Owning a Mercedes

[Anonymous]

There's a reason why MBs depreciate the way they do. Go Acura/Lexus if you want something nice/comfortable/reliable.

[Anonymous]

We’ve had a few Mercedes. We can afford it - I have the GLS. It’s big but I love it.
Compared t our Toyota 4Runner we had for 17 years, this Mercedes is very expensive to maintain.

It’s not just the premium gas, it’s the fancy features that break and the crazy costs to repair anything.

My husband fixes up collector’s cars as a hobby and loves to figure out how to fix our cars. We rarely bring them anywhere for repairs. We do a service, get a list of repairs and to it ourselves.

Our 17 yr old 4Runner only had brake pads, brakes and tires replaced and that’s age related. Maybe one or two other repairs that were essentially maintenance. Super easy to sell.

If you can’t pay for maintenance, it’s a bad idea.

Also, we buy cars that have been used for 24 months or less. It takes a big bite out of the cost since we pay cash.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There's a reason why I MBs depreciate the way they do. Go Acura/Lexus if you want something nice/comfortable/reliable.

PP here. I didn’t care for our Acura MDX but we sold it after 5 years for only $4,000 less than what we paid!

The Mercedes GLS depreciation was about $23,000 for that 5 year timeframe.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would only get one if my financials were solid ($5M+ in bank). Cars are a money drain.

If you want to be safe make it $20M and you can afford a C class, no leather though.

Gross who wants a sedan anymore. SUVs only.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Dh has booked a mercedes

He booked an appointment to look at one, or did you mean to type he already bought one?

[Anonymous]

Bought one with $1000 deposit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We’ve had a few Mercedes. We can afford it - I have the GLS. It’s big but I love it.
Compared t our Toyota 4Runner we had for 17 years, this Mercedes is very expensive to maintain.

It’s not just the premium gas, it’s the fancy features that break and the crazy costs to repair anything.

My husband fixes up collector’s cars as a hobby and loves to figure out how to fix our cars. We rarely bring them anywhere for repairs. We do a service, get a list of repairs and to it ourselves.

Our 17 yr old 4Runner only had brake pads, brakes and tires replaced and that’s age related. Maybe one or two other repairs that were essentially maintenance. Super easy to sell.

If you can’t pay for maintenance, it’s a bad idea.

Also, we buy cars that have been used for 24 months or less. It takes a big bite out of the cost since we pay cash.

This. The maintenance plus the monthly costs I think is not for us.

I would be driving it he says - its an SUV which I have never driven and am not thrilled about that either.

[Anonymous]

He doesn't want to drive with it far for work everyday because of mileage.

[Anonymous]

I owned a Mercedes 20 years. I am middle class. I maintained it myself, had collector car insurance.

I had it 20 years here stats.
Paid $7,500
Cost me $14,000 to maintain.
$4,500 rebuild engine, $3,500 rebuild tranny and $3,000 new paint. Rest of stuff oil changes, tune up, tires, battery, radiator shocks maybe $3,000 over 20 years.

So total cost $21,500. I sold it for $18,000. So cost me $3,500 over 20 years. So cost me $175 a year. I also had classic car insurance most of time around $125 a year.

It was a silver Mercedes convertible, black top and black interior. I sold for more as I sold it rebuilt engine and tranny.

Prices quoted not at a dealer. I found it funny a car that cost me $300 a year wowed people

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Let me start by saying we are no where near the HHI of most DCUMers.

But being middle class and owning a Mercedes doesn't seem right to me. Meaning we could do something else with the money - save or give to charity etc instead of spending on pricey monthly car payments.
Dh has booked a mercedes and am not thrilled of the aspect of owning it though I have always seen that as a car out of reach for us and coveted it.
Do I sound confused - I am little confused. I also dont know how we will come across as a mercedes owner.
I know lot of posters have a mercedes but they can afford it easily - it wont be so easy for us.

Thanks for the inputs.

MB were a status symbol in the 1980s. Today, MB is best known for maintenance issues.

[Anonymous]

So 80s or 90s or both. The car is such a turn-off at your income and so is your DH. Get the car and no young woman will look at him.
Turn on would be being careful with money, getting a car for your needs, not wants, investing money, and yes, some to charity.
'Live simply, so other can simply live'. We all waste a lot and do plenty of dumb shit with our money, but this is just him flaunting the dumb shit.