What is New Car Buying?

At What Car? our aim is to make car buying as straightforward as possible, so our New Car Buying service puts you in touch with approved franchised dealers who are guaranteed to match or beat our Target Price. This is set by a team of mystery shoppers who are constantly checking what discounts are available, so you don’t have to go through the hassle of haggling.

Simply click the ‘Get best price’ button by the car you’re interested in, and we’ll alert dealers in your area so they can send you their latest offers. It’s all done through our website, so they can’t see your personal details until you decide you’re ready to buy. Find out more

How do I compare offers?

You can request quotes on as many different cars as you like, and your personalised ‘My deals’ page makes it easy to compare them all in one place. To message dealers, just click the ‘Deals’ icon, which can be found in the top right hand corner of the navigation bar on

Can I get personalised finance quotes and part exchange offers?

In addition to our Target Price, we provide a Target PCP monthly finance price. Where possible, this is based upon 48 months, a 15% deposit and a 8,000-mile annual mileage limit, so you can directly compare different models. However, every offer you receive also allows you to request a personalised finance offer or part exchange value, at the click of a button.

When is the best time to buy a new car?

New number plates are introduced every March and September, which is usually when car sales peak, so savvy shoppers should avoid these times. It’s also better to buy in the second half of the month or quarter, when dealerships may be worried about hitting a specific sales target. Find out more

What is Personal Contract Purchase (PCP)?

This form of finance is the most popular way of buying a new car. Unlike hire purchase agreements, which divide the total amount borrowed into equal payments, PCP deals involve smaller monthly bills, followed by a larger final payment if you want to keep the car. However, most people never pay this; instead they hand the car back and start a new PCP deal. Find out more

Used Mercedes-Benz V-Class MPV 1996 - 2004 review

Category: MPV

Section: Ownership cost

1996 - 2004 review

What Car? teamLearn how we test cars

In this review

Ownership cost

What used Mercedes V-Class estate will I get for my budget?

How much does it cost to run a Mercedes V-Class estate?

By MPV standards, the V-Class is not cheap to buy or run. And, how much it costs depends on the age of vehicle and where you buy it from.

The V-Class lost more than half its value after three years, although the turbodiesel fared better than the other two. So, if you buy one now, it will be a lot of car - size-wise at least - for the money. The problem is it's just not a very good one.

We'd steer clear of the franchised showrooms because they will be pricey. Instead, find sellers who specialise in executive or ex-fleet vehicles, and consider auction houses, as well.

You can also expect high, and probably quite regular, maintenance bills. The V-Class is way below average for reliability in the respected Warranty Direct index.

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