Drove an '08 MB E320 Bluetec . . .

[Pop_Rivit]

Originally Posted By: Benzadmiral
Two months on, and the MB E320 diesel is still for sale at that dealer! They've cut the asking price by 2 grand. Apparently the big Benz hasn't found a home in all that time. Why would that be?


Maybe the folks around there are smart enough to know the cachet of a Mercedes is not worth going into debt over.

At least most of the folks.

 

[Benzadmiral]

Originally Posted By: Pop_Rivit
Originally Posted By: Benzadmiral
Two months on, and the MB E320 diesel is still for sale at that dealer! They've cut the asking price by 2 grand. Apparently the big Benz hasn't found a home in all that time. Why would that be?


Maybe the folks around there are smart enough to know the cachet of a Mercedes is not worth going into debt over.

At least most of the folks.

Actually, no, they're not smart enough. Around this dump I see far too many MBs and BMWs, often with stupid spinner wheels and fancy windshield logos -- and every one of them needs paint or body work, or runs as though it has asthma.

(Yes, I understand you were slinging a dart my way. I choose to ignore it, since it doesn't apply to me.)

 

[01rangerxl]

I'd probably keep the Buick a little longer if you're still happy with it.

Or find a cheaper Benz and have both.

A dealer here has a 2000 S500 for $5500 or best offer. I bet it runs good.

 

[Benzadmiral]

Checked with my insurance; only about $20/month more for the E320 as my only car. I'm going to drive it again tomorrow morning -- a good day (80 F.!) to test a car's A/C.

 

[Vikas]

Originally Posted By: 01rangerxl
A dealer here has a 2000 S500 for $5500 or best offer. I bet it runs good.

How many miles? I had seen one S-class for $22K with 135K miles on it at NH dealer.

 

[01rangerxl]

Originally Posted By: Vikas
Originally Posted By: 01rangerxl
A dealer here has a 2000 S500 for $5500 or best offer. I bet it runs good.

How many miles? I had seen one S-class for $22K with 135K miles on it at NH dealer.


They don't say in the ad. This dealer sells questionable cars and doesn't advertise the mileage of any of them. Other gems in their ad include a $3900 '01 Yukon, $1500 '04 Focus, and a $4100 '07 Grand Prix. Those are not down payments, they are cash prices.

 

[01rangerxl]

For shoots and giggles...I think by "imports" they mean imported from Mexico.

Sorry to threadjack Paul, just wanted to show I wasn't making the $5500 S500 up.

 

[Dave Hess]

Originally Posted By: Pop_Rivit
Originally Posted By: Benzadmiral
Two months on, and the MB E320 diesel is still for sale at that dealer! They've cut the asking price by 2 grand. Apparently the big Benz hasn't found a home in all that time. Why would that be?


Maybe the folks around there are smart enough to know the cachet of a Mercedes is not worth going into debt over.

At least most of the folks.


Affluent folks can afford to buy a Benz.

 

[Vikas]

How far is Birmingham from Paul's home? Can he speak spanish? He needs to drive down to Prestige Imports and drive back in that S550! It is a long drive for me and the amount is "slightly" higher than the paypal slush fund which I can sneak past by the Household Finance Manager but otherwise I would have done it in a New York minute

 

[01rangerxl]

Louisiana is only about 6 hours away, the problem is I don't know if anything from Prestige Imports can even make it to the Mississippi border.

 

[Benzadmiral]

Yes, Birmingham is a light day's drive. I've been there a couple of times, including bugging out in the face of an impending hurricane, and I like it. That said, I think I'd better pass on Prestige Imports.

I'm also passing on the MB 320 CDI. On Saturday I drove it again. The car is tight and sharp inside and out; the A/C works beautifully. But it's too exhausting a car to drive in this city! As part of my test, I drove it on the same path I usually take home every day, and then back again. On smooth roads, the vast minority, the car was wonderful. On the bad ones, the road noise I noted back in January was ever-present. And this was not a Sport model, nor did it have sport wheels and tires (16" wheels, w/ Michelin MXM4 tires, I think). It's not a relaxing car to drive, at least not here. When I told the saleslady that, she laughed out loud.

Her suggestion: that I look for a Lexus ES350. She had two 2010s there, both out of my price range, but I liked the styling and the interiors. If she gets in an older one, I'll go drive it and compare it to the Buick.

 

[G-MAN]

Originally Posted By: Benzadmiral
Her suggestion: that I look for a Lexus ES350. She had two 2010s there, both out of my price range, but I liked the styling and the interiors. If she gets in an older one, I'll go drive it and compare it to the Buick.


The Lexus ES is nothing but a luxofied Camry. If you like the Buick, I think you'd be happier in a Lexus GS or LS.

 

[Benzadmiral]

Originally Posted By: G-MAN
Originally Posted By: Benzadmiral
Her suggestion: that I look for a Lexus ES350. She had two 2010s there, both out of my price range, but I liked the styling and the interiors. If she gets in an older one, I'll go drive it and compare it to the Buick.


The Lexus ES is nothing but a luxofied Camry. If you like the Buick, I think you'd be happier in a Lexus GS or LS.

I'm open to all three. I've never driven any of 'em. The GS is RWD, right? And the other two are FWD?

Not sure yet, but I think I like the GS interior a little better than that on the ES.

 

[G-MAN]

Originally Posted By: Benzadmiral
Originally Posted By: G-MAN
Originally Posted By: Benzadmiral
Her suggestion: that I look for a Lexus ES350. She had two 2010s there, both out of my price range, but I liked the styling and the interiors. If she gets in an older one, I'll go drive it and compare it to the Buick.


The Lexus ES is nothing but a luxofied Camry. If you like the Buick, I think you'd be happier in a Lexus GS or LS.

I'm open to all three. I've never driven any of 'em. The GS is RWD, right? And the other two are FWD?

Not sure yet, but I think I like the GS interior a little better than that on the ES.


The ES is FWD; the GS and LS are RWD.

The 3rd generation GS is my fav.

 

[Vikas]

Be aware that GS is a small car by most standards; interior and trunk space is smaller than ES/Camry

 

[hypervish]

Originally Posted By: G-MAN
Originally Posted By: Benzadmiral
Her suggestion: that I look for a Lexus ES350. She had two 2010s there, both out of my price range, but I liked the styling and the interiors. If she gets in an older one, I'll go drive it and compare it to the Buick.


The Lexus ES is nothing but a luxofied Camry. If you like the Buick, I think you'd be happier in a Lexus GS or LS.


Not anymore, the ES is now based off of the Avalon.

And, the previous generation ES's had much more road noise isolation and better quality materials than the Camry, along with more gizmos. You've clearly never driven or ridden in an ES. The fourth generation (2002) and newer ES are not just a glorified Camry.

 

[Benzadmiral]

The local Lexus dealer has a ruby-red 2007 ES350 w/ 98K miles, a silver '05 ES330 w/ 80K, and a pale gold ES300 w/ 115K. Perhaps I'll take a ride out there this weekend. . . .