AlexCim

Hey guys,

Just starting to look around now for a C63 and I've sort of hit a wall as to what direction I want to take.

Originally I was always intending to purchase a C63 2nd hand as it appears quite a few people here in Australia drive them for 10,000km/2 years and then get rid of them. But I did go into a MB dealer last week and the salesperson (who I might mention was pretty good, haha), planted the seed in my head that I should get a new one. Basically this stemmed from the fact he said those 10,000km cars have been thrashed, AMG's are expensive to fix and the warranty (3 years) on those cars was just coming to an end...

Now here is the thing, in Australia a new one would be around 165k including taxes and options (diff is essential) but I could pick up a 2nd hand one in very fine condition for probably around 135-140k including taxes. So would I be better off buying a used one and modify it with the balance, or buy a new one with a peace of mind of a warranty...

Oh, and as a note, my driving style is very very far from soft.

:S

Even Money

For about 20% more, just get the new one. There's no way I'd buy this type of car used without some type of warranty. Especially if someone has thrashed it...I would only buy used if you could get at least 2 yrs warranty and you had some solid background on the car.

Jae Duk

Dealers don't offer warranty for used cars in Australia? I don't exactly know what the warranty is here in the states but they do offer warranty.
Is that 135K US dollars or Australian currency? But price I think 20% off is pretty good for a car roughly after conversion 6300 miles? 20% off? ONLY IF there is a warranty on used cars

DTMCLK

AUD$135000 ~~ US$123450

rory breaker

Without question buy it used, this is a no brainer. These cars depreciate like boulders with anchors attached to them.

Save yourself 30%+ and buy it lightly used. A mercedes dealer can offer an extended warranty, or get an aftermarket one.

AlexCim

You can get warranty with used cars in Australia, but most offer "balance new car warranty" which means you get the balance of the warranty that came from factory, specially on such a new vehicle.

My main concern with buying something that will finish warranty is if something major lets go (For example, a good friend had a pump or something let go in his E46 M3 SMG box which cost $11,000 to fix, but was covered under warranty).

So I guess my major question is, how strong are AMG's built?

C63 DTM AMG

AMGs are built pretty well but i would look into some form of extended warranty...
there is a thread somewhere in MBWorld about a number to call and a lady to talk to who will supposedly give people amazing prices in the extended warranty. i say this because i have had my power steering pump blow twice along with something else (need to check once i get home) but it was all covered under warranty

rory breaker

They are built well but that said, I wouldnt own one that is NOT under warranty.

However, an even worse decision than owning one not under warranty would be to pay the price for a new one out of fear with the warranty. There are aftermarket warranties Im sure for one, and two, the money you save in depreciation is 5x more than any issues you may or may not experience throughout ownership of the car a year more out of warranty.

Merc63

10,000KM on the car and its trashed?? I don't think so. That's just one oil change. WTF does a sales person know about anything anyways..

HIRO63

My car is just around 9,200km and the car is fine and never had ay trouble at all. But I really think how the past owner drove the car. Really you never know so if I where you I would get the Performance Package Plus if there is extra money that you can spend. But buying used and do ECU, header, muffler, suspention is one way doing it also.

emericr

Obviously the US is very different and it s a no brainer as you can buy a Certified pre-owned car with Mercede warranty with a warranty up to 6 years and 100,000 miles. (this is how I bought mine and I saved close to 20K USD). Those cars are made to handle most of the abuse but I agree that I would not want to buy one without warranty. Shop around and I would think you can find a good aftermarket warranty that will make it worth while you getting a used one.