Switcher55

I've been driving a 2016 S550 4-Matic - lightly optioned with Premium package and Drivers assistance - and the lease is up in a few days. I went to the local dealer today figuring to turn in the car and lease a new one. However, the choices were slim, the cars they had were either base or loaded with undesired packages and practically all had black interiors, a deal breaker for me. To boot the leases were very expensive, even with a decent discount! That led me to consider buying mine off lease it is in great condition. While at the dealer I took a look at their S-Class certified pre-owned as well, and am now faced with some choices. Hope forum members can help me decide! Please comment.

Option 1 - Buy my car for $58k - It has 36k miles and one year warranty left. It's a known quantity and in excellent condition.

Option 2 - Buy a Certified 2016 S550 for $62k with clean CarFax - it has 19k miles and is loaded with options such as: Premium Package, Exclusive Leather, Sport package, AMG Package, Drivers Assistance, Head up display, and the full rear seat package with A/C, refrigerator, adjustable seats & etc. Plus, for better or worse, it has the ABC suspension! The car has 20" AMG wheels and I was expecting a harsh ride, but the ride was impressively good with that ABC! With Certification, this car has warranty until June 2021. I'm not crazy about the about the Anthracite Blue exterior, but could live with it.

Option 3 - Buy a Certified 2017 S550 for $64.4k with minor accident on the CarFax - it has 10k miles and well optioned with Premium Package, Drivers Assistance, Night Vision and the full rear seat treatment like the above 2016. This car also drove beautifully, riding like a dream on the standard 18" wheels. It has Certified warranty until November 2021. I'm concerned about the accident on the carfax hurting value down the road but have been assured that it was minor damage, under $1000, on the rear with no airbag deployment and that there was no way MB would certify the car if it had any kind of serious damage. This car was my favorite because I like the Lunar Blue color and low mileage - but the accident on the report could be an issue and raises questions. It seems the price reflects this as it's low compared to other 2017's on the market.

Although there are a variety of nice new cars I could buy for similar money, I'd like to stick with an S-Class because it just feels so much better to drive than most other alternatives.

Mitch Alsup

You did not specify exterior color. This is a deal maker/breaker to me.

Option 1 -to- Option 2:: it is costing you $4K to subtract 17K miles. I think ABC is vastly better than 4-Matic.

Option 1 -to- Option 3:: it is costing you $6.5K to eat depreciated value and subtract 26K miles but add 1 year.

They appear to ALL be fairly represented in value.

Option 1 has the lowest risk looking forward.

But the fact you are facing this decision is THE problem with leasing.

bob2011

I would personally stick with option one, because it's a car you have driven since new, and you know how you drive/take care of it. There's always an unknown with used cars of how the previous owner treated it, even if it's a CPO. And I believe you can get an extension of the warranty for 3 more years if you decide to keep your car.

seamus2154

I would stay with the known than the unknown. Your car, and Bob is correct, if you are still in warranty you can extend the warranty on yours. Option #3 is NO option period. If you wanted to change it up option #2 is a fair change.

Streamliner

After having a 2013 W221 S550 and a 2015 S550, I got into a new 2018 S560. I cannot tell you how much better the 2018 is over the 2015. It is SOOOOOO much better. The new engine is fantastic. The 9G-Tronic transmission is amazing. The MBC works infinitely better. The car is more quiet, handles better, is smoother and rides better. Whatever you can do to get into a 2018 or later car, preferably with MBC, DO IT!

absent

Agree.
The difference between S550 and S560 is much, much bigger then people realize and only find out when they drive the newer model for more then the typical 15 min test drive with the salesman next to them.
Had the new car as a loaner for 3 weeks and have to admit, in regular daily driving it is the best luxury car money can buy, S63 is overkill and has no significant advantage over it in real life.
If I were a "normal" person I would just get it (S560) instead and call it a day (and save a lot of $$), unfortunately I am an idiot and will spend tons of money just to get a few horsepower more and then spend even more on questionable tuning.

1bad540

your car has 36k def not low, why not switch it up and get another cpo car. Id say 90% of the cpo cars are quality cars w no issues. Im sure your bored of the car by now and a new color w new options will go a long way. You can wait and see if anything else pops up. If the damage is just a bumper respray I dont think id worry much.

superpop

I have the Anthracite Blue exterior and at first I was not sure about it either. It has really grown on me though. My last one was Lunar Blue and I loved that color but the Anthracite has different personalities based on lighting. At night it looks black, in normal light it looks blueish and in bright light it almost looks a bit grey. It is a cool color.

RussT

Option 1 since you can get the extension of the warranty for 3 more years. Definite no on Option 3, many will want nothing to do with a car with an accident when they can get something else with no history of accidents.

hyperion667

Out of those choices the second sounds nice.....a little more, but fewer miles and more options eh?

stever500

#2, no question. You've had your current car for years. Get something different and be happy! Cool options, too. Or just totally go for it and lease a brand new one for a fortune per month. Probably not a good option for you though, I get that. Or keep looking since it's possible you haven't found THE CAR to go with yet.