Sell Almera and buy Merc ?

Choice One

Bit of advice please!
I have a 05 Almera which although being the most reliable and cheap to run car I`ve ever owned it is also the dulliest .
I bought it about 2 yrs ago for the simple reason that my previous cars cost me a fortune to run and repair :
00 3dr Golf gti -loads a problems both big and small, sold it and bought a Laguna ( have couple of toddlers,thought this would be good family car!) It was a lemon and was eventually written off. So went back to a 03 5dr Golf gti, thought i was just unlucky with the first one ,anyway a view minor problems a new gear box later i said enough is enough and bought an Almera.

Aanyway Really bored with it and dont want to put any money to it to buy another car so was thinking about a well looked after Merc 190e or maybe even a c180? I `ve always liked these more than the 3 series bmw.
Leaving aside that a merc would cost abit more to tax insure etc.. I don`t mind that for the pleasure of driving one.
I drive a van for a living so no need for a second car so would I be mad to buy a car almost 20 yrs old and use it as my main family run around?

Max_Damage

An older 190E is a FAR superior car to the later C-class. In fact, buy any Merc from 1994 or older. After that, the quality of Merc's went down the toilet.

The older ones are easier to maintain too (DIY friendly engines, plus a lack of complex electronics).

If I were you, I'd save for a bit longer and buy a W123 (preferably a diesel model). They'd go forever, quite literally!

MercMad

The W201 (190E) is a lovely solid car and if you get a well specced 2.o auto it will last indefinitely if serviced correctly.Service parts are cheap and there are no complex electronics.
I think its unfair to say the W202 is inferior, there's not a lot different, I have one of each and have had a few W202's.To be honest I prefer the W201 both looks and ease of maintenance, nothing to do with quality.
I would also suggest a W124 for your list.

I happen to know where there is a pretty good W124 230TE for sale.

Just make sure you get the cars checked prior to sale and do look for rust.A lot of these cars are UK imports and I would touch one with a barge pole UNLESS it was absolutely babied !

Avoid manuals !

I dont think that all pre '94 Mercs are lemons, certainly the W210 E-Class was, especially the early ones and there ARE rust issues with later C & E Classes (98-00)

245

You'd be mad not to give it a go.

There's one here that looks great and isn't very expensive:

http://www.adverts.ie/showproduct.php?product=109226&cat=500

unkel

Looks well cared for. And with a 2 year NCT. Someone is going to buy that soon

carchaeologist

MercMad wrote: »

The W201 (190E) is a lovely solid car and if you get a well specced 2.o auto it will last indefinitely if serviced correctly.Service parts are cheap and there are no complex electronics.

Yes do it,all the above is true..i have a 90 2Litre Auto with all electrics and its just great,once i unlower the suspension:mad:.An almera just wouldnt come close.

Avoid manuals!

Also very true,why anyone would by a manual one of these is beyond me.

Max_Damage

I'd have a manual, as I HATE automatics.

That said, I've driven a Ssangyong Rexton before (which are equipped with Merc engine's and tranny's), and the manual ones are pigs!

carchaeologist

Max_Damage wrote: »

I'd have a manual, as I HATE automatics.

That said, I've driven a Ssangyong Rexton before (which are equipped with Merc engine's and tranny's), and the manual ones are pigs!

I cant imagine a 190 manual would be as good as an auto one.They feel like the were made to be autos.Iv driven alot of run of the mill autos and they are nearly all dogs,the most recent being a Focus auto..horrible.

8~)

Might sound a bit obvious but drive a few before deciding. An old, large RWD wallowy Merc is going to feel a bit different to a modern FWD, overassisted Japtastic car.

I'm not a huge fan of the 190s - they're okay but I think the W124 build quality is better and there's more space inside for roughly the same running costs. But I suggest going back further to the W123... I have one and use it every day in every weather and it is fine.

peasant

Choice One wrote: »

I have a 05 Almera which although being the most reliable and cheap to run car I`ve ever owned it is also the dulliest .

Just one remark on that note.

Your Almera right now is a "drive and forget" vehicle. Keep up the service history and it will be "drive and forget" for a few more years to come.

Drive&forget will NOT apply to a 15 or 20 year old car, even if it is "one of the last bulletproof Mercs".

There will always be some niggly bit that wants sorting, eyes and ears to be kept open to detect failing components before they cause damage, little fixes here, some more money spent there ...etc.

You have to be up for that.

carchaeologist

peasant wrote: »

There will always be some niggly bit that wants sorting, eyes and ears to be kept open to detect failing components before they cause damage, little fixes here, some more money spent there ...etc.

You have to be up for that.

Good point..this is what makes it fun tho!:)

MercMad

peasant wrote: »

Just one remark on that note.

Your Almera right now is a "drive and forget" vehicle. Keep up the service history and it will be "drive and forget" for a few more years to come.

Drive&forget will NOT apply to a 15 or 20 year old car, even if it is "one of the last bulletproof Mercs".

There will always be some niggly bit that wants sorting, eyes and ears to be kept open to detect failing components before they cause damage, little fixes here, some more money spent there ...etc.

You have to be up for that.

.........I dont think a 5 year old Nissan will be any better thana 20 year old Merc. As I said however it needs to be serviced properly in the first place. You could buy a full service pack for probably €40, track rod ends €15 each, a steering damper for €40, brake pads & discs €80, shock ( if needed ) €80 per set. A new dizzie cap & rotor could be €60.

If all of the above was done it ( if actually required) would feel just like a new car and be reliable for years.

I agree about looking at the W124 as an alternative, but a W123 might be going back too much, though it is a better car !

74merc

One good thing for a manual 190 over most other manual Mercedes of the time is the regular handbrake, as opposed to the foot operated parking brake. I had a manual C200 which I hated for this very reason.

Volvoboy

I'm now a fully converted auto driver, i now have 2 one a 1.6 petrol and the other is 2.0 Diesel, the petrol will always be quicker than the diesel.

As for the Merc's i always though the 190E was to small (well it is the baby Merc)

If i was you OP i'd go for a W124

http://www.carzone.ie/search/Mercedes-Benz/300-D/DIESEL-,/200930194696059/advert?channel=CARS

w123

Get the Merc, get a 123, and make it an estate they look nicer...

Capri

Almera 05 - value €6-9k on carzone

C class - €6-9k would get you a 95 - 04 model

You going to try a swop with a dealer ??

You can get a Haynes manual for the 95 model, a few 'special' tools (oil filter spanner and hex / allen key for brakes ), Otto / GSF do the parts (Alo Kavanagh for main dlr stuff ). Driving a Merc DOES it for your self esteem ( though I still can't let my old 90 Sunny go - it served me well for 8 years while I was fixing everything else I owned !! )

rugbyman

Question for some of you merc men

I have a 97 250 d lying here . long story. belonged to my late brother and i intend to use it. While it lay on the street, chaps(who tend to move around, rhymes with hippos) tried to steal it. my son came across them pummeling the dash board with a hammer. they had not done a lot of visible harm. the panel below the key hole was bashed. my son came along and they went away.

the hazard warning lights were flashing dimly. i towed the car off the road and left it for months. then I disconnected the battery , charged it and re connected. the hazards still flashed ,though not vigourously and the ignition key when sitched to on ,did not light any lights.

a local auto electrician has suggested that the immobiliser has been triggered and that the immobiliser is telling the ignitition not to switch on. one suggestion is to remove the ECU(wherever that is) and send it off to the Uk to get the immobiliser part removed, cost 100 pounds. i dont mind paying this but would like to be sure it will cure the problem, Any thoughts. Thanks in advance.

regards ,Rugbyman

Capri

Go to www.benzworld.org and log into the forum, they MAY be able to assist.
Some people KNOW about things, and others GUESS about things. When you're dealing with a Merc, go to a Mercman for preference, some problems are only down to a fuse or relay.Sorry can't help more practically but havn't had THAT particiular problem TG

Choice One

Was going to try and sell the Almera privately and buy a merc privately.
Don`t have any money to put to it so a swap would be ideal but i imagine that it wouldn`t be easy to find someone looking to replace their merc with an almera or a dealer who didn`t want a few quid thrown in to the bargain.
I like the C class but i was thinking going for a looked after mint 180\190e would be the better option.Last thing i need is to buy a car that needs work done from the start,the wife would not be pleased!