I've been looking at, but there is no one Jetta in particular that I'm considering buying. Most of the ones I'm looking at are around 2000, with 30k miles or less, usually 4 cylinder models (GL, GLS) and range from 12,000 US to 14,000 US. Again, sorry to have so little information about the vehicles. I don't care all that much about cylinders or speed. I'm a designer and as such have always been in love with the styling, attention to detail and quality of MB more than anything.

I could do some basic things on the car (oil changes, perhaps brakes with the help of my friend who is a BMW owner) but aside from that I'm not very knowledgable about cars (aside perhaps from the obvious.) My girlfriend has a garage in which i could work on the vehicle, particularly during winter (I live in Western Pennsylvania). My other concern is handeling due to the c280 being a rear wheel drive. I'm not an amazing driver (perhaps one of the few men to admit such a thing) and i'm a bit concerned due to my having always driven a front wheel drive vehicle.

Lastly, I would ideally like to get rid of the ford escort. I don't want to pay insurance on two cars, plus where I live it's all street parking, and finding spots for two cars would be hard. The MB would be safe there though, as I live in a very nice urban neighborhood and all my neighbors have bmw's, mb and the like.

I looked at the expense of replacing certain things in the c280 in
http://auto.consumerguide.com/
i know the prices they stated there are probably not exactly correct, but they were comparable to the Jetta, and only more expensive in one case (shocks and struts), I thought this was shocking since everyone says how expensive the repairs on a MB are.

 

[QUOTE=KlausB]thank you so much for your help. sadly i don't know too much about the MB, since I'm a few hours away from it. I mostly know cosmetic things about it (silver, black leather interior, wood trim, automatic, tape player, no major repairs) I really don't know that much more about it. I assume that the warranty is up, since i think it only goes up until 50k miles. I will get to see it in detail in two weeks. As for the Jetta, it's the type of vehicle I've been looking at, but there is no one Jetta in particular that I'm considering buying. Most of the ones I'm looking at are around 2000, with 30k miles or less, usually 4 cylinder models (GL, GLS) and range from 12,000 US to 14,000 US. Again, sorry to have so little information about the vehicles. I don't care all that much about cylinders or speed. I'm a designer and as such have always been in love with the styling, attention to detail and quality of MB more than anything.
QUOTE]

If anything I could add. If you do go with the Jetta. Stay away from the 2.0 engine. I have heard of many having an oil drinking problem. The 1.8T or VR6 are great engines.

 

oh yes, to answer your last question...buying the MB would wipe out all my savings, and i would have to take out a $6000 loan to buy it. to buy the VW i would use most of my savings (not all) and finance the rest at a better rate.
again, thank you.

 

Hey,

I'd go with the Benz, prob just because I am biased, haven't owned a VW, but they are solid cars from my other experiences. Upon reading your situation I'd say that the VW is better and then maybe later you can buy a better model MB. Repair prices will also be higher on the MB. Also, another thing to look at is the sport package on the c class models. Makes the car look a whole lot better and its still stock.

 

12k is a good price for such low miles on a 98 c280 i paid more for my c280 and its a 97 and it had a lot more miles, granted i got mine for a dealership but i'd buy it if i were you

 

Where do you live? Does it snow? Both cars handle well. The MB is rear wheel drive and the Jetta is front. I've never driving my MB in snow, so I can't say how it will handle.

My friend has a 1999 Jetta VR6. It's not in the same class as a C280, but it's an overall great car. It's very solid, reliable, has a youthful sporty style to it, it's quick and handles well. As mentioned before, get the VR6 or the 1.8 liter turbo engines.

Have you looked at any Audi's A4s? That might be a good option for you, An A4 has some style, some performance, it's german (VW), and it has AWD (all wheel drive). I'm sure you can find a good A4 for $12000. But again, if one were to measure "bang for the buck" that's a very good price on the C280, even thought it might not be the best car for you.

One thing, with interest rates so low, I would finance as much as you can and not wipe out your savings.

 

12000 is a very good deal for that benz. check if he/she had the following things changed:

1) Mass Air Flow Sensor (MAS)
2) Harmonic Balancer or Crankshaft Pulley
3) Belt Tensioner

these three things are big issues for 98 c280s, partially because it was the first model year where the V6 was implemented.

i would get the benz over the VW. the VW will DEFINITELY have more problems down the road.

 

and all problems and money aside, its a vw and its a Mercedes-Benz i'd rather show up in the Mercedes than the vw

 

I went driving in my friends VW, it is a fine car, but it is in no way as "refined" as a C-class mercedes. The VR6 is smoother and nice, the 5 speed option is nice also, but that car isn't as quiet or plush as a mercedes.

I know A Jetta doesn't compete with a C280, but I just wanted to point out the differences I picked up right away after a 15 minute ride. The Jetta is still a fine car.

Update us on what you bought!

 

go with the mercedes!!! i like mine