Would I regret buying a Merc diesel?
Discussion
I've started a few 'what car' threads lately. I sold my Jaguar S-Type R last November and been rolling around in my Mum's 2001 Ford Puma while I decide what to get next 
My brief is; capable of 35ish mpg, auto, under 100k miles, not totally boring, under £9k. So, quite broad really.
At the top of my list at the moment is an E87 BMW 130i [well under £9k, great engine] and Renaultsport Clio, the auto one [newer than the Beemer, better mpg].
Being an estate fan, I've spotted a 2011 [pre-facelift] 350cdi, at a good price. Just a bit worried this would be a little less 'fun' than the other two options. I guess fun isn't right at the top of my 'must have' list, but I do want a car with a bit of interest.
Just wondering if any of you guys have owned this generation of V6 diesel C-Class? Boring or can it be a 'fun' drive?!
My brief is; capable of 35ish mpg, auto, under 100k miles, not totally boring, under £9k. So, quite broad really.
At the top of my list at the moment is an E87 BMW 130i [well under £9k, great engine] and Renaultsport Clio, the auto one [newer than the Beemer, better mpg].
Being an estate fan, I've spotted a 2011 [pre-facelift] 350cdi, at a good price. Just a bit worried this would be a little less 'fun' than the other two options. I guess fun isn't right at the top of my 'must have' list, but I do want a car with a bit of interest.
Just wondering if any of you guys have owned this generation of V6 diesel C-Class? Boring or can it be a 'fun' drive?!
They're a good car but a fun steer they're not.
They drive well but they won't be far off the 130i.
Take a look at the E Coupe:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202401125...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202309232...
They drive well but they won't be far off the 130i.
Take a look at the E Coupe:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202401125...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202309232...
I had one from new and put 250k miles on it over 5 years - it was durable enough and still drove fine when I moved it on but had a few issues, all of which were ££££ to fix. Not sure I'd fancy running one of that age now.
I'd also echo the comments about it now being at all interesting to drive despite being in supposedly sporty AMG line spec - it somehow managed to have both a hard crashy ride and quickly become a wallowing mess over a twisty road.
Engine was great though, loads of effortless torque and really quite fast for what it was.
I'd also echo the comments about it now being at all interesting to drive despite being in supposedly sporty AMG line spec - it somehow managed to have both a hard crashy ride and quickly become a wallowing mess over a twisty road.
Engine was great though, loads of effortless torque and really quite fast for what it was.
ZX10R NIN said:
They're a good car but a fun steer they're not.
They drive well but they won't be far off the 130i.
Take a look at the E Coupe
Yeah, I have considered an E Coupe. I forgot to mention, I do ferry around my two young sons to school/nursery and back, hence why an estate would be a more sensible choice. However, having used my Mum's tiny Puma for the last five months, I've realised two-doors is doable.They drive well but they won't be far off the 130i.
Take a look at the E Coupe
Monkeylegend said:
Check for rear subframe corrosion before you buy on both C and E class. Hard to spot until it is too late as they rust from the inside out so be wary.
If it is a later BlueTec model do you research re adblue and NOX sensor issues.
Ah right...I've now been looking up rear subframe corrosion on this gen of Merc. It certainly is a thing! I'll ask the owner of the 350 I've seen if he's had it checked. It's a pre-facelift 2011 C-Class so not sure if it's a Bluets model or not?If it is a later BlueTec model do you research re adblue and NOX sensor issues.
GeniusOfLove said:
If you liked the S Type consider an XF 3.0d S?
An XF is too big. I want to go a little smaller than my S-Type. All the cars I mention above are smaller, even if only by a bit for the Merc.Shabaza said:
530d/330d is where my money would likely end up
Great economy and a decent steer
Seconded. I used to drive all the rep specials out of the pool of dross in work and I could never, ever, understand why anyone with the slightest interest in driving bought anything but the 3 series, they were so much better than the C class let alone the perenially inert and stodgy to drive A4.Great economy and a decent steer
I second comments above with BMW.
We have just handed back our merc diesel 220d
Zero wrong with economy and pick up etc and reliability. We did 50k miles in 3years no hassle.
However, my goodness it felt dull in comparison to our BMW and the handling was shonky around bends. Felt so damn heavy. Our eldest children’s little Aygo handled bends better than that thing.
We have just handed back our merc diesel 220d
Zero wrong with economy and pick up etc and reliability. We did 50k miles in 3years no hassle.
However, my goodness it felt dull in comparison to our BMW and the handling was shonky around bends. Felt so damn heavy. Our eldest children’s little Aygo handled bends better than that thing.
BUG4LIFE said:
Monkeylegend said:
Check for rear subframe corrosion before you buy on both C and E class. Hard to spot until it is too late as they rust from the inside out so be wary.
If it is a later BlueTec model do you research re adblue and NOX sensor issues.
Ah right...I've now been looking up rear subframe corrosion on this gen of Merc. It certainly is a thing! I'll ask the owner of the 350 I've seen if he's had it checked. It's a pre-facelift 2011 C-Class so not sure if it's a Bluets model or not?If it is a later BlueTec model do you research re adblue and NOX sensor issues.
lord trumpton said:
Why a DERV out of interest?
See my list of requirements….capable of 35mpg. The diesel would give me this. I could only go diesel if it had 6 cylinders though. Also, petrol Merc estates are very thin on the group I expect. I did see a petrol V6 for sales not so long ago, on Facebook, but didn’t look up the mpg as I imagined it would be under 30?BUG4LIFE said:
See my list of requirements….capable of 35mpg. The diesel would give me this. I could only go diesel if it had 6 cylinders though. Also, petrol Merc estates are very thin on the group I expect. I did see a petrol V6 for sales not so long ago, on Facebook, but didn’t look up the mpg as I imagined it would be under 30?
Combined MPG on an E350 CGI petrol is 32, extra urban is 42. They're not often in your budget though, I know as it's my budget too and I'm trying to avoid a diesel for ULEZ reasons.agent006 said:
Combined MPG on an E350 CGI petrol is 32, extra urban is 42. They're not often in your budget though, I know as it's my budget too and I'm trying to avoid a diesel for ULEZ reasons.
If I wasn’t too worried about mpg (I promised myself, coming from 22mpg in my Jag, I’d try to be sensible and aim for well north of 30mpg), I’d get a Volvo V60 T6 (petrol, 6 cylinders, 300bhp+).BUG4LIFE said:
If I wasn’t too worried about mpg (I promised myself, coming from 22mpg in my Jag, I’d try to be sensible and aim for well north of 30mpg), I’d get a Volvo V60 T6 (petrol, 6 cylinders, 300bhp+).
Now that is a car that is about as much fun to drive as an overloaded shopping trolley.Gassing Station | Car Buying | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff