I'm having a bit of a dilemma trying to decide on my next car. My 01 Mercedes C Coupe 180 Petrol Auto has had its day but I still love how it looks and can't bare the thought of downgrading! The only car I like more from a cosmetic point of view is the IS220/250. Realisticly I feel like the 220d is about the limit of my budget, or more accurately although I could afford it the 250 is starting to cost too much when compared to a more down to earth car. The entry level 220d can be had leased for £3250 a year which didn't seem bad. I think when I come to part ex the Merc, I'll be looking at having lost £2100 a year, with road tax and the loss of interest not having all that extra money tied up in savings, its more like £2600 before you consider extra maintenance. Although its an option I hear nothing of problems and satisfaction issues with the car. I guess with it being 08 a lot of it will have gone and be under warranty anyway. I'm also not a fussy driver when it comes to how well the thing drives, I'm nuch more into comfort, looks and reliability. With considering a 10k a year lease I'm obviously a very light user probably more like 7-8k and so am not a candidate for a diesel at all but if its just one service under the lease, cheaper fuel and a much cheaper car in the first place it has to be considered. To buy the car 06 would probably be 10500-11000 from an independent same as my last car and I'd like this for the comfort of not having to keep it in tip top shape and worry about dings and so forth. But again I'm not your typical diesel user and worried about that and maintaining a first gen version. I don't think I'd ever buy the petrol, its starting to look a bit expensive and the fear of 2010+ road tax just puts me off completely. The lease on it is about £3750 for an IS250 Auto SR but I'm finding it difficult to commit to any option in these hard times when I can get say a Accord Saloon 04 for around £5500! I don't know how much this kind of thing would cost a year and I'd appreciate some feedback on just how much we pay extra for these prestige brands. But its just, well so boring! I can't see any other car on the road that I'd be truly happy with. I suppose going new you have less big bill worries under warranty so you're paying for that privilege. I've never really had anything with any car as I'm quite happy to drive them with problems and use independent servicing. My Merc has limp mode problems now and lots of other niggles and my car before that was the same. I'm sure if I took it to the main agent they'd want to charge me a *lot* of money but it still drives and has cost barely anything to maintain. Maybe some service bill nightmare stories will sway me to the Lex!
