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Should I stick with my Mercedes or swap it for a Fiesta?
I have a lovely 2011 Mercedes A160 Blue Efficience petrol. It has 78,000 miles and enjoy driving it. I have been offered a 2015 Ford Fiesta Titanium X, 34,000 miles, one owner, £0 road tax, much more economical, all optional extras and at a good price.
The problem is that a mate has said that this is an 8 year old Ford which will very soon experience all sorts of electrical problems due to the excess of electronic extras. He says keep the solid, reliable, quality, simpler Mercedes.
My garage mechanic/MOT man says he would much rather have a Fiesta in the workshop than my A160 Merc. What do you think?
The problem is that a mate has said that this is an 8 year old Ford which will very soon experience all sorts of electrical problems due to the excess of electronic extras. He says keep the solid, reliable, quality, simpler Mercedes.
My garage mechanic/MOT man says he would much rather have a Fiesta in the workshop than my A160 Merc. What do you think?
Asked on 25 July 2023 by John Littlewood
Answered by
David Ross
This is quite a common dilemma, and there is a reasonable argument on both sides, but the most important opinion is your own. You say your Mercedes is lovely, has only 78,000 miles and you enjoy driving it, so you need to ask yourself if you really want to change it.
A known, well-maintained car that has been in your care for some time is arguably worth more than the potential reliability of something else. It is understandable that your mechanic would prefer the Ford, but this might well be because he has worked on hundreds of them because of their popularity and parts are easy to get hold of. Your Mercedes might well be more expensive to maintain, but if it is running well and has been serviced there is no reason why it cannot continue to do so for many years.
A known, well-maintained car that has been in your care for some time is arguably worth more than the potential reliability of something else. It is understandable that your mechanic would prefer the Ford, but this might well be because he has worked on hundreds of them because of their popularity and parts are easy to get hold of. Your Mercedes might well be more expensive to maintain, but if it is running well and has been serviced there is no reason why it cannot continue to do so for many years.
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