Did I make the correct decison?

[TS7]

I've been searching for a car in the E-Class, S-Type, GS category for quite a while now with a preferable budget of around 7k but with room increasing that for the right car.

So, while driving past a Vauxhall dealership I happened to catch a facelift Mercedes E-Class, upon further inspection it was a E280 CDI 'Sport' 57 Plate, 61k and Full Merc Service History.

I went in and enquired and took it for a test drive. Although I've not been looking for a diesel, this particular one was and the drive was pleasant. It was certainly massive improvement from the E270 CDI I've had experience where it was noticeable tractor dag dag.

It was well specced:
- Electrically adjustable heated seats
- 3 position seat memory
- Front and rear PDC
- Sat Nav
- Full leather (which is not a given as there are lots of E Classes with only part leather).

The price was 9k which was not open for negotiation. They'd only had it a few days and weren't under any pressure to nock money off so soon. Looking at autotrader for similar cars it was actually priced bang on if not slight under priced.

Well here is where I started to falter slightly. I loved the car, it ticked the boxes in terms of spec etc, but then the niggling doubt that this shape of E Class was released in 2002 crept up and that interior was exactly the same of one which came out in 2002 and that 9k although the correct market value was a bit too much for it.

I decided to think about it for a few days and that's when I got a text stating that someone else was interested and it was being transported to another city.

Now I'm a bit gutted and thinking I should have just gone for it but at the same time I'm thinking perhaps I made the correct decision.

What would you have done in the same situation?

 

[Voxination]

I'm sure there are no shortage of W211s out there in equally good spec, it's not exactly a rare car. With that in mind, personally I'd have done exactly as you did and taken time to think about it knowing that if it should sell then there was no issue and I could just get another one.

If you decide the E Class is the car you're after then keep looking and I'm sure you'll find one that suits you perfectly

 

[Scania]

Spent less on an older one most likely.

 

[mjt]

I wouldn't worry about it. E280CDI is pointless over the 320CDI, and the diesels have the potential to throw some pretty big bills.

The facelift did solve niggles but the W211 was never the paragon of reliability.
If you want one, I'd stick to petrols.

 

[[TW]Fox]

The older ones are a bit crap, once they facelifted them in 2006ish they fixed a lot of the issues. I'd be therefore after a facelift one.

It's as good a choice as you can make for £9k - what are the alternatives? The GS feels like a posh Toyota, the E60 is rubbish and the Audi is horrendously dull. The Merc is the best looking car of its generation inside and out.

 

[geekman]

My friend's dad has a facelift E500 and it's a lovely car. Very dull looking from the outside, but it feels incredibly well put together and it's a really nice place to spend a long journey.

I do think the E60 has aged miles better than the W211, but I think if I had to choose between them, I'd still pick the W211.

 

[TS7]

It's as good a choice as you can make for £9k - what are the alternatives? .

I think this is the key aspect here. 9k is the market value of that car irrelevant of my feelings on it. It's the nicest out of the bunch. I'm not the biggest fan of the E60, my cousin has 535d and while engine is fantastic I prefer the feel of the cabin of Merc despite BMW feeling slightly more modern.

The GS has its merits in that it comes with a lot of spec as standard but ultimately I'm not sure I'd ever get used to the interior.

Ultimately it's not like it's a matter of spend a few grand more and I can get into the new shape. For a good new shape (pre-facelift) E350 with decent spec and sensible miles you're looking at 14-15k.

I think I've settled on the E Class OR the CLK (facelift). See I have no real reason for a 5 door, so I'm not going limit myself to either one or the other; there's far greater chances of getting a petrol with CLK too.

 

[[TW]Fox]

The new shape is a horrible looking car inside though - a real step back from the W211.

 

[TS7]

My friend's dad has a facelift E500 and it's a lovely car. Very dull looking from the outside, but it feels incredibly well put together and it's a really nice place to spend a long journey.

I do think the E60 has aged miles better than the W211, but I think if I had to choose between them, I'd still pick the W211.

The E500 would be very tempting and it's something I could justify in my current situation as my mileage is not very high. However I'm actively looking for new jobs so this is something that could change within the next few months or so. I think I've settled on either 280 or 320 petrol. I've not heard great things about the 240 and I think they did away with the 240 in the facelift anyway.