Talk me out of this car

[DarkHand]

I'm buying a car in the next few weeks, looking for something in the '00-'05 range and the 8-10k range, but for work I want something a little more upscale than a Kia or a Hyundai. Been looking at A4's, 3-series' and the like, but it's hard to find anything with less than 70k miles or so. Plus I'm concerned about parts and maintenance on a car like that with that many miles.

That's why I'm really worried about finding this:

2002 Mercedes C230, 47k miles, $8998.00

Haven't looked at it yet, but provided there's nothing hugely wrong with it, I've been considering it. Found 3 other black ones locally in the same price range with a few more miles as well, so I can pick the best of the 4 if need be.

Maintenance and insurance concern me, since I've never owned one I don't know what to expect. Plus the fact that the interior is ugly and the rear end looks like a Neon. On the other hand it's a good entry level luxury car that won't embarrass me when I take customers/coworkers around.

Pros/cons/suggestions?

 

[Briansol]

if you're carting people, get a 4-door. no one likes to climb in the back in a suit/dress.

that said, i'd never buy a benz. they just don't do it for me. i dunno.

i'm sure you could pick up a 330ci 4-door for well under 10k.

 

[92stoccord]

If you don't want to pay high maintenance, don't buy it. I had a 91 318i. It cost me so much money. Needed a tune up: 175 plugs & wires, Needed a new rack and pinion: 400, Needed a new fuel pump: 200, but it came with a free fuel filter! New wheel bearing: 150 I think. New bushings: 80 each.

The car was fun as hell, but I couldn't keep up with it. Go domestic luxury or something from japan.

Oh, don't forget high test gasoline.

 

[TurboMirage]

this has to be one of my favorite cars. i like it. fun to drive.

 

[E_SolSi]

• its an automatic
• cost of parts and maintenance on MBs is high... they are generally not too bad on how often they need shit... but the shit they do need is expensive
• the interior looks cheap as fuck (ive driven hyundais with far nicer interiors)
• no one is going to be impressed, everyone (even non car people) knows that this is a low end benz...
• handling is meh
• brakes are meh
• acceleration is bland
• they are pretty heavy for their size (even by todays bloated ass standards) Curb Weight: 3305 lbs
• 20MPG
• and Benzes in general tend to have more feminine looks to them (ie: they look like chick cars) and this one tops the charts

 

[reckedracing]

you're not looking at acuras?

 

[DarkHand]

(ie: they look like chick cars) and this one tops the charts

Now that's the kind of talk-me-out-of-it I'm talking about.

you're not looking at acuras?

Not much that I can find, the TL's in my price range are all from the blah-looking era.

 

[SlushboxTeggy]

Now that's the kind of talk-me-out-of-it I'm talking about.

My friend's fiance drives that exact car. Same color and everything. Her daddy bought it for her.

 

[General Lee]

my girlfriend wanted to trade her civic, nicknamed "cherry" for one of those. she said and i quote "ohhh myyy god!! its soooo cute" end quote.
hope this helps lol

 

[jamesA]

Save your money on a car, and buy lego parts for me instead. Problem solved.

 

[BodyDroppedNikes]

honestly, who gives a flying fuck what u drive to work? if people are gonna judge you at your job based on what you drive, then the have serious issues. drive something practical, good gas mileage and that looks good in your eyes and not something that looks good in other peoples eyes. sounds to me that you are trying to be a sheep. buy a car because YOU want it and like it, not based on what other people will think.

 

[civicious]

Why would you want to get a bottom-of-the-barrel Benz? That's like going to a fancy, expensive ass restaurant and then ordering off the appetizer menu. That's the kind of car that when people see it they're going to say 'oh, he bought this raging hunk of shit so that he could say he drives a Mercedes without having to spend a lot of money'. Ask them if they'll throw in a pair of fake Oakleys and some $15 streetcorner Jordans along with it.

 

[TurboMirage]

honestly, who gives a flying fuck what u drive to work? if people are gonna judge you at your job based on what you drive, then the have serious issues. drive something practical, good gas mileage and that looks good in your eyes and not something that looks good in other peoples eyes. sounds to me that you are trying to be a sheep. buy a car because YOU want it and like it, not based on what other people will think.

i am a perfect example of this look at the shitbox i drive, but im pro when i get to work.

 

[phyregod]

Because he can afford it.

I'm on the fence. The cloudy ass headlights would need to be replaced immediatly with new units.. Thats like walking around in new shoes with dog shit on them. See what the price is on that.

If nothing else, make up your own mind. Go drive it, see if you like it, if it fits.. Some cars are very attractive but when you get in you get this icky feeling and they just don't fit well.. So go drive a couple of them.. Price the headlights.

Oh.. And although proper mercedes really should only come in black, it is the most horrible color on the planet to keep clean. Be ready to polish that car nose to tail every weekend. It'll be dirty again rain or shine by wednesday. But you can't drive a dirty benz. Its against the rules!

And look into a kompressor!

If nothing else, drive the bitch for 2 years and sell it.

 

[reckedracing]

honestly, who gives a flying fuck what u drive to work? if people are gonna judge you at your job based on what you drive, then the have serious issues. drive something practical, good gas mileage and that looks good in your eyes and not something that looks good in other peoples eyes. sounds to me that you are trying to be a sheep. buy a car because YOU want it and like it, not based on what other people will think.

sorta of goes with the territory of the professional world
compare a lawyer that drives a bmw to one who drives a civic
people "generally" assume a lawyer with a bmw is successful
sometimes you need to portray success to get those high dollar clients over your competition

the book million next door talks about this (also says that most professionals are not any better off than a plumber that owns their own business because of this)
great read

The cloudy ass headlights would need to be replaced immediatly with new units.

for once i can say that'll buff out and mean it
high speed machine polish usually does the trick, or 2000 wet

 

[phyregod]

Nah, that polish takes them to "less cloudy" and they are back to shit in a couple of months..

You'd never get them clear like new.

 

[reckedracing]

i do it all the time, lol
its just a glaze on the outer plastic

 

[Mrs. Taco]

i do it all the time, lol
its just a glaze on the outer plastic

werd, 2000 grit paper wet sanded and finished up with a shot of clear coat and bam! your done.

 

[Celerity]

I have heads-up compared the following three cars:

1987 Lotus Turbo Esprit
1988 Porsche 911 non-turbo (Jubilee)
That Mercedes.

They all perform the exact same. If you like 230s, get one. It's a fantastic car. It's boring because MB makes maneuvering look easy.

 

[Celerity]

i am a perfect example of this look at the shitbox i drive, but im pro when i get to work.

Bitch you got nothin on me