Merc E300/320 for Family/Bike Duties?

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Merc E300/320 for Family/Bike Duties?

15 posts & 8 voices | Started 11 months ago by cookeaa | Latest reply from matt_outandabout

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cookeaa - Member

I've Been looking at cheapish (used) options for the next car, really needs to be an Estate for Child/general gubbins haulage duties and I can't really abide MPVs (I'm sure I'll end up with one sooner or later though), Diesel would be ideal, and (due to the Missus) needs to be an Auto...

At the minute 8-10ish year old bigger engined E classes (plenty of Autos about it seems) with mileage north of 130K seem to be pretty well priced, and I hear good rumours about their longevity at higher mileage...

Obviously it's got to work as a bike transporter (with or without a tow bar rack)...

Anyone got experience (good or bad) with this car? worth a throw of the dice? any suitable alternatives worth a look?...

Posted 11 months ago #
andyl - Member

5 series?

Volvo V70?

Posted 11 months ago #
Hairychested - Member

Rust, rust and some more rust. 123 were better.

Posted 11 months ago #
cookeaa - Member

V70 I would Love, but they seem to hold their value better...

Rust you say? Hmmm, not good news, our current Golf estate is good, but starting to seem small, and crap on fuel (Petrol 5 speed)...

Am I drifting into Mondeo land then? many 2.0 Diesel, Auto, estate examples about for them?

Posted 11 months ago #
andyl - Member

I was thinking rust too after I posted. What is it with modern mercs and rust?

Passat?

Octavia?

I thought V70s were quite cheap really for what you get.

Posted 11 months ago #
Hairychested - Member

Mercedes had a bad patch some 10 years ago, if you find a good one you'll be fine though. And I'd suggest a 2.7CDi, trips from Dublin to Poland a few times a year aren't a problem for my mate who owns such a beast.

Posted 11 months ago #
cookeaa - Member

On a pretty strict budget and I guess wanting quite a lot for ideally £2-2.5K ish...

The only V70 worth having is the D5 (I know beggars can't be choosers here), but having driven one previously that's the one I would have to go for, and a good example under £3K with sensible mileage? well E classes seem more prevalent, but there may be a reason for that I suppose...

I'm done with VAG for a bit I think, I find the seats (Especially in VWs) bloody uncomfortable, although I did have a Seat "Exeo" rental last year that seemed more comfy, Hmmm maybe a Seat? But probably wouldn't fancy a Passat TBH...

Posted 11 months ago #
Hairychested - Member

Citroen C5 estate?

Posted 11 months ago #
scruff - Member

I bought a V70 estate 3 months ago, 2.5T Auto petrol 78K for £1100, heated sets etc. Just sailed thru MOT, only downer is 30mpg. Just had 2 adults , 2 kids and all stuff for a week away in the back and had 3 DH bikes/gear and riders in easy. I looked at a good few, some were effed some OK but this was better condition with decent SH, lots around to choose from. Needs a cambelt whic is £200 from an independant garage, cheap spares easy to get off specialists / ebay etc.

Posted 11 months ago #
santacoops - Member

I've had a c-class estate for about a year. Best tool i've ever bought!

Posted 11 months ago #
stgeorge - Member

H Reg 300TE, had it 5 years now, 270,000 miles, 7 seats, eats petrol if heavy footed but can shift, best family car I've ever had. Cavernous flat load space and bomb proof. Apart from a fuel pump and a couple of relays nothing done outside very basic servicing (Oil and filters)

Posted 11 months ago #
matt_outandabout - Member

Old business partner had a 'F' reg E class, huge 3L engine and auto and nice n comfy / toys aplenty. It purred along on the motorway.
The odometer stopped working at 320,000miles or so, he ran it for another tow years before it succumbed to rust on the front cross member. It seemed to cost service and tyres, and was supposed to be on original gear box, wheel bearings etc. Even when a new exhaust was needed, it was less than my Seat Ibiza at the time...
The only downside was it drank a little more, offset by silly cheap insurance and running costs.

Posted 11 months ago #
cookeaa - Member

Hmmm, a local ebay/autotrader search (I'm in Reading) seems to return a ~3:1 ratio of E class mercs:V70s i.e. 3 potential mercs in my area to one V70 D5 all in price range, and ticking the requirements lists...

I've got a reasionable amount of time, I might hold out for a V70, or possibly a good (not so rusty) E300 cheers for the input all...

Posted 11 months ago #
tonyg2003 - Member

Hi as everyone says - rust, particularly wings. Merc early experiments with water based paints - Fail!

Otherwise good cars.

Posted 11 months ago #
matt_outandabout - Member

hmmmm, I may be looking at similar as more and more of the (expensive) electronic and posh engineered bits of my Touran go wrong and cost a fortune to fix....

Any other suggestions of cheap to fix, reliable, safe, reasonable room vehicles....?
Merc estate, Transit(?) or what....? Thinking pre-lots of electronics and faffage vehicles.

Posted 11 months ago #

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