Thinking of getting a used Mercedes C 300 2018 in the Bay Area. Finding listings for $24,000 - $28,000/- certified pre owned for single owner under 30,000 miles.

Moving from Chicago and have never owned a car before.
Any advice on how to go about the search, red flags, negotiations, pricing, etc.?

Thank you.

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If you’re a car guy - an AMG is the best you can get.

But if you’re indifferent - I’d get a Honda Accord sport over a C300

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Damn man - I could make a politically charged comment but I’ll just say that’s why I’ll never live in California. $300k income and can’t even get an AMG

Agree ^ new Honda has more tech, cheaper to maintain and more reliable. Only reason I’d have a Merc is for the AMG. Likewise with the Audi RS and BMW M as well.

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100%

A C300 is a NEGLIGIBLE increase over an Accord and as a car snob I’d take an Accord Sport ALL DAY long.

However, if we’re talking C43 or C63 - there is NO COMPARISON. I’d pay the extra money for the driving experience, exhaust note and AMG engineering.

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Lease European cars! Don’t buy cpo.

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But, you’re just throwing away $500/month.
Buying a CPO for $25K can still give you back 10K after 5-7 years, netting a loss of $15K. Maybe a few more grand in services. Can’t it?

I have a 2017 c300 fully loaded. Definitely better than a Honda tf lol. Also value holds up better than other German cars (bmw)

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You could’ve bought my lease lol, I saw it listed for $25k at carmax right after I turned it back into the dealership

2018 c300 (I owned one) was super reliable in my years of owning it

Negotiation - it’s a hot market right now so prices are sky high, aim for a few K under KBB

Generally I like Mercedes of Pleasanton more than Mercedes of Walnut Creek but beware every dealership has equal opportunity to take advantage of you

Keep your guard up

Damn. That’s a good deal. I like taking cars from car guys cause they look after them well.

Thanks for heads up. I saw some C 300s for 24-26K and it was about 2K under KBB.

Are the used C300 good? If I wanna keep it for like 5-8 years, are they reliable? I don’t wanna keep pumping money into it for servicing and stuff.

If you’re thinking German, Audi A4. The interior is much better quality. I had a 16 c63s and it rattled so much and had so many problems, I sold it and got an Audi

I have a 2017 and had no repairs on it at all. Can’t say that about bmw

The C63 is a BEAST - A4 must have been a major downgrade

Gotcha - I may PM you about the S5

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Haha I was in the same situation as you (also from Chicago, bought first car out here in the Bay a couple months ago). I ended up going CPO to minimize downside variance (knowing that l probably left better deals on the table) and having a BMW owner/car person friend check out the car with me. Still got burnt a little though on tires that had just barely more tread than the dealer was required to replace.

That’s good to hear. I’ve traveled there for a year pre-COVID and absolutely hated it. Have only lived in the Midwest or NYC and absolutely love it here for the people, culture and food.

I find the people in the Bay really rude and full of themselves. Also, find the culture really bad around there. And yes, SF is an absolutely horrible city.

I do like the outdoors, so hope to take advantage of that. I’m thinking of renting around the Sunnyvale area. Will be working at FB, so would be a short shuttle commute.

But, I’d like to drive it for pleasure, grocery shopping and probably for trips and activity in the weekend. And yes, hoping the car makes me wanna get out more as well.

Thanks for your inputs.

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