My PCP contract on my current petrol VRS hatch finishes early next year.

I have decided after years of resistance to go for a diesel. I have been pleased with the current and my previous Skoda Octavia and the obvious choice is to go for another Skoda.

My problem is that on personal contract hire, which is my preferred method for my next vehicle the Skoda is fairly expensive at £480.00 per month 3 plus 36 payments including vat, however I can get a Mercedes C250 AMG Sport either saloon or coupe for over £120.00 per month cheaper.

The question is do I stick with Skoda or do I take the risk and opt with the 'budget brand' ie Mercedes which I know is more prone to break down, has even worse main dealers and probably doesn't handle as well?

Decisions, decisions!

Edited 26 November, 201213 yr by firestormwest

Just be wary of handing back a Merc after a lease ends they're well known for charging for the smallest thing and in a big way.

You are saying you would end up paying £120 less for the pleasure of driving a C class instead of a Skoda? How does that even work out?

hmmm i think you need to seriously look futher into Merc, they have upped there game with the C Class the 250 CDI is a nice car quicker to 62mph than a Golf GTI, not as sharp handling wise as a 3 series but its in another league compared to an Octavia.

Merc leases are very strong at the moment I did look into this as I was interested in a c220, as I say just be careful of return charges (plenty of examples of people being stuffed on the Merc forums).

But I prefer the option to own after 3 years should I wish and the skoda better suited my needs at the moment.

I'd be embarrassed to drive a mercedes.

I quite like the new C class.

Why not buy the VRS and keep running it?

I'd be embarrassed to drive a mercedes.

Really? lol why??

My PCP contract on my current petrol VRS hatch finishes early next year.

I have decided after years of resistance to go for a diesel. I have been pleased with the current and my previous Skoda Octavia and the obvious choice is to go for another Skoda.

My problem is that on personal contract hire, which is my preferred method for my next vehicle the Skoda is fairly expensive at £480.00 per month 3 plus 36 payments including vat, however I can get a Mercedes C250 AMG Sport either saloon or coupe for over £120.00 per month cheaper.

The question is do I stick with Skoda or do I take the risk and opt with the 'budget brand' ie Mercedes which I know is more prone to break down, has even worse main dealers and probably doesn't handle as well?

Decisions, decisions!

Why a diesel, can't be economy, cabin and features pretty much the same I would have guessed with petrol/diesel VRS.

If it's all down to finances, then there's only one way to go, to do a comparative check.

My PCP contract on my current petrol VRS hatch finishes early next year.

I have decided after years of resistance to go for a diesel. I have been pleased with the current and my previous Skoda Octavia and the obvious choice is to go for another Skoda.

My problem is that on personal contract hire, which is my preferred method for my next vehicle the Skoda is fairly expensive at £480.00 per month 3 plus 36 payments including vat, however I can get a Mercedes C250 AMG Sport either saloon or coupe for over £120.00 per month cheaper.

The question is do I stick with Skoda or do I take the risk and opt with the 'budget brand' ie Mercedes which I know is more prone to break down, has even worse main dealers and probably doesn't handle as well?

Decisions, decisions!

Before you even think about the merc coupe take one out.

I had one last week for a day and although nice to drive/look at its roof and windscreen are VERY close to your head(unlike the saloon) because of this I managed to wack my head on the sun visor at every junction when looking for traffic.

The C250 diesel engine is a peach, it's a pity about the auto box which seems to be constantly arguing with itself about which gear it should be in!!

Mercs are really cheap at the moment and there are some excellent deals out there.

Edited 26 November, 201213 yr by taff170

Really? lol why??

Because he drives a "Super Skoda" obviously and ALL other brands are inferior.....(see BMW thread)

Because he drives a "Super Skoda" obviously and ALL other brands are inferior.....(see BMW thread)

Ahh ok, i think the term Brainwashed springs to mind. lol.

£4420 cheaper over 3 years, that buys some dehire damage. I know what I would prefer to drive

Because he drives a "Super Skoda" obviously and ALL other brands are inferior.....(see BMW thread)

Not really, again I like the Mercedez c-class but its out of my price range.

I think people are confusing best for money with best car.

Not really, again I like the Mercedez c-class but its out of my price range.

I think people are confusing best for money with best car.

But it's not out of the OP price range. In fact it works out less money so I don't really understand your post.

My post was a tongue in cheek comment on the attitude of certain Skoda owners who are convinced that they are in the same league as Bugatti drivers because its in the VAG group as well as their Fabia.

CClass is a beautiful car. I had C220cdi Sport Auto for six months. Very good all rounder. Honestly, it's leagues ahead of an Octavia. Lots of standard kit too. 50mpg all day long, excellent start stop tech on an Auto too. Absolute no brainer if your saving £120.

its not an AMG its a C250 with Amg styling

im not being clever but you need to know it has not got any of the toys the C63 AMG has ie:- air suspension etc

i have seen unhappy customers thinking they have an AMG when indeed they have AMG styling

dont confuse the S on the box as doing anything other than letting the box hold onto the revs for longer

i had the C220 varient that is the same as the 250 engine except the 250 has a different map

mine was the 6 speed auto

if it has the 7 speed box it is very frugal

i also had the E250 sport cdi but with the 6 speed auto and found that noisey and a harsh ride

do test drive as the seats and ride do not suit all

there are good deals to be had on the Jaguar XF and the 2.2 ltr tdi is very good

i think the reason the Merc is cheaper is because of the guaranteed future vale Merc give and the higher resale value when 2/3 years old

I'd be embarrassed to drive a mercedes.

What a ridiculous thing to say! Mercedes have made some of my all-time favourite cars: 190 Cosworth, C63 AMG, CLK Black and the SLS.n

£4420 cheaper over 3 years, that buys some dehire damage. I know what I would prefer to drive

Makes it a no brainer then mate, it's a nice car.

Wen did Mercedes turn the corner?

Didn't they have a bit of a wobble recently in terms of taking their cost cutting exercises a little too far?

Wen did Mercedes turn the corner?

Didn't they have a bit of a wobble recently in terms of taking their cost cutting exercises a little too far?

regarding what?

i know the older cars had rust issues and injector leaks etc but thought that was all sorted now?

What a ridiculous thing to say! Mercedes have made some of my all-time favourite cars: 190 Cosworth, C63 AMG, CLK Black and the SLS.n

ha ha.. lighten up guys.

Of course I'd love a C63 or a SLS, but a diesel c class is quite a different proposition!

Why do I not like mercedes?

Lets compare say, a vRS wagon with a similarly priced c-class - er.. hang on, there isn't one - starting price for the mercedes 180 estate is 29k so 8k more than a vrs (before you factor in any skoda discounts). If I bought one of these what would I get for my 8k extra spend? Bigger boot? No, skoda is bigger. Faster? No, skoda is faster to 60 and top speed. More fun to drive? Nope. Is there a pattern here? Ok a c250 is closer in performance to my vrs but that's 33k! For that money I'd have an ex-demo S4.

My mates who are petrol heads would take the **** (driving my grandad's car etc) and my mates who are not would think I'm showing off.

OP - buy whichever you feel happiest with, but for me, even if a c250 and vrs where the same money I'd have the skoda every time.

ha ha.. lighten up guys.

Of course I'd love a C63 or a SLS, but a diesel c class is quite a different proposition!

Why do I not like mercedes?

Lets compare say, a vRS wagon with a similarly priced c-class - er.. hang on, there isn't one - starting price for the mercedes 180 estate is 29k so 8k more than a vrs (before you factor in any skoda discounts). If I bought one of these what would I get for my 8k extra spend? Bigger boot? No, skoda is bigger. Faster? No, skoda is faster to 60 and top speed. More fun to drive? Nope. Is there a pattern here? Ok a c250 is closer in performance to my vrs but that's 33k! For that money I'd have an ex-demo S4.

My mates who are petrol heads would take the **** (driving my grandad's car etc) and my mates who are not would think I'm showing off.

OP - buy whichever you feel happiest with, but for me, even if a c250 and vrs where the same money I'd have the skoda every time.

are the residuals after 3 years not greater on the mercedes?

and you are bang on they dont make an equivalant to the VRS

as for your mates taking the ****..... have they sat in a new Merc Sport?

hardly your grandads car nowadays imho

it is horses for courses though and 1 mans meat is another mans poison and i applaud the fact you love Skoda, im getting a bit that way myself and the bang for buck with Skoda is massive , again imo

One of my work colleagues recently received a call saying that her brand new SLK was ready in a weeks time. She sold her car privately and arranged a day off work to collect said car.

On arriving at the Merc steeler she was infomed that her car wasn'r ready. In fact they would need to check where it was. 30 minutes later they told her the computer says its at the docks.

Still all credit to Bradford Mercedes - they offered her another coffee and said they were sorry.

Merc UK said her complaint was with the steeler and there was nothing they could do.

There are good rates on the slk too, a 250 slk cdi for less than £235 per month ,...

List price means nothing when leasing - other than p11d values, it's all down to residual value and the finance rate.