GCZ, help me choose my first car!

[Mr. M]

Choosing your first car...how exciting Mirage!

My heart says the SL all the way. To this day the vehicle remains absolutely stunning.

In real terms however, I wouldn't know which way to go.

Good luck!

P.S the only problem would be the high maintenance costs on any older german car, or are parts and repairs relatively cheap over there?

The maintenance costs aren't that bad, because I'm not gonna go back to the official dealer for servicing. There are some very good independent workshops here and across the causeway at Malaysia that can do the job just as well.

I'm hoping to hear either Rob's or Marcus's comments...

 

[SDNR]

All are great cars James but would you consider a VW Golf? or what about a second-hand Mini? (if it must be German) -- they are a great cars for your first one.

From the Mercedes-Benzes you have shown, I like all three but I can see your dilemma about feeling like an "uncle" in them. I remember, a friend of mine owned a Lancia Thema when he was 19 -- strange choice for someone of his age we thought.

 

[cawimmer430]

Hi James,

I voted for the W124 sedan. The 200s are perfect for city use and they provide decent performance I guess coupled to acceptable fuel economy. Even more important I guess is the fact that they're spacious, have a large trunk, are comfortable, handle decently and are very simple to maintain (a lot of DIY). And like you said, they're many of them around so spare parts shouldn't be a problem.

The C124 Coupes would also be great, but I think you're better off with a W124 sedan hands down. You get more space.

The R129 would be a great first car is you can live with the poor fuel economy and cramped interior. Even though the SL280 and 300SL's / 300SL-24 (later SL320) were powered by more efficient 6-cylinder engines, the R129 body is heavy and thus the fuel economy will always be on the poorer side, especially if you're going to be driving this car in the city.

Go for the W124 sedan.

 

[Giannis]

Choosing your first car... Very exciting! I remember my days, when i was ready for my first car... Well i "inherited" the family car of that time..

Anyway, on topic:
1) 200E/220E: Far the most practical of the cars you mention here James. It has a classic design, still acceptable and classy in its own way. It has good fuel economy and a nice enough engine. I think it's enough powered for a first car, and also service and insurance must be pretty cheap, so even better. Though, i guess that there must be a LOT of them on the streets, which means that this car will be not something special, more a common sight. It's not a bad choise though, if the looks isn't the first criteria.

2)230CE: Now that would be my choise. It is almost as practical as in the sedan form and is few words it sums up everything possitive i mentioned above, PLUS it has a kinda unique style as it won't be such a common sight. It has a the style and the sportiness of a coupe as well as the classy look, which is typical Mercedes? Who would want anything more?

3) 300SL: Now this is not a good start. I can't imagine a 18 year old boy in such a car! It is "too much" and it can cost many negative comments about its driver. It may not happen there, but here it would definitely bring comments and jealousness, things that you don't want, unless you don't car which is a good thing :d Anyway, too much power and even more running/owning costs, plus the fact that you need something less "exotic" more like a base/cheap car to learn the basics. Then, in like 8-12 months time, you would rock in the SL, but surely not now!

Hope i helped. Good luck and listen to YOUR MIND and heart above everything!

 

[Mr. M]

All are great cars James but would you consider a VW Golf? or what about a second-hand Mini? (if it must be German) -- they are a great cars for your first one.

From the Mercedes-Benzes you have shown, I like all three but I can see your dilemma about feeling like an "uncle" in them. I remember, a friend of mine owned a Lancia Thema when he was 19 -- strange choice for someone of his age we thought.

The earliest Golf we have in Singapore is a Mk4 - and that goes for about 50k, not cheap. A Mini is too expensive as well, but I'd definitely think of owning one... A friend a year older than me has one in white.

Well Rob, choose one Benz.

Hi James,

I voted for the W124 sedan. The 200s are perfect for city use and they provide decent performance I guess coupled to acceptable fuel economy. Even more important I guess is the fact that they're spacious, have a large trunk, are comfortable, handle decently and are very simple to maintain (a lot of DIY). And like you said, they're many of them around so spare parts shouldn't be a problem.

The C124 Coupes would also be great, but I think you're better off with a W124 sedan hands down. You get more space.

The R129 would be a great first car is you can live with the poor fuel economy and cramped interior. Even though the SL280 and 300SL's / 300SL-24 (later SL320) were powered by more efficient 6-cylinder engines, the R129 body is heavy and thus the fuel economy will always be on the poorer side, especially if you're going to be driving this car in the city.

Go for the W124 sedan.

Thanks Christian. Looks like I'm set for the W124.

 

[Mr. M]

Choosing your first car... Very exciting! I remember my days, when i was ready for my first car... Well i "inherited" the family car of that time..

Anyway, on topic:
1) 200E/220E: Far the most practical of the cars you mention here James. It has a classic design, still acceptable and classy in its own way. It has good fuel economy and a nice enough engine. I think it's enough powered for a first car, and also service and insurance must be pretty cheap, so even better. Though, i guess that there must be a LOT of them on the streets, which means that this car will be not something special, more a common sight. It's not a bad choise though, if the looks isn't the first criteria.

2)230CE: Now that would be my choise. It is almost as practical as in the sedan form and is few words it sums up everything possitive i mentioned above, PLUS it has a kinda unique style as it won't be such a common sight. It has a the style and the sportiness of a coupe as well as the classy look, which is typical Mercedes? Who would want anything more?

3) 300SL: Now this is not a good start. I can't imagine a 18 year old boy in such a car! It is "too much" and it can cost many negative comments about its driver. It may not happen there, but here it would definitely bring comments and jealousness, things that you don't want, unless you don't car which is a good thing :d Anyway, too much power and even more running/owning costs, plus the fact that you need something less "exotic" more like a base/cheap car to learn the basics. Then, in like 8-12 months time, you would rock in the SL, but surely not now!

Hope i helped. Good luck and listen to YOUR MIND and heart above everything!

Thanks Giannis, very down to earth comments. Much appreciated.

 

[888]

While the SL might seem tempting, I'd recommend going for the W124 sedan, mainly for the reasons you named yourself - it is your first car after all. Plenty of time for SL's later.

yeap, too tempting for first car, that is not good, my first car was Fiat Bravo and I thought I have s rocket, lucky to stayed alive

 

[Giannis]

Fiat Bravo? Mine was a 1990 Clio and i still keep it

 

[Merc1]

After very careful review by the Merc1 car advisory board, we voted for the SL. It is a timeless, bank vault of a design. The only thing would be as others have point out, costs. It is one of those cost no object Benzes and just as surely as the engineers took that approach so will the dealers when and if something breaks. Second choice would be the W124 Coupe. Stunning car back in 1988 and timeless today. Upright, old-world Benz build quality and way more exclusive than the W124 Sedan.

M

 

[Yaz]

Go for the W124 Coupe James. I would have gone with the W124 sedan, but you're a young man and I think coupes fit young men/women better than sedans.

Our first Mercedes was a W124 sedan and I loved it. I don't remember the model number, but it was an '88.

 

[wltsm]

These cars you are looking at, well I wouldn't call them first car material. If anything goes wrong they would cost a bomb to fix. I think you would be better off going for a relatively new second hand car, which would have low miles so not much would go wrong. Also they would be cheaper to runs for taxes and all that!

BTW, your thing about crashing your first car, I crashed the golf on Friday, it wasn't too bad an accident but I was very lucky. I came round a bend, huge coach coming the other way, stomped in the brakes, got past the coach and the rear lost grip meaning the car oversteering and I went over the other side of the road, and went down a 2M bank! Luckily it did only £260 of damage, could have been fatal if a car was coming the other way!

 

[Giannis]

I crashed the golf on Friday, it wasn't too bad an accident but I was very lucky. I came round a bend, huge coach coming the other way, stomped in the brakes, got past the coach and the rear lost grip meaning the car oversteering and I went over the other side of the road, and went down a 2M bank! Luckily it did only £260 of damage, could have been fatal if a car was coming the other way!

wow, you gotta be more carefull next time Will. It's kinda dangerous you know

Anyway, did this happen because you were going fast or for other reason? And were you driving alone?

 

[wltsm]

wow, you gotta be more carefull next time Will. It's kinda dangerous you know

Anyway, did this happen because you were going fast or for other reason? And were you driving alone?

It was probably the braking mid corner that did it, and yes I probably was going a bit too fast, but no faster than normal, and didn't brake anymore than normal, still not entirely sure why it happened! Yes I was driving alone luckily!

BTW, the cars at the garage, because the lower bumper get dented, wheel arch covers came out and so did a cover under the engine and they are getting fixed. But dad just told me the A/C unit got destroy, that's £450!

 

[Mr. M]

These cars you are looking at, well I wouldn't call them first car material. If anything goes wrong they would cost a bomb to fix. I think you would be better off going for a relatively new second hand car, which would have low miles so not much would go wrong. Also they would be cheaper to runs for taxes and all that!

BTW, your thing about crashing your first car, I crashed the golf on Friday, it wasn't too bad an accident but I was very lucky. I came round a bend, huge coach coming the other way, stomped in the brakes, got past the coach and the rear lost grip meaning the car oversteering and I went over the other side of the road, and went down a 2M bank! Luckily it did only £260 of damage, could have been fatal if a car was coming the other way!

Maybe the situation is different here Will, but the W124 sedan is very economical from every way you look at it - purchasing price is no more than any riced-up second hand Civic, and it's at least half the price of a Mk4 Golf (your car ). Plus servicing is cheap because we don't go through official dealers, my neighbour had a W124 and he'll take me to workshops he goes to, which typically charge about SGD200 (USD100 or so) for a servicing that's required every half a year or so. So it's very affordable really.

A relatively new second-hander... Well, what do you suggest, Will? I will consider it.

I'm sorry to hear about your crash. Luckily nothing serious happened. Will report about my first crash first thing on GCF.

 

[wltsm]

Maybe the situation is different here Will, but the W124 sedan is very economical from every way you look at it - purchasing price is no more than any riced-up second hand Civic, and it's at least half the price of a Mk4 Golf (your car ). Plus servicing is cheap because we don't go through official dealers, my neighbour had a W124 and he'll take me to workshops he goes to, which typically charge about SGD200 (USD100 or so) for a servicing that's required every half a year or so. So it's very affordable really.

Well, I have looked at used BMWs which you can get for £1000 so I could easily afford one, but things such as tax, and especially insurance would be very costly. Considering that I was looking at getting a Citroen Saxo VTR, ok so it's got 100bhp and is pretty fast, but would have cost me £2,500 to insure per year, and the car would have cost £3000 to buy, and that's just a Citroen, a Merc to BMW would be much more expensive!

Sure, servicing the car at independent dealers reduces the price a lot, but some things they can't do, and you have to go to the proper dealer, and then it costs a lot. Considering that at BMW dealers, labour alone costs £100 an hour, it could end up costing a lot.

It depends on what your budget is as to what cars I can suggest, tell me that first and then I'll give you some ideas James!

 

[Mr. M]

Well, I have looked at used BMWs which you can get for £1000 so I could easily afford one, but things such as tax, and especially insurance would be very costly. Considering that I was looking at getting a Citroen Saxo VTR, ok so it's got 100bhp and is pretty fast, but would have cost me £2,500 to insure per year, and the car would have cost £3000 to buy, and that's just a Citroen, a Merc to BMW would be much more expensive!

Sure, servicing the car at independent dealers reduces the price a lot, but some things they can't do, and you have to go to the proper dealer, and then it costs a lot. Considering that at BMW dealers, labour alone costs £100 an hour, it could end up costing a lot.

It depends on what your budget is as to what cars I can suggest, tell me that first and then I'll give you some ideas James!

OK, anything within a budget of a 230CE would be in my selection.

Tax and insurance have all been counted in already - the W124 is still a reasonable proposition.

Oh independent can almost do everything, for those that they can't do, well it's an indication that it's time to dump the car.

 

[wltsm]

Was looking at cars in your price range, kinda forgot insurance on a few of them! I think, for your budget, a newly new car would be something like a 206 or Clio, which isn't anything like a merc, so I gave up on that idea, and just looked on Ebay for cars you could afford to give you some ideas!

eBay.co.uk: 2004 RENAULT CLIO RENAULT SPORT V6 255 BLACK (item 110129477962 end time 24-May-07 01:37:53 BST)

eBay.co.uk: 1999 MERCEDES E280 ELEGANCE A GREEN (item 180118643661 end time 24-May-07 15:14:36 BST)

eBay.co.uk: 1998 (R) BMW 540i AUTO SALOON - MASSIVE SPECIFICATION (item 230129117124 end time 22-May-07 17:03:52 BST)

eBay.co.uk: 1992 MERCEDES 300E-24 AUTO BLUE (item 250117524358 end time 29-May-07 19:09:15 BST)

eBay.co.uk: 1981 PORSCHE 924 AUTO BLUE (item 250117673418 end time 27-May-07 09:08:34 BST)

eBay.co.uk: bmw 318 is 16v coupe M3 replica (item 120122735225 end time 27-May-07 15:21:37 BST)

eBay.co.uk: 1992 BMW 535I SPORT M5 REPLICA OUTSTANDING CONDITION. (item 130116165643 end time 27-May-07 21:55:21 BST)

eBay.co.uk: Porsche 944 2.5L 1987 (item 260120467054 end time 27-May-07 20:36:49 BST)

eBay.co.uk: 1997 BMW 523 - "R" Reg (item 120122915491 end time 30-May-07 21:40:01 BST)

eBay.co.uk: 1998 AUDI A6 1.8 T SE GREEN (item 110129071058 end time 24-May-07 21:11:31 BST)

eBay.co.uk: 1996 Audi A4 Avant 1.9 TDI ...... QUATTRO.......rare!! (item 180119853146 end time 29-May-07 21:43:23 BST)

eBay.co.uk: ROVER 75 Special Editon STUNNING WITH EVERY POSS EXTRA (item 170113778283 end time 26-May-07 18:54:09 BST)

 

[hazza79]

I went to Singapore 2 weeks ago, and that time I had a 5 minute conversation with a taxi driver. Owning a car is a real luxury there, you gotta pay for the car, road tax, insurance, service, parking fees at work (and possibly at your apartment), and then the ever sensible govt policy rubbishing that you can't license it for more than 10 years. IMO buying 90's car is really going to #$% u off in the long run. I'm not talking about the absence of airbag, but the dollar and sense. Don't risk and add this to your car expenses list. I hope this is helpful.

 

[Mr. M]

Was looking at cars in your price range, kinda forgot insurance on a few of them! I think, for your budget, a newly new car would be something like a 206 or Clio, which isn't anything like a merc, so I gave up on that idea, and just looked on Ebay for cars you could afford to give you some ideas!

Hey thanks Will. I was actually having in my mind about some old Beemers. Like the E36 3er or the 5er before the E39 (forgot the code). Those are in my budget as well, what do you think about them?

I went to Singapore 2 weeks ago, and that time I had a 5 minute conversation with a taxi driver. Owning a car is a real luxury there, you gotta pay for the car, road tax, insurance, service, parking fees at work (and possibly at your apartment), and then the ever sensible govt policy rubbishing that you can't license it for more than 10 years. IMO buying 90's car is really going to #$% u off in the long run. I'm not talking about the absence of airbag, but the dollar and sense. Don't risk and add this to your car expenses list. I hope this is helpful.

That is very true hazza79, and I'm well aware of the high cost of ownership in Singapore. But the fact is, cars in Singapore are getting very affordable and now, as The Straits Times calculates, owning a first-hand Chinese-made hatchback will actually be cheaper than taking the taxi all of the time. And that's including insurance, taxes and all that. So it isn't as bad as before, when we really had crazy prices.

 

[wltsm]

Hey thanks Will. I was actually having in my mind about some old Beemers. Like the E36 3er or the 5er before the E39 (forgot the code). Those are in my budget as well, what do you think about them?

You mean the E34???

Interestingly my hairdresser recently got a E34 525i and was very pleased with it, he has got it up to 140mph. I don't really know much about older cars though, sorry!