Not gonna disagree on your points when buying a brand new luxury car, it seems to me like an 05 with less than 75k miles for under 15k doesnt have all that much value left to lose in the near term. Maybe 1k/year or so, which is probably true for any car that age, especially since the wifes commute is about 15 miles each way. I feel like buying used from a private party for the right price changes the equation quite a bit.

And if was going to get myself a new car I probably would stick with japanese again, but thats besides the point.

 

Yeah, the early 2000's model years did NOT wear well. Broken buttons, loose shifter mechanisms, torn and faded leather. I would not pick up a used benz of that generation. I'm not really sure about newer ones because they don't have 5+ years on them yet, but they may have gotten better.

 

Working on these cars they cause nothing but headache's with some issues and difficult repair. Common issues; coils, headers crack, seat modules short and drain the battery over night, supercharger's have been known to fail, oil leaks, cam solenoids, and plenty of other crap.

For that price range you cant go wrong with a E46 ('00-05) 328 or 330i, they are sooo easy to work on. The problems they have are easy to figure out unless you made it happen by doing something stupid, then to fix them realistically any mechanically inclined person can do (unless you need special tools). Plus that C230 is gutless compared to a 328i. Just my .02.

It's always a good idea to get a pre-purchase inspection before buying, my shop specializes in German cars so let me know if your interested. It pays off, my friend didnt get one on his E46 and he had me look at it after he bought it, 2nd gear syncro's shot so it needs a rebuild (previous owners fault).

 

The previous generation C-class was utter garbage. I wouldn't recommend them to anyone. However, the current generation C-class is a totally different car. Mercedes has really improved the entire lineup. My gf has a W204 C350 and it's actually a pretty nice car. It's been completely reliable and is quite comfortable as well. My only gripe is the archaic navigation system that Mercedes Benz still uses. A tiny screen with a completely retarded user interface. They could really use a lesson from Acura on designing a good SatNav system.

If you're set on buying a Mercedes, make sure you get a StarMark (CPO) car. After the warranty runs out, if anything breaks, you better be prepared to spend some money on repairs.

 

I thought we we're talking "luxury" cars....

Paul is right cars such as Mercedes, Lexus, BMW, Jaguar, etc. are all expensive to maintain.

"What is in a name" - W.Shakespeare

 

So much hate on the c230.

I have an 06 c230 sport and I LIKE it like tofu. Its slow and its looks good. Does not attract attention and gets really good mpg for a v6. It gets better mpg than my 01 2.5RS driving the same route. Its comfortable, quiet and automatic.

I have driven an 02 coupe and the difference is pretty noticeable. The coupes are lighter and quicker. Exterior appeal wise, I prefer the sport sedan. c230s are common cars and there is a good enough community to get what you need in terms of DIY.

I've had the pleasure of working on an 02 coupe and my 06 sport. Yes everybody is right, the parts are more expensive, but the actual work is like any other car. I'm purely speaking on simple maintenance like oil, brakes, filters etc... Not difficult, just sometimes more compact than your typical Japanese car. Thankfully my car has had no problems and I do not foresee any as long as I maintain it properly. Like most cars, treat them nice and in turn they should treat you nice.....unless you get a lemon than sorry, your screwed.

For my oil change, I need about 8-9 quarts of Mobile 1 0-40w with the $15 oil filter. May seem expensive but I only need to change the oil about every ~8-9k miles so the cost is not THAT much more expensive. The coupe will be cheaper as it has a smaller engine than my v6. Air filter $60 cabin filter $30 - equivalent to K&N prices.

Recently did my brakes and rotors. Genuine Dealer Front drilled Rotors ($200 for both), front Akebono brakes + sensor ($70). The process is almost the same as an impreza.

Major repairs on the other hand WILL be EXPENSIVE, but do your homework and find a well maintained c230 to avoid these headaches. Again, take care of it and you should not need major repairs.

If you wife wants a coupe 15k is a tad on the expensive side. Coupes usually go for cheaper. Key is to check out its maintenance and its owner.

 

Had a 2002 C32 AMG, and while it was a nice car, the electronics sucked. Radio would stop working until you "reboot" it. Sensors telling you bulbs are out, but they weren't. Intercooler pump going out, no dipstick to check oil levels, heated seats sometimes worked, sometimes not, etc. Unlike most cars, you don't get under the care live a caveman to change the oil, you pump it out from the top. You'll need some tools for that.

I think the newer generation of C-class is alot better.

 

so does changing oil in your car require you to pump it out? no dipstick? now do you check the oil?

the coupe were looking at is an 05 with less than 60k miles for about $13k. It seems like a pretty good deal, but there's a lot of negative sentiment here regarding maintenance and such. I dont care that the car is "gutless", my wife was driving an 04 corolla before she got rid of it, obviously she doesnt care for power.

for 13k, I'm not seeing many options with that kind of mileage in that class of vehicle.