Should my mother replace her Mercedes-Benz C-Class with a Volkswagen Polo?

My retired mother is looking at selling her immaculate 1995 Mercedes-Benz C180C auto with 50,000 miles on the clock. She wants a smaller, more economical and manoeuvrable car for her short suburban journeys. The Mercedes, owned since new, is immaculate. It has been fully serviced by the main dealer. She is keen on a Volkswagen Polo. The 1.4 Match with a petrol engine and DSG box seems to be her first choice. What is the value of the Mercedes and the best way to sell it? She is keen that it goes to someone who will appreciate and care for the vehicle. And what is you view of her choice of new car? She is still very mobile and wants 'German Quality'.

Asked on 17 August 2013 by AL, Sevenoaks

Answered by Honest John

Sell the C-Class to this specialist dealer: www.mtsv.co.uk/. I don't recommend the Polo 1.4 DSG because the engine is a bit long in the tooth and there are questions about the DSG transmission. Volkswagen has not upgraded it to get the much better 1.2TSI engine with the DSG, that you can get in a SEAT Ibiza. So she could stick with VAG, but get an Ibiza instead of a Polo. Both cars are built in Northern Spain anyway. The Polo is actually no more German than Franco was.

Tags: running costs short journeys build quality selling small cars

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