Our Honda Accord is about to retire now, after serving us for nearly 271K miles (it’s been with us for ~15 years now, and still running fine).

This vehicle has been used as a bonus car, for the family/daughter/son, parents, guests and dirty tasks/trips/parks. It’s too old now that no one wants to drive it anymore. Am thinking of upgrading it to a better family vehicle, of the same size or slightly larger without spending too much for a new vehicle.

My wife thinks that another Accord (new) is the perfect replacement given that it won’t be my or her daily drive. However, am thinking of a pre-owned pre-facelift S-class or a W213 or the W213 AMG.

Questions:
1. I have good experience with S-class vehicles as I had a few in the past and currently driving the facelift W222 - S560, but need help with how the E-class compares to the S.
2. If I get the W213 AMG, this will be my very first ever AMG vehicle, which means I might also use it as a weekend vehicle and have fun with it; how reliable is it?
3. Pricing AMG vehicles is tough, what is the best resource to get fair market value of AMG vehicles other than KBB based on VIN and options?
4. If the answer to Q1 is the E-class, Should I pass on the AMG trip and get a regular W213?

Thanks.

 

If you have the budget do the AMG. Life’s short.
Practical answer: get the Accord.
What about an A class?

 

Thanks for the feedback. Am not sure that I want the A-class. I know the W213 (Non-AMG) is well within what I want to spend on a vehicle for this use. Am still researching the W213 AMG prices to see how much extra i need to invest. The older W212 is will within that range but tech is too old now and drive assist sucks based on recent youtube reviews. Anything in the range of 50K +/-10K is where I’d like to keep my investment at. For this particular use, we’d usually keep the car for 10-15 years. We got this Accord in 2008, it was 3 years old with 15K miles on it and it served us really well from a daily drive in the past, to family members daily drive up to it’s current use as a bonus with over 271K now.

If the W213 AMG is not much higher than what I want to spend, I might actually use it myself for other purposes than what the Accord is current being used for and enjoy it (always wanted the AMG experience).

The A-class is not an option I’d even look at. We are currently using the accord also to leave it at public/opened airports parking when we leave for vacation, parents also use it from time to time when they visit, etc, and A-class trunk and space is not even practical as a bonus car. A vehicle of the accord size (really full size) would serve us and other family members really well as an extra car. The regular W213 is a nice car to have, and equivalent in size to the Accord, and pre-owned W213 is close in price brand new Accord Touring.

W213 AMG is a different animal, and am afraid it makes no sense to use it as a bonus vehicle: First: it costs more and hence should be treated and used/enjoyed better, 2nd: am afraid it won’t last 10-15 years with minimal maintenance as a regular W213 would? Regardless, am excited about it so I’d like to have it as an option..,

 

Maintenance cost on a AMG is in a different world than an Accord. Take brakes - a cheap front rotor will set you back almost $500 (no labor). A front brake job at the dealer is in thousands. High output engines generate more wear and more heat, both of which means more maintenance. And the E63 engine is definitely high output. Does the Accord burn regular? AMGs drink only premium and they like it, a lot of it. The life of an AMG depends more on mileage and maintenance. Driving fewer miles and being diligent about maintenance will extend how many years you can drive it. If you tend to stretch maintenance or drive a lot of miles the repair costs could start to get out of hand.

 

Just to be clear, I was referring to the E43 not the E63 in my post.
How is the E43 different from E63 on the maintenance and parts cost side? I though E43 is half cooked AMG just like (for instance) the BMW X5 M50i vs BMW X5-M. Looks like my understanding is incorrect? I don’t expect to drive more than 4-5K miles per year for the way this car is being used. We have other daily drive & work vehicles than this one.

 

I’d definitely consider M550i over E43…

 

I had the 5 series (but it was the 530e) before which I traded actually for the X5 just a few months ago as my wife’s daily drive. It was good but the time it used to spend on the shop was a bit more than what I had hopped for. Plus it sets really low, trunk space is too small; and a decent child’s seat barely fits behind the front seat. I feel the E-class is slightly more practiacal. Just curious, why would you rather get the M55i over E43?

 

Sorry, I was thinking of the E63. I don't have any experience with the E43. I would expect it to similar to the E63 as it is turbocharged and likely runs similar pressures, but again I don't know for sure. 4-5K miles is low use so 10-15 years sounds reasonable.

 

For someone that owned and drove an Accord for that many miles ( ), and did not like the BMW spending that much time with "its parents" (), I would not touch any MB with a 4-cylinder engine until things settle a bit.

So, if you want an MB of today, i.e. recent platforms, you better go with the 6 o 8 cylinder engines (likely AMG ones) and be prepared for the maintenance costs $$$.

I drove an A-class as a loaner, no thank you. A beefed-up Corolla, or Accord will beat the driving experience. Drove the C-Class platform of 6 years ago, no thank you as well and stayed with the E-Class up to 2016. Unfortunately, I find the W213 too close looking to the C-Class; however, I have not driven it myself; therefore, no comments.

 

Lol, I agree. My former S550 and current S560 have not been to the shop for any serious issue, so that drives my desire to get the E-class. Ideally, a new Honda Accord is the more practical option, but I still would like to get the E43 a shot if current owners believe it’s practical and reliable. The S-class folks recommended against the pre-facelift W222 “S550” due to engine maintenance issues for long-term ownership, so I might need to take that off the list. I never drove a W213, but I have driver W212 in the past and it was a decent drive. Not an S-class for sure, but certainly an upgrade compared to the Honda Accord. C-class and A-class are a no no for me. Before we moved from Chicago, my dealer over there had A-class and C-class cars that I used to get during oil changes or other visits; too small and toy-like interiors, and the trunk space and interior does not fit the intended use.

 

I had a 2020 E53 new and put the same mileage on it (maybe 5k miles/8k kilometres.) Only regular maintenance (Service A, B, etc.) nothing broke down. Drives very smooth, the M256 inline-six is smooth as butter. It can also go fast but it's a smooth acceleration.

But, like others have said, maintenance costs are higher than an Accord. I had it for about 2-2.5 years, never gave me any trouble.

 

Having an AMG badge will automatically put you in a higher maintenance cost bracket. Margin on parts etc. is all higher. Many will say that 43 and 53 models are not real AMGs. Partly because they don't have AMG engines. They have regular Mercedes engines that were tuned by AMG. The 63 models have AMG handbuilt engines. The 43 and 53 models are more livable, though. They are not as high strung and also use torque converters for smoother low speed driving. The E63, as other 63 models do, uses a wet clutch which can be less than smooth at times. It's not a casual driving car really and would not consider it for the the kind of use you are looking for. It's more of a driver's machine for the open roads. An E43 could work, but honestly don't think it's worth it as a bonus car for dirty jobs etc., again because that AMG badge will cost you.

A bonus car to me is a cheap car that you don't really care about and that needs little to no attention, and the maintenance is cheap. An AMG doesn't fit that description. FWIW, my wife's car is kinda our bonus car. It's a 2004 VW Beetle. She still loves it. The thing is 19 years old now, runs like a champ and only has 43k miles, obviously much less driven than your Accord. I use it for quick errands around town at times and it's our city car as well as for certain trips where I don't wanna take the AMG, especially going up north in the winter since I have summer tires on the AMG. The Beetle is much less involving for a quick errand compared to my 2019 C63S Coupe. The latter is brawly and not really a short errand kind of car. With the Beetle I just get in and don't have to think or worry about anything. It's easy to park and actually quite fun to drive, because it's small, nimble and light. Surprisingly spacious inside as well given that it is a hatchback. Neither of us has a need to drive on a daily basis. We both work from home and we live in a highly walkable area, so I actually do most of my errands on foot or bicycle.

 

To echo superswiss' last 2 points, I think if it's going to be an extra car that multiple people will use, leave at airports, etc., it should really not be a car you have "feelings" for. Otherwise, you may have more stress worrying about the car whereas in this use case you should probably not care too much what may happen to it.

Also, going with something like an S-Class may be too much car. A lot of people nowadays are not used to driving a large-ish car and may be more challenged maneuvering/parking a big car.

If you are really wanting something AMG, you may want to consider a C43 sedan. Smaller, easier to fit in certain places, more affordable and definitely a capable car.

Just my .02

 

Oh, and a C-Class sedan can haul lumber too, lol.

 

I'd recommend the W213 E43 with old V6, but I think that's only in the pre-facelift models with older tech vs. MBUX, last model in 2020 before the 2021 facelift. I don't know about the electrified I6 long term.

The V6 is solid and reliable. I don't think it has any issues, and maintenance isn't any different than any run of the mill engine.

 

It’s a V8 and its a pretty reliable engine in a long run from what I hear (not my first hand experience though).

 

I would too, much better performance for the money.

 

The 43 will certainly be more cheaper to own than the 63. Gas, insurance, maintenance wise. & a bit more comfy & smoother to drive as well. The suspension is not as stiff, the transmission is also not at times, jerky like the MCT.

 

To the OP, would you consider an E450 around 2020 model year ? Those could be in the $45-50k area. Just a little bit of my own logic around the E43 E53 designations and I understand this is just me. My first Mb was a 2014 CLS550 with the venerable 4.7 V8 M278 and I still own it. The AMG 43s and 53s feel like MB's attempt to charge more while providing not that much more performance than the 550s and the 450s of old. So when I decided I was going to get an AMG, it was 63 or nothing. Checked out the S63 which I liked a lot but they were just too large. Happily ended up with a 21 E63s which is just the right size since I wanted more rear seat room than the CLS. I figure maintenance costs an a non AMG W213 would be lower than anything that has an AMg badge on it and with an E450, you have the potential to do little upgrades if you want more giddy up in future. And you would not feel terrible about having to leave an AMG at the airport parking lot when you travel. And price of entry here in a 450 would exclude the AMG premium ....

 

I’ll be searching all E450 and E43 vehicles within 150-200 miles radius from me later this month. There is a Honda dealer just 10 minutes away from me, so that’ll be an easy find either for a pre-owned or brand new Accord. I think it’s worth taking a look at all these 3 options and make a decision from there. I don’t want to invest too much time and energy in finding this car, so we’ve decided to limit or search to the E450, E43, Honda Accord and maybe..maybe.. a reasonably priced Tesla Model Y but those are hard to find.

 

The A-Class might be too cramped for OP I think.

 

Oof, I just realized how long since I refreshed this thread, I am like 20+ posts behind. Sorry about that. Let me go read them all first before adding a reply to this thread.

Edit: OP did you consider other Japanese brands too, or if going Japanese, it has to be a Honda? Do you only want to consider sedan, what about wagons, crossovers (CUV?) and um... SUVs?

 

Thanks @W205C43PFL
if it’s a Japanese vehicle, it has to be Honda and only the Accord. Wagon is fine but there is no Wagon Accord. CUV/SUV: we have other SUVs, so for this particular use we want it to be specifically a full size sedan for multiple reasons.

 

I see, guess we are back to accord it is then.

 

: ) .. It’s the Accord, E450 or E43 that am looking at now. Each one of them would serve us well for that particular use. I’ll see what I can find around, not many options around me.