Vlad-II

Hello Everyone!

Its been a while since I posted on MBWorld, and my very first post in the W204 forums as well haha. This forum is definitely uncharted territory for me haha because I'm a proud owner of the 2002 W203 C240. Anyway I have a major dilemma. Here's the question.

Should I Lease-Finance a Brand New 2013 C300 4MATIC, or Fix My Current 2002 W203 C240?

The problem is I really want the C300 its like this burning desire that I had for the car. I've test driven several cars, went to several dealerships, and I've come to the conclusion that the C300 is my next car. That's it, haha. Every inch of my inner being is telling to go for the car and the people around me keep telling me no don't do it because its a bad decision, and I can't afford it. And I agree but I feel that I could lease it first and then finance it later on when more money comes my way. I would be so much happier in the car. It would be my pride and joy, to know that I'm finally paying for something big and being responsible out there you know?

Here's the dilemma. I'm a 25 year old college graduate, working with the intention of going for my Masters. I make roughly 35K a year and still living with parents. I would get the car and literally fund it out of my own pocket with insurance and etc. The idea is to lease the car in the beginning and then eventually finance it later on as my career continues to grow.

My current car is a 2002 Mercedes C240 with about 103,000 miles on it. I've been driving the car since High School for about 8 years now. I graduated college and the car is still going strong. The truth is though although the car is great and all I'm starting to simply not like it anymore you know? Its not modern the features aren't there anymore I feel like its time to upgrade. The car has had its share of problems, but it still runs relatively well. (Misfiring on the Cylinder 4 and a few 100K services left to go which will cost roughly $1,500 dollars) The amount of money that it would cost to fully repair the car would be roughly around 3,000 dollars.

The C300 4MATIC 2013 costs an average of $42,000 to $44,000 USD dollars for the features that I'd like to have in it. Not to mention a down payment of roughly $4000 dollars. Plus a 36 Month Lease for roughly 400 per month with insurance that could raise the total price of the car to about $560 per month.

Or alternatively a more affordable approach, would be to lease a Service Loaner, two dealers in the area offered me service loaner leases which require a significantly lower down payment $1500 with the option to buy later on. The average mileage on these cars were around $5000, miles. The car is essentially a car that is used but leased until I can afford to buy it later on.

I do have room in my budget for the car and I feel like I should do it but everyone is so against it, I guess it could be because my annual income is actually less than the value of the car. So in other words the car is technically unaffordable but many people buy things that they can't afford thats why many people finance and lease. But I was thinking of leasing the car with the intent of buying the car later down the line.

My rationale behind the whole thing was, make lower monthly payments now and then later on when things get better with my life which I know will, and financial situation handle the heftier finance monthly payments. Not to mention the hefty cost of maintenance.

Bottom Line I don't like my current car anymore and I want the new one should I take the leap or faith and go for it, or should I hold on a bit longer to my current car and wait for the W205? Which will perhaps be more expensive due to the release of the CLA?

Any advice? The obvious answer is obviously wait, save the money and until the W205 is released or perhaps save my money and fix this car and just put the urge to get the car aside for now that's the reasonable way to go especially considering that the car still is drivable despite it being at 103K. I'm just worried that at this high mileage anything can and will go wrong and it could cost me a fortune to repair that's what I'm also trying to avoid. Fixing expensive problems in the future. I'd rather pay for a newer car with a lesser likelihood of failure rather than drive an older 13 year old with a stronger likelihood of having issues.

What Should I Do? Hold On For 2 More Years, or Buy the C300?

Trading in is also not an option because my mom would like to keep my current car. Because she would like to use the car as sort of a getting around car to go to places locally and save the larger G500 for weekend leisure driving. This would also be my first venture into buying a car on my own.

Best,
Vlad

EuroJDMBenzo

i think you should wait for the new c class im sure you would be alot happier.

Acapulco Bill

The CLA will be sold for a premium price and probably no leass for 6 months . By then there will be more info about the W205 and if C300 loaners are around may go for even less. Suggest you wait and see.

Vlad-II

Well the CLA I have yet to see it in person so I'm not sure but I'm wondering if the price of a 2013 C300 would go down considering the 2014 versions are due to come out in September. The CLA although it's a nice car it just doesn't do it for me not to mention the price would actually be higher considering its a newer car.

glennp_1999

Wait for the W205 at least it will still be a RWD. The CLA is going to be to small plus it's a FWD....blah! Good luck with your decision.

spyked

I wouldn't put a CLA in the mix. Or, put it this way, if you are considering a CLA, then the C class maybe isn't what you really want. They couldn't be more different cars. The CLA is FWD and has style gimmicks....more to compete with Fords and Kias. The C class will continue to be RWD and designed (as always) to be an heirloom type of car. Always classic, durable, ages well.

Josh.A.Hussey

+1

ralawren

It depends on what you are trying to accomplish. The W205 is going to be slightly larger than the current model and will have turbo charged 4 and 6 cylinder engines. If you want to keep the feel of the car closer to your 2002 but obtain modern technology the 2013 probably has everything you want. It also is probably the last naturally aspirated 6 cylinder for the C series. We just went through this decision and purchased the 2013. I would expect to get 10-14% off of MSRP as they make room for the 2014 W204s and eventually the W205s.

Acapulco Bill

The CLA is longer and wider, albeit lower, than the W204. Although it has a shorter wheebase, it actually has more legroom and headroom in the front, and more legroom in the back, only suffering headroom compared to the C-Class. So it is a misconception that the CLA is "smaller". Identical trunk space at 12.4 cu. feet.

Sitting in the A and the CLA, the seats... fit like a glove? Their design holds one snugly, and the dash layout makes everything feel more closed-in. One will either like or dislike the A/CLA interior with contrasting double-stitching, round air vents (although these are also in the new S-Class) and a screen that sticks-up like an afterthought.

Vlad-II

The CLA is really out of my range. I don't think I like the way it looks I mean based on the pics I've seen so far it really steers away from the vintage Mercedes look. The C Class always in my eye looks like a Benz and to some degree is better in quality hence why I'm waiting in October to see whether or not I should wait. I feel like I could probably get a low cost C300 Service loaner for two years and when the W205 are available, I could finance that car since these leases are typically 27 months long. I'm sure by the end of the lease the W205s will be available. I was quoted yesterday for 357 /mo with about 2500 down for a Service Loaner. Strongly considering it haha.

Vlad

Josh.A.Hussey

This SEEMS to be a decent deal there at the end...
I will tell you this.
I pay close to $500/mon (CAD) with a 5 figure down payment on my 2010 C350 4Matic... She is fully loaded but still, that service loaner sounds like a deal.

Vlad-II

I really believe it is especially considering that it only has 250 miles on it along with Navigation. Really can't go wrong with it. It would also pave the way to the W205 which I would finance.