Thinking to buy a demo or second hand Benz C-class from an official dealer.

[338den]

Have never bought a car in my life. So, need some advice. I can save some money for buying not a new car, but with a warranty ( Demo car with 1000-15000 km or second hand with 30000-50000 km on a clock) Any underwater rocks?

Edited August 27, 2020 by 338den

[HauptmannUK]

October last year I was thinking about treating myself to a new MB C220d.  I was negotiating using Line with the MB dealer in Rangsit (I can read and write Thai). I ended up with discount of about 17% off the list price, to include insurance and three year service pack. I got a similar offer on a BMW 320d GT.

If you buy a demo you would need to get it at least 20% below new price.  If you look at a car with 30k-50k km then get it professionally checked for flood and accident damage, prior service and repair etc.

If thinking an MB C-class automatic be sure to thoroughly test drive it. I eventually went to the dealer to test drive the car and was appalled by the transmission's delay in downshifting on a rolling pull-away (e.g. when doing a U-turn) and the degree of throttle inhibition. That was a deal-breaker for me and I decided against the car.

[natway09]

Got a golf buddy purchased a new Merc & 3 months later he drove through some standing water as I did in my Honda within 2 minutes of each other.

 They told him that his  engine totalled & need to get new one from factory in Germany.

That was at least 2 months ago & still has no car back nor would they give him a loan car for the duration.

Hopeless crowd  when consider the kind of monies they want for a Merc

[CGW]

I have been driving a Merc for the past 7 years daily, dispite all the horror stories! had no issues whatsoever! (tempting fate!!!) if you get one with a full service history IMO you can't go wrong.

[Pattaya Spotter]

Buying a Benz as a first car, especially in Thailand, may be a bit of a costly adventure (but at least you should get waived through all police checkpoints...but not guaranteed with only a C-Class). The cost to service out of warranty is very high...but if you can afford to buy I assume you can afford to service. I would check out the major online car sales sites in Thailand (don't know if allowed to mention them by name but a G-search will bring them right up). Official dealer demos can be good choice too.

[CGW]

I can recommend a very good Merc dealer in Bangkok, myself and friends have been using her for over ten years now, if you want the name PM me, she is on Ratchadaphisik Road.

[hotchilli]

55 minutes ago, CGW said:

I have been driving a Merc for the past 7 years daily, dispite all the horror stories! had no issues whatsoever! (tempting fate!!!) if you get one with a full service history IMO you can't go wrong.

And when it does start to go wrong good luck with all the spare part costs, plus the fitting bill, 7 years old I'd say it was time to move it on while the goings good... 

[CGW]

14 minutes ago, hotchilli said:

And when it does start to go wrong good luck with all the spare part costs, plus the fitting bill, 7 years old I'd say it was time to move it on while the goings good... 

Sure, there again it may last another 7 years ???? 

So far, so good...

[Pattaya Spotter]

21 minutes ago, hotchilli said:

And when it does start to go wrong good luck with all the spare part costs, plus the fitting bill, 7 years old I'd say it was time to move it on while the goings good... 

As I said...if can afford to buy probably can afford to fix. It's part of the prestige of owning a luxury European ride.

[ExpatOilWorker]

22 hours ago, HauptmannUK said:

October last year I was thinking about treating myself to a new MB C220d.  I was negotiating using Line with the MB dealer in Rangsit (I can read and write Thai). I ended up with discount of about 17% off the list price, to include insurance and three year service pack. I got a similar offer on a BMW 320d GT.

If you buy a demo you would need to get it at least 20% below new price.  If you look at a car with 30k-50k km then get it professionally checked for flood and accident damage, prior service and repair etc.

If thinking an MB C-class automatic be sure to thoroughly test drive it. I eventually went to the dealer to test drive the car and was appalled by the transmission's delay in downshifting on a rolling pull-away (e.g. when doing a U-turn) and the degree of throttle inhibition. That was a deal-breaker for me and I decided against the car.

17% rebate is impressive,  but sound about right. 

300k or about 10% discount were advertised a few month ago.

 

[grobec]

I have owned 4 Benz in a row back home, the last one an amg.

i love the drive engineering.

all but the amg cost roughly the same money even over the 16 years. IMHO the quality each time felt a bit less solid but also the sales philosophy.

leasing became a way to sell more cars and in my experience 5 years and 100k, when most leases expire, parts and extra service begin to be an added monthly cost.

For the used buyer, if the car is maintained with new parts and good service they can enjoy the merc ride for another 100k but the extra service costs will offset some of the savings of not buying it brand new.

the third owner will buy it cheap and drive it till the wheels fall off but that’s a project car and will never be the true merc ride.

Personally I think the new Volvo is a smarter luxe ride. 
YMMD but a test drive may impress you.

Edited August 29, 2020 by grobec
Spellcheck error

[CGW]

1 hour ago, grobec said:

Personally I think the new Volvo is a smarter luxe ride. 

Volvo was my first choice for a car when I bought, but where I live there are/where no service centres within 500 km.

[PFMills]

6 hours ago, natway09 said:

Got a golf buddy purchased a new Merc & 3 months later he drove through some standing water as I did in my Honda within 2 minutes of each other.

 They told him that his  engine totalled & need to get new one from factory in Germany.

That was at least 2 months ago & still has no car back nor would they give him a loan car for the duration.

Hopeless crowd  when consider the kind of monies they want for a Merc

Very foolish not to either avoid standing water, as you don't know how deep it is, or to go through too fast ... and clearly eg one car will go through 12" deep water safely whilst another will only make 11" ...

[PFMills]

5 hours ago, Pattaya Spotter said:

Buying a Benz as a first car, especially in Thailand, may be a bit of a costly adventure (but at least you should get waived through all police checkpoints...but not guaranteed with only a C-Class). The cost to service out of warranty is very high...but if you can afford to buy I assume you can afford to service. I would check out the major online car sales sites in Thailand (don't know if allowed to mention them by name but a G-search will bring them right up). Official dealer demos can be good choice too.

There are four options available to buy various levels of extra manufactures warranty and/or service costs provided your car is less than three years old and 100,000kms. You can purchase up to a total of eight years. It will allow you to sleep at night!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[herfiehandbag]

24 year old Mazda.

 

50 K to buy it.

 

10 K a year to maintain it.

 

When it breaks or after 5 years throw it away.

 

Cube root of <deleted> all prestige, but at the end of the day it is only a car. Who will remember it (Merc or Mazda) 10 minutes after you drive by?

[CGW]

15 minutes ago, herfiehandbag said:

Cube root of <deleted> all prestige, but at the end of the day it is only a car. Who will remember it (Merc or Mazda) 10 minutes after you drive by?

If comfort & safety were not a priority I could agree, if your skint I can agree! ???? 

When I "drive by" I don't feel the need to leave my kids enough to drive "prestige" cars, there will be enough left (I hope!) for them to get a 24 year old Mazda 

[PFMills]

47 minutes ago, herfiehandbag said:

24 year old Mazda.

 

50 K to buy it.

 

10 K a year to maintain it.

 

When it breaks or after 5 years throw it away.

 

Cube root of <deleted> all prestige, but at the end of the day it is only a car. Who will remember it (Merc or Mazda) 10 minutes after you drive by?

Are you talking about my wife's advert...she has had her 1996 Mazda Lantis from new ... do you want to buy it ... 555

[hotchilli]

13 hours ago, CGW said:

Sure, there again it may last another 7 years ???? 

So far, so good...

If it was one of the older models built to last maybe, but the new plastic ones I think 14 years is being optimistic.

But good luck.

[hotchilli]

13 hours ago, Pattaya Spotter said:

As I said...if can afford to buy probably can afford to fix. It's part of the prestige of owning a luxury European ride.

Good luck.

[transam]

In the UK I bought a s/h, full service history, 2001 E220CDi auto, 90,000miles (145,000km) on the clock, one of the nicest cars I ever owned.