Forwarded on behalf of Rich...
--
Max Dillon
Charleston SC
'95 E300, '87 300TD, '73 Balboa 20
-------- Original Message --------
From: Rich Thomas <richthomas79td...@constructivity.net>
Sent: Thu Mar 07 14:59:05 EST 2013
To: Max Dillon <meadedil...@bellsouth.net>
Subject: Fwd: you're advises please
Max -- could you try to forward this to the Benz list pls? I have
tried
sending it various ways and it must be getting blocked for some reason
(spam filter?). Would like to see if it gets through from you.
--R
-------- Original Message --------
Subject: you're advises please
Date: Thu, 07 Mar 2013 10:51:41 -0500
From: Rich Thomas <richthomas79td...@constructivity.net>
To: Mercedes Discussion List <mercedes@okiebenz.com>
So I have been thinking about this situation for awhile, and posed the
question some time ago in other contexts.
The boy, soon to finish 2nd yr of med school, needs reliable
transportation starting in the summer. He had issues with the 300SD,
nothing significant, but random problems as one expects from an older
car. When he started school he brought it here. While the car is in
decent shape he will really not have the time or inclination to deal
with issues arising in a 29yo car, and will need to get where he is
assigned (hospital training sessions) with minimal drama, likely all
hours of day and night at fairly random times, in DC (DC is not the
safest city, esp certain neighborhoods at night). This will mostly be
an in-town runabout, I guess with some road trips now and then. So I
need to figure this out.
Choices I have considered are (trying to minimize up-front costs):
1) New car, something basic/cheap, take a loan with low payments, in 2
yr when he is a resident and making a few $$ he could take it over.
2) New car lease, something basic/cheap with low payments, then in
2 yr
when he is resident making some $$ take over payments, then decide
what
to do after 3 yr (or whatever term). Up-front cost on a lease
might be
a bit more than a buy?
3) Something used, maybe off lease like 3yo from Carmax or something,
maybe with warranty balance or something to deal with any issues that
might arise. Reliability would be somewhat less than new, but
probably
still pretty good. Loan v. buy is an issue. Taxes, ins probably a bit
lower. Used cars seem fairly pricey these days though.
My interest (aside from the minimizing costs) would be reliability
so he
can focus on his studies and getting done without the worry of car
issues. I guess that is just being a dad... but I know he is working
like 80 hr a week on his studies and I really don't want to add to
that
burden with worries about being able to meet his obligations. I
recall my wife in the same situation, and me out at night in the
cold doing repairs on the POS Cherokee so she would be able to get
where she was going at 5AM after getting home at 9PM.
I am sorta leaning to #1, one of the small, cheap Fords or ricers.
I see
these things in the paper new for like $16k give or take, and payments
pretty low (<$300/mo, gotta add in the cost of doing business in DC
for
a 28yo driver). A used one would probably be a bit less, but up
front/monthly cost might not be that much different, considering...
Please provide you're advises!
--R
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