C-Class (W203) 2001-2007, C160, C180, C200, C220, C230, C240, C270, C280, C300, C320, C230K, C350, Coupe

is it POSSIBLE to buy C class with $12000?

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Old Apr 26, 2009 | 07:41 AM
  #1  
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is it POSSIBLE to buy C class with $12000?

I don't care about the options..

I just want car which
year : 2005~2006
Miles : under 70k miles
No accident record

I searched at KBB.com,
and 2006 C280 with 60000 miles is $12000 (private party value - fair), the AWD one is 13000 though
2006 C230(supercharger) with 60000 miles is $12400 (private party value - fair)

I heard that the used car price is between Trade-in(good) amd Private party value(fair) lately.

Is it possible to buy a C class w203 with $12000??
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Old Apr 26, 2009 | 09:18 AM
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KBB is pretty bad with prices, especially generations shifts. When I bought my car 1 year ago, it one of the lowest priced W203s in the Southwest (or nation for that matter) on Autotrader and craigslist at $9500 (dealer auction price). KBB showed price for an 01 c240 99k at $6.7k while NADA showed it at over $13k??
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Old Apr 26, 2009 | 09:27 AM
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03 g35 coupe...........02 c32 Sold
in this economy its definately possible. You should check manhiem prices and nada pricing. You can go on ebay and viewed what the closed auction price on the c-class you want sold for.
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Old Apr 26, 2009 | 09:29 AM
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rinosour// Are you looking at Clean Retail price?

It is for dealer price.
And no dealer can sell used cars with retail price unless the buyer has some mental problem.
NADA says the average trade in price for 2005 c240 with 60000 miles is $12,475

I'm asking real sales price that recently dealed.
Anyone bought or selled 2005~2006 C class lately?

Last edited by reverse01134; Apr 26, 2009 at 09:31 AM.
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Old Apr 26, 2009 | 11:00 AM
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03 c320 coupe
you might find 1, but if your budget it tight why dont you get a 2003 2004 instead ? you can easly find a clean 2003 c320 with sat nav for that price these days...
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Old Apr 26, 2009 | 11:01 AM
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Do you want a 2006 in fair condition, that means there's something either mechanically or cosmetically wrong with it so it's certainly possible for fair price but you'll have to put money into to, so I would rather go for a "good" car and pay a grand more.
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Old Apr 26, 2009 | 11:03 AM
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i don't like the 2004 or older models' interior..

I want the facelifted model..
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Old Apr 26, 2009 | 11:12 AM
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That's the trade off for the same money, newer car in worse condition with higher miles, or older car with lower miles, better condition. To me, 2001 or 2007, they both look the same to most and they are both outdated compared to the new body style.
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Old Apr 26, 2009 | 11:16 AM
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is there any way to replace old one's interior to facelifted interior?
I dont really care the year but old one's interior looks ugly..

And if there is a good sales car, i can raise my budget to $13000
You think $13000 is enough to buy the facelifted one?
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Old Apr 26, 2009 | 11:47 AM
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2003 c230K Coupe
I just bought a 2003 c230 Kompressor Sport Coupe for $9,500, 56k mileage
Got it from a dealership. After taxes and fees it came to $10,500. I did hassle them down $1000 though
no accidents too :]

I'd say if you look hard enough you can find a pretty good deal. Also, make sure you try to lower the price by 5%-10%. Their prices are so jacked up and they know that people will try to bargain with them.
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Old Apr 26, 2009 | 11:57 AM
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kLeos// are the taxes and fees that expensive? over $1000?

I heard that taxes are 6% of the car price (im in maryland)
$9500 car's taxes should be under $600.

Do i have wrong information?
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Old Apr 26, 2009 | 12:18 PM
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It might be possible to buy a high mileage 05 with that. I dunno.. mine was $19,500 in July of 2008 but it had a scant 25k miles on it and was in showroom condition.
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Old Apr 26, 2009 | 12:54 PM
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03 c320 coupe
Originally Posted by kLeos
I just bought a 2003 c230 Kompressor Sport Coupe for $9,500, 56k mileage
Got it from a dealership. After taxes and fees it came to $10,500. I did hassle them down $1000 though
no accidents too :]

I'd say if you look hard enough you can find a pretty good deal. Also, make sure you try to lower the price by 5%-10%. Their prices are so jacked up and they know that people will try to bargain with them.
i baught a c320 coupe black w/ black leather auto 2003 78k miles... after taxes and fees for less than 9.5k with a clean carfax..
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Old Apr 26, 2009 | 01:00 PM
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Lol i don't think you will find a newer 2005+ for 12k... If you do then its one of a kind.. Must have high miles or was beaten hard.. One thing in buying a used car if its a MERC.. There can be a lot of issues no warranty etc. Its kinda hard thats why i had the stealership look at my car before i bought it. Maybe you should save up a little more cash and just wait it out.. ( Remember patience is a virtue ) If i would have done this i would be sitting in a C32
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Old Apr 26, 2009 | 01:02 PM
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You should definately be able to get a W203 for around $12,000. Used prices are plumeting. 2007 E350s are going for low 20s at auction.
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Old Apr 26, 2009 | 01:49 PM
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i have a 2005 ss, with 43k miles bought it on july 2004 with hid hk sound etc so what is fair value?
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Old Apr 26, 2009 | 01:50 PM
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Originally Posted by maecclass
i have a 2005 ss, with 43k miles bought it on july 2004 with hid hk sound etc so what is fair value?
you can find out at
kbb.com and nada.com

i trusted kbb but here all people says nada is reliable
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Old Apr 26, 2009 | 06:29 PM
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Originally Posted by reverse01134
I don't care about the options..

Is it possible to buy a C class w203 with $12000??
Does a bear shiet in the woods?
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Old Apr 26, 2009 | 06:56 PM
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Just do an autotrader search and see what you can find. You can find many sports coupes but half of them come in cloth with that horrible wavy pattern. And like someone else said, in a bad economy you can find many many great used car deals. I'd say now is the best time to buy a used car.
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Old Apr 26, 2009 | 07:18 PM
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Why go to a dealer for a 3-4 year old car, that is dumb? Get one from a private party and save tax and retail markup. You will need to get one from someone that has taken care of it. An '06 may still have a bit of a warranty left, also. It always blows me away how people buy old cars from dealers. It is such a waste.
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Old Apr 26, 2009 | 07:30 PM
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kbb value is pretty accurate. ppl just like nada better because it makes them think the car has higher value than it actually is.
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Old Apr 26, 2009 | 07:41 PM
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Originally Posted by dnlow
Why go to a dealer for a 3-4 year old car, that is dumb? Get one from a private party and save tax and retail markup. You will need to get one from someone that has taken care of it. An '06 may still have a bit of a warranty left, also. It always blows me away how people buy old cars from dealers. It is such a waste.

I tried to find private sellers
but there aren't that many..
i checked out craigslist, cars.com, and autotrader.com..

where all the people who are selling their cars are!!
are there any other ways private sellers use to sell their cars?
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Old Apr 26, 2009 | 07:59 PM
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Originally Posted by reverse01134
kLeos// are the taxes and fees that expensive? over $1000?

I heard that taxes are 6% of the car price (im in maryland)
$9500 car's taxes should be under $600.

Do i have wrong information?
in Georgia the tax is 7% and they had some $323 or so in "document" fees

also try yahoo cars
i think its autos.yahoo.com or something like that
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Old Apr 26, 2009 | 09:40 PM
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I would say yes, but it will definately have high miles and/or not well taken care of, but it probably won't be that easy to find. I just bought my 06 with 35k miles on it about two months ago for $16,500 and it has been in one wreck (though apart from things involved with that, the car is in great shape). I would say to be prepared to spend a little more money than that to get a car that's in truely good shape.
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Old Apr 26, 2009 | 10:23 PM
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Originally Posted by reverse01134
I tried to find private sellers
but there aren't that many..
i checked out craigslist, cars.com, and autotrader.com..

where all the people who are selling their cars are!!
are there any other ways private sellers use to sell their cars?
Sorry but where do you live? I always see so many W203s for sale. Mine is for sale, but I want more than $12K.

If you buy one that still has factory warranty you should be able to extend it with MBUSA through a dealer.
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