Which should I go for?
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Discussion

Kentish

Original Poster:

15,169 posts

263 months

Tuesday 31st May 2011
quotequote all
I have seen 2 cars I like & have driven both - they both drive really well and are in good condition. They are the same price.

I'm after luxury and toys and good performance.

The first is a 2004 54 plate W203 Mercedes C200 Kompressor. Lovely car and ticks all the boxes except no ISOFIX. Car has 68k on the clock and full history.

The second is a bit of a sleeper/Q car; it's a Vectra! A 2007 V6 Turbo in Elite trim so has all the toys but christ does it shift! The torque is brilliant. It has leather, satnav, climate, cruise just like the Merc but has only 32k miles on the clock and a full history.

I guess I prefer the Merc even though it is a fair bit slower but despite being well cared for you can tell it has more than twice the miles under its belt.

I quite like the Q car Vectra really as it looks bog standard Vectra and has everything I could ever want. Ride and handling were good on both cars, the Merc with the rear drive chassis was a bit nicer but not a great deal in it for the day to day driver.

The Vectra feels well built and is very comfortable and I really enjoyed the pace.

What would you do?

EDLT

15,421 posts

235 months

Tuesday 31st May 2011
quotequote all
I'd have the Vectra, it will depreciate quite a lot though if that is an issue. Also make sure its not an ex-police car, because they did use that spec for some of their unmarked cars.

Superhoop

4,913 posts

222 months

Tuesday 31st May 2011
quotequote all
Normally, I'd say go for the Mercedes, but...

I'd be checking that it's not one that suffers from corrosion before I bought it

There seem to be an awfuly high number of badly corroded Mercs around at the moment, from that dredded age when they seemingly couldn't build a car without it

Kentish

Original Poster:

15,169 posts

263 months

Tuesday 31st May 2011
quotequote all
Superhoop said:
Normally, I'd say go for the Mercedes, but...

I'd be checking that it's not one that suffers from corrosion before I bought it

There seem to be an awfuly high number of badly corroded Mercs around at the moment, from that dredded age when they seemingly couldn't build a car without it
That is a concern for me too but the rear arches do appear fine at the moment.

I'm quite torn.

I love the style and feel of the Merc and it's a Merc smile

The Vectra is a well built car and I love how quick it is, the auto box is very well suited to this engine and that 330nM of torque is great.

My F-i-L has a slightly newer diesel Vectra and that has been faultless in the 3 years he has owned it.

EDLT raises a good point regarding BiB, but this one was previously registered to a disabled person, so should be fine as it's a one owner car.

Kentish

Original Poster:

15,169 posts

263 months

Tuesday 31st May 2011
quotequote all
Oh yes - the Vectra insurance was surprisingly good considering the pace of the car!

Having said that, the C200 was pretty good too at just £50 a year more.

I think I'm leaning toward the Vectra with the low miles and performance at the moment.

Kentish

Original Poster:

15,169 posts

263 months

Tuesday 31st May 2011
quotequote all
Come on peeps - talk me into one of them smile


Kentish

Original Poster:

15,169 posts

263 months

Tuesday 31st May 2011
quotequote all
Vectra is £460 as year to tax ....ouch!

C200 is just £260 smile

Kentish

Original Poster:

15,169 posts

263 months

Tuesday 31st May 2011
quotequote all
Leaning toward the C200 now that I have the figures for insurance and VED - also my favourite but....

I bet Mrs K says the boot is too small and there's no ISOFIX frown

SSBB

698 posts

185 months

Tuesday 31st May 2011
quotequote all
I have had bad experience with Vauxhalls and their customer service so I am loathed to recommend one, but on paper that Vectra seems the smart choice, and it sounds like you want us to convince you of that as well wink

OMNIO

1,256 posts

195 months

Tuesday 31st May 2011
quotequote all
Ex GF's dad had the 3.2 V6 vecra.

Nice sound and decent pace as you said.

Thirsty and expensive to keep on the road (petrol + Tax - cant comment on servicing & reliability). What with the ever rising petrol prices the mpg he was getting meant he eventually shopped it in for a more economical commuter. I also found the seats quite hard.


rhinochopig

17,932 posts

227 months

Tuesday 31st May 2011
quotequote all
Out of interest why have you narrowed it to those two. In true PH fashion there a few other cars that should be considered in that 'class'

Kentish

Original Poster:

15,169 posts

263 months

Tuesday 31st May 2011
quotequote all
SSBB said:
I have had bad experience with Vauxhalls and their customer service so I am loathed to recommend one, but on paper that Vectra seems the smart choice, and it sounds like you want us to convince you of that as well wink
I guess £230 more on VED and £65 a more on insurance every year isn't so bad smile

However, I guess if I'm honest I'd take the Merc over the Vectra but the Vectra was just so good smile

I know what you mean about the Vauxhall CS.
I went to look at a Vivaro the other week and I had to wait and chase them, I gave up and went elsewhere and bought a Nissan version which is the same van but better equipped.

LuS1fer

43,512 posts

274 months

Tuesday 31st May 2011
quotequote all
It's a toughie but whenever I see "Vectra" I fall asleep and when you come to sell it, it will be in the middle of a huge sea of them and I imagine only a VXR would really stand out. I may be wrong though...

No RoverV8/MG ZT260s round? wink

Edited by LuS1fer on Tuesday 31st May 14:53


Edited by LuS1fer on Tuesday 31st May 14:53

SSBB

698 posts

185 months

Tuesday 31st May 2011
quotequote all
Kentish said:
I guess £230 more on VED and £65 a more on insurance every year isn't so bad smile

However, I guess if I'm honest I'd take the Merc over the Vectra but the Vectra was just so good smile

I know what you mean about the Vauxhall CS.
I went to look at a Vivaro the other week and I had to wait and chase them, I gave up and went elsewhere and bought a Nissan version which is the same van but better equipped.
Sometimes the car which surprises you can be more interesting than one which you expect to be good and, well, is. To be fair, I knew a guy who had one of those C classes and he thought the Merc dealers were awful too. And it rusted. Apart from that he did like it.

SSBB

698 posts

185 months

Tuesday 31st May 2011
quotequote all
Double post.

ewenm

28,506 posts

274 months

Tuesday 31st May 2011
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Given that you seem to feel roughly equal about which one you get, go for whichever one your OH wants - it'll save earache later hehe

carlove

7,909 posts

196 months

Tuesday 31st May 2011
quotequote all
Personally I'd go for the Vauxhall.

Flintstone

8,644 posts

276 months

Tuesday 31st May 2011
quotequote all
SSBB said:
...I am loathed...
Don't be so hard on yourself wink

hornetrider

63,161 posts

234 months

Tuesday 31st May 2011
quotequote all
Two spectacularly uninteresting cars in my view - is this really all you could come up with?

anonymous-user

83 months

Tuesday 31st May 2011
quotequote all
Superhoop said:
I'd be checking that it's not one that suffers from corrosion before I bought it
C-Classes built from 2003 onwards had galvanised body panels, so you should be OK with that one.