Meriva or C class?

[A500leroy]

I know its a strange comparison but im booked in to view the meriva and they als have a Cclass for the same price.
Meriva is 2015 55k Techline spec (heated seats and steering wheel) 5 owners.
C class is 2011 88k poverty spec 7 owners.

Which one is the better car for carrying an older relative in?

[PH User]

Crikey those cars have been passed around from owner to owner!

I imagine a test drive will answer your question.

[stevemcs]

For carrying old people .... the Meriva. Higher up so easier to get into and out of. If it say's service engine that doesn't always mean it wants a service, it usually means something is wrong.

[A500leroy]

Righto ok.
Have to admit the number of owens was a concern but the meriva has been with current owner since 2018, so it had 4 owners in its first 3 years ( vauxhall,demo, 2 lots of pcp/lease company maybe?) so it cant be that sinister.

[cheesesliceking]

The heated seats in the Vauxhall may just be front only, worth checking if that’s one of the selling points & the heated steering wheels aren’t great, a little patchy where it’s heated and not that warm.

[A500leroy]

cheesesliceking said:

The heated seats in the Vauxhall may just be front only, worth checking if that’s one of the selling points & the heated steering wheels aren’t great, a little patchy where it’s heated and not that warm.

Yeah i think its only the front, but ive never had a car with them so little bit excited. Guess the steering wheel is just a gimmick then?

[anonymous-user]

Buy based on condition end of. Conventional wisdom states C class but if it it is in poor condition then that might be a money pit. A heavy German prestige car will be more wafty. Our C class is uber comfortable. Like driving a cloud.

[ZX10R NIN]

How much are you spending? I ask because there are a lot of cars that'll be worth considering, as an example you could get a nice Insignia which would be a nice compromise & you'll still get the heated seats.

[Sheepshanks]

That model C Class (W204) has a bit of a nightmare with rear subframe corrosion - it's possible on a 2011 it's already been done. Sometimes Mercedes will change them as goodwill - seems to work no problem for some owners but others get stonewalled. They rot from the inside so can't be easily seen - hence the can pass MOT even at a dealer then break a few months later.
Also corroded brake pipes are an issue too - big job on the rears (worth doing anyway if replacing the subframe!).

[stevemcs]

We have failed an e class today on the subframe, we had another customer who had his replaced but left the rusty brake pipes... no idea why given they will fail an mot.

[georgeyboy12345]

Neither

[david-j8694]

Damn, there's got to be something better within budget than a Meriva. I'm not really a car snob and there's usually something I like or find interesting about most cars, but F me those Merivas are miserable.

[LightningBlue]

david-j8694 said:

Damn, there's got to be something better within budget than a Meriva. I'm not really a car snob and there's usually something I like or find interesting about most cars, but F me those Merivas are miserable.

Can’t disagree, a Jazz is better for that type of thing - at least you can appreciate the quality of engineering with the precise gearshift and smooth revvy engine. But I’d get a Civic instead or some kind of soft roader if carrying older folks is the sole requirement

[ayman82]

Is it these two cars?

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202201121...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202202242...

[A500leroy]

ayman82 said:

Is it these two cars?

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202201121...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202202242...

Bleeding hell, you flying squad??

Yes its those ones.

[SmithCorona]

W204 has sod all space in the rear. That one is probably an ex-MB loan car or demo.

Mileage feels quite low for the number of owners. I get something exotic/"must own" having that many owners who do so few miles - but this isn't that.

[Jamescrs]

I agree about the Merc having really bad rear space, I really wanted one a few years ago in C63 guise but I couldn't make it work in the end mainly due to rear space in the back seats.

It depends on your specific needs OP, the Meriva is far better for passenger access and the Merc is very basic spec inside which would probably put me off.

[A500leroy]

Jamescrs said:

I agree about the Merc having really bad rear space, I really wanted one a few years ago in C63 guise but I couldn't make it work in the end mainly due to rear space in the back seats.

It depends on your specific needs OP, the Meriva is far better for passenger access and the Merc is very basic spec inside which would probably put me off.

This is where im at, having to get someone who isnt very mobile in and out of a car isnt easy hence switching from the current Panda, 6k budget btw for those asking (petrol only)

[SmithCorona]

Nissan Note.

[ayman82]

A500leroy said:

ayman82 said:

Is it these two cars?

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202201121...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202202242...

Bleeding hell, you flying squad??

Yes its those ones.

The info in the OP was enough to find them quite easily!