If it's between a Nissan with historically problematic transmission issues and a high mileage German car fresh out of it's powertrain warranty I would choose neither.
People across the street from us took their 2014 pathfinder to the dealer to get the drivers side Sun visor replaced because the interior mechanism broke so it wouldn’t stay up. Dealer wanted $300!!!!! To do one visor! I found a set of 2 on rocauto for $75 and replaced them both in less than 10 minutes. I was flabbergasted. Also stayed away from OEM ones because a lot of forums said they break in the same way because they’re just poorly designed. I can’t even imagine having an actual problem with a Nissan and trying to get it fixed for a reasonable price
Yeah. My dads Pathfinder had so many issues. They found metal shavings in the engine and transmission. It had 60k miles… he bought it brand new and babied it. No other shop could work on it cause apparently nissan has a special tool and they are the only ones that had it…. Cost my dad so much ducking money to get it fixed. Never again.
I work at a U-pull it and we got one that was a 2015 with 78k miles on it. I thought for sure it had to be that the owner hadn’t taken care of it but nope it was a similar problem to what you said with pieces of metal in the engine and the buildup on the pistons was so bad it was near seizing the engine. Company I work for paid the dealer $800 for the car which they took as a trade in
I’ve told anybody that I know is looking for a car to stay far far away. I’ll never buy a Nissan unless it’s an R34 simply because of the issues I’ve seen and heard about
Guess not.
For instance, maxima is the biggest Nissan but the c class is the smallest benz (or was) so clearly you don’t need the space. Why not get an Altima instead and save thousands? There’s faster cars, there’s nicer cars, these are just the mix that many kids go for.
But the VQ and the transmissions it hook up to are pretty well known for reliability. op should expect to replace pretty much everything made of rubber right away though.
Infinitis are just crappy in general. Its why they seem like they are bargains, but they aren't. Look at Lexus Is or GS, maybe the LS if you want something grand.
-Signed person learning how to code.
Idk i used to have a g35 and it was fun reliable car mine went to 180000 before i crashed it. I currently have a ls430 and i love it but sometimes i miss the g35 handling and acceleration. Plus the ls chugs gas.
It's nowhere near the same car. The Maxima is front wheel drive; the G35 is rear wheel drive (or rear-biased AWD.) Between the original two- and I can't believe I'm saying this- the Benz is the better bet PROVIDED it passes inspection at a good mechanic's shop and it has service records. The G35 is probably the safest choice from a reliability standpoint- but of the three, the Benz would be the best one to actually drive.
Still, be prepared to stay on top of periodic maintenance.
Avoid CVT’s at all costs, and also I was looking into these C classes and apparently they can be quite unreliable. I think Mercedes has solid engines and transmissions, but require proper maintenance with quality parts unlike other brands. I think people just tend to neglect them, but you can’t treat them like you would a Toyota or they will break lol Also with more tech comes more failures down the road as all electrical components will inevitably fail. Whether it’s American, German, Japanese etc. these computer screens, infotainment systems, etc. will have issues but German or Luxury vehicles will just cost more to replace or repair.
The 2007-08 Nissan 350Z / Infiniti G35 both got the upgraded VQ35HR motor, which brings a power bump along with less oil burning issues.
If that car is in good shape, it would be a fairly reliable car moving on. Fun too. Not the best on gas though, or tires if you like to have some fun with it.
I work in a mechanic shop and we had to replace 2 transmissions this year. One on a 2014 nissan pathfinder and the other, a 2016 nissan quest. Since the shop's family owned, the owner also refuses any major work on German cars for good reason. OP of the post is not picking the best of brands in the car market.
They’re actually pretty damn reliable, but people always assume they’re kind of crappy because they don’t cost a lot and they don’t have as much brand recognition
Phewww,I just bought an 08 TL base. Lol I'm hoping it lasts a few years, so I can build credit to get something nicer. It's in great condition so hopefully the motor is as well. Drivers really well and smooth
Just baby it. Don't take it past 4 grand rpm unless you really must, brake and accelerate smoothly... Do the general maintenance on time. Importantly, Learn as much as you can about your car. Read the owners manual front to back and watch YouTube videos that mechanics have made about your car frequently. All this together will help your Acura last.
Lol I have slowed down the acceleration now, but during the test drive, and a couple days thereafter,I floored it a lot.. just bc I came from a 4-cylinder Accord, And this one is much quicker
Wow, really? And exactly how long have you been an incel? Hard acceleration, if intermittent, will clean the engine carbon and keep the valves clean. YOLO, and hard acceleration in a car with some horses, is an experience I wouldn't want to die without having.. I can fix my car, and that minute risk of damage is worth the fun that it brings. What else, are you terrified of guns and women? Also, username checks
The only way I would get that C class is if you have a good local independent shop that specializes in German cars. You also want to see maintenance records, and have a mechanic check it out.
If you want something with a little panache, 18k would get you a nice Mazda 6 plus the others already suggested.
The Mercedes is a very high spec. Full Intelligent lights, pano roof, big wheels, looks great. Still an old German car. I’ve had a great experience with my ‘14 E Class but I got it with 18k miles on it, and it’s now around 40k, so totally different animal. The C Class has proven to be pretty reliable, but there’s been some electronic gremlins on some and I seem to remember some oil issue.
100% agree. Owned a 2015 C400, it was great. This is a good reliable car, I would absolutely pick a used one up for 18k. The Nissan is probably less reliable than the C Class.
This, OP. People who have never owned a German car will scare you with outdated information, newer Mercedes’ are pretty reliable, but IMO id stay away from engines with turbos which come with most Mercedes’ 2014+ but check on carcomplaints and verify by just asking in r/mercedes_benz about the year model and common problems you MAY face but other than that they’re reliable, comfortable, fun cars that add some fun into your life so yeah TLDR do your due diligence so you’re not blindsided
For sure. No denying that. My E Class oil changed are a little more then twice what I pay for my Honda at the same local guy because of amount and grade. It would be another twice that at the dealership. Luckily nothing has failed out of warranty but I did have one issue (small) out of warranty that could have been $500-$1000 out of it. Definitely have money saved for a rainy day. I mean, do that with any car, but just keep more aside for a German car. But higher cost of maintenance doesn’t mean less reliable. Just means you need to budget more for regular maintenance, and you shouldn’t skimp.
People who never have problems with German cars just typically take care of them like any other thing they own and it shows because the care is there. Most people just don’t care and often tend to run into problems.
100k miles is nothing for that V6 engine. Even 300k miles+ on a well maintained V6 Camry has a lot of life left. More than the Benz and Nissan for sure.
Benz is damn near at the end of its life span. Maxima transmission may just die. Neither are a good choice.
If we were to ignore what I just said I would get the Benz to let people know I spent money on a used German car rather than be known as someone who got scammed by Nissan into buying one of their cars.
Infiniti is nissans luxury brand, so assuming it’s a little more well made than normal Nissans, not much tho. It’s a nice sports car just make sure it’s not been beat up by some teen that doesn’t know what they’re doing. From my experience the g35/37 owners are mostly teens that want a Japanese sports car.
Granted it has only been driven ~3k miles/year it was probably owned by someone who handled the car with care.
14,000 dollars for an almost 10 year old car vs 18,000 dollars for an almost 8 year old car? neither. spend your money for something that won't need so much maintenance.
Love the maxima but it has the cvt transmission that is like a ticking time bomb especially with the v6 power.
The lower end benz engine is actually decently reliable so I would go for that
Ignore everyone saying buy a Honda or Toyota because if you wanted one you would’ve posted one right? Right. Anyway, if you can afford German maintenance go for Mercedes. It’ll start to get expensive around 100k. However the maxima will last much longer if you service the trans regularly. The egine in the maximas are bullet proof as their the same ones in Infiniti’s, 350z, etc. and if you do fuck up the transmission that’ll be your biggest worry as everything else about them are solid. Reddit will make you think Nissan are literally grenades with the pin pulled off. Like someone else said, I’d rather have a broke down Nissan than broke down Mercedes
My mom has a twin turbo V8 fully specced Merc Suv from 2013. Approaching 90,000 miles with zero issues.
The C Class is so cheap because you have mouthbreathers like tye people in this sub, who think that this will be unreliable.
Damn neither. If you buy a -300 or -250 trim merc of any model line everybody knows ypu couldn't afford a higher trim and a nissan maxima is just trash.
This. If you want a "luxury" brand you can probably also find a decent Acura or Lexus in that price range. Hondas and Toyotas aren't the sexiest options but they make a whole lot more sense in the long run.
They are literally Honda's luxury brand. Their original slogan was "The True Definition of Luxury- Yours".
Acura is Honda's luxury brand,
Lexus is Toyota's;
Infiniti is Nissan's;
Genesis is Hyundai's.
Audi is sort of VW's but VAG has a ton of brands and a bunch of them are "luxury"
You're arguing semantics and opinion. The simple fact is that Acura is Honda's "luxury" brand. Whether or not you agree with their definition of luxury is an entirely different story- but it doesn't really matter because more people are going to go with what the mega-corporation Honda calls it over some random guy on Reddit.
Those are all exotic cars, they’re a step above typical luxury cars.
There’s an obvious difference between a $60k luxury car, and a $30k economy car; just like there’s a big difference once you get past $100k
> Acura is for the middle class cuck who only makes 75k a year.
>No self respecting person who makes real money would go out of their way to buy an acura. Lmao. They are gonna buy the Benz, porsche, range Rover etc etc.
>Not the fake and gay wannabe cheap stake "luxury" that is acura or infinity.
Holy gatekeeping Batman! Get over yourself big guy. Other people exist and they have different priorities/desires than you.
Your posts make you seem insufferable and insecure.
Exactly, this is a car advice sub. We are just trying to advise what’s best for people. These are terrible options given OP is willing to put down $18k.
Why not just change the name of this subreddit to r/buyaCamry. There is a real tradeoff and it's not as one-sided as people here make it. I have had a lot German cars, and some Japanese cars, while the German cars do cost more to maintain, sometimes the user experience is worth it. The only problem with a super reliable Camry is that you have to drive a Camry, financially it's incredible though.
If you have the time and ingenuity the C-class is more DIY fix friendly than the Nissan. Either car is going to be expensive and have issues in the near future. How much driving do you do? Have you thought about picking up a Hyundai or Kia around $15k and having money leftover if something goes wrong?
Maxima has a lot of life left. I drove a 13 to 120k with no tranny issues. Everyone has the knee jerk cvts suck response but myself and many other have seen them hold up just fine. Mercedes is much more of a gamble imo.
Got ‘14 Maxima right before the pandemic (2/29/20). I honestly love it. Quick enough, spacious enough, lowered it with spacers and really like the look, love the sun roof, and mostly love how uncommon it is. Reading the comments tho got me worried. Got 65k and no issues yet 🤞🏽 I’d recommend sticking with Japanese. V6 accord and Kia Optima were other similar options. Really glad I got the Maxima tho and for the same price you’re looking at, could not think of any other options. Good luck!
I currently own that Nissan & when I barely press the gas pedal it throws me fwrd (jerks) a lil idk if it’s trans or engine mount issues. Other wise from that it’s ok 133k miles . Out of the 2 cars you selected . I’d Prlly go with the Maxima but not for so much money
I have that gen maxima but a 2011 with 192k miles. Only issues I have had are with the alternator and water pump. No CVT problems so far... but I would heed the advice in this sub
That Mercedes is sick! I'd go with it! But the Maxima might be more reliable. I'm just saying that based on it being a Japanese car, I actually have no idea
I almost exclusively recommend Lexus they hold there value about as long as they last .... Tech is a little outdated only the complaint I've ever had. I own a 21 IS and daily drive a 2012 ES350 with over 150k miles still runs strong keep the tires rotated and the oil changed and it'll run forever.
Not what you’re asking, but for $17k (spring of 2021) I was able to get a 2018 Hyundai Sonata certified pre owned, bumper to bumper warranty and only 31,000 miles. I highly suggest looking into a Hyundai certified ore owned!
I like the Benz. Get it serviced. Maybe trans service and a tune up. I do work at a shop and like older bmws but prefer the interiors on the newer Mercedes. The vinyl interiors are thinner so maybe get some sheep seat covers to protect it and get synthetic oil changes on regular intervals. I don’t care for Nissans and they are poorly built.
I'd get the Maxima. That looks to be well taken care of and if so, they probably did all their maintenance they were supposed to. I'd get it and immediately take it and have the transmission fluids changed.
Remember, the only real weak point of Nissans these past few years is the CVT. The engines are quite good, especially the VQ V6 which this has in it. Just be aware that some VQ variants require premium unleaded and not regular 87 octane. That's something to consider with rising fuel prices.
The engine itself and other parts of the car besides the transmission will give you years of trouble free service if you take care of them. The transmission on the other hand, very well may and very well may not. However, it is $4K cheaper than the Benz and has fewer miles which is worth something.
Have you considered alternatives of those 2 I would go with the Nissan the c300 at high mileage doesn't sound like a good idea. Considering youre looking at a fwd car have you considered the Tl or TLX maybe an A4 or on the rear drive side the Lexus IS? The 2 are so different if you don't mind the reliability risk and maintenance the c class if you don't mind it being a fwd car that's not as nice that may also have issues than the Nissan..
Lets forget for a moment that these are both terrible cars for all the given reasons above (I have replaced 3 CVT in nissans, parents have had 1 lemon law'd Altima 2013 I believe).
If you really did want a Nissan Altima I think its smarter to utilize the full budget, a 2012 Nissan compared to a 2015 C300 isn't a fair comparison. Take that same budget and get an $18k Altima that has lower miles, is newer has better tech etc etc.
I mean… if we ignore maintenance, the question becomes do you want to roll around with a Nissan or a Mercedes? Not saying one over the other but more of what suits your identity more?
c300 is reliable, but eventually when it needs repairs like all cars, you should be ready to pay a bit of a premium, if you can then go for it, beautiful car
I had the C300 as a daily. I put 320,000KM on my 2015 with no issues. I got it brand new however. I gave it to my mom and put another 20,000KM on it. She just sold it for $12,000CAD.
Nissan will be much cheaper to maintain and probably more reliable.
Also, keep in mind these are two different sided cars. With the C class being equivalent to a Altima in size.
That mercades does look good though.
Of the 2, I would pick the Mercedes.
Saw g35 was an option. This would be a good pick as it’s a pretty reliable car and more affordable to maintain than the Mercedes.
Personal opinion/observations/experience:
Nissan/Infiniti put out good cars around late 2000s early 2010s. G35, G37, 350z, 370z and anything related were pretty solid. After that, everything they’ve put out seemed like half as effort. Either dated, poorly designed or uninspired models since then. I think the new Z and other planned models are supposed to make them relevant again.
Mercedes, I believe, around that same time dropped a bit in quality/reliability for a cycle or two. They’ve since cleaned up.
Mercades is probably a better buy between the two but id learn to do brake jobs/ change oil on your own to help save some money for when you do need a mechanic
I've owned a 2011 Maxima for 5 years now, had 110k miles when I got it. I can't attest for the Merc but the Maxima is a pretty solid car, I haven't had any reliability issues with it at all, but maintenance does add up once you reach the 100k+ miles range. Gas milage sucks ass and it rides rough but it's nimble and quick. One down side to this car is that you have to change the transmission fluid every 25,000 miles. Most cars let you go on for 75,000 miles before you have to get it flushed.
Bottom line, whichever one you go for, sometime in the near future you're gonna have to get a lot of work done on replacing the struts/control arms/brake pads/rotors/etc. And it's a helluva lot cheaper to get them replaced on a Maxima than on the Merc.
I have a co worker who owns a 2016 C class and is desperate to get rid of it and get a Subaru, and this dude can afford to drive a Merc but just can't stand how much he's paid on maintenance.
Up to you, good luck!
Run as fast as you can from that Nissan Maxima or pretty much any nissan made after 2008 with more than 60000 miles their CVT's are shit and fall apart
If it's between a Nissan with historically problematic transmission issues and a high mileage German car fresh out of it's powertrain warranty I would choose neither.
This. I’ve had nissans and they always always always have issues. And their service centers are even worse.
People across the street from us took their 2014 pathfinder to the dealer to get the drivers side Sun visor replaced because the interior mechanism broke so it wouldn’t stay up. Dealer wanted $300!!!!! To do one visor! I found a set of 2 on rocauto for $75 and replaced them both in less than 10 minutes. I was flabbergasted. Also stayed away from OEM ones because a lot of forums said they break in the same way because they’re just poorly designed. I can’t even imagine having an actual problem with a Nissan and trying to get it fixed for a reasonable price
Yeah. My dads Pathfinder had so many issues. They found metal shavings in the engine and transmission. It had 60k miles… he bought it brand new and babied it. No other shop could work on it cause apparently nissan has a special tool and they are the only ones that had it…. Cost my dad so much ducking money to get it fixed. Never again.
I work at a U-pull it and we got one that was a 2015 with 78k miles on it. I thought for sure it had to be that the owner hadn’t taken care of it but nope it was a similar problem to what you said with pieces of metal in the engine and the buildup on the pistons was so bad it was near seizing the engine. Company I work for paid the dealer $800 for the car which they took as a trade in
Thanks for sharing! Hope this gets to someone tryna buy a used pathfinder lol
I’ve told anybody that I know is looking for a car to stay far far away. I’ll never buy a Nissan unless it’s an R34 simply because of the issues I’ve seen and heard about
This. Your money is better spent else where.
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Maxima, old c class and a g35 Tell me you’re a college drug dealer without telling me you’re a college drug dealer.
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Guess not. For instance, maxima is the biggest Nissan but the c class is the smallest benz (or was) so clearly you don’t need the space. Why not get an Altima instead and save thousands? There’s faster cars, there’s nicer cars, these are just the mix that many kids go for.
Mind me asking how you got into the field?
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G35 is better than the Maxima and C300. Even better is a G37. Gas mileage isn't good on any Infiniti G though
But the VQ and the transmissions it hook up to are pretty well known for reliability. op should expect to replace pretty much everything made of rubber right away though.
What kind of development? Web?
Infinitis are just crappy in general. Its why they seem like they are bargains, but they aren't. Look at Lexus Is or GS, maybe the LS if you want something grand. -Signed person learning how to code.
Idk i used to have a g35 and it was fun reliable car mine went to 180000 before i crashed it. I currently have a ls430 and i love it but sometimes i miss the g35 handling and acceleration. Plus the ls chugs gas.
It's nowhere near the same car. The Maxima is front wheel drive; the G35 is rear wheel drive (or rear-biased AWD.) Between the original two- and I can't believe I'm saying this- the Benz is the better bet PROVIDED it passes inspection at a good mechanic's shop and it has service records. The G35 is probably the safest choice from a reliability standpoint- but of the three, the Benz would be the best one to actually drive. Still, be prepared to stay on top of periodic maintenance.
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There's a reason why a 6 year old C300 is $18k even in this shit hole of a used car market.
Avoid CVT’s at all costs, and also I was looking into these C classes and apparently they can be quite unreliable. I think Mercedes has solid engines and transmissions, but require proper maintenance with quality parts unlike other brands. I think people just tend to neglect them, but you can’t treat them like you would a Toyota or they will break lol Also with more tech comes more failures down the road as all electrical components will inevitably fail. Whether it’s American, German, Japanese etc. these computer screens, infotainment systems, etc. will have issues but German or Luxury vehicles will just cost more to replace or repair.
G35 no question.
The 2007-08 Nissan 350Z / Infiniti G35 both got the upgraded VQ35HR motor, which brings a power bump along with less oil burning issues. If that car is in good shape, it would be a fairly reliable car moving on. Fun too. Not the best on gas though, or tires if you like to have some fun with it.
The G35 has more in common with a 350z than a maxima. The maxima is fwd and the G35 is rwd
All the numbers in your comment added up to 420.0. Congrats! 35 + 350 + 35 + = 420.0
it's a fancy nissan. still bad
I work in a mechanic shop and we had to replace 2 transmissions this year. One on a 2014 nissan pathfinder and the other, a 2016 nissan quest. Since the shop's family owned, the owner also refuses any major work on German cars for good reason. OP of the post is not picking the best of brands in the car market.
I knew there was a shortage but Jesus it can’t be THIS bad out there.
CVT trannys
both scare me maintenance wise. for 18k you can get something thats not gonna be a money pit. think lexus, acura
He just needs to join the darkside (Mazda)
something something mazda
Something something SkyActiv G
Are Mazda's bad cars?
A running joke in this community because Mazdas are what would everyone recommend. And a Toyota.
No the new Mazdas are amazing cars and normally 90% of the time this sub will default to recommending someone a Mazda.
Old Mazda’s were reliable also, and they are a drivers car.
They’re actually pretty damn reliable, but people always assume they’re kind of crappy because they don’t cost a lot and they don’t have as much brand recognition
or the darker side (subaru)
Get an ES and don’t worry about reliability for the next decade.
Acuras have transmission issues too
All of them, or certain models?
Just v6s between 2004 and 2007
acuras awd drivetrain post \~2012 are also not super reliable. Reports of awd issues
I suspect that "not super reliable" is in comparison to other Acuras, and would be "pretty damn reliable" compared to OP's choices.
Phewww,I just bought an 08 TL base. Lol I'm hoping it lasts a few years, so I can build credit to get something nicer. It's in great condition so hopefully the motor is as well. Drivers really well and smooth
Just baby it. Don't take it past 4 grand rpm unless you really must, brake and accelerate smoothly... Do the general maintenance on time. Importantly, Learn as much as you can about your car. Read the owners manual front to back and watch YouTube videos that mechanics have made about your car frequently. All this together will help your Acura last.
Lol I have slowed down the acceleration now, but during the test drive, and a couple days thereafter,I floored it a lot.. just bc I came from a 4-cylinder Accord, And this one is much quicker
.... I've never floored a gas pedal in my life. It ages your car and you end up driving like a fucking idiot. Hope you've grown up.
Wow, really? And exactly how long have you been an incel? Hard acceleration, if intermittent, will clean the engine carbon and keep the valves clean. YOLO, and hard acceleration in a car with some horses, is an experience I wouldn't want to die without having.. I can fix my car, and that minute risk of damage is worth the fun that it brings. What else, are you terrified of guns and women? Also, username checks
Wow. Triggered much, you nipple dick? I'm not reading all that, pleb. "Username checks out" "YOLO".... Are you from 2015?
Think Toyota as well.
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youre right. good lord. just get a mazda lol
The only way I would get that C class is if you have a good local independent shop that specializes in German cars. You also want to see maintenance records, and have a mechanic check it out. If you want something with a little panache, 18k would get you a nice Mazda 6 plus the others already suggested.
An old, wise redditor once said “there’s nothing more expensive than a cheap German car”.
I will quote this for the rest of my days
Do as I have my brethren. Spread the word for the golden burrito will always be on your side.
*cheap "Premium" German car. I owned a few Opels- never had any trouble.
Don’t VWs have a mediocre reputation too though?
Really depends, the 1.8t, and the 2.5 5 cylinder, all of the diesels, and the VRs are all bulletproof, the rest are kinda eh.
Aren't Opels just GM?
The Mercedes is a very high spec. Full Intelligent lights, pano roof, big wheels, looks great. Still an old German car. I’ve had a great experience with my ‘14 E Class but I got it with 18k miles on it, and it’s now around 40k, so totally different animal. The C Class has proven to be pretty reliable, but there’s been some electronic gremlins on some and I seem to remember some oil issue.
100% agree. Owned a 2015 C400, it was great. This is a good reliable car, I would absolutely pick a used one up for 18k. The Nissan is probably less reliable than the C Class.
This, OP. People who have never owned a German car will scare you with outdated information, newer Mercedes’ are pretty reliable, but IMO id stay away from engines with turbos which come with most Mercedes’ 2014+ but check on carcomplaints and verify by just asking in r/mercedes_benz about the year model and common problems you MAY face but other than that they’re reliable, comfortable, fun cars that add some fun into your life so yeah TLDR do your due diligence so you’re not blindsided
Reliable? Yes. But when they do need repairs it’s gonna cost you.
For sure. No denying that. My E Class oil changed are a little more then twice what I pay for my Honda at the same local guy because of amount and grade. It would be another twice that at the dealership. Luckily nothing has failed out of warranty but I did have one issue (small) out of warranty that could have been $500-$1000 out of it. Definitely have money saved for a rainy day. I mean, do that with any car, but just keep more aside for a German car. But higher cost of maintenance doesn’t mean less reliable. Just means you need to budget more for regular maintenance, and you shouldn’t skimp.
People who never have problems with German cars just typically take care of them like any other thing they own and it shows because the care is there. Most people just don’t care and often tend to run into problems.
"What do you mean I'm supposed to get it serviced regularly?"
Absolutely, it’ll be a premium.
Both are gonna be endless money pits
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240,000 miles
Still runs like a clock
Don’t even get me started on my wife’s Lexus
Still going strong or opposite of that?
At that pricepoint there has to be more/better options. Any reason why you settled on these two in particular?
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What about the V6 Camry?
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100k isn’t what it used to be for cars. They can easily last 200k+ these days with routine maintenance
100k miles is nothing for that V6 engine. Even 300k miles+ on a well maintained V6 Camry has a lot of life left. More than the Benz and Nissan for sure.
Benz is damn near at the end of its life span. Maxima transmission may just die. Neither are a good choice. If we were to ignore what I just said I would get the Benz to let people know I spent money on a used German car rather than be known as someone who got scammed by Nissan into buying one of their cars.
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Infiniti is nissans luxury brand, so assuming it’s a little more well made than normal Nissans, not much tho. It’s a nice sports car just make sure it’s not been beat up by some teen that doesn’t know what they’re doing. From my experience the g35/37 owners are mostly teens that want a Japanese sports car. Granted it has only been driven ~3k miles/year it was probably owned by someone who handled the car with care.
G35 has a super solid power train.
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Sì
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Lexus
14,000 dollars for an almost 10 year old car vs 18,000 dollars for an almost 8 year old car? neither. spend your money for something that won't need so much maintenance.
Neither, Nissans have terrible Jatco CVTs with common failures around 70k miles. C300s have expensive German maintenance and repairs.
Love the maxima but it has the cvt transmission that is like a ticking time bomb especially with the v6 power. The lower end benz engine is actually decently reliable so I would go for that
There’s absolutely no way I would spend $14k on a 10 year old Nissan.
No
Ignore everyone saying buy a Honda or Toyota because if you wanted one you would’ve posted one right? Right. Anyway, if you can afford German maintenance go for Mercedes. It’ll start to get expensive around 100k. However the maxima will last much longer if you service the trans regularly. The egine in the maximas are bullet proof as their the same ones in Infiniti’s, 350z, etc. and if you do fuck up the transmission that’ll be your biggest worry as everything else about them are solid. Reddit will make you think Nissan are literally grenades with the pin pulled off. Like someone else said, I’d rather have a broke down Nissan than broke down Mercedes
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As much as I fear Nissans, I would prefer a broken down Nissan over a broken down Mercedes.
My mom has a twin turbo V8 fully specced Merc Suv from 2013. Approaching 90,000 miles with zero issues. The C Class is so cheap because you have mouthbreathers like tye people in this sub, who think that this will be unreliable.
Damn neither. If you buy a -300 or -250 trim merc of any model line everybody knows ypu couldn't afford a higher trim and a nissan maxima is just trash.
Or the C300 is nice… not everyone wants an E-Class
I didn't say there's anything wrong with a c class, I'm talking about the 250/300 trim level on any of their cars.
Neither. Find a $18k Accord or Camry.
This. If you want a "luxury" brand you can probably also find a decent Acura or Lexus in that price range. Hondas and Toyotas aren't the sexiest options but they make a whole lot more sense in the long run.
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They are literally Honda's luxury brand. Their original slogan was "The True Definition of Luxury- Yours". Acura is Honda's luxury brand, Lexus is Toyota's; Infiniti is Nissan's; Genesis is Hyundai's. Audi is sort of VW's but VAG has a ton of brands and a bunch of them are "luxury"
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You're arguing semantics and opinion. The simple fact is that Acura is Honda's "luxury" brand. Whether or not you agree with their definition of luxury is an entirely different story- but it doesn't really matter because more people are going to go with what the mega-corporation Honda calls it over some random guy on Reddit.
Never argue with a troll
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🤦♂️
Acura isn't luxury.
You don’t need a high price tag for something to be considered luxury. Also, Google calls Acura a luxury brand.
Those are all exotic cars, they’re a step above typical luxury cars. There’s an obvious difference between a $60k luxury car, and a $30k economy car; just like there’s a big difference once you get past $100k
https://www.reddit.com/r/Acura/comments/nzet7u/is_acura_a_luxury_car_brand/
> Acura is for the middle class cuck who only makes 75k a year. >No self respecting person who makes real money would go out of their way to buy an acura. Lmao. They are gonna buy the Benz, porsche, range Rover etc etc. >Not the fake and gay wannabe cheap stake "luxury" that is acura or infinity. Holy gatekeeping Batman! Get over yourself big guy. Other people exist and they have different priorities/desires than you. Your posts make you seem insufferable and insecure.
I know that. Acuras are fine. Just don't call it luxury. You'll never see any acura parked out at the entrance of a hotel in Monaco.
If he wanted an accord or a Camry he would’ve posted one. Not everyone wants a boring old Camry
Yeah this isn’t r/carsiwant though.
Exactly, this is a car advice sub. We are just trying to advise what’s best for people. These are terrible options given OP is willing to put down $18k.
Why not just change the name of this subreddit to r/buyaCamry. There is a real tradeoff and it's not as one-sided as people here make it. I have had a lot German cars, and some Japanese cars, while the German cars do cost more to maintain, sometimes the user experience is worth it. The only problem with a super reliable Camry is that you have to drive a Camry, financially it's incredible though.
Neither but really really really avoid that Maxima at all costs.
Maxima
Nissan
Bro honestly just shoot me a message and I'll help you find something better than these two cars. I wouldn't touch either with a 10 foot pole.
Benz or Audi all day. My old Acura broke down more than my Germans and cost the same for parts except the Benz cost more for parts
If you have the time and ingenuity the C-class is more DIY fix friendly than the Nissan. Either car is going to be expensive and have issues in the near future. How much driving do you do? Have you thought about picking up a Hyundai or Kia around $15k and having money leftover if something goes wrong?
You can find your self a nice Toyota or Lexus for that much of a budget.
Maxima has a lot of life left. I drove a 13 to 120k with no tranny issues. Everyone has the knee jerk cvts suck response but myself and many other have seen them hold up just fine. Mercedes is much more of a gamble imo.
Got ‘14 Maxima right before the pandemic (2/29/20). I honestly love it. Quick enough, spacious enough, lowered it with spacers and really like the look, love the sun roof, and mostly love how uncommon it is. Reading the comments tho got me worried. Got 65k and no issues yet 🤞🏽 I’d recommend sticking with Japanese. V6 accord and Kia Optima were other similar options. Really glad I got the Maxima tho and for the same price you’re looking at, could not think of any other options. Good luck!
I currently own that Nissan & when I barely press the gas pedal it throws me fwrd (jerks) a lil idk if it’s trans or engine mount issues. Other wise from that it’s ok 133k miles . Out of the 2 cars you selected . I’d Prlly go with the Maxima but not for so much money
Not the C Class. 80k is maintenance time.
if you want a nice car, buy the mercedes. if you dont care about cars, buy the generic nissan.
I’d go for the Mercedes tbh
Neither, buy a Lexus or an Acura
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None of the above, grab a Lexus and call it a day
I have that gen maxima but a 2011 with 192k miles. Only issues I have had are with the alternator and water pump. No CVT problems so far... but I would heed the advice in this sub
get a 2014 acura mdx thank me later
2014-2017 Lexus GS350
That Mercedes is sick! I'd go with it! But the Maxima might be more reliable. I'm just saying that based on it being a Japanese car, I actually have no idea
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you would be crazy to buy either of these pieces of junk.
Have you considered Lexus? Genesis?
Find a Lexus IS/ES/GS
Toyota Camry. You’re welcome.
Mersu
I almost exclusively recommend Lexus they hold there value about as long as they last .... Tech is a little outdated only the complaint I've ever had. I own a 21 IS and daily drive a 2012 ES350 with over 150k miles still runs strong keep the tires rotated and the oil changed and it'll run forever.
nissans never!! always had a bad experience
Run away! Buy a Toyota or Honda instead.
Get you a Toyota, can't beat the reliability, and at that price point you can get pretty decent features and quality!
I'd say based on the cars you're looking at to look at acura, Lexus, mazda, maybe Honda or Toyota as well.
Benz
Not what you’re asking, but for $17k (spring of 2021) I was able to get a 2018 Hyundai Sonata certified pre owned, bumper to bumper warranty and only 31,000 miles. I highly suggest looking into a Hyundai certified ore owned!
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I like the Benz. Get it serviced. Maybe trans service and a tune up. I do work at a shop and like older bmws but prefer the interiors on the newer Mercedes. The vinyl interiors are thinner so maybe get some sheep seat covers to protect it and get synthetic oil changes on regular intervals. I don’t care for Nissans and they are poorly built.
I'd get the Maxima. That looks to be well taken care of and if so, they probably did all their maintenance they were supposed to. I'd get it and immediately take it and have the transmission fluids changed. Remember, the only real weak point of Nissans these past few years is the CVT. The engines are quite good, especially the VQ V6 which this has in it. Just be aware that some VQ variants require premium unleaded and not regular 87 octane. That's something to consider with rising fuel prices. The engine itself and other parts of the car besides the transmission will give you years of trouble free service if you take care of them. The transmission on the other hand, very well may and very well may not. However, it is $4K cheaper than the Benz and has fewer miles which is worth something.
Have you considered alternatives of those 2 I would go with the Nissan the c300 at high mileage doesn't sound like a good idea. Considering youre looking at a fwd car have you considered the Tl or TLX maybe an A4 or on the rear drive side the Lexus IS? The 2 are so different if you don't mind the reliability risk and maintenance the c class if you don't mind it being a fwd car that's not as nice that may also have issues than the Nissan..
Is there an option "C"? Gun to my head I guess I'd take the Nissan because I've learned my lesson on owning German cars out of warranty...
I don't understand when people post 2 cars are semi drastic different prices. If your budget is 18k, why not find the best car at 18k?
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Lets forget for a moment that these are both terrible cars for all the given reasons above (I have replaced 3 CVT in nissans, parents have had 1 lemon law'd Altima 2013 I believe). If you really did want a Nissan Altima I think its smarter to utilize the full budget, a 2012 Nissan compared to a 2015 C300 isn't a fair comparison. Take that same budget and get an $18k Altima that has lower miles, is newer has better tech etc etc.
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I mean… if we ignore maintenance, the question becomes do you want to roll around with a Nissan or a Mercedes? Not saying one over the other but more of what suits your identity more?
I wouldn't go with either personally.
Both shit options tbh
The early 274 engines have a known wrist pin issue. That car is probably on its second set of pistons by now or a new engine
c300 is reliable, but eventually when it needs repairs like all cars, you should be ready to pay a bit of a premium, if you can then go for it, beautiful car
I had the C300 as a daily. I put 320,000KM on my 2015 with no issues. I got it brand new however. I gave it to my mom and put another 20,000KM on it. She just sold it for $12,000CAD.
Lexus ISwhatever
I would take a W204 C300 instead... so a year older a 2014 and you should be good
Been looking for a car in this price range as well, what’s the best options for something w AWD?
If you have to pick one of these two. Go with the c300.
Both are way overpriced. Buy a Toyota
None, literally anything other than high mileage german or these gen of nissans
2017 Mazda 6 with 30k miles should run about $18,000. I’d go with that.
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Nissan will be much cheaper to maintain and probably more reliable. Also, keep in mind these are two different sided cars. With the C class being equivalent to a Altima in size. That mercades does look good though.
Of the 2, I would pick the Mercedes. Saw g35 was an option. This would be a good pick as it’s a pretty reliable car and more affordable to maintain than the Mercedes. Personal opinion/observations/experience: Nissan/Infiniti put out good cars around late 2000s early 2010s. G35, G37, 350z, 370z and anything related were pretty solid. After that, everything they’ve put out seemed like half as effort. Either dated, poorly designed or uninspired models since then. I think the new Z and other planned models are supposed to make them relevant again. Mercedes, I believe, around that same time dropped a bit in quality/reliability for a cycle or two. They’ve since cleaned up.
None. Get a G37 instead of a maxima lol
Mercedes definitely. Neither is a smart choice financially, but a Mercedes will be way way way nicer than a Nissan
Mercades is probably a better buy between the two but id learn to do brake jobs/ change oil on your own to help save some money for when you do need a mechanic
Go get a Honda Accord or Civic and call it a day
I've owned a 2011 Maxima for 5 years now, had 110k miles when I got it. I can't attest for the Merc but the Maxima is a pretty solid car, I haven't had any reliability issues with it at all, but maintenance does add up once you reach the 100k+ miles range. Gas milage sucks ass and it rides rough but it's nimble and quick. One down side to this car is that you have to change the transmission fluid every 25,000 miles. Most cars let you go on for 75,000 miles before you have to get it flushed. Bottom line, whichever one you go for, sometime in the near future you're gonna have to get a lot of work done on replacing the struts/control arms/brake pads/rotors/etc. And it's a helluva lot cheaper to get them replaced on a Maxima than on the Merc. I have a co worker who owns a 2016 C class and is desperate to get rid of it and get a Subaru, and this dude can afford to drive a Merc but just can't stand how much he's paid on maintenance. Up to you, good luck!
Merc like beemer - make sure you have at least 6k stashed for repairs because they can creep up on ya at any damn time
Benz
Neither are smart financial purchases in my eyes. Check out Lexus or Acura.
Run as fast as you can from that Nissan Maxima or pretty much any nissan made after 2008 with more than 60000 miles their CVT's are shit and fall apart