Help...how to handle trade in of recent purchase.
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Joined: Feb 2003
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From: Rhode Island
C230K hatch
Help...how to handle trade in of recent purchase.
Dear Group,
I recently purchased a C230K coupe and love it. My problem is that I just found out that I am going to be a father for the first time, but did not find out until after I had bought the coupe. I think that this car will be much too small for a car seat etc.
How should I handle trading in the coupe to get the C230 sedan or a C240 when I will be upside down almost $8000? Should I keep the car for a year and then trade, or will the car depreciate faster than my payment?
I don't have much to put down at all, and Im not sure what to do!
Any advice would be great.
Best,
Paul h.
I recently purchased a C230K coupe and love it. My problem is that I just found out that I am going to be a father for the first time, but did not find out until after I had bought the coupe. I think that this car will be much too small for a car seat etc.
How should I handle trading in the coupe to get the C230 sedan or a C240 when I will be upside down almost $8000? Should I keep the car for a year and then trade, or will the car depreciate faster than my payment?
I don't have much to put down at all, and Im not sure what to do!
Any advice would be great.
Best,
Paul h.
Member
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 112
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From: LA Area
2002 C230K Sports Coupe
I guess first... Congrats on becoming a father. It will change you in more ways than you can imagine.
Second, I wish I had some pearls of wisdome for you on the car, but unless you dropped a large wad of cash down on it, you'll probably end up seriously upside down. Even if you did, you'll still end up loosing a large sum.....
One thing, my coupe is our #3 car, so it doesn't get much kid action. But on a few occasions, I've had 2 car seats in the back, with no problems. It is a bit awkward getting little ones into their seats though.... but not impossible.
Good luck. You'll need it .... on the car too.....
Second, I wish I had some pearls of wisdome for you on the car, but unless you dropped a large wad of cash down on it, you'll probably end up seriously upside down. Even if you did, you'll still end up loosing a large sum.....
One thing, my coupe is our #3 car, so it doesn't get much kid action. But on a few occasions, I've had 2 car seats in the back, with no problems. It is a bit awkward getting little ones into their seats though.... but not impossible.
Good luck. You'll need it .... on the car too.....
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Joined: Nov 2001
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From: Vancouver Island, B.C. Canada
2005 smart cabrio; 2008 Mercedes-Benz B 200
congratulations!
Don't dump the car for a sedan. The sedans are marginally larger inside, but you'd never know. The only advantage is the rear doors (which are tiny). I used to have a Renault 5 2 door with three kids in the back, two in child seats. It was not pretty, but they fit. Now our three kids (9, 12, 14) all sit in the rear seat of our old Peugeot 405. no worries - I did not panic and run out to buy a van or a Crown Victoria 
The CL 203 has more than enough room for child seats. The only bummer is the access to the rear, but that's more of a nuisance than anything else. But the sedan rear doors are so small that they probably would not make putting a kid into a child seat any easier.
Summary: not worth losing $8K+ in depreciation and paying silly money for a new C 230 K sedan.
My opinion: Keep the car.
The CL 203 has more than enough room for child seats. The only bummer is the access to the rear, but that's more of a nuisance than anything else. But the sedan rear doors are so small that they probably would not make putting a kid into a child seat any easier.
Summary: not worth losing $8K+ in depreciation and paying silly money for a new C 230 K sedan.
My opinion: Keep the car.
Member
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 81
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From: Central US of A
2003 C 230K Sedan
The coupe is fine for baby seats.
I have used my 993 for baby transport hundreds of times.
Sure its not the ultimate way to go for making things simple, but com'on... Its not like you "can't" use a coupe.
Think of the folks out there that can only have a Geo Metro, or maybe a Mini Cooper, or a Civic or a Beetle or Golf or a Mustang or a Focus or even a Pickup truck.
You have it much better than some other choices already.
No need to trade, but if you do, the Sport Sedan is a very nice option.
I have used my 993 for baby transport hundreds of times.
Sure its not the ultimate way to go for making things simple, but com'on... Its not like you "can't" use a coupe.
Think of the folks out there that can only have a Geo Metro, or maybe a Mini Cooper, or a Civic or a Beetle or Golf or a Mustang or a Focus or even a Pickup truck.
You have it much better than some other choices already.
No need to trade, but if you do, the Sport Sedan is a very nice option.
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Joined: Nov 2001
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From: Earth
GLB 250 4matic
i think you're going to lose a lot of money if you trade-in the car. i would think the best bet is to sell it privately.
i'd also recommend a wagon if you're going for a larger car. i don't think a sedan is enough of a change.
i do use my car for my kid (now 2.5 yo) w/ a car seat semi-permanently attached in the rear. it's not as bad as you think it would be. but, the seat is forward facing while an infant seat will be rear facing. make sure you have enough room.
the key thing is not to get a huge stroller (pram). and to realize, that you just don't need all the um, accessories, for the baby. we used to be a mobile infant station before we started to cull down on everything.
so, my advice, live w/ it and the annoyances or sell it privately and get a wagon (not necessarily an mb... maybe a volvo v40? - cheaper).
i'd also recommend a wagon if you're going for a larger car. i don't think a sedan is enough of a change.
i do use my car for my kid (now 2.5 yo) w/ a car seat semi-permanently attached in the rear. it's not as bad as you think it would be. but, the seat is forward facing while an infant seat will be rear facing. make sure you have enough room.
the key thing is not to get a huge stroller (pram). and to realize, that you just don't need all the um, accessories, for the baby. we used to be a mobile infant station before we started to cull down on everything.
so, my advice, live w/ it and the annoyances or sell it privately and get a wagon (not necessarily an mb... maybe a volvo v40? - cheaper).
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From: Houston,TX-moving to The Woodlands,TX SOON!!!
Toyota Tacoma & Lexus IS250
umm I'd say it doesn't hurt to TRY TO TRADE IT....see what the MB dealer will do...versus taking it to CARMAX.
just a thought.
just a thought.
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Joined: Jan 2002
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From: Central Ohio
Awaiting a new arrival...
I have a carseat in my C230K and my daughter absolutely loved riding in it. Especially with the panoramic roof, she constantly was gazing. Its been a while since she was in it, the car has been in storage since November, but she never complained once about riding back there. Yes, rear doors would be great, but I did not find it that hard to get in/out of with her in my hands. She is now 23 months old, so come spring, we'll see how she likes it then. Congrats on your new purchase and new news.
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From: CA
I had the same predicament 6 months ago when we had our first baby. I also thought of trading it in, but I didn't.
Yes there is a bit of a hassle with the car seat at the back, but it is definitely not worth taking a 8K loss on.
Yes there is a bit of a hassle with the car seat at the back, but it is definitely not worth taking a 8K loss on.
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Joined: Aug 2002
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From: FairFax, Virginia
ANything is possible but...
I am sure many have no problem with the coupe but my experience with trying to put my niece in the back seat was a struggle. Especially in the winter coats/layers on. It's sure made for a frustrating task...
I bet your wife would have a worse time. ANd do you have a large enuf a garrage to swing that coupe door wide open?.
I am debating on trade mine in for the sedan, too. The 8K loss is hard to swallow not to mention the extra cost of the sedan.
Why don't you borrow a car seat and go to a dealer and try it out on both the sedan and coupe ???
I bet your wife would have a worse time. ANd do you have a large enuf a garrage to swing that coupe door wide open?.
I am debating on trade mine in for the sedan, too. The 8K loss is hard to swallow not to mention the extra cost of the sedan.
Why don't you borrow a car seat and go to a dealer and try it out on both the sedan and coupe ???
Member
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 112
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From: LA Area
2002 C230K Sports Coupe
Originally posted by young
and to realize, that you just don't need all the um, accessories, for the baby.
and to realize, that you just don't need all the um, accessories, for the baby.
Good luck with that one....
My trick was after my wife would load up the suburban (plenty of room in there, I just hated carrying all the crap...) I would take out 20% of what she had packed. We were usually 2 hours down the road before she realized what I had done....
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 394
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From: Weston, FL
C230 Kompressor (02 Copupe)
hm...
Well I think the coupe is pretty big on the backseat, Im 18 and I constantly have people on the back. If you dont want to get into a hard economic position, why dont you try keeping the coupe? if its infact too small trade it in later...
Maybe you could try to sell it by yourselve and get a bit more $$ than trading it in?
Maybe you could try to sell it by yourselve and get a bit more $$ than trading it in?
