TMC is an independent, primarily volunteer organization that relies on ad revenue to cover its operating costs. Please consider whitelisting TMC on your ad blocker and becoming a Supporting Member. For more info: Support TMC
  1. TMC is currently READ ONLY.
    Click here for more info.

"Tesla": The word that will get you a better Mercedes lease.

Discussion in 'Model 3' started by Petrocelli, Aug 17, 2019.

  1. Petrocelli

    Petrocelli Member

    Joined:
    Aug 11, 2019
    Messages:
    373
    Location:
    Los Angeles
    #1 Petrocelli, Aug 17, 2019
    Last edited: Aug 17, 2019
    I have been driving a C Class Mercedes since 1997. I get a new one about every three years. I have leased 6 Mercedes C class sedans in a row. Collectively, I have driven these cars about 270,000 miles. I pay about $600 a month, including 10% California sales tax. I put no money down (other than first lease payment and license.) The payment includes all regular maintenance.

    My lease is coming up to its end, and I was considering a Model 3. So I started monitoring this forum. About a week ago, I was about 75% certain my next car would be a Tesla.

    However, the stories I read in this forum about all sorts of problems really cause me concern. Since 1997, not one Mercedes has ever broken down. In the 270,000 miles, I have never paid for maintenance or a single repair. Only one time did the dealer need more than a day to conduct a repair. (I left the car overnight, and was given a free Mercedes loaner.)

    I have never had any problem even remotely close to the horror stories I have read here. If you scroll through this forum, about every 10th post is a complaint about some issue with the car, and or customer service. They include windshields cracking, paint issues, rattles, dings, vomit smells, etc.

    Now, I do confess, no car is perfect. Mercedes can be problematic when you reach high miles. But I am talking about new car problems. The Model 3 appears to have a major quality control issue. The Mercedes does not.

    There are also a lot of complaints in this forum about service. This is in contrast to my experience with Mercedes. Here's an anecdote: a few weeks ago, my sunroof shade wouldn't close. I brought the car to the dealer on my wedding anniversary, and told the service rep I needed it back by 2:00 (if possible) because I had a date with my wife. The service rep called me at noon to say the car was ready. (Also, I have had the same service rep for about 10 years, which helps.)

    The good news: my salesman called after that service, because he saw the car was at 42,000 miles and asked when I was coming in for my next car. I told him I was growing bored with my C Class sedan, and was considering switching to a Tesla. Long story short: He offered me a C300 coupe for about the same price. (I must pay $1,000 cap reduction though.)

    So, I am going to pass on purchasing a Tesla. Maybe in three years the company will get its act together. However, I do thank Tesla for getting me a bad ass C300 Coupe.
     
    • x 45
    • x 13
    • x 12
    • x 2
    • x 2
    • x 1
  2. smicker

    smicker Roadster 1020

    Joined:
    Apr 15, 2012
    Messages:
    163
    Location:
    Berlin, Germany
    • Like x 41
    • Funny x 10
    • Helpful x 2
    • Love x 2
  3. TANGO SUKKA

    TANGO SUKKA Member

    Joined:
    Jul 7, 2018
    Messages:
    419
    Location:
    Bay Area, CA
    sorry for your loss
     
    • Like x 39
    • Funny x 23
    • Love x 2
  4. cbaaz

    cbaaz Member

    Joined:
    Feb 1, 2019
    Messages:
    177
    Location:
    arizona
    I think the shock & competition from Tesla is/will be having a BIG impact on established manufacturers for a while. The car landscape will change a lot in the next few years.

    Good luck with the new Benz !
     
    • Like x 3
  5. Skione65

    Skione65 Active Member

    Joined:
    May 5, 2016
    Messages:
    1,451
    Location:
    Kentucky
    What are your annual fuel costs? Enjoy pumping! Premium at that. CYA!!!!:D I’m going for a silent, smog free, good for the environment, quiet high performance ride through the twisties right outside my front door! Ahhhh.....Serenity.:)

    Ski
     
    • Like x 16
    • Funny x 3
    • Disagree x 2
    • Love x 1
  6. Petrocelli

    Petrocelli Member

    Joined:
    Aug 11, 2019
    Messages:
    373
    Location:
    Los Angeles
    Every thread I randomly clicked related to a problem with an older Mercedes. Let's be clear on this: I am talking about new car problems.
     
    • Like x 7
  7. Nels

    Nels Member

    Joined:
    Aug 10, 2019
    Messages:
    52
    Location:
    Florida
    Thanks for stopping by! Enjoy your Mercedes!!
     
    • Like x 5
  8. Petrocelli

    Petrocelli Member

    Joined:
    Aug 11, 2019
    Messages:
    373
    Location:
    Los Angeles

    This is a legitimate point. The Tesla is better for the environment. It also gets better mileage. I calculate the Mercedes will have about $110 a month higher fuel cost.

    Like I said, I think my next car will be a Tesla, or some other electric vehicle.
     
    • Like x 6
    • Funny x 2
  9. Octo

    Octo Member

    Joined:
    Jun 28, 2019
    Messages:
    386
    Location:
    Dallas
    I just rented a C300 on vacation for a week. Let’s just say Boeing apparently made the 777 a time machine.
     
    • Funny x 9
    • Like x 1
  10. Petrocelli

    Petrocelli Member

    Joined:
    Aug 11, 2019
    Messages:
    373
    Location:
    Los Angeles
    I don't understand. Can you please elaborate?
     
  11. ChadS

    ChadS Last tank of gas: March 2009

    Joined:
    Jul 16, 2009
    Messages:
    3,316
    Location:
    Redmond, WA
    #11 ChadS, Aug 17, 2019
    Last edited: Aug 17, 2019
    I hope you are happy with your new car. Chances are pretty good that you will be. But by posting here I assume you were looking for feedback.

    I have 216k Tesla miles over the last decade, I have never had the myriad problems listed on these forums either. The cars have all been just wonderful. I just scheduled an annual service; it took all of a week to get in. As smicker noted, I think you are placing too much weight on how things sound on the forums. Try talking to some owners IRL (I have spoken to hundreds, including some frequently for years because they include friends and family) and you will get a very different perspective.

    You could also have looked at customer satisfaction ratings. Statistically speaking, you would have been happier buying a Tesla than the Mercedes. Those numbers factor in all issues raised on the forums, so it places them in context.

    But don't worry. Most buyers of most new cars of any brand are happy and don't have problems. You will be OK. Just not as happy as you could have been.
     
    • Like x 18
    • Helpful x 1
  12. smicker

    smicker Roadster 1020

    Joined:
    Apr 15, 2012
    Messages:
    163
    Location:
    Berlin, Germany
    Here's 1500 results for 2019 C300 problems. Door and air pressure, wiper blades, remote start failure, even inoperative brakes. Sounds like a disaster of a car.

    MBWorld.org Forums
     
    • Like x 15
    • Informative x 3
  13. Petrocelli

    Petrocelli Member

    Joined:
    Aug 11, 2019
    Messages:
    373
    Location:
    Los Angeles
    This is interesting. I will read through some of these posts. Thank you.
     
    • Like x 2
  14. Octo

    Octo Member

    Joined:
    Jun 28, 2019
    Messages:
    386
    Location:
    Dallas
    Driving the C300 felt like stepping back in time to another era compared to my Tesla P3. It was growling like an angry dragon when I stepped on the “gas” and it had to meditate what felt like an eternity before it actually started moving.

    It also had more buttons than a Blackberry from 2007.

    It was a weird experience.
     
    • Like x 14
    • Funny x 8
  15. john85775

    john85775 Member

    Joined:
    Oct 10, 2018
    Messages:
    386
    Location:
    USA
    The C class is the most likely to be dumped in the first year of ownership:

    BDC37227-141E-4A6F-9F6D-C7ECD7D3019C.png

    Used Cars for Sale: Search 2 Million Listings & 403,646 Deals - iSeeCars.com
     
    • Like x 7
    • Informative x 5
    • Funny x 2
    • Helpful x 1
  16. cbaaz

    cbaaz Member

    Joined:
    Feb 1, 2019
    Messages:
    177
    Location:
    arizona
    Man, that mbworld site is borderline unusable with all those freaking advertisements in the right border and pop ups :eek:
     
    • Like x 2
  17. Petrocelli

    Petrocelli Member

    Joined:
    Aug 11, 2019
    Messages:
    373
    Location:
    Los Angeles
    Great response. However, do you think there is a problem with the Model 3 due to ramped up production? That's kind of what I am thinking.

    Also, to be fair, I know three people in my office who have Teslas. They all LOVE them
     
    • Like x 2
  18. cbaaz

    cbaaz Member

    Joined:
    Feb 1, 2019
    Messages:
    177
    Location:
    arizona
    Wow - Blackberry - that’s a blast from the past ! That company and its downfall was a perfect study in corporate arrogance.
     
    • Like x 2
  19. cbaaz

    cbaaz Member

    Joined:
    Feb 1, 2019
    Messages:
    177
    Location:
    arizona
    Before you pull the trigger on the Benz, do yourself a favor and rent a Model 3 for 2-3 days. Regardless of what you end up doing, it will be a cheap and fun experience.
     
    • Like x 6
    • Helpful x 1
  20. Petrocelli

    Petrocelli Member

    Joined:
    Aug 11, 2019
    Messages:
    373
    Location:
    Los Angeles

    I found this:

    Six of the 10 are German luxury cars and this could be, in part, the result of these automakers’ sales and brand loyalty strategies. They “offer their dealers incentives to buy new cars to use as loaner vehicles, which are then sold as used when they are still under a year old,” said Phong Ly, CEO of iSeeCars.com, in a statement. “It puts brand-new models in the hands of current owners when they bring their cars in for service, increasing the likelihood that they will buy another car from the brand.”
     
    • Informative x 1
    • Like x 1

Share This Page

  • About Us

    Formed in 2006, Tesla Motors Club (TMC) was the first independent online Tesla community. Today it remains the largest and most dynamic community of Tesla enthusiasts. Learn more.
  • Do you value your experience at TMC? Consider becoming a Supporting Member of Tesla Motors Club. As a thank you for your contribution, you'll get nearly no ads in the Community and Groups sections. Additional perks are available depending on the level of contribution. Please visit the Account Upgrades page for more details.


    SUPPORT TMC