3rd MB in a year, and I decided.... MB Forever !
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 267
Likes: 0
From: Texas
06 CLS500
3rd MB in a year, and I decided.... MB Forever !
I strayed... yes, I admit, I strayed, but for good reason (at least I thought).
Last year before fuel went thru the roof, I purchased a new 08 GL320 cdi. My first MB. I liked the truck, and diesel was only $1.99/gal. A month after I got it, diesel went to $2.49, then I don't have to tell you.... but went all the way to $4.55/gal in my area within a few months.
So I went to my local dealer and started looking at a E320 cdi. It was a sedan, but got 35 mpg.. so I drove one. It was small or course, something to get used to. I got in an E350. This was a bit different. Very nice and smooth. Sitting in a corner was a brand new E550 sedan, black on black. I drove it home right after I test drove it, traded in my GL and paid a hefty difference. At the time it was tough to unload a 17mpg SUV when fuel was $5/gal.
E550 was sweet as hell. fast, smooth, nice and clean. Everything a Mercedes is supposed to be.
Word was out the 2010 was going to change it all, so I thought I would be leaning toward the new one when it was released, so I decided to sell my 08 E550 and take a hit now rather than in a year when the bottom fell out of them.
In the interim, I bought a new Tundra CrewMax 4x4 and a Camry (yes, both for the price I sold my E550 for roughly). Truck was for the deer lease and hauling stuff, and the Camry was good for work (and 32 mpg). I had my bases covered.
2010 E Class hit the streets and I had a chance to drive a few of them. I didn't like them as much as thought, so in the meantime I fell in love with the CLS. Very nice car, but can't bring myself to tear off $90k for a brand new one.
Dealer had an 06 CLS500 on the lot (CPO) with a few miles on it, so I drove it a few days ago. I have always loved the looks of the CLS, and always envied them. hard to tell from new, except I saved about $50k from new, lol.
I lost about $20k when I traded my GL, then almost that when I sold my E550. So I had a bad taste in my mouth about MB and depreciation for a while. you can't lose $20k on a Camry...EVER.
I drove MB exclusively for a year, then Toyota for a year, then back to MB
Things I noticed about the Camry and Tundra, that made me realize what the MB was to me.
I bought the CLS that day. I'll never look at another brand again. I learned my lesson. I may not buy brand new MB's again(I hate taking the hit), but MB is definately for me.... forever.
Last year before fuel went thru the roof, I purchased a new 08 GL320 cdi. My first MB. I liked the truck, and diesel was only $1.99/gal. A month after I got it, diesel went to $2.49, then I don't have to tell you.... but went all the way to $4.55/gal in my area within a few months.
So I went to my local dealer and started looking at a E320 cdi. It was a sedan, but got 35 mpg.. so I drove one. It was small or course, something to get used to. I got in an E350. This was a bit different. Very nice and smooth. Sitting in a corner was a brand new E550 sedan, black on black. I drove it home right after I test drove it, traded in my GL and paid a hefty difference. At the time it was tough to unload a 17mpg SUV when fuel was $5/gal.
E550 was sweet as hell. fast, smooth, nice and clean. Everything a Mercedes is supposed to be.
Word was out the 2010 was going to change it all, so I thought I would be leaning toward the new one when it was released, so I decided to sell my 08 E550 and take a hit now rather than in a year when the bottom fell out of them.
In the interim, I bought a new Tundra CrewMax 4x4 and a Camry (yes, both for the price I sold my E550 for roughly). Truck was for the deer lease and hauling stuff, and the Camry was good for work (and 32 mpg). I had my bases covered.
2010 E Class hit the streets and I had a chance to drive a few of them. I didn't like them as much as thought, so in the meantime I fell in love with the CLS. Very nice car, but can't bring myself to tear off $90k for a brand new one.
Dealer had an 06 CLS500 on the lot (CPO) with a few miles on it, so I drove it a few days ago. I have always loved the looks of the CLS, and always envied them. hard to tell from new, except I saved about $50k from new, lol.
I lost about $20k when I traded my GL, then almost that when I sold my E550. So I had a bad taste in my mouth about MB and depreciation for a while. you can't lose $20k on a Camry...EVER.
I drove MB exclusively for a year, then Toyota for a year, then back to MB
Things I noticed about the Camry and Tundra, that made me realize what the MB was to me.
I bought the CLS that day. I'll never look at another brand again. I learned my lesson. I may not buy brand new MB's again(I hate taking the hit), but MB is definately for me.... forever.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 1,071
Likes: 0
From: NoVa
2004 S55 (SOLD, miss it every day), 2009 GL550
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 4,975
Likes: 1,343
From: Cincinnati
2010 E350 4Matic
I strayed... yes, I admit, I strayed, but for good reason (at least I thought).
Last year before fuel went thru the roof, I purchased a new 08 GL320 cdi. My first MB. I liked the truck, and diesel was only $1.99/gal. A month after I got it, diesel went to $2.49, then I don't have to tell you.... but went all the way to $4.55/gal in my area within a few months.
So I went to my local dealer and started looking at a E320 cdi. It was a sedan, but got 35 mpg.. so I drove one. It was small or course, something to get used to. I got in an E350. This was a bit different. Very nice and smooth. Sitting in a corner was a brand new E550 sedan, black on black. I drove it home right after I test drove it, traded in my GL and paid a hefty difference. At the time it was tough to unload a 17mpg SUV when fuel was $5/gal.
E550 was sweet as hell. fast, smooth, nice and clean. Everything a Mercedes is supposed to be.
Word was out the 2010 was going to change it all, so I thought I would be leaning toward the new one when it was released, so I decided to sell my 08 E550 and take a hit now rather than in a year when the bottom fell out of them.
In the interim, I bought a new Tundra CrewMax 4x4 and a Camry (yes, both for the price I sold my E550 for roughly). Truck was for the deer lease and hauling stuff, and the Camry was good for work (and 32 mpg). I had my bases covered.
2010 E Class hit the streets and I had a chance to drive a few of them. I didn't like them as much as thought, so in the meantime I fell in love with the CLS. Very nice car, but can't bring myself to tear off $90k for a brand new one.
Dealer had an 06 CLS500 on the lot (CPO) with a few miles on it, so I drove it a few days ago. I have always loved the looks of the CLS, and always envied them. hard to tell from new, except I saved about $50k from new, lol.
I lost about $20k when I traded my GL, then almost that when I sold my E550. So I had a bad taste in my mouth about MB and depreciation for a while. you can't lose $20k on a Camry...EVER.
I drove MB exclusively for a year, then Toyota for a year, then back to MB
Things I noticed about the Camry and Tundra, that made me realize what the MB was to me.
I bought the CLS that day. I'll never look at another brand again. I learned my lesson. I may not buy brand new MB's again(I hate taking the hit), but MB is definately for me.... forever.
Last year before fuel went thru the roof, I purchased a new 08 GL320 cdi. My first MB. I liked the truck, and diesel was only $1.99/gal. A month after I got it, diesel went to $2.49, then I don't have to tell you.... but went all the way to $4.55/gal in my area within a few months.
So I went to my local dealer and started looking at a E320 cdi. It was a sedan, but got 35 mpg.. so I drove one. It was small or course, something to get used to. I got in an E350. This was a bit different. Very nice and smooth. Sitting in a corner was a brand new E550 sedan, black on black. I drove it home right after I test drove it, traded in my GL and paid a hefty difference. At the time it was tough to unload a 17mpg SUV when fuel was $5/gal.
E550 was sweet as hell. fast, smooth, nice and clean. Everything a Mercedes is supposed to be.
Word was out the 2010 was going to change it all, so I thought I would be leaning toward the new one when it was released, so I decided to sell my 08 E550 and take a hit now rather than in a year when the bottom fell out of them.
In the interim, I bought a new Tundra CrewMax 4x4 and a Camry (yes, both for the price I sold my E550 for roughly). Truck was for the deer lease and hauling stuff, and the Camry was good for work (and 32 mpg). I had my bases covered.
2010 E Class hit the streets and I had a chance to drive a few of them. I didn't like them as much as thought, so in the meantime I fell in love with the CLS. Very nice car, but can't bring myself to tear off $90k for a brand new one.
Dealer had an 06 CLS500 on the lot (CPO) with a few miles on it, so I drove it a few days ago. I have always loved the looks of the CLS, and always envied them. hard to tell from new, except I saved about $50k from new, lol.
I lost about $20k when I traded my GL, then almost that when I sold my E550. So I had a bad taste in my mouth about MB and depreciation for a while. you can't lose $20k on a Camry...EVER.
I drove MB exclusively for a year, then Toyota for a year, then back to MB
Things I noticed about the Camry and Tundra, that made me realize what the MB was to me.
I bought the CLS that day. I'll never look at another brand again. I learned my lesson. I may not buy brand new MB's again(I hate taking the hit), but MB is definately for me.... forever.
Out Of Control!!
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 10,557
Likes: 24
From: Earth
Porsche Macan S SportDesign / Ex M-B's: 11 & 10 & 06 E350's, 02 S500
OUCH. 
So with the $40K you lost on the Benzes, then the I'm assuming $40-ishK you spent on the Toyota's.... That could have been $80K extra toward a new whip when you originally purchased!
Looks like you jumped the gun by selling the E550 assuming you'd like the '10 model, and I don't blame you in your let-down by it. But damn! I'm hoping and assuming you have more than enough cash-flow to allow for this nice juggling of auto's.
Either way, congrats on the CLS! Indeed, once you get accustomed to an M-B, it's very hard to enjoy other brands.
So with the $40K you lost on the Benzes, then the I'm assuming $40-ishK you spent on the Toyota's.... That could have been $80K extra toward a new whip when you originally purchased!
Looks like you jumped the gun by selling the E550 assuming you'd like the '10 model, and I don't blame you in your let-down by it. But damn! I'm hoping and assuming you have more than enough cash-flow to allow for this nice juggling of auto's.
Either way, congrats on the CLS! Indeed, once you get accustomed to an M-B, it's very hard to enjoy other brands.
... except for all the clicks, ticks and rattles in their interiors.
Out Of Control!!
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 15,901
Likes: 4,630
From: North Scottsdale, AZ
'71 Pinto
56% of all Mercedes-Benz owners returning to market during Q1 2009 purchased another MB #1 in customer loyalty among premium competitors. RL POLK and Co publishes a Loyalty Study each quarter, which tracks the purchases of customer returning to market. BMW loyalty was 53.5%, and Lexus 43.4%.
