Changing a 05 Merc E270, what is economical to run?

Gheadphone

Between the tax (1400), high insurance and diesel (i use at least E300 per month) i am looking at changing the car (ive recently had a baby so need to have enough room for the family.

What car do people think is worth looking at in the 5k range for overall economical niceness? Ford Focus/Toyota/Skoda?

I drive 100km per day to work and back.

Thanks a mill.

darragh o meara

Out of interest, what are these like on diesel? Im looking into buying a e270 estate in the near future with a similar if not a bit longer journey each day.

As for cars in the 5k range, You can't go too far wrong with a Passat or an Octavia, a Honda Accord would be in your range too and they are a fantastic car even if the tax is 900 odd ( A lot less than your paying at the moment )

Gheadphone

Hi Darragh

The 270 gets about 1100 KM from a full tank (about E110) so its about 100 km per 10 Euro.

I hadnt considered a Honda, ill add that to the list. You wouldnt recommend a Ford Focus as part of your list at all?

_Kaiser_

Gheadphone wrote: »

Hi Darragh

The 270 gets about 1100 KM from a full tank (about E110) so its about 100 km per 10 Euro.

I hadnt considered a Honda, ill add that to the list. You wouldnt recommend a Ford Focus as part of your list at all?

Focus would be a lot smaller. Maybe a Mondeo?

Jesus.

Gheadphone wrote: »

The 270 gets about 1100 KM from a full tank (about E110) so its about 100 km per 10 Euro.

What does that work out at, around 45 mpg? That's not bad.

Phil_Lives

Controversial choices: High Spec. Megane Estate 1.5dci or Laguna 1.5dci.
They'll have the lazy comfortable feel of the Mercedes with much cheaper running costs assuming you don't buy a lemon.

Jesus.

I'd say that Laguna would be bloody slow though

_Kaiser_

Jesus. wrote: »

What does that work out at, around 45 mpg? That's not bad.

For comparison OP, my last 2.0 TDI Passat did about the same as your Merc. Cost just under €100 a fill at the time. I was doing 200km a day of mostly motorway runs.

My current 05 3.0 TDI A6 does about 950km to a tank @ about €110 (or it would I reckon if I was doing more long runs - it's the pottering around town that kills the economy) so in terms of running costs I don't think you'll see much difference.

Tax is where you'll see the savings here and maybe repair costs (Merc servicing isn't cheap)

cabb8ge

Gheadphone wrote: »

Between the tax (1400), high insurance and diesel (i use at least E300 per month) ====

the 5k range===.

Your Mercedes is returning 40+mpg, that will not be improved upon hugely when changing to family sized car in real world.

Only motivation is saving in tax, is it worth changing to save €600/700 per annum?

Phil_Lives wrote: »

Controversial choices: High Spec. Megane Estate 1.5dci or Laguna 1.5dci.
They'll have the lazy comfortable feel of the Mercedes with much cheaper running costs assuming you don't buy a lemon.

The Megane will not, small car, horrible compare to e class

Kaiser2000 wrote: »

== I don't think you'll see much difference.

Tax is where you'll see the savings here and maybe repair costs (Merc servicing isn't cheap)

Indeed, I not think the potential saving warrant a change

Phil_Lives

cabb8ge wrote: »

The Megane will not, small car, horrible compare to e class

I have a current model megane coupe and it is lazy/comfortable in the same way as my fathers e-class is lazy\comfortable except the suspension is firmer so it handles better.

FrontDoor

I'd keep the merc to be honest. Compared to a 1.9 Passat or something, you would notice a huge difference in terms of ride and comfort.

A Megane or Octavia and the like are not on the same planet.

Otherwise get something with 140-150 bhp at least. An old shape Mondeo must be good value at this stage. A 2.0 C5 would eat up the miles I'd imagine.

Phil_Lives

There comes a time to change. Rear differentials on e-class merc are crazy expensive and other parts start to give trouble as they get older.

JC01

Phil_Lives wrote: »

There comes a time to change. Rear differentials on e-class merc are crazy expensive and other parts start to give trouble as they get older.

I can't think of many cars where replacing a diff isn't "crazy expensive" there a highly engineered component of any car?

And again, all cars start to give trouble as they get older so kinda moot point? Better the devil you know and all that.

cabb8ge

Phil_Lives wrote: »

There comes a time to change. Rear differentials on e-class merc are crazy expensive and other parts start to give trouble as they get older.

OP is potentially spending €5000 on next car, not buying relative new vehicle

Gheadphone

Some great food for thought. I dont mind if i have to move to a smaller car, i have a baby to consider so i just need enough room for a baby seat and a buggy, though i dont want a very small car (Fiesta etc).

The fuel cost is pretty decent but the tax (1400) and repair costs are a steep. If i could get 4500 for it id spend 5 on a replacement.

Idbatterim

Honda Accord I believe its 2.3 tax though, or how about a 520d BMW? the tax is the killer on the merc... what price would the merc achieve? If you have to borrow a few k to make up the 5 grand, interest will put a dent in the tax savings. Id be doing my figures, not sure if the downgrade from an E class merc would make any sense...

Phil_Lives

JC01 wrote: »

I can't think of many cars where replacing a diff isn't "crazy expensive" there a highly engineered component of any car?

And again, all cars start to give trouble as they get older so kinda moot point? Better the devil you know and all that.

except they definitely give trouble on Merc e-class where as on others they last the life of most cars. The Merc will start to be expensive to maintain from here on in.

cabb8ge

Phil_Lives wrote: »

except they definitely give trouble on Merc e-class ===.

but they don't give trouble on all Merc e class

darragh o meara

Gheadphone wrote: »

Hi Darragh

The 270 gets about 1100 KM from a full tank (about E110) so its about 100 km per 10 Euro.

I hadnt considered a Honda, ill add that to the list. You wouldnt recommend a Ford Focus as part of your list at all?

The focus is a good car, however I've heard a few horror stories regarding the timing belt interval which by all accounts doesn't last the time Ford say they will.

darragh o meara

Gheadphone wrote: »

Hi Darragh

The 270 gets about 1100 KM from a full tank (about E110) so its about 100 km per 10 Euro.

I hadnt considered a Honda, ill add that to the list. You wouldnt recommend a Ford Focus as part of your list at all?

The focus is a good car, however I've heard a few horror stories regarding the timing belt interval which by all accounts doesn't last the time Ford say they will.

Seweryn

Jesus. wrote: »

What does that work out at, around 45 mpg? That's not bad.

Works out at about 41 mpg. Not sure where and how the car is being used, but my friend gets a lot better fuel economy from an E270 Estate Automatic. His mpg is normally around 45 to 53 mpg.

PurvesGrundy

Does this not perfectly identify the flaws of our tax system; a 40 mpg+ car made uneconomical to run by 1400 euro tax?

Jesus.

Absolutely. Our tax system is a total farce. I wonder what'll happen in a few years when practically all cars will be post 08?

They'll dream up another racket to bleed the motorist dry, that's what.

Digital Society

Nissan Primeras any good? Seem to be a big family car with lots of space. Any experience with them? Ive never driven one myself but liked the look of them.

Idbatterim

It is an absolute joke, but it wasnt sprung on us. We can make the choice. Up to 2.5l which is what I drive it is just about stomochable, it's sky rockets from there to rates I simply am not prepared to pay...

Jesus.

Idbatterim wrote: »

It is an absolute joke, but it wasnt sprung on us. We can make the choice.

You mean lobby the Government and the other parties etc?

Idbatterim

No I mean buy whatever engine size we want, we know what the rates are...

Gheadphone

1400 is crazy though. Im sure the tax rates will rise for other cars soon, an 08 car is already 6 years old, the big tax take from pre 08 cars must be getting smaller every year.

Turtle-TM

I went from a 3.0tdi A8 to a 1.5dci Laguna and am very very happy with it. They are really comfortable on long motorway drives, I do 130km a day, all motorway, and it's great. It's the 6 speed 110bhp and sits at motorway speeds perfectly.

Great driving position, huge boot, safe, lots of air bags etc. €340 a year tax (I think) gets 5.2L/100km which is something north of 45mpg I think. Cheap to service. I also happen to think they are a fantastic looking car, pity they stopped them and went with the fluence!

If you look at one the dynamic spec is a must. Half leather seats, cruise control, dual climate and all electric windows, mirrors, auto dim mirror and heated side mirrors, leather steering wheel, 17" alloys auto headlights/auto wipers

Jesus.

Not that much power Turtle but I'm guessing it has a decent amount of torque. Around 170 lb-ft?

Turtle-TM

Jesus. wrote: »

Not that much power Turtle but I'm guessing it has a decent amount of torque. Around 170 lb-ft?

Not a huge amount of power, you'd notice it on an over take on a 2 lane but of road, not sure on the torque, but in 5th it'll pull from 90kph up to 120kph pretty sharpish.

I can't complain, it suits my commute down to the ground, comfortable and sits at motorway speeds with no complaints!

Jesus.

That sounds just fine Turtle. I have a Laguna with the same hp but sfa torque. It makes the difference between under-powered, which mine is, and just grand which is what yours is.

To be fair though, I'm not out on the Motorway that often so my driving is probably more suited to a petrol. So in that sense, its fine aswell.

Old diesel

Jesus. wrote: »

What does that work out at, around 45 mpg? That's not bad.

Yes I was quite impressed that a big engine 6 cylinder Merc turbodiesel could do 1100 kms for 110 euro worth of diesel.

Would have expected only 600/700 kms for that tbh

Old diesel

darragh o meara wrote: »

The focus is a good car, however I've heard a few horror stories regarding the timing belt interval which by all accounts doesn't last the time Ford say they will.

Is that the wet belt issue on the post 07 1.8 tdcis you are referring to there???

Seweryn

Old diesel wrote: »

Yes I was quite impressed that a big engine 6 cylinder Merc turbodiesel could do 1100 kms for 110 euro worth of diesel.

Would have expected only 600/700 kms for that tbh

That car will do over 50mpg, no problem. It is only 2.7 litre, 5-cylinder, automatic.

An old W124 from late '80s / early 90's does over 45mpg on a run with a 3-litre, 6-cylinder Diesel and manual transmission.

George Dalton

To continue the off topic direction of this thread it seems that the older straight 5 and 6 cylinder CDI engines are actually more economical in the W211 than the newer 3.0 V6 that replaced them. The best I have ever seen from a tank in my 280CDI is 45.8mpg. The long term average is 39mpg.

Old diesel

cabb8ge wrote: »

Your Mercedes is returning 40+mpg, that will not be improved upon hugely when changing to family sized car in real world.

Only motivation is saving in tax, is it worth changing to save €600/700 per annum?





The Megane will not, small car, horrible compare to e class



Indeed, I not think the potential saving warrant a change

Agree on the tax - some of the thinking on not paying 1400 euros seems to assume the new car will cost very little to tax.

A 1.9 Octavia may cost around 700 euro to tax pre 08.

You save 700 but are going from a nice comfy Mercedes with nice torquey 6 cylinder engine and auto box (I assume) to an Octavia - quite possibly a manual, a smaller car - less toys - to save 700.

Fair enough 1400 is silly tax to pay - but I think theres a case to be argued that the Merc is worth the 700 euro extra over the Octavia.

Yeah the Merc could go bang at some point - but keep driving it - worry about it when it happens.

in 20 years time - your probably more likely to regret the fact you didn't keep the Merc - rather then bemoan the fact you didn't sell it on - imo.

Btw - you mention the Megane - but I think your comments apply to the Laguna too - was in a Laguna 3 taxi - couldn't get over how it was possible for a French car to have such a bad ride - it just didn't seem to settle - it always seemed to be bouncing a bit with any sort of imperfection on the road.

Horrid thing imo

Old diesel

Seweryn wrote: »

That car will do over 50mpg, no problem. It is only 2.7 litre, 5-cylinder, automatic.

Rather a nice way to do 50 mpg

Jesus.

Old diesel wrote: »

Yes I was quite impressed that a big engine 6 cylinder Merc turbodiesel could do...

Seweryn wrote: »

That car will do over 50mpg, no problem. It is only 2.7 litre, 5-cylinder, automatic.

I'm even more impressed that a 3 liter 6 cylinder is also a 2.7 liter 5 pot

wotswattage

If OP's main concerns are running cost (Tax €1400 fuel €3600) at €5000 per year and will consider a Focus sized car maybe a Prius could work?
A very quick look on Donedeal shows up some in the €5000 range.

Straight off you'd be paying €514 tax (1.5) and probably a decent bit less on fuel. I haven't worked out the fuel cost savings properly but you'd be getting well over 20% better mpg vs 10% more expensive fuel so there should be a saving. is that right??

Not saying I'd do it just putting it out there...
I'd find it hard to go from an E class to a Prius, but for OP €€ is king!