Used C350e high miler - bad idea?

[119]

Posted this in the Merc forums but this one is probably better!

Looking for an estate car and the market seems to be flooded with diesels, which, for barely 50 miles a week is unlikely to be trouble free used car motoring so am trying to avoid those.

So with that, started looking at petrol alternatives around the budget of 7-8k and a few of these 16ish plate models have popped up albeit with 120k plus miles on them.

I note that they had starter issues but due to the age an mileage on them I am assuming they have been replaced with the updated version.

That aside does anyone have any experience of them with these sort of miles on?

Anything to be wary of as it seems to be a lot of car for the money!

[wyson]

I d find out how much it costs to replace the hybrid battery on that.

As well as take note that the car is nearing the end of its economic design life, 150k miles is a common target.

Only a fraction of 1% of cars make it to 200k miles in the UK. If you look at the stats, there is a big increase in numbers of cars being scrapped around 100k miles. That 2nd hand price cliff exists for a reason.

Obviously if you are handy with a set of spanners, the economics are different, but if you are going use garages to do the work, and you are budget conscious, more likely than not, a high mileage car like that is going to hurt your wallet.

Edited by wyson on Monday 14th July 13:01

[Magnum 475]

Have a good look at boot space too - most of the Merc hybrids lose a huge amount of space for the battery.

[Jag_NE]

7-8k down plus insurance, tax, maintenance and repairs to do 50 miles a week?

I'd buy a shed, privately, for 1-2k and just change the oil every 2 years.

[119]

Jag_NE said:

7-8k down plus insurance, tax, maintenance and repairs to do 50 miles a week?

I'd buy a shed, privately, for 1-2k and just change the oil every 2 years.

Yeah I get that but we do occasionally travel much further 3 or 4 times a year!

Probably should have mentioned that in my OP.



Thanks everyone for the replies.

Looks like a laggy ish hybrid may not be the best choice.

[maz8062]

The problem with these cars and the the BMW 330e, is the hybrid battery. The Merc costs about £9k, the BMW the same. Parts are difficult hence the cheap price. It’s a risk, I fancied one and would take on the risk, but it won’t be for the faint hearted.

[ZX10R NIN]

At your price point these are where I'd be looking:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202506103...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202507034...

Focus ST:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202506073...

Mondeo Titanium X:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202506253...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202505112...

Titanium:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202506013...

320i:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202507034...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202506293...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202507074...

[119]

Wow, thanks.

Plenty of alternatives to look at there.