Is there any reason I shouldn't buy this car?

[Bugeater]

So some big shot at my wife's company is selling this car, and my wife is creaming in her jeans over it. I know Dodges, Toyotas and Chevys, I don't know anything about freaking Mercedes-Benzs. But it looks like a bitchin' ride.

http://omaha.craigslist.org/cto/2542460085.html

2002 Mercedes-Benz C230 Coupe

Brand new rubber, maybe 2,000 miles on the tires
19.5" chrome wheels
Bose sound system
Auto rain-sense wipers
Auto lighting all around
AM/FM/Cassette/6-CD Changer
Heated seats in front
Auto and manual heating/cooling environmental controls
4-Position memory seat, mirror and telescoping steering-wheel driver side -- 4-position memory seat for passenger
Awesome front-to-back sun roof with shade
Airbags, both front and side curtain impact
All leather interior
Brand new battery
Much more, but here are the official specifications:

Powertrain

Engine: 4-Cyl, Supercharged
Horsepower: 192 @ 5500 RPM
Torque: 200 @ 2500 RPM
Gas Mileage: City 19/Hwy 26
Bore x Stroke: 3.58 x 3.48
Compression Ratio: 9.0
Fuel Type: Gas
Fuel Induction: Sequential Fuel Induction
Valve Train: Dual Overhead Cam
Valves Per Cylinder: 4
Total Number Valves: 16
Transmission: Automatic
Drivetrain: RWD

I guess my only real concern is maintenance costs.

Any thoughts?

[Dr. Johnny Fever]

Bragger.

[Bugeater]

Originally Posted by beer me

Bragger.

Dude, it's $3000 less than we paid for her Toyota. It's not that expensive.

[Deberg_1990]

Originally Posted by Bugeater

I guess my only real concern is maintenance costs.

This would be my main concern....does it take premium gas as well?

[Bump]

picture me rollin in my 500 benz
I got no love for these bitches
there's no need to be friends

[Bugeater]

Originally Posted by Deberg_1990

This would be my main concern....does it take premium gas as well?

Hell I have no idea.

[Deberg_1990]

Originally Posted by Bugeater

Hell I have no idea.

Thats obviously another concern...

[BossChief]

they are generally reliable, but when something breaks...they are spendy to fix.

thats about all I got.

[BigMeatballDave]

Sweet. That's the Kompressor

[pr_capone]

Originally Posted by Deberg_1990

This would be my main concern....does it take premium gas as well?

Both my car and my motorcycle only take premium gas. The price difference between reg and prem has mostly gone unnoticed. Around here, premium is typically about .15 to .20 cents per gallon more expensive than regular.

My car takes 14 gallons to fill up. In the end, that means that I pay about $3 more per fill up. BUT I get to drive, IMHO, a cool car. I could get about 25-27mpg if I drove the car responsibly.

Completely worth it.

[pr_capone]

For the car, I can only echo the sentiments of others. Typically reliable but if you have to fix anything... it is extremely expensive.

Did find this though.

http://mbworld.org/forums/1637794-post5.html

Operating Expenses Mercedes-Benz C230 Kompressor

Description Replacement Cost Miles Per Replacement Cost Per Mile % of Operating Cost
Gasoline $56 @ $3.50/gal 384 miles @ 24.0mpg $0.15 52%
Tires $600 20,000 $0.03 10%
Scheduled Maintenance $700 26,000 $0.03 10%
Brakes $2,100 60,000 $0.04 14%
Long Haul Service $3,500 100,000 $0.04 14%

TOTAL COST PER MILE $0.29

A Service* $239 13,000
B Service * $399 13,000
Brakes Pads Installed** $700 30,000
Brakes Pads and Discs** $1,400 30,000
60,000 Mile Major Service $1,500 60,000
100,000 Mile Major Service $2,000 100,000

* Alternate between A and B service every 13,000 miles
** Alternate between pads and pads and disc service.
As you can see, I run on very cheap tires ($600 for a set of four, BF Goodrich tires installed at Costco, they last long and handle well).

This is also assuming that the brake rotors last for two pad jobs, this is optimistic but possible.

You're looking at around $0.15 a mile minimum for maintenance alone. Ad another $0.15 for gas. Approximately $0.30 a mile for gas and maintenance. This does not factor in depreciation, car washes, other upkeeps.

The mileage for these are also at best "predicted". Your brakes may last longer or shorter depending on your driving style. I estimate my brakes will last longer since I try not to use them unless the light turns red.

I went to the Ferrari dealership once and I asked them how much it would cost to maintain the vehicle per mile. They told me if I had to ask, that means that I couldn't afford it; then they told me it really depended on how I drove the car, if I tracked the car, then obviously my tires and brakes would last much shorter periods.

Goodluck, these cars don't come cheap. Consider a BMW 325i or a Lexus IS250; those will save you boatloads on the maintenance. Also be very nice to your service advisor, give him chocolates and small gifts so he'll be more inclined to give you a discount once in a while.

Look at the cost of the 100k tuneup. Look at the miles on the car (94k). That sucker is about due a $2k balloon payment in about a year. Betcha that is the motivating factor in getting rid of it.

[Bugeater]

Originally Posted by pr_capone

For the car, I can only echo the sentiments of others. Typically reliable but if you have to fix anything... it is extremely expensive.

Did find this though.

http://mbworld.org/forums/1637794-post5.html



Look at the cost of the 100k tuneup. Look at the miles on the car (94k). That sucker is about due a $2k balloon payment in about a year. Betcha that is the motivating factor in getting rid of it.

Hey, nice find. The guy says he needs a truck, and he's not hurting for money so I doubt that's the main factor, but I'm sure it's part of it. That really doesn't worry me too much because we can plan for that, it's the unplanned shit that scares me. The Mrs doesn't really run up the miles too much so we could probably put that off for at least two years anyway.

[DTLB58]

Because of the brand name, insurance maybe? Have you checked into how much difference it is going to be between this and your current rates?

[Bugeater]

Originally Posted by DTLB58

Because of the brand name, insurance maybe? Have you checked into how much difference it is going to be between this and your current rates?

Not yet, but I will be tomorrow. The book value of the car is actually a bit lower than what we have now so I can't imagine collision would be much different. And it also has less horsepower, and we're old with good driving records.

[CrazyPhuD]

Originally Posted by pr_capone

Both my car and my motorcycle only take premium gas. The price difference between reg and prem has mostly gone unnoticed. Around here, premium is typically about .15 to .20 cents per gallon more expensive than regular.

My car takes 14 gallons to fill up. In the end, that means that I pay about $3 more per fill up. BUT I get to drive, IMHO, a cool car. I could get about 25-27mpg if I drove the car responsibly.

Completely worth it.

This is what one of the things people miss. Higher gas prices actually makes the relative cost of premium less.

If gas is $2 per gallon then the percentage premium for premium is ~10%.

If gas is $4 per gallon then the percentage premium for premium is onl ~5% because you're paying the same $0.20 per gallon extra, relatively speaking it becomes a smaller part of your gas bill as gas gets more expensive. What's been interesting for me is that the price premium of premium has actually gone DOWN as gas has gone up. It used to always be $0.20 differences, but as gas went up it lowered to only $0.16 difference.

But for the OP the big issue with any MB is maintenance.

Now for the other decently important question. WTH rims did he put on there. He says 19.5 and I've never heard of a 19.5 on a sports car, if he did tires will be ass expensive.

Even if he didn't put 19.5" rims and only put 19" rims that's still a pretty epically bad choice. Stock that car runs 16 inch rims with a 55 profile tire or 17 inch rims with a +45 profile. At 19" he's effectively running a +3 rim size(since the 17 is already really +1). Tires will likely be dog expensive if he's running the right one. Why? To match the proper outside diameter, you would need to have a 35 profile tire for an 18inch rim or a 25 profile tire for a 19inch rim. Anything that low profile is going to ride like shit and be really expensive(since not many cars run that low profile).

Now one thing that people will do to 'save money' is to run a larger profile tire so when he should be running a 25 profile tire he'll run a cheaper 35 profile tire. The problem with that is you're now running a tire that has a larger rolling diameter than the car was designed for which means your speedometer and your odometer are now off since the car is now traveling farther per rotation than the car thinks it is.

Then there is the additional wear an tear that happens by running + sized rims. With a lower profile tire you are putting more stress on the shocks and suspension components(since the tires absorb less shock).

Personally I'd say no to that car, with that mileage, that age and the uncertainty around the wheels, it just sounds like a repair headache waiting to happen.