From Japanese To German
10-11-2016, 12:40 PM
#26
MBWorld Fanatic!
10-14-2016, 10:34 PM
#28
I wouldn't worry too much about reliability. Except some electrical problems down the line, and remember that preventative maintenance is key--I.e., follow the manual's instructions for servicing, to the letter. You have less margin for error on German cars.
Consumer Reports is all over the place in the last 5-6 years with Mercedes reliability. However, my family has owned C, E, and S over the last 25 years. Only the S gave any trouble. Mercedes makes good engines that generally do not cause any problems until past 100k miles in my personal experience. It's BMW and Audi that are historically more prone to designing cars where major repairs can arise below 100k miles.
Consumer Reports is all over the place in the last 5-6 years with Mercedes reliability. However, my family has owned C, E, and S over the last 25 years. Only the S gave any trouble. Mercedes makes good engines that generally do not cause any problems until past 100k miles in my personal experience. It's BMW and Audi that are historically more prone to designing cars where major repairs can arise below 100k miles.
10-19-2016, 03:00 PM
#29
also, keep in mind this:
if you take care and do maintenance to the letter, german cars will last you forever.
look at how many 70s and 80s benzes you see still on the road. i see plenty of them still running strong with over 200k miles.
the problem is the cost of maintenance. for that amount, i'd rather buy another car.
if you take care and do maintenance to the letter, german cars will last you forever.
look at how many 70s and 80s benzes you see still on the road. i see plenty of them still running strong with over 200k miles.
the problem is the cost of maintenance. for that amount, i'd rather buy another car.
I had came from a long line of Japanese cars leading up to my 2005 WRX STI that ran flawless for 10 years. However, as I age, I needed a car that would be suitable for my age group (driving around in a rumble tone motor in your late 30's ain't gonna do it for you, plus the suspension killed my back). So I started to look at what was on the road.
For a couple of months, I saw a lot of Audi, BMW, and of course Mercedes. My father was an avid Mercedes collector/driver but I want to look at other brands. During this time, I notice one of two things; 1. You do not see many older model Audi on the road but you will see a 15 year old beat up Mercedes with smoke blowing out of it's tail pipe due to a blown gasket still running strong. 2. the ratios from Mercedes to Audi was 2 to 1 in my area.
With that observation, I decided that I was gonna get a Mercedes rather than an Audi. Let's say, the rest is history and I haven't regret the decision.....yet
So going back to your question, would you lease or buy? I bought mine because I want to personalize it and not have to worry about the mileage. Plus, I tend to keep this model and hopefully start a collection like my father.
As far as reliability...the reason why my STI last so long, and I drove it hard every day, was because I kept up with the maintenance and upkeep. Hopefully I'll be able to do the same with this one.
Last edited by Jawknee_5; 10-19-2016 at 03:02 PM.
10-19-2016, 05:21 PM
#30
MBWorld Fanatic!
True, and if you want a Mercedes that lasts for hundreds of thousands of miles with routine maintenance, get one from the 70's or 80's. Everything they've built since they fell in love with microprocessors back at the turn of the century becomes a relentless money pit north of 60,000 miles.
There's nothing you can do from a maintenance standpoint to prevent the myriad of complex interconnected electronic systems from crapping out, and they're expensive as hell to replace.
A modern German luxury car is best enjoyed during the warranty period and dumped a millisecond after it expires.
There's nothing you can do from a maintenance standpoint to prevent the myriad of complex interconnected electronic systems from crapping out, and they're expensive as hell to replace.
A modern German luxury car is best enjoyed during the warranty period and dumped a millisecond after it expires.
10-20-2016, 05:15 PM
#31
also, my neighbor is a gentleman that proves this theory.
he still drives a late 80s 190E. the darn thing is a TANK. paint is still flawless and he does maintenance to the letter.
it has 240k miles and it looks showroom ready.
we were talking about our cars, so i asked him: how did you maintain it like this for all these years?
he then proceeded to show me the maintenance records. it costs him on average, 6k to 10k a year to maintain it TOP NOTCH.
no kidding, he does all the servicing at a local benz dealer. he never took it to another shop.
crazy expensive for a 30 year old car, but the thing runs like a beauty and it really feels like a tank.
i don't think benz makes them like that anymore.
he still drives a late 80s 190E. the darn thing is a TANK. paint is still flawless and he does maintenance to the letter.
it has 240k miles and it looks showroom ready.
we were talking about our cars, so i asked him: how did you maintain it like this for all these years?
he then proceeded to show me the maintenance records. it costs him on average, 6k to 10k a year to maintain it TOP NOTCH.
no kidding, he does all the servicing at a local benz dealer. he never took it to another shop.
crazy expensive for a 30 year old car, but the thing runs like a beauty and it really feels like a tank.
i don't think benz makes them like that anymore.
11-13-2016, 12:15 AM
#33
Member
You buy not lease a Japanese/ Korean non-luxury car.
Luxury car always lease a german.
But I never leased my cars tough.....
I just didn't like the concept. But then my cars were mostly 3,C and E which
isn't too bad on reliability and resale value.
Luxury car always lease a german.
But I never leased my cars tough.....
I just didn't like the concept. But then my cars were mostly 3,C and E which
isn't too bad on reliability and resale value.
11-13-2016, 01:10 AM
#34
MBWorld Fanatic!
Kinda got that backwards. Ideally you lease cars that have the highest residual since the lease is based on depreciation. The higher the residual the less the depreciation and the lower the lease cost.
German luxury cars have rapid depreciation and terrible residuals, whereas Asian cars typically have low depreciation and high resale value. Pound for pound, Asian cars are better lease prospects from a purely financial standpoint.
MB owners lease to be able to afford the monthly payment on a Benz, because the monthly payment to finance is astronomical and the car would otherwise be out of reach.
German luxury cars have rapid depreciation and terrible residuals, whereas Asian cars typically have low depreciation and high resale value. Pound for pound, Asian cars are better lease prospects from a purely financial standpoint.
MB owners lease to be able to afford the monthly payment on a Benz, because the monthly payment to finance is astronomical and the car would otherwise be out of reach.
11-13-2016, 03:52 PM
#35
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W463 G550 / C190 GTC //prev: W204 C63 507 / R170
You are better off getting a W204 C63 if you are concerned about reliability.
- made in Germany, vs USA (only W205 coupes are made in Germany for the NA market)
- no turbos
- W204 C63 seems quite bullet proof- check the forum, no one is really complaining of reliability issues; and if they are, it's usually on modified cars. The W205 seems to have considerably more issues.
- it's a "real AMG" with a proper V8, that will become a collectors item
- fewer electronics to fail: no electronic shocks, mechanical LSD
My wife has a 2014 B250, and I have a 2015 C63 507 coupe. Together we have about 40,000 miles. The cars have been flawless. I only change the oil myself (very easy to do). Neither car has been serviced. The C63 did have its diff fluid changed, as required. That's it.
My 2011 Lexus had faulty glass (and a faulty design) that caused the passenger side window to explode on the highway. I could have crashed. I had cuts on my face and hands. Lexus had NO interest in even investigating. They denied the warranty claim and accused me of lying (saying that something had hit it). I'll never buy Lexus/Toyota again.
So far, at least at my dealership, MB service has been exemplary.
- made in Germany, vs USA (only W205 coupes are made in Germany for the NA market)
- no turbos
- W204 C63 seems quite bullet proof- check the forum, no one is really complaining of reliability issues; and if they are, it's usually on modified cars. The W205 seems to have considerably more issues.
- it's a "real AMG" with a proper V8, that will become a collectors item
- fewer electronics to fail: no electronic shocks, mechanical LSD
My wife has a 2014 B250, and I have a 2015 C63 507 coupe. Together we have about 40,000 miles. The cars have been flawless. I only change the oil myself (very easy to do). Neither car has been serviced. The C63 did have its diff fluid changed, as required. That's it.
My 2011 Lexus had faulty glass (and a faulty design) that caused the passenger side window to explode on the highway. I could have crashed. I had cuts on my face and hands. Lexus had NO interest in even investigating. They denied the warranty claim and accused me of lying (saying that something had hit it). I'll never buy Lexus/Toyota again.
So far, at least at my dealership, MB service has been exemplary.
