cry4dawn

All else being equal (pretty much the same options), which is the better buy?

A 2012 C-250 Sport with 33,100 miles or a 2014 C-250 Sport with 35,100 miles?

Both have P01, Multimedia, Keyless-Go, the 2012 has blind spot assist and lane tracking as well as heated seats.

Both are Lunar Blue, the 14 has Sahara Beige interior and the 12 has Ash interior (leather or MB-Tex, unknown).

The 2014 is about $3000 more

triplmmm

I just got mine yesterday with the Sahara. Ash is to white for me. That kept me from buying a c350 I loved otherwise. Also rates are better on the 14. If it's cpo Mercedes is doing 2.99, 2 months payment free, 2 years service free.

michail71

Tough call. Heated seats and blind spot are nice features.

Does the 14 have heated seats? I thought all late model C-Classes had them. I love mine even though I live in Florida. It's surprising how often I use them.

cry4dawn

On further research, it looks like the P01 package includes heated seats, so they both have them. The option differences seem to be only the blind spot and lane tracking.

Oh, and the 2012 is at a MB dealer but it doesn't look like it's a CPO, the 2014 is at a Lexus dealer.

Spider 2000

If you're like me and in a new car every 3-5 years hands down the 2014. If you're going to drive it into the ground they'll both be worth the same money (nothing) in the end, so save the money up front and go with the 2012.

Flarearrow

It doesn't really matter which is the better buy just from the specs you listed...... More importantly, have you driven them both? Because one chassis/car may feel more tighter and button down than the other car.

superangrypenguin

Depends if the 14 is still under warranty.

cry4dawn

The 14 is still under warranty.

I am going to drive them both tomorrow and see which I prefer. I generally keep my cars for a long time (I've had my current car for 16 years), so saving money up front is a good idea if the car is what the ad says it is.

Thanks for your input! Now for the driving and decisions!

superangrypenguin

I'd get the 14 just because then.

In year 4 and 5 of my car ownership, warranty has covered close to $6k in repairs.

LandSeaAir

I would go for the '12, and save the $3k.

These cars are pretty reliable. I can't speak for the 250 motor, but I'm betting it's good (check the forums).

With the '14 you're basically spending $3,000 for 15,000 miles of warranty, then you lose it.

You could also argue that the '14 will be more reliable because its newer - but imo that's really a crapshoot, especially when the mileages are the same.

Lastly, as these cars depreciate, the price differences between the '12s and the '14s will be smaller and smaller. So while you may factor in your expected ownership period into your decision, at the end of the day you're saving money today and therefore not looking to retain the extra you paid in the future - which you probably wouldn't anyway if you bought the '14. Remember, money today is worth more.


Also - blue on gray is rarer (and imo nicer) than blue on tan. 97% chance they're both MBTex btw.


If it were me, I'd go for the '12 and try to negotiate another $1k.

But if it really were me, I'd be going for a '13+ C300 3.5 direct injection...

cry4dawn

I ended up getting the '14.

I really wanted a C300 and found a few, but very few had the options that I wanted. I found 1, but it was at the top of my price range (with tax and fees it would be over my budget) and the dealer wouldn't negotiate. Actually, NONE of the dealers I contacted would negotiate at all.

The fuel economy of the 250 will help ease the disappointment, but the power of the turbo 1.8L is pretty impressive! Overall, I'm very happy with the one I purchased and I plan on keeping it for quite a while.

They were both MB-Tex, and I thought the Ash might be too light. I didn't realize how close it is to white! The tan is beautiful!