New daily driver, just test driven thinking about it....

[550Hep]

So on the spur of the moment I saw what looked like a nice E300 Estate at a localish dealer. Just been to view it and it is tidy enough considering mileage 185k and year 1999 T plate. This is the link...

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2010...

So before I take the plunge I would like a few opinions of them also what to look out for and what kind of MPG to expect?

Cheers

[MrLou]

550Hep said:

So before I take the plunge I would like a few opinions of them also what to look out for and what kind of MPG to expect?

Cheers

Rust, they're shameless.

[HellDiver]

The way the bonnet is sitting high on the passenger side would worry me...

[550Hep]

HellDiver said:

The way the bonnet is sitting high on the passenger side would worry me...

I spotted that it is the catch just needs adjusting..

[550Hep]

MrLou said:

550Hep said:

So before I take the plunge I would like a few opinions of them also what to look out for and what kind of MPG to expect?

Cheers

Rust, they're shameless.

It does have a few areas around the silver star on the front and a bit of blistering around some stone chips then some spots on the tailgate. Nothing horrendous.

[sday12]

550Hep said:

MrLou said:

550Hep said:

So before I take the plunge I would like a few opinions of them also what to look out for and what kind of MPG to expect?

Cheers

Rust, they're shameless.

It does have a few areas around the silver star on the front and a bit of blistering around some stone chips then some spots on the tailgate. Nothing horrendous.

Front wings rust badly, have a good look.

[Chris_w666]

They do tend to be partial to metal worm, a mate had the saloon version a couple of years back and it was actually a nice place to waft, was one of the first cars with a diesel engine to make me realise they have a place.

[paoloh]

A lot of car for little money.

Getting to the mileage where bills are just around the corner though.

What is history like?

[MrLou]

sday12 said:

Front wings rust badly, have a good look.

So do the rear arches. Anywhere that a stone can fly up and chip away at the paint, you'll eventually find rust.

But for the money there's little to beat it, especially if you want 7 seats.

MPG will be nowhere near as good as you'd think for a diesel, 30MPG on the bestest of best days.

[550Hep]

History is solid Merc dealer all the way and one owner from new.

So I have gone and done it ought to pick it up tomorrow, I gave my 2001 Y reg Legacy with 140k on the clock and £850 so not a bad deal I think. They are sorting out the bonnet catch and it is taxed until the end of the month and MOT'd until December so all things considered I think I got a decent deal.

[paoloh]

550Hep said:

History is solid Merc dealer all the way and one owner from new.

So I have gone and done it ought to pick it up tomorrow, I gave my 2001 Y reg Legacy with 140k on the clock and £850 so not a bad deal I think. They are sorting out the bonnet catch and it is taxed until the end of the month and MOT'd until December so all things considered I think I got a decent deal.

It was a cheap car in the first place.

Sounds like a sensible deal all round.

[excel monkey]

paoloh said:

550Hep said:

History is solid Merc dealer all the way and one owner from new.

So I have gone and done it ought to pick it up tomorrow, I gave my 2001 Y reg Legacy with 140k on the clock and £850 so not a bad deal I think. They are sorting out the bonnet catch and it is taxed until the end of the month and MOT'd until December so all things considered I think I got a decent deal.

It was a cheap car in the first place.

Sounds like a sensible deal all round.

Good work.

Check out Parrot Of Doom's posts on here. He has a W210 Merc and posts a lot of stuff on maintenance and upkeep.

[MrLou]

550Hep said:

History is solid Merc dealer all the way and one owner from new.

So I have gone and done it ought to pick it up tomorrow, I gave my 2001 Y reg Legacy with 140k on the clock and £850 so not a bad deal I think. They are sorting out the bonnet catch and it is taxed until the end of the month and MOT'd until December so all things considered I think I got a decent deal.

Nice. With so little cash changing hands you can't go far wrong.

I'm tempted by an E class estate myself, I keep looking at 2006/2007 ones and then thinking I'm mad for dropping that kind of cash on a car. By buying at this end of the market so many worries go out of the window.

Let us know how you get on.

[550Hep]

Thanks for the replies folks, I will drop up some updates as I get them. I have to say there is always a small thrill with taking a chance on a motor like this but for less than a bag of sand of my hard earned I am not exactly jumping off a bridge if it has to die a death!

[550Hep]

So update is I got messed about for over a week by the garage and ended up getting my deposit back...

So I went out and bought a 1999 V plate Saab 9-5 SE 2.0t manual saloon in dark metallic red, full beige leather all the toys with Harman Kardon stereo + 6-disc multiplay etc. 113k on the clock and got it for the princely sum of £500 and the Legacy. It had a few faults namely pixels missing on the AC Unit and Trip computer. AC unit sorted with a £27 fleaBay purchase and the trip computer isn't that bad currently but there is a chap recommended on the Saab forums that will re-con it good as new for £50 so may do that if it gets much worse.

The alloys are in decent enough shape but the center caps are blistered and two are missing and as it turns out you can't get replacements from Saab anymore which is a PITA! So trying to decide if I ought to leave it or get a set of replacement alloys and flog the ones I have on fleaBay!

Other than that pretty solid and pretty swift or at least more so than the Legacy. Done a tank and a half of fuel thus far and averaged 34-36 MPG so pretty pleased all round.

Edited by 550Hep on Thursday 1st April 12:00

Edited by 550Hep on Thursday 1st April 11:59

[DavidY]

Unless you know the full history then get the sump dropped and the oil pick-up cleaned and then only use fully sythetic oil. (They are known for sludging up). These cars are capable of great mileages just traded in a 221k mile 9-5. Enjoy it.

[paoloh]

Why did garage mess you about?

[550Hep]

paoloh said:

Why did garage mess you about?

Took my £100 deposit on the proviso I wanted a couple of minor items fixing I then chased and chased. Made several calls and was told yes will be sorted today 3 days on the trot. Then they had to wait for a small part for the bonnet catch. Then eventually they called me back saying they had taken it on a test drive and the Turbo had blown! I said ok then well I don't want it and they tried to say that if I pulled out then they could keep my deposit. At which point I said ok fix it then, they said we can fix it but I would have to pay the cost £500! After much arguing I said jog on and got them to stump the deposit back up.

In all honesty I am half expecting the cheque to bounce!

[MrLou]

550Hep said:

In all honesty I am half expecting the cheque to bounce!

Even if it does bounce, you're still better off than if they'd sold you the car

[550Hep]

Well the cheque cleared!