Hello Everyone,


Please read the full story.


I have owned my 2014 c300 avant-garde and accumulated 50,000km on it within 1 year and 3 months exactly. Done all the servicing through a dealership in Edmonton, Alberta with a stellar reputation. I do all my oil changes every 10,000km and I drive it daily even through the winter. The vehicle does not see anything but the dealership for my personal peace of mind. I have the pre-service package which will pay for my service at 60,000km and that would be my third service prompted by the car within a span of 2 years really because my first two services at 20,000 and 40,000 have already been completed in the first year. Car is always garaged when it is home.


I owe around $30,000 and have another 4 years to pay it off. (financed through the MB dealership)


I switched out all 4 tires for brand new Michelins recommended on the forums (MX pilots I believe, staggered as well) worth $1600 about 10,000km ago going into the winter. (all seasons)


My commute to and from work is literally 14km. Yes, I wonder what you all must be thinking. How did I rack 50k within the city since the first day of ownership?! The vehicle left the city just once and that was for a round trip to Calgary racking only a mere 600km.


Basically 49,400km is all city driving, uphills, downhills, little freeway fun and not many stop and go traffic situations. I've never sat too long in traffic, its just this city I believe.


Yes, I do have weekends off and work 8 to 4,Monday to Friday but recently I have been concerned and worried. What has crossed my mind is the true value of the vehicle.


I have OCD with my cars so yes, you won't find a spec of dust inside my cup holders, figure the rest.


I keep it in impeccable condition at all times, even in the winter. Hand-wash and touchless automatic washes (without brushes, tri foam and wax) is how I wash it. Wax it every 2 months depending if I need a full wax or a just a top up liquid wax for the coat. I clayed it twice in the span of 1 year and 3 months. If I use a micro fibre on the glass, and sometimes light wipes on the body, the cloth is disposed. One time use only. I refuse to pay to detailers as I enjoy taking care of it myself. I am sure I will later on to get rid of minute swirls I have.


Why did I state this all, this is because I drive it with pleasure and yes I do drive it like I stole it about 50% of the time in SPORT. (Not flooring from light to light, rather gentle speed increase and a little extra throttle to make me feel it). In short, responsible stolen driving and not much red-lining.


Now, should I keep this car or not is my major concern? I wanted to trophy this car as I started out in my career and planned on keeping it forever. I have $4000 aside for just car money, and won't touch it even if hell breaks loose for any major break downs even though I know I am under warranty till 4 years/80,000km, but I'll run out in 2016 instead of 2018. I will buy the extended warranty to stretch it to 120,000km or 160,000km, I am not sure how the extended works since its my first luxury car. Clearly I will reach the km limit before the time limit on the warranties. 2 years into a working career, I knew I was ready for one!


My concerns are just the longevity of the car itself. I am inclined towards an IS350 as a car of longevity but the thrive and desire is not the same I have for my car. I want to basically keep this car and drive it hassle free so I could invest my money elsewhere without having to worry about anything.


All kilometers racked are basically driving to restaurants or visiting friends or leisure outings, etc. City driving and no one else has driven the car except for me. 2 buddies drove it and those are the only two times the car was driven maybe 10km in total to appreciate the new car.


I considered another vehicle for rough use but I just cannot stop driving mine, I am obsessed with it. Dates cannot believe how much I treasure my car and how I don't allow food or drinks in the car. (kinda sad,but they understand LOL!)


SO what are your thoughts on keeping the vehicle? Should I get rid of it for the way I drive it?


I feel like getting a car I won't be thinking much about would be a better choice (parking far, door ding worries, etc)


Again, I am not in the 6 figures but close.I don't have excess disposable income. (to buy more toys and stuff is waste to me). One Car, One Driver and One responsibility is my way of looking at it.


Humble apologies for the long read.


If you were to ask me what would be my next car if there was no winter, without a doubt the C63. On a note, absolutely hate the re-designs.

 

Wow, you're worse than me, lol.

I say relax and keep on enjoying the car. Aim for the Mercedes million mile club. They'll give you a badge for the car.

It doesn't usually pay to switch cars out early. Unless you drop a major down payment the car will always be worth less than you owe until the last year or so of the loan.

Out of warranty I'd say find a good independent, owner operated specialty shop and become friends with the owner. I find they always take time to do better work on older cars. Dealerships like to do expensive, "just replace everything" warranty work.

It's like being in a relationship and a new girl comes along. She might seem better at first and then you find out later she's crazy and higher maintenance than you thought. And really no better than what you had before.

 

Oh, and driving a car hard sometimes isn't really bad for it. It can actually help keep the engine clean of deposits. It's called an Italian tuneup.

 

keep it the new ones are ugly look and the resale value of some 2007 c class in ontario are still selling for 18,000$+ i feel in Canada these cares don't lose big value the big BONUS is all maintenance done at the dealer and no accidents you can still get top dollar for it. but the next service is your transmission service make sure they drain the TC london didn't and i went thought hell to get it done but as long as you smile drive the benz i don't think ill ever be leaving the benz family but thats just my personal opinion

if it makes you smile when you drive it keep it and by reading all that I'm sure it still does

 

LOL! don't worry too much. I have more than enough benz to worry about one of them breaking and yes I am as **** as you but I let my other half eat and drink inside but with a big towel on her lap.

Buy the extended warranty and enjoy using it. Do not worry about the car reaching high mileage as these cars are built to reach those numbers. All cars break down and that is life. If you are driving more aggressively make sure to flush the tranny as well earlier after you hit the 100k mark (I would say every 40k vs 60k) just to be safe.

 

ya make sure ever 60k on the tranny that seems to be the only weak point on the car unless you take care of it(make sure they drain the TC i have to point that out its important)

 

I really appreciate the responses. SMILE? I ITCH TO DRIVE it everyday. For some people its just a car, but yes, I keep it in showroom condition at all times because there is just this emotion towards it I cannot express! Perfect amount of power and comfort with all the bells and whistles for me!


Unfortunately, yes psychologically, dealership's the best is drilled into my head. It's just the way I think that I'll get over as I am sure the value of the car will decrease the way I see it, but I just don't see it decrease at all! I feel the exact same getting into it like the day I felt when I drove it out of the dealership!


But yes, I have a peace of mind now after reading the comments but I was worried for the past few days because my warranty feels like is going to end within a few months LOL!! I saw 49,028km on the dash this morning as I parked to go into work and I was just tensed! Will this car last??


Re-sale is not even the issue, I just want to keep it forever! For the amount of time I have invested babying it, I just wanted to make sure that I should continue investing it. You all did make me feel better and sure as hell this beauty puts a smile on my face every time, you can even see my teeth when the oil reaches 90 degrees operating !


THIS DESIGN HANDS DOWN IS MY FAVOURITE, ESPECIALLY THE TAIL LIGHTS. Re-designs look hideous to me. And when you drive a vehicle for the rich history and automobile marvels, the new designs disappoints! I don't feel the earthy feel to the roots of a Benz when I see the new one, rather "hey look, I got a benz, I have status (feminine too)", too dramatic for me. No offence to anyone with the new ones, its just my opinion/taste.


I do realize its just a car, but for me its hard to describe how attached I am to it. Oh and yes, no food, no drinks under any circumstances lol!


Thank you and if there is anything further, please share as I feel a lot better now!


Good day/afternoon/evening/night everyone!!

 

Well said, I will inquire for a mechanic in this city to start building a solid relationship so my car is handled well, but that is towards the end of my warranty term. I just thought about switching cars so that I could aim towards driving less each year and start over lol!


Quite frankly there is nothing out there that I desire! IS350 was just the most straight-forward substitute.


But I did think about the fact that there's one life, enjoy every minute while you can!!

 

I have the prepaid service package, so I assume it will be covered for my 60,000km service? I am exactly at 49,028 to be precise. I have to get the oil changed that I do at every 10,000km from the dealership.


I don't plan on leaving the family either as it makes me smile one hundred percent!

 

Fair enough, I wonder how'd i do when I finally settle with someone! I'll keep your advise in mind as I'm not really a car guy but follow the instructions and manuals as closely as I can to keep the car in top shape!

On a note, I usually even open the door to my car for women, not even for chivalry purposes rather to avoid them entering and exiting the car shutting the door using the frame rather than the door handles. Win win for me either way. For the future better half, I would have to train her a lot lol!

Thank you!

 

That is impressive racking up the kind of mileage (kilometers) in that short a time without highway driving.

I also live in Edmonton and even hitting the Henday daily on my commute my I am driving 1/3 the distance that you do. Even my wife, with her C300 drives a third of the distance that you do, and she is out and about daily (not working).

I would keep your car, keep up with the maintenance and hopefully drive it for a long long time.

I too like how the 2014 C class looks, both the C300/350 and the C63 (have one of each).

Both of our Mercedes have been to the mountains several times each. We must spend too much time at home.

 

Thank you, I was confident till I saw the odometer throw me off, but the information really helps!

Yes! I find it remarkable too, how I've racked up so many km! But I'm from the terwillegar area and I drive downtown to play pool or take the henday to st.albert or even manning drivE. All leisure km honestly, work being 14km round trip. Two close friends drive the new Benz c class and Bmw 3 series that we all go around the henday or even through the city to sit down at a Starbucks downtown so I'm sure I just drove a lot whenever I had time on my hands.

Problem is, if I have even a little free time, I DRIVE! Yes, I'm mostly out and barely home. If on a weekend I plan on staying in or work on a work project, or if I can't sleep, instead of browsing through Netflix, I take my car out at 2:00AM and take the terwillegar exit to the henday. Yes, it's just pure obsession. It's usually leisure driving, and I had close friends ask me if I've been delivering pizza overnight or doing über runs after my real job when I brought up my concerns!! Couldn't imagine a pizza smelling in my car neither strangers getting in LOL!

But yes, my driving habits and lifestyle just lead me to ask if I should keep it as I intend to keep it past the warranty and continue to treasure it knowing each km on it came from me since day one, OH AND WITH A SMILE EVERYTIME! There is nothing out there that pleases my eyes as the 2014 c class models do!

Thank you once again fellow Edmontonian!

 

You do realize the warranty is 50k MILES, not kilometers, don't you? Of course at the rate you are going you will reach the end of the warranty period before the number of years runs out, but so what? As long as you keep up with the servicing and other maintenance (and from your posts you MORE than do that) you are doing the best for your car and increase your chances that it will be trouble free and last a long time. As someone else said, cars break down occasionally no matter how careful your are. Keep doing what you are doing and the car will serve you well for a long time.

As for should you keep it? From your description no matter what anyone on here says won't sway you. No matter how pristine you keep it the market value will never keep up with how much your personally value it. As special it is to you after a while it will just be a used car-a really nice used car, but still a used car and will be priced accordingly. You have an obsession with it, so just enjoy it as long as it makes you happy. You say you want to keep it forever and I get that. You have had the car for a year and a half. Post back in another 5 years when you have a lot more miles and it might not feel quite as tight, or there is an annoying squeak or rattle you just can't track down. Or despite your best efforts someone scratches it, puts a door ding in it a stone comes up and chips the paint? Plus, you might not like the current generation C Class, but what about the generation after that, or some other manufacturer comes out with something that just speaks to you? You might change your tune then. Things change and new things come along all the time you never even thought of

My long winded point is stop thinking so much and just enjoy more. You are going way overboard on what you need to do to keep it in good shape, but if it makes you happy, knock yourself out! On the other hand, you might want to reconsider your drinking/eating ban, especially if you are dating. You could find someone you really like that could just find that....weird. On the other hand that woul dthen give you more time to spend with your car.

 

Very well said! You're right, new models will come out 5 years from now and I might like those. My obsession might not reduce, I don't think. For me the maintenance is not for keeping the resale value high, rather just self satisfaction. Plus I want to keep this car forever as I've already mentioned. The thought of it breaking down and all the mileage got me worried if it's built to last. I take it to the dealership to get it checked if I hit a deep pothole HARD by mistake even though I'm pretty learned on which road has the most pot holes.(they're everywhere lol, there's only so much I can do). I just thought it would become a money pit.

80,000km, yes I'm aware of the warranty and I will happily extend it to 120,000 or 160,000, whatever the dealership offers.

I walk into the garage, I like to see it clean and drive it in that condition at all times! But yes, I'll stop worrying about it because everyone's comments are more than logical. I'll keep up my maintenance up and if there is anything extra I'm required to do, please do tell!

Drink and eat ban has been working fine for me so far to be honest lol! Hasn't been much of a problem just yet! But you're right, I'll spend more time with my car if something is spilled! Hell, even when I place groceries in the trunk, I wonder if the car will smell, but really doesn't!

I appreciate the feedback, I'll stop worrying now! It hasn't given me any problems at all and I was stressing for no apparent reason.

I just wanted experienced owners pitching in their opinions and I'm grateful for all the feedback!

I just hope it lasts a long long long time and makes me smile like it has been for a year and 3 months! I've enjoyed ever my single kilometre on it and hope to continue!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

 

There's no guarantee ANY car will last forever, but today's cars are extremely reliable and built very well compared to years ago. A well maintained car should be good for at least a couple hundred thousand miles easy. The key is WELL MAINTAINED. Too many people think they just need to turn the key and fill up the tank and all should be well-forever. Considering how complex the cars are today with all the various electronics and such it really is a miracle how reliable and trouble free they are. It does make it harder for an average person to work on them and sometimes getting some things serviced can get a bit pricey, but to me that is a small price to pay.

Doesn't seem that long ago when it was a crap shoot in winter if your car would even start. Not a problem today. 0-60 times in the 6-7 second range was almost unheard of 15-20 years ago, now it is common place, with gas mileage well in the 20s if not more. With all the new battery technology on the horizon it will be interesting what cars will be like in the next 10 years or so. I have a feeling we could be on the verge of a new golden era in the car world.

 

As far as the future goes I'm a little worried driving will become illegal. Computers can do it so much safer and efficiently.