Should I buy used Mercedes Benz C class 180 (2000-2005) or Corolla or Civic?

[pwuser153943558349]

Hey guys
I have never owned any car in my life

Now i have budget of 20-25 lakh
Should I buy used Mercedes Benz C class 180 (2000-2005) or Toyota Corolla or Civic?

I am attracted to Mercedes because of its looks, I need for only home use within Chakwal city, i will not drive every day, once a week probably so I don’t care about fuel expenses
I have heard (aik bar mercedes le lo aur 10-15 saal bhool jao)

Which of the above mentioned cars have less maintenance needs

[sameerulhaq064]

What you've heard is wrong. An old Benz is bound to give you problems. No matter how immaculate it is, it'll give you a problem one day and that one problem may empty your bank. Plus, it's old and will have a lot more electronic equipments when compared to a Civic or Corolla (which might fail and give problems). Also, Benz will also give a lower fuel economy. These are the cons
The pros are:
Better ride quality
Far more powerful engine
Benz holds a far better social status

[hayatumer82]

go for a civic...eyes closed...the car is worth every ruppee...it is literally a flying carpet...i dont know wht the aboveguy is talking about a 2005 mercedes comes no where near in ride quality to the latest civic...ifyou dont believe me test drive and then decide....and dont go for the status symbol just go for the ride quality...

[Marschall]

What actually people mean is that aik bar mercedes le lo aur 10-15 saal tak apni savings bhol jao......stay away from mercedes and Bmw,haan agar leni hai tu brand new lo our 1 saal chala kar bech do.

[mhaderaziz_official]

A Civic would be a better choice since it's fairly easy to maintain compared to a 2005 C180. The fuel economy is actually better on the C180 than a 2013 Civic or even a 2017 Civic 1.8 Oriel, so fuel expense is no issue. The problem is if you buy a car with a lot of issues (cars that have been used as rent-a-cars), the seller masks every problem and the error bomb explodes after you buy it. Most w203s in the market have rolled back odometers and very few have been maintained at Shahnawaz to have any maintenance history. Most have been maintained at the hands of local ustaads, so expect oil stains everywhere.

Woh 10-15 saal wali bat sirf maintenance interval k mutaliq hai. Baki 2-3 lakh gari kharay kharay tor deti hai.
If you can find a good, clean, properly maintained w203 with Shahnawaz history with no issues then it's a good buy if you don't mind depreciation. Keep in mind that a Mercedes will lose a lot of money in the used market since people see a cheap car (a rental) and offer you the same for it. You will never get back the money spent on maintaining it and there will always be a chance of a roadside breakdown issue.
Try to buy a 2006 facelift w203 instead of the prefacelift since most electrical issues had been resolved by 2006. Facelift cars came with clear headlight lenses and a slightly updated interior. Avoid the Classic models since they have zero options. It's says on the fenders whether it's a Classic or not.

[Nabs]

I bought 2005 model E-Class back in 2012 (7 years old car) for 2.5 million Rs. I used it for a year and spent about 0.5 million on maintenance, then sold it for 2 million. You will now buy it as 14-19 years old car. German cars are already expensive to maintain and you will now have to pay higher custom duties on spare parts. If you can't afford or don't want high maintenance bill, then don't buy German cars. They are well known money pits.

German cars are over-engineered, and they are on the cutting edge of technology. Compare a Camry and an audi a4/bmw 3/merc c class. All the German cars have more complicated drive-trains, more complicated electronics, more complicated everything. The Camry exists to shuffle you from point a to b. It doesn't have to have the latest tech or a high performance engine, while the customers of the German cars usually expect such things. More complicated=more breaking.

[hayatumer82]

more like overpriced....i think drive trains of hondas are way better than what the mercs or audis can offer...and yes they are better than toyotas also...just drive the latest civic and you will be pleasantly surprised...

[nnabeel]

Everyone has its own experience, knowledge and taste. If u are a car junkie with knowledge and patience and some money in your pocket. Buy a Mercedes but before buying such cars always keep in mind to buy the cars in mint condition and not the ones abused and altered by our mechanics just because the previous owner doesn't had money and he used to go to any lallu mechanic instead of taking the car to the designated workshops.

Every car has its own feel and driving pleasure. Jo cars saree world mai lead ker rahee hai unko yahan log kehtey hain k bekaar aur expensive hain. Even ppl compare Honda being expensive over toyota.

So if u wanna show off and enjoy the old German ride...buy a merc in pristine condition. select the designated mechanic/workshops who now the technical of the car for routine maintenance, so u don't end up overspending and getting ur car ruined.

Otherwise, buy a normal Japanese car.

Aur waisey bhe you have written " **i will not drive every day, once a week probably so I don’t care about fuel expenses I have heard (aik bar mercedes le lo aur 10-15 saal bhool jao). **
Which of the above mentioned cars have less maintenance needs"

so buy one and enjoy life. An old merc will always be a merc and will be a head turner. but a toyota or a civic......will not

[pwuser154691780142]

Oh sir...civics have come a long way....they might not be head Turners but they are excellent cars....if you want absolute value for money don't even think of Mercedes...

[nnabeel]

I AGREE, i had restored an 1981 hatchback civic and loved it u can search on pakwheels forum.

yar money is not everything. in cars ka paisa aisey wasool hota hai when someone comes up and say " wow yaar kya gari hai"....thats the money

even when i drive that civic ppl show thumbs up, waive sometimes.....that gives the satisfaction.....
new civic dekh k kya bolengey log....yeh to sb k pass hai ajkul...

[FarmBoy]

AoA,
Dear pwuser,
Not sure if I can answer your question but I would say that you raised a good point. Old good out of market car comparison to the new ones in market. I am also in the middle of deciding if I should go for an old Crown (2000 - 2003) or a newer Civic or Corolla. Some also suggested to consider Mark II and Camry, well thats off this topic.
Mercs are excellent cars and also a statement (you have taste - debatable by some )
The trick with an old car would be to have it thoroughly checked before buying - so it would be kind of a lottery. If you land a good Merc, you might even be able to pass it on to the next generation (provided you can afford maintenance) but if you get handed a bad seed then you might loose a lot. Mercs, in my personal opinion for all out of main market cars, cannot be sold quickly.
On the other hand in 20 - 25 lacs you could easily find a good latest generation civic or corolla. Low milage with lots of options.
Wishing you the best
Wassalam