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10 year old Mercedes SUV probably needs a new transmission. Has 105,000 miles on it. Can put a replacement transmission is for about $3,500. May run for another 2-3 years. Or get a new car. Problem is there aren't any new cars. Went to two dealerships today. Drove a new Ford Edge that has a MSRP of $42k and then went to the Nissan place but they didn't really have any cars. Will probably go to a couple of more tomorrow. I'm wavering back and forth between putting the new tranny in or getting a new car. I don't know how long I can limp along with it as is. I also hate to pay nearly full sticker for a new car. A used car makes sense but there really aren't many of those and the prices are nearly equal to new. It's a screwy time for sure.
Has anyone else been looking at this lately?

10 year old Mercedes SUV probably needs a new transmission. Has 105,000 miles on it. Can put a replacement transmission is for about $3,500. May run for another 2-3 years. Or get a new car. Problem is there aren't any new cars. Went to two dealerships today. Drove a new Ford Edge that has a MSRP of $42k and then went to the Nissan place but they didn't really have any cars. Will probably go to a couple of more tomorrow. I'm wavering back and forth between putting the new tranny in or getting a new car. I don't know how long I can limp along with it as is. I also hate to pay nearly full sticker for a new car. A used car makes sense but there really aren't many of those and the prices are nearly equal to new. It's a screwy time for sure. Has anyone else been looking at this lately?

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[–] [deleted] • 0 pt

You've got to be kidding. Mercs are just about the highest maintenance vehicles you can own and parts are going to be fucking impossible once the supply chain really takes a shit.

OP, get a used Honda or Toyota or whatever you see the most of in the nearest salvage yard. Sometimes they'll let you go out and walk the yard.

[–] [deleted] • 0 pt

If you're handy with a wrench, Mercedes are easy to work on.

Heck, the computer system will walk you through it step by step as well.

Mercs keep their resale value, why throw money down the tube, when you can be safe and sane in a merc.

[–] [deleted] • 0 pt

I reject the thesis but let's go with it for a second. Mercs are designed -- as are most German cars -- to need to be worked on. Which is completely unnecessary for modern vehicles. Oil changes and coolant changes...a modern vehicle shouldn't need more than that for years. Now, do they make them that way because its some weird quirk of German mindset or because it is a revenue stream for Mercedes. Probably both.

Also, outside of the Sprinter which is seeing artificially high re-sale due to the van-life craze and the fact that previous generations were actually somewhat decent, everyone I know who has bought a new Mercedes has seen 30-50% depreciation within 1-2 years.