Mercedes C-Class or Volkswagen Passat?

Should I go for a 2010 Mercedes-Benz C-Class with 41,000 miles on the clock or a 2012 Volkswagen Passat with 34,000 miles? Which is better value? Merc is €19,000 Passat is €20,000.

William Bambrick (Dublin)

Nov 2014 Filed under: choosing used car

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Expert answer

Hi William,

It's very, very tempting to go for the Merc – that badge on the bonnet is a major draw all by itself. Being sensible though, even with the extra cost up front, the Passat may actually offer better value. Given that both cars will be generally pretty reliable, the differences come down to things like running costs (is the Passat the 1.6 TDI? If so it's incredibly economical), equipment levels (the Passat is likely to be better equipped than the Merc, but do a proper comparison yourself between both cars to see) and what the dealer is offering you. Which one, for example, is offering the better warranty? A two-year warranty compared to a one- year one may not sound like much, for instance, but if something big goes wrong in year two it could save you an absolute packet.

Neil Briscoe - Complete Car Adviser
@neilmbriscoe