JLD2k3

My wife and I had our first child in October. My in-laws gave us a 2002 Chevy Trailblazer for Christmas so we have a family car. I don't want to insure three cars for two drivers. We'll drive the TB any time we both go somewhere with the kid. The other car will be simply my get back and forth to work vehicle. I live 8 miles from work and it's only a 9-12 minute commute.

So, the contenders are...

2002 C320
Paid for
33 mpg hwy, 20 in town
Trade in quote: $2700
Private Party: $6000
Pros: I like it. It's faster. Automatic. Mods I've put in. Heated seats.
Cons: Expensive maintenance. Can't get much money for it. 140k miles. Gremlins.

2005 Mazda 6i Hatchback
Paid for
35 mpg hwy, 26 in town (estimated)
Private Party: $11,500
Trade in quote: $8500
Pros: Great on gas. Huge trunk. Can get a lot for it. Engine only has 11k miles on it. Cheap maintenance.
Cons: Needs oil change more frequently. Limited features. Not as cool.

What to do?? I have people interested in the 6. Nobody on the C.

So my options as I see it are:
1 - Sell the 6, keep the C: get more money now, risk higher maintenance (though oil changes are less frequent, so it could balance out), much older vehicle.

2 - Sell the C, keep the 6: get very little money now, but have a car that should last a long time, is big, good on gas, cheap maintenance.

3 - Sell both: Then what should I get? I want to pay cash, less than $7k and have something that I can run until the wheels fall off (thinking Civic, Accord, Camry, etc).

4 - Other

LILBENZ230

I voted sell both and buy something else like an Accord or Camry. I hate the Mazda 6, but that's just me.

Definitely sell the C.. an early W203 just isn't worth the risk.

Although you could sell the Mazda for $8000 and then keep that $8000 to fix anything that might come up on the C and you should be good for a while.

kluvsbenz

+1 on LIL Benz's comments.

tommy

Time's right to junk both, especially with so much interest in the 6 (my b-i-l has a 6, and have to agree with lil - not my cup of tea).

You're kind of handcuffing us on your new purchase - you're going to make $17.5 on sales, and only want to pay $7k? That's not really apples to apples. Having said that, you should get the smallest reliable car that you can that still can fit all three of you safely(congrats, btw), since you have the TB and don't need another large car. Since you list the slushbox as a bennie (bah!), I guess you're not looking for a manny, either?

So $7k, slushbox, reasonable size. My list would be a Civic LX sedan, newest you can get for that price, or a Scion tC/xA.

If it were me, I'd spend a bit more and get a Miata, since you're in VA, and always have the excuse of not being able to use it for family things.

JLD2k3

I only want to spend $7k because I want to use the additional money to pay off my now stay-at-home-mom wife's student loans.

tommy

Since you have two goals, then, it makes even more sense to sell both cars.

MBfinatic

Keep your car! I just read all the stuff you have done it. Also you should come to cars and coffee sat!

phister

Sell both and you can afford a civic or accord for less than 7k as a beater car. And have money left over.