How long to drive them?
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From: Ohio/Florida
2023 GLC 300 4MATIC
How long to drive them?
Was at the library and in looking at different financial planning books all agree that cars are a horrible expense. Nearly every book had a different idea on financing, leasing, new, used.
One book said the best thing to do is buy a 2-4 year old car and keep it forever. Maintain it very well but never ever sell it. Said the costs to maintain are much cheaper in the long run than paying car payments. Said same holds true even if you did it only every 5 years when you add in all the financing costs etc. Also said you never have to worry about putting miles on you car to try and improve your resale value since you will never sell it.
Interesting concept.
One book said the best thing to do is buy a 2-4 year old car and keep it forever. Maintain it very well but never ever sell it. Said the costs to maintain are much cheaper in the long run than paying car payments. Said same holds true even if you did it only every 5 years when you add in all the financing costs etc. Also said you never have to worry about putting miles on you car to try and improve your resale value since you will never sell it.
Interesting concept.
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From: Sacramento
'08 AM Vantage V8 - '03 E500
It's hard to argue against the financial wisdom of the advice to never buy a new car; buy a late-model used car instead, and maintain it carefully and drive it until it can't be fixed any more.
The only problem with the advice, and the reason most of us don't follow it, is that it isn't much fun. Having the latest thing on the road, smelling that new car smell, and not worrying about the infirmities of an old car is living large, even if it's a lot more expensive than doing the fiscally-prudent thing. Me, I tend to follow the half the advice. I always buy (not lease) a new car because I like the new car warranty and, if not the new-car smell, then at least the absence of the old-car smell. I tend to keep them for a long time. I've purchased only six cars in my life, and excluding the current Benz, I've kept them for 8, 32, 6, 12, and 7 years (the last period accident-shortened).
The only problem with the advice, and the reason most of us don't follow it, is that it isn't much fun. Having the latest thing on the road, smelling that new car smell, and not worrying about the infirmities of an old car is living large, even if it's a lot more expensive than doing the fiscally-prudent thing. Me, I tend to follow the half the advice. I always buy (not lease) a new car because I like the new car warranty and, if not the new-car smell, then at least the absence of the old-car smell. I tend to keep them for a long time. I've purchased only six cars in my life, and excluding the current Benz, I've kept them for 8, 32, 6, 12, and 7 years (the last period accident-shortened).
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From: THE NAPA VALLEY, CA
Build date 2-04 E500
Originally Posted by DWP
I've purchased only six cars in my life, and excluding the current Benz, I've kept them for 8, 32, 6, 12, and 7 years (the last period accident-shortened).
Ouch.... Talk about wisdom coming with age.... :v
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From: FL410
'05 E320 CDI, '08 BMW X5 4.8i, '11 Duramax 2500HD
Originally Posted by HELL ONA HARLEY
Ouch.... Talk about wisdom coming with age.... :v
You see that Datsun
in his garage... now that's hard core!
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From: Virginia
2005 Carlsson CD32 E320 CDI Inline-6
"keep it forever"
sounds like good advice for an old pickup truck to keep around for occasional hauling, etc but not a car.
Advances in safety and fuel economy matter.
If you insisted on keep it forever and were driving, say, a 1977 Ford LTD with a 460 V-8, you would be spending more on transportation now than if you had a new Benz, just on fuel cost.
Advances in safety and fuel economy matter.
If you insisted on keep it forever and were driving, say, a 1977 Ford LTD with a 460 V-8, you would be spending more on transportation now than if you had a new Benz, just on fuel cost.
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From: FL410
'05 E320 CDI, '08 BMW X5 4.8i, '11 Duramax 2500HD
Originally Posted by cdiken
sounds like good advice for an old pickup truck to keep around for occasional hauling, etc but not a car.
Advances in safety and fuel economy matter.
If you insisted on keep it forever and were driving, say, a 1977 Ford LTD with a 460 V-8, you would be spending more on transportation now than if you had a new Benz, just on fuel cost.
Advances in safety and fuel economy matter.
If you insisted on keep it forever and were driving, say, a 1977 Ford LTD with a 460 V-8, you would be spending more on transportation now than if you had a new Benz, just on fuel cost.
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From: Ft. Lauderdale Area, USA
2015 ML 350
I am actually amazed that people buy a Benz for its safety. I don't mean to be this incredulous, out loud, but I love my family too, and can't see spending this much money on a car because its "safe". That's what Volvo is for.
The safety rating is a free benefit included with the car, because they try to build the best car possible, without regard to cost. (That's why we shouldn't be complaining about the vehicles' cost & lack of "standard options" of a Lexus, or other Luxury Car, because those cars are built to be the best car possible given a predetermined selling price, not the best carr possible, and THEN determine the selling price.
The safety rating is a free benefit included with the car, because they try to build the best car possible, without regard to cost. (That's why we shouldn't be complaining about the vehicles' cost & lack of "standard options" of a Lexus, or other Luxury Car, because those cars are built to be the best car possible given a predetermined selling price, not the best carr possible, and THEN determine the selling price.
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From: Valley of the Sun, Arizona
2011 E550, 2013 GLK
People seldom NEED a new car. If people only bought a new car when they needed one, the auto companies would go out of business.
As for safety, I venture to say that my 1991 300E is far safer than most new American cars. I know for sure that I won't be burned alive the way people are in Crown Vics.
I drive a car a long time that's why I choose Mercedes. People can whine about quality issues but Mercedes are still about the only marque you can drive for a long time w/o being FORCED to trade.
If you do drive a car for a long time, you had better be doing your own maintenance and repairs or you had better have guy that will do it for a reasonable price. Now that car dealers are charging more than brain surgeons to fix your car, the best possible investment you can make in life is a good set of tools.
As for safety, I venture to say that my 1991 300E is far safer than most new American cars. I know for sure that I won't be burned alive the way people are in Crown Vics.
I drive a car a long time that's why I choose Mercedes. People can whine about quality issues but Mercedes are still about the only marque you can drive for a long time w/o being FORCED to trade.
If you do drive a car for a long time, you had better be doing your own maintenance and repairs or you had better have guy that will do it for a reasonable price. Now that car dealers are charging more than brain surgeons to fix your car, the best possible investment you can make in life is a good set of tools.
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From: Lone Star State.
W211 2005 CDI, X166 2013 350 BT, 997.1 2008 C4S
I can definitely say that the major reason I purchased the W211 was for it's fine engineering and yes...safety. Take a look at the safety ratings and it's crash results ( do a search) and you will feel that this car was the best product you have bought in a while. Further, as a physician who deals with acute traumatic injuries you would be amazed at what can happen to the human body. Case in point last Thursday...GMC Envoy v. Dodge Neon V. MB E320 Wagon MVA. Guess who came out of that crash ( 50-60 mph highway crash) w/o a scratch. You guessed it, the soccer mom in the E320 was more worried about what her husband was going to say rather than the magnitude of the crash. Now, the SUV Envoy looked as though it had been put through a grinder. The Neon, well I will never sit in one. For me when you see these things over and over again, there is really no comparison for safety and phenomenal german engineering when it comes to you and your family's health and well being. 
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From: THE NAPA VALLEY, CA
Build date 2-04 E500
Originally Posted by Barry45RPM
...as I said, the safety is a bonus. The engineering is the 1st reason.
In a great car these will come hand in hand..... Thus my decision to purchase a Mercedes.
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From: FL410
'05 E320 CDI, '08 BMW X5 4.8i, '11 Duramax 2500HD
Barry, you sound like you think Volvo is cheap.. a Volvo S80 with the same options as a E class V6 is going to run you $50K.. and the '06 model is only available with a buzzy 2.5L 5-pot which I hate. They're introducing a new I6 for '07.
My XC90 had a sticker of $51400 and I only got $1000 off that! .. so they're not much less money.
MB is safer pound for pound (though I'm not sure about SUV) and also has the great drive/handling.
My XC90 had a sticker of $51400 and I only got $1000 off that! .. so they're not much less money.
MB is safer pound for pound (though I'm not sure about SUV) and also has the great drive/handling.
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From: Ft. Lauderdale Area, USA
2015 ML 350
A Volvo is definitely less expensive, but thats not my inference. I don't think you can compare the excitement of a Benz to what is evoked by a Volvo. When I think Volvo, I don't think there is a single adjective I would use to describe a Benz that I could use on a Volvo. I'm not knocking a Volvo, its just that there is something a Benz has that no other car currently has... and that's why we chose the Benz with all of its electronics shortcomings. The safety is an additional bonus we receive.
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From: FL410
'05 E320 CDI, '08 BMW X5 4.8i, '11 Duramax 2500HD
In many ways Volvo's world leader status as a safety auto is not as significant today as it was in days past. Volvo and MB both have been world leaders in safety since the 50's.. but these days the cheapest Kia has many of the features that MB and Volvo patented.
But my point is, that a Volvo XC90 with most of the options is about the same price as an ML.. and a loaded S80 isn't too far south of an E350... so if you MUST have safety as the foremost requirement of your car (as I do).. Volvo isn't necessarily the best choice anymore.. at least in the sedans.. I personally believe the XC90 is the safest SUV made and this is why I own one.. but for sedans.. the E is my choice for the same reason. The great handling (a safety feature when you think about it) is my gravy..
But my point is, that a Volvo XC90 with most of the options is about the same price as an ML.. and a loaded S80 isn't too far south of an E350... so if you MUST have safety as the foremost requirement of your car (as I do).. Volvo isn't necessarily the best choice anymore.. at least in the sedans.. I personally believe the XC90 is the safest SUV made and this is why I own one.. but for sedans.. the E is my choice for the same reason. The great handling (a safety feature when you think about it) is my gravy..
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2005 C320wz
i want to keep my car for a long time (to serve as a spare car when I get a new one), if it doesn't get involved in an accident. I wanted to keep my last car for a long time too but I crashed it, and even though the bodyshop did an outstanding job in putting back together, I didn't want to keep it anymore.
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From: Pittsburgh, PA
Back to the original, it definitely makes sense to keep the car for a long time but when you are spending this much $55-$75k for a car then the expanse is probably not your number one concern.
It is all about what you value in life. I for one love expensive things from furniture, vacations, jewelry, cars, houses, etc. For example, last time I went on vacation, my wife and I stayed at the Ritz in St. Thomas. Most people wouldn't "waste" their money on a luxurious hotel like this and stay at the cheaper holiday inn down the street. I on the other hand value the experience, safety, comfort, etc. much like I value these same things for my car. I think it is perfectly reasonable to keep the car for 4 or 5 years or 150,000 miles (whichever comes first) and then buy another so you are not sitting on the side of a dark road waiting for roadside assistance.
It is all about what you value in life. I for one love expensive things from furniture, vacations, jewelry, cars, houses, etc. For example, last time I went on vacation, my wife and I stayed at the Ritz in St. Thomas. Most people wouldn't "waste" their money on a luxurious hotel like this and stay at the cheaper holiday inn down the street. I on the other hand value the experience, safety, comfort, etc. much like I value these same things for my car. I think it is perfectly reasonable to keep the car for 4 or 5 years or 150,000 miles (whichever comes first) and then buy another so you are not sitting on the side of a dark road waiting for roadside assistance.
