Kalinda

This is my first post on the forum. Have been lurking for a while

We are considering purchasing either a C350 CDI Sedan, or a C63.

After looking online and just about everywhere else we can think of our local dealership has offered the following:

2009 C63 (57000km) with roof and Keyless Go - $92K (Aus) on road.
2012 C350 CDI (1000km) with roof, heated seats, AMG pack, reverse camera - $100K (Aus) on road.

We honestly don't know which way to jump. Either the older C63 or the new C350.

For those of you in the know do these prices seem fair?

Any opinion would be great.

PS. Forgot to mention that the C350 also has Lane Tracking and Blindspot.

C300Sport

Welcome to the forum!
Hmm...older C63 with the decent interior or the up to date C350 with the much more refined interior, updated exterior and all the goodies.
For me, it's easily the C63!
Hopefully Carsey or another Aussie can give you input on the pricing.

Kalinda

Thanks for your reply. We took the C63 for a test drive and I loved it. The dealer hasn't got a C350 for us to drive. After looking at prices etc I am totally confused, lol. Thanks for the welcome also

Karen

mfkl2

I would personally go with the brand new C350. only because I dont like driving 2nd hand cars. its never really "mine" if you know what im saying. if i wanted the AMG then i would bust my a** off and buy a new one. things with older cars, they wont last as long as you would want it to and replacment parts for AMGs would cost ALOT more than the C350.

brand new cars come with warranty that will almost cover the time an average person would keep the car. the 2009 even with extended warranty still wont cover as much and eventually cost money out of your pocket.

either way, both cars are awesome and both are Mercs. either one you get, people are going to say "nice car" BUT...is it a new car? is it used?

before buying, check all details on both warranties and compare cost of replacement parts, i.e. filters, brakes, shocks...etc...the usual stuff that eventually break on any car.

JasonHu

What else does the C350 have? Does it have lighting package? Navi?

IMO I would go with the C350 just because of having warranty. You really will not enjoying paying out of pocket costs for fixing that C63.

Edit: Don't forget to bargain!!! Remember, that C350 isn't a brand new car and it should not be priced similar to one!

Kalinda

Hi Guys, thank you for your input. Here in Australia the Lighting Package is standard on the C350. The car also has the Command Online/Navi.
To sum it up the C350 we are looking at is as follows:

Magnetite Black
Lighting Package (standard here in Aus)
Lane Tracking/Blind Spot
Sun Roof
Reverse Camera
Heated/Ventilated Seats
Memory Electric Seats
AMG Pack
Two Toned Black/White Interior
1000km

MBRedux

That's basically our car, minus the DI 3.5L since you cannot get that engine here with 4-Matic, and a special ordered Obsidian Black that's not offered officially for 2012. We love it! So what's up with the 1000km? Is it a dealer test car? Would the C63 come with an extended warranty? Was the engine beat-upon? Ask the dealer to give you a STAR Print-Out and check how many times that engine was either red-lined or over-revved. Try to be present as they do it.

I'd go with the brand new car, unless the C63 is in tip-top shape, with an extended warranty thrown in! Good Luck!

Kalinda

You car looks great. From what the dealer tells us the C350s interior is actually the one with the two toned dash as well. Seats are black on the sides, and white on the seated part.

The C63 was purchased from them new and the guy just traded it back in on the new model. All MB service history is available. The car "looks" to be in really condition. I will ask about the Star Print Out. The car has 6 months left of new car warranty, and yes, they are also throwing in another 2 year extended factory warranty, so we would be covered for 2 1/2 years. We generally change our cars every 2-3 years.

As for the C350, yes, it is a dealer executive care, hence the 1000 km

sjhugh

I’ve posted this in the W204 & C63 section.


If your purchase decision involves the depreciation values, check out ‘Carguides’ or a similar site and compare the second-hand prices of the same year models for AMG and MB against their new prices.
The first owner of the AMG took the big depreciation hit, so common sense says when its used price levels out it should retain better value than the stock MB.

Final choice will depends on what you look for in a car.

An enthusiast may prefer power and overall performance (especially if they have other cars in their garage), where an ‘A to B’er’ would most likely be interested in comfort, appointments and the fact it’s new with full warranty.

I have just bought a new 2012 C200 CDI for shopping duties and if you disregard performance, it has more to offer luxury wise than an out-dated 2009 C63. Even a 2010 is a big step up than the 2009.

Compare what you get (apart from the AMG gear) and you’ll see how antiquated a 2009 is.

I’d go for the C350 CDI if that’s all I was driving.

No I’m talking BS, I wouldn’t be able to help myself and would have to have the AMG magic.





.

RLE

Nobody seems to have picked up the fact that the C350 CDI is a diesel. Has the new 3.5 265hp diesel made it into the C-Class in AUS yet?

Given fuel costs, the C350 CDI is the clear winner and it's performance will be very good. Depreciation on any AMG model is very high, anyway, and repairing the things out of warranty will become a burden.

sjhugh

Diesel fuel in Australia isn’t cheap compared to other fuels.
Plus you pay an over the top premium here for vehicles fitted with Diesel engines.
They say here it takes an average of about 10 years to get back your additional purchase price over a petrol model. Most people don’t keep their cars long enough to think it’s worth going Diesel.

He’s talking about a Diesel model, mine is also a Diesel and the down side is it rattles and is noisy when the stop start function is kicking in.
But I knew that before I bought it and still went ahead with the purchase.

I also believe it cuts in too much.
A few more seconds before switching off would be better as many times in city traffic I’m only stationary for a fraction of a moment but still it cuts out and starts again. It seems a waste to me.

Does anyone know if they need an injection of extra fuel to start up again?

.

pcho

Hi Karen,

I am in Australia and I own both, 2012 C63 Coupe and 2012 C350cdi. Both are great cars. If you want grunt, noise, exhileration, power and luxury go for the C63. The 350 CDI is almost all of the C63 except it feels a lot smoother, less grunt, less noise and less power but excellent fuel economy

The C63 has 600Nm of torque and the C350 cdi has 620Nm of torque, yes that is correct, the diesel has more torque. So the 350 CDI is a mean machine anyway. So don't discount the C350 cdi.

It also comes with newer technology. The new 350 cdi has the latest phone connection and all your contacts from your iphone will automaticlly download to your car via bluetooth whereas the 2009 model would not. You have to get your dealer to download you contacts via a sap module or manually add your contacts to the car system (this only applies to Australian model cars and I think it is different in other countries). That was one issue that was very important to me and that is why I traded my 2009 C class to the facelift model in 2012. So I did own a 2009 C 220 cdi class model as well but it does not have the luxury and power of the C350 cdi.

PM me if you need to ask more questions and I am happy to help

Cheers

Perry

Carsy

I keep my cars for 15 years. Have owned a diesel now for 18 years & would have nothing else. I like the massive torque which suits the auto gearbox. It makes for effortless unfussed & very economical motoring. ie Geelong to Newcastle on the one tank .

Maintenance is also easy, just oil & filters on a regular basis.

I love the diesel thrum around town & the quietness on the open road.

SJ,I thought that you could turn off the stop start feature?

Karen, I would drive the pair of them back to back as many times as you can & see which one you like best. My dealer let me take the car home overnight to get a better appreciation in my own surroundings & road.

In my mind a brand new CDI is the way to go. Cheaper insurance maybe too.

Why not try the brand new 200 CDI & 250 CDI for around $60,000 to A$65,000. I bet you will not tell the difference in useable power& will handle better with less engine weight. The 250 CDI has the same torque as a V8.

John C.

pcho

Hi John,

I use to own c220 cdi and I have driven my friends c250 cdi, great car. However with the c350 cdi you can hardly hear the thrum sound even when I step up the acceleration. Maybe it needs less power to get started or the insulation is much better in the higher end car. There is a big difference in power between the c350cdi and the c250 cdi.

In fact I had a loan S350 bluetec on loan for a week and it was so very quiet that I honestly did not know it was diesel until when I went to fill it up. I was so embarrassed about it. That was one of the reasons why I purchased the c350 cdi

Perry

MBRedux

Has anyone noticed that this front bumper is WAY DIFFERENT from anything ever posted? The lower opening is reversed from other 2012 W204's, like a smiley face, rather than reversed.

chad88

I would prefer the newer 350 CDI. However it does not come with keyless go, could be deal breaker.

MBRedux

Thanks! Our interior is leather, and as such MB does not split the dash nor the seats for the States. We do love the new dash, the AMG-Like steering wheel. We have since added a rear OE wing-lip and removed the lower trim.




PS:If the C63 looks and drives tight, by all means, I'd go for it mate! But get the Star Print Out first.

C300Sport

I like my frowny face better....makes people more likely to get out of the way.

MBRedux

What model is that? ^^^^ Never seen that bumper?

Petje

Thats the European non AMG styling front .

MBRedux

Carsy

Hello Perry,

You must be pulling out stumps or towing a 30' tandem to need all that power

$35,000 is a lot for an extra 2 cylinders & a few trendy nick nacks . The basic car is the same & where MB makes its high profit margins is in the higher end models . I would not fall for all the marketing & be trying to keep up with the Jones's

Glad you enjoy your 350.cdi . I would like to drive one one day.

John C.

MBRedux

Hey pcho, that's one fine looking car!

pcho

Hi MBRedux,

Thank you and I absolutely love it. Put a smile on my face each time I drive it

Perry

pcho

Hello John,

You are spot on with the premium price on nick nacks, unfortunately I have a weakness for them and I have a lead foot as well. Let me put it this way, my wife finds the c350 much better car with the nick nacks than her previous c220 cdi and if she is happy I am

Perry