2010 C250, to keep or move on
 

I've happily driven my reliable 2010 C250 4matic for the past 6 years with no problems and only needing to take it for servicing. It's now got 110,000kms on it. I'm now at the stage where is needs new serts of both all season tires and also new winter tires.
The question in my mind before i invest over 2 grand in tires is whether I should buy the tires and hope of continual reliability and maintenance costs, or buy a nearly new car. I'm sure many on the forum have reached such crossroads. I'm guessing if many are still on this forum they've already decided to keep theirs, but I'd appreciate some good advice.

If the car has been reliable till now there is no reason it wont be for the next 100.000. Ive seen plenty of w204's over 200.000 KM with zero problems. My gf has a w204 with 220.000 km and it still drives like new. Apart from the standard maintenance the car has zero extra costs.

Need is not the same as want.

You don't need a new car, but you may want a new car. Welcome to my life/hell.

Part of this is certainly true although I do wonder about offsetting devaluation, cost of 2 new sets of tires and potential repairs down the road on an older vehicle versus getting a new vehicle. Is this false economy?

I would say so. If you get a "nearly new car" you will be spending money out of pocket over and above the trade in value or what you would get selling your car privately. For the sake of arguement, say that amount is $10K. You are gambling that the new car will be more reliable and not require expensive repairs. Keep the $2K for tires out of the equation as both cars would use tires. Even if your current car requires some repair(s) over the next three years, repairs not maintenance, chances are small it would be anywhere close to $10K. Plus, over those three years your new car will still depreciate quite a bit, whereas your current car has already depreciated quite a bit. That's assuming your current car has been well cared for and all the maintenance was done in a tinmely fashion. If you are looking at it as stricly a dollar and cents proposition, probably cheapest to keep your current car. On the other hand, there are a lot of reasons people buy cars that aren't necessarily the most fiscally responsible thing to do. I am kind of wrestling with that right now. I have had my car a bit over three years now and it has been pretty much bullet proof. Yet, I REALLY am itching to get a different car just because I want a different car.

Yes the temptation to get a new car is certainly part of the problem. A decision with the head vs the heart

That is something we all struggle with. We're all the same feathers of the same bird :D

In my case, I KNOW it is stupid and will most likely cost me more in upkeep, but when you are smitten....you're smitten. I am looking for a 2015-2016 Maserati Ghibli SQ4.The shop where I take my car is run by three Italian brothers and they used to be a franchised Maserati dealer way back when. They have sold a number of them in the last couple years and they say they have been very reliable. 400 horsepower, AWD, Ferrari assembled twin turbo V6 engine. Sound is amazing. Prices are like $35K for a three year old car still under warranty. List price was between $85k-$95K depending on the options. Interior uses the same leather as in Ferraris and I swear to God , it smells like a new baseball glove.AND my golf clubs fit in the trunk. I'm weak, what can I say other thna I don't care? Now THAT is depreciation.

You planning on trading your W204 for that, Alfa?

I thought it would have been a Giulia at least haha.

If you go with the Maserati, just know once factory warranty is expired, you can no longer get an extended warranty. They only offer extended if the vehicle is still under factory....

Also Alfa I may have just seen you on the highway?

Refresh me your model year/color?

LOL!! A friend of mine last night was just telling me about the depreciation of these Ghibli's. Enjoy! YOLO, as they say.

Giulia is not completely out of the picture. Prices for 2017 ones are really dropping even with low miles. So, newer car with more warranty. Really like the styling inside and out of the Alfa and they can be had with more tech features than the Maserati. 2.0liter turbo 4 cylinder 280 horsepower vs 3.0 liter V6 twin turbo 405 horsepower built by Ferrari and designed by the guy that designed their F1 engines during the Schumacher era. Plus, I like the C43 AMG. Not so much teh styling as much as teh interior and all the tech features that can be had. However, that one is probably a couple years away for what I am will ing spend. I'm in no hurry and might still continue to waffle back and forth. We'll see. Meanwhile, my current C300 is just fine.

I have a 2012 that is black with the AMG wheels. If it was on the freeway it would be 94 west to 41 north before Capital in the morning. Or 175 south towards Miller Park going home.

Fully aware.

I know. That is why I started looking at them. The depreciation the first 2-3 years is crazy. A 2015 that is highly optioned lists for low $90s. Can be had for $35K-$40K still under some warranty. After that it levels off. Basically within three years it goes down about 2/3 of the list price. Best long term investment, absolutely not. If that was the case, I would drive a Honda.

Ah, then it wasn't you. I always think to myself "Hey, what if that's Alfa" as I pass by a C class lol. I take 94/43 to get to Waukesha.

Also I LOVE the MY19 C-class models. Have also heard nothing but good things. The 15-18 owners say it's a huge step up, especially in quality. I think a facelift W205 will be my next car. As you said though, a few years until that.

Not to hijack this thread but back in our days (of owning the 204), one could have a mid tier engine (say the C300) without it being hard as balls. Now, at least here in Canada, the bottom tier model is the C300 (4 banger), and then it goes up to a C43AMG.

Like seriously?! I hate how AMG is ruining everything from a comfort perspective. The interior of the C is still way below par when compared to say the E.

In our days the C and the E were pretty damn close, especially post FL C classes!

And I sort of didn't like that. Because going from a C class to E class didn't necessarily mean more luxury anymore; it just meant bigger seats and more space.

I think the jump from C300 to C43 is too big as well. But the C400 used the same Biturbo engine so just a tune would make insane power gains. So I feel like they thought best to remove it from lineup so C43 can be a true AMG with AWD for C-class (obviously less than the C63). I would have liked a rwd C43 at least though.

I also don't like the huge screens for the cluster as much as I thought I would in the E/S. That's why the new C cluster is amazing imo. Everything is well executed.