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Old 10-05-2009, 08:35 PM   #1
hjs9999
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Looking for thoughts on these options

We are a three car family right now, but two of our vehicles are fairly old and not in that good shape. I am looking at options to replace one of them. I like German cars so I limited my search to Volkswagen, Mercedes, BMW, and Audis... also one Volvo I wasn't sure if I would even find any of the luxury models, but some did come up. The top price for this replacement is $12,000. I also tried to keep everything under 50,000 miles. We only put about 12,000 mile on per year and keep our cars until 12 or or 13 years old or have more than 120,000 miles.

What I am hoping to get in responses are comments on preferences in the following categories, age of the car, luxury vs non-luxury, maintenance costs, insurance costs, reliability, purchase from an individual vs a dealer, What things should I look for ... , etc. I will or have checked carFAX

Here are some of the vehicles I looked at:


2006 Volkswagen Jetta 2.5 - $11,999 41,726 miles good condition, no problems in carFAX.

2001 Mercedes-Benz C-Class C240 - $9,795 (obo) Mileage: 48,000 miles, has some dings, so to put it in the condition I want I would have have them repaired. I don't know what (obo) means. supposedly runs well otherwise

2000 BMW 528i - $10,200 47,000 miles, supposedly good condition, comes from a dealer, but they did not put up a picture, which makes me suspicious.

2003 BMW 325 i - $10,995, Mileage: 47,978, looks good, but need to check carFAX

2003 Mercedes-Benz C-Class C240 - $12,000 , Mileage: 46,000, sold by owner, says no accidents and in good shape. Still need to check carFAX

This is the one I think I would like to get, but 1)since it doesn't come from a dealer, there is no warantee, 2) I suspect that insurance would be higher than on the VWs despite the older age, and 3) I suspect that maintenance would be more expensive simply because replacement parts would be more expensive.

2004 Volvo S40 - $11,995 Mileage: 33,177 , need to check carFAX sold by a dealer

There is also another 2006 Volkswagen Jetta, fewer miles , but the carFAX says that there were two owners, one that only had the vehicle for a month and carFAX says that it was in a collision. It looks good now, but I wonder why the second owner dropped it so fast.

In short, I don't know whether getting an older luxury car is wise or not. Sure, they still look good, but what am I going to be paying later on to keep them running?

I look forward to your input...

Last edited by hjs9999; 10-05-2009 at 08:56 PM. Reason: Just some additonal thoughts.
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Old 10-05-2009, 11:04 PM   #2
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Re: Looking for thoughts on these options

one of those is not like the other...
the Jetta is gona be a compleatly different car. every other car on that list is gona be much funner to drive, but the insurance will obviously be higher.

That looks like an amazing deal on that 325i though

I'd look into one of the Jettas the 325i and the 2003 Merc
I am personaly one of Volvo's biggest haters so thats the last Item on that list I'd suggest. probaly should get an unbiased opinion to though

happy car shoping.

EDIT: I'd probaly avoid the 2nd Jetta simply because it has an accident on record and the second owner droped it so fast. Somethings probaly wrong with it
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Old 10-06-2009, 07:23 AM   #3
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Re: Looking for thoughts on these options

Don't buy a VW or Volvo. Stick with BMW or Benz. The 325 sounds like the best one too me.
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Old 10-06-2009, 09:18 AM   #4
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Re: Looking for thoughts on these options

[quote=Shpuker;6046424]I am personaly one of Volvo's biggest haters so thats the last Item on that list I'd suggest.


I find this statement interesting for several reasons, many consumers enter a dealership and don't want a certain type model or production year for the simple reason a friend or neighbour had a bad experience. The vehicle may be very high rated by consumer reports,,, but that don't matter,,, the third party rules because they had an isolated bad experience.

Shpuker, don't get the idea I am picking on you, I am not a huge Volvo fan along with there are several type vehicles I also dislike, I simply am nosy to find out if your hate for Volvo's are the product or bad experience ? my guess is from hearsay or an isolated experience, overall I rate Volvo very high, but it's not my kind of driver.
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Old 10-06-2009, 09:11 PM   #5
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Re: Looking for thoughts on these options

[quote=Ray paulsen;6046575]
Quote:
Originally Posted by Shpuker View Post
I am personaly one of Volvo's biggest haters so thats the last Item on that list I'd suggest.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Shpuker View Post


I find this statement interesting for several reasons, many consumers enter a dealership and don't want a certain type model or production year for the simple reason a friend or neighbour had a bad experience. The vehicle may be very high rated by consumer reports,,, but that don't matter,,, the third party rules because they had an isolated bad experience.

Shpuker, don't get the idea I am picking on you, I am not a huge Volvo fan along with there are several type vehicles I also dislike, I simply am nosy to find out if your hate for Volvo's are the product or bad experience ? my guess is from hearsay or an isolated experience, overall I rate Volvo very high, but it's not my kind of driver.
Not really sure why I hate them, just always have. I don't really like their look.
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Old 10-06-2009, 09:37 PM   #6
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Re: Looking for thoughts on these options

What's wrong with VW? I was considering getting a GTI as my next car... I heard German made cars were good?
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Old 10-06-2009, 09:48 PM   #7
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Re: Looking for thoughts on these options

Quote:
Originally Posted by hjs9999 View Post
We are a three car family right now, but two of our vehicles are fairly old and not in that good shape. I am looking at options to replace one of them. I like German cars so I limited my search to Volkswagen, Mercedes, BMW, and Audis... also one Volvo I wasn't sure if I would even find any of the luxury models, but some did come up. The top price for this replacement is $12,000. I also tried to keep everything under 50,000 miles. We only put about 12,000 mile on per year and keep our cars until 12 or or 13 years old or have more than 120,000 miles.

What I am hoping to get in responses are comments on preferences in the following categories, age of the car, luxury vs non-luxury, maintenance costs, insurance costs, reliability, purchase from an individual vs a dealer, What things should I look for ... , etc. I will or have checked carFAX

Here are some of the vehicles I looked at:


2006 Volkswagen Jetta 2.5 - $11,999 41,726 miles good condition, no problems in carFAX.

2001 Mercedes-Benz C-Class C240 - $9,795 (obo) Mileage: 48,000 miles, has some dings, so to put it in the condition I want I would have have them repaired. I don't know what (obo) means. supposedly runs well otherwise

2000 BMW 528i - $10,200 47,000 miles, supposedly good condition, comes from a dealer, but they did not put up a picture, which makes me suspicious.

2003 BMW 325 i - $10,995, Mileage: 47,978, looks good, but need to check carFAX

2003 Mercedes-Benz C-Class C240 - $12,000 , Mileage: 46,000, sold by owner, says no accidents and in good shape. Still need to check carFAX

This is the one I think I would like to get, but 1)since it doesn't come from a dealer, there is no warantee, 2) I suspect that insurance would be higher than on the VWs despite the older age, and 3) I suspect that maintenance would be more expensive simply because replacement parts would be more expensive.

2004 Volvo S40 - $11,995 Mileage: 33,177 , need to check carFAX sold by a dealer

There is also another 2006 Volkswagen Jetta, fewer miles , but the carFAX says that there were two owners, one that only had the vehicle for a month and carFAX says that it was in a collision. It looks good now, but I wonder why the second owner dropped it so fast.

In short, I don't know whether getting an older luxury car is wise or not. Sure, they still look good, but what am I going to be paying later on to keep them running?

I look forward to your input...
03 C class is better IMO if you want an entry level luxury car.

Btw what cars did you own before?
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Old 10-07-2009, 08:03 AM   #8
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Re: Looking for thoughts on these options

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Originally Posted by simpleautoglass View Post
What's wrong with VW? I was considering getting a GTI as my next car... I heard German made cars were good?
My wife has owned two VW Jettas, and they have been problematic. Wonderful cars to drive and they always started (even into -40 temperatures), but they are 'finnicky'. Little problems start to arise over time, usually related to the electrical systems or automatic transmissions. If you get a VW, rustproof it from new (or look for one that has been), and avoid the automatic transmissions unless you're getting into the newest 6-speed autos, which I'm told have been vastly improved.

To the OP, luxury vehicles will always be more expensive to maintain, mostly because parts are more expensive, as well as dealer maintenance being recommended - not ever local shop guy knows his way around a Mercedes, BMW or Audi. We have a 1995 E320 in the family and, while the car is reliable enough and still looks excellent, if it needs to go in for repair its expected that the $1000 is not out of the question. Parts usually come from Germany and take time to arrive if its not in stock. To be honest, unless you want the look and the logo of a Mercedes/BMW, stick with a loaded VW. Features that were considered 'exclusive' on a 2000 model 5-series or C-class are now standard equipment on a newer Jetta. Parts are cheaper and easier to find, and I know VW has a 10-year corrosion warranty, so you'll be able to keep her for a long time!

If you do your own maintenance a premium brand could be more viable, it's the dealer costs that are the killer.
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Old 10-07-2009, 07:44 PM   #9
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Re: Looking for thoughts on these options

Volkswagons have lots of problems with their automatic transmissions which are a huge pos.Carfax reports can be off on thier checks.I know another dealer that was taken to court,sold a guy a car and the guy whom bought the car did a carfax check and it said it had a mileage problem which was wrong.This dealer dealer did his research having a title check done and the judge threw it out and told this guy to sue Carfax instead.My father bought a 2005 Chevy Impala which was in a hit and run accident and this was not in the Carfax.
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Old 10-11-2009, 05:28 PM   #10
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Re: Looking for thoughts on these options

And every English teaches on here that read that just shot themselfs,

I mean seriously dude learn english,

And the CarFax website says, "CARFAX Vehicle History Reports are based on information supplied to CARFAX. CARFAX does not have the complete history of every vehicle."
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