Looking for reliable Daily Driver
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Joined: Apr 2003
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From: Kansas City
2007 E350 Sport Obsidian Black & 2005 Cadillac Escalade
Looking for reliable Daily Driver
Having recently purchased a 2007 E350 Class Sport I'm looking for a W210 daily driver. My budget is really no more than $9,000 so I may not get much. Not too concerned w/ the mileage provided the car has been properly maintained. Don't mind a few minor dents & scratches as long as the body is pretty much original. I live in the Kansas City metro area but would be willing to go the distance for the right car. Just thought I would put the word out & any assistance is greatly appreciated. 
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'98 E320 4Matic, '85 380SL
Having recently purchased a 2007 E350 Class Sport I'm looking for a W210 daily driver. My budget is really no more than $9,000 so I may not get much. Not too concerned w/ the mileage provided the car has been properly maintained. Don't mind a few minor dents & scratches as long as the body is pretty much original. I live in the Kansas City metro area but would be willing to go the distance for the right car. Just thought I would put the word out & any assistance is greatly appreciated.
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From: Baltimore MD
MB, BMW
i'm curious, what is your reasoning for not driving your E350 everyday? it's a mass-produced base E-class and MB sells tens of thousands of them every year. I could understand if you had a Ferrari or a Porsche 911 Turbo, but a DD for a 07 E350..?? 
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From: California
1997 E420, 1983 300D
i'm sure he has a reason but this plan seems strange to me to. a 211 will depreciate regardless of miles - granted a little slower with low miles - but not MUCH less. And the 212 is around the corner, so that will factor too. The 210 and 211 will have similar costs in maintenance, so it really seems like a wash. I don't know if this is your first MB Tlbeedy, but if so you will be very impressed with how well the fit and finish holds up on your car. Mine is 10 years old now, almost 150K and people who don't know MB still ask me if it's new! I say drive the 211 into the ground and enjoy every mile and every shop bill! Frankly, i'm not sure i could afford keeping up 2 MB's - i bought my wife an Acura so i wouldn't have to worry about repairs.
- i bought my wife an Acura so i wouldn't have to worry about repairs.
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From: Kansas City
2007 E350 Sport Obsidian Black & 2005 Cadillac Escalade
Yes I know it will depreciate & that's not the issue. I'm just super pickey & don't want to worry about parking & door dings. Also I'm a realtor so mileage is a major factor not to mention a car gets trashed hauling people around. I'll also get my enjoyment from driving the new car on nice sunny days.
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From: Los Angeles
CLS
If you are a Realtor then I'm sure you need to look like you are worth your commission. If he gets a Camry it probably won't look as good in his clients eyes. Your 07 W211 is a complete write off especially if it's leased. If anyone is self employed and you can honestly say you use your vehicle for you business you should either lease your Mercedes or buy a status SUV that is rated over 6000 gross vehicle weight in which case you can write off a good majority of the purchase price. If you lease you can write off your entire payment plus, mileage, fuel and insurance. Just a thought.
I guess all of us are wondering why you just don't drive that new car as a daily. Don't let us talk you into that if you are dead set against it. If you want to save your 07 for your frou frou clients so be it. Just buy a 130,000 mile w210 for $9,000 until something expensive let's go like the transmission and then just junk it. Does not sound like a good idea to me but....
You should take that 9k and go buy a duplex with it ( I'm sure you can find something in KC with 10-20% down and go drive the shi* out of that 07.
The guys are correct when they tell you that equity in the 07 is going out the window everyday. You can go buy a 03 E320 with 50k miles on it for 23-26k here in Los Angeles. They drop in price so quick it makes me sick.
good luck on your search. I'm sure the w210 would be a comfortable let-it-get- dinged car though.
I guess all of us are wondering why you just don't drive that new car as a daily. Don't let us talk you into that if you are dead set against it. If you want to save your 07 for your frou frou clients so be it. Just buy a 130,000 mile w210 for $9,000 until something expensive let's go like the transmission and then just junk it. Does not sound like a good idea to me but....
You should take that 9k and go buy a duplex with it ( I'm sure you can find something in KC with 10-20% down and go drive the shi* out of that 07.
The guys are correct when they tell you that equity in the 07 is going out the window everyday. You can go buy a 03 E320 with 50k miles on it for 23-26k here in Los Angeles. They drop in price so quick it makes me sick.
good luck on your search. I'm sure the w210 would be a comfortable let-it-get- dinged car though.
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From: Baltimore MD
MB, BMW
i gotta admit, i was obsessed with door dings, scratches etc. not that i don't completely care now, but i've accepted the fact that all cars age and door dings & scratches are inevitable consequences of car ownership. you'd be amazed how much stress-free you become!
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From: Kansas City
2007 E350 Sport Obsidian Black & 2005 Cadillac Escalade
Being as obsessed as I am truly can be a nightmare!!!
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S, GL, Escalade ESV, my shoes
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From: Western Michigan
2003 E320 4Matic Wagon & 1997 E320
I would be pissed if I get a dent or scratch on the second day I get a $50k car. However, I would sleep much better if the same thing happens to a $25k used car that already has a few of these.
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From: Toledo, OH
88 535is, 89 318iT
Yes I know it will depreciate & that's not the issue. I'm just super pickey & don't want to worry about parking & door dings. Also I'm a realtor so mileage is a major factor not to mention a car gets trashed hauling people around. I'll also get my enjoyment from driving the new car on nice sunny days.
David
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'98 E320 4Matic, '85 380SL
In addition to the W210, you should consider the X300/330 model Jaguars, like the '96-97 Vanden Plas or '97 Jaguar XJ6-L. I'd definitely test drive one. These long-wheelbase Jaguars have substantially more legroom for your clients in back than the W210 and are usually more reliable. $9k can buy a low mileage example.
The '00 and up XJ8s are also worth considering, but more expensive. U.S. models got new engines in '98, which in '98 and '99 had Nikasil problems like the mid-90s BMW V8s and probably should be avoided. '00+ engines are okay.
The '00 and up XJ8s are also worth considering, but more expensive. U.S. models got new engines in '98, which in '98 and '99 had Nikasil problems like the mid-90s BMW V8s and probably should be avoided. '00+ engines are okay.
Last edited by lexrex; Apr 19, 2007 at 04:36 PM.
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John Deere
Lexrex, that red Jag was actually going to mine back in the day, same color, same style. I was *this* close to pulling the trigger when I switched gears and bought the e430. Still love Jags though. I think any VDP younger than 1998 would be solid electrically and mechanically.
Check out texascardsdirect.com for some amazing buys on pre-owned XJ's. Given their legendary depreciation, you can pick up an off-lease car for pennies, still under warranty. Original owners' loss is your gain.
But back on topic, a well maintained 210 will last for a half million miles. They are tanks. I think 9k may be a little on the low side to pick one up, but that may be part of me crying that my $60k (new) car is worth less than a Hundyai, despite being flawless.
Edit: just noticed the point about 98-99 engine issues. Yes, so a '00 model, now that we're up to '07 should fit nicely. The only caveat is that it is very difficult to find a good Jag specialist for service, given their low popularity, so the stealer is generally the only option.
Check out texascardsdirect.com for some amazing buys on pre-owned XJ's. Given their legendary depreciation, you can pick up an off-lease car for pennies, still under warranty. Original owners' loss is your gain.
But back on topic, a well maintained 210 will last for a half million miles. They are tanks. I think 9k may be a little on the low side to pick one up, but that may be part of me crying that my $60k (new) car is worth less than a Hundyai, despite being flawless.
Edit: just noticed the point about 98-99 engine issues. Yes, so a '00 model, now that we're up to '07 should fit nicely. The only caveat is that it is very difficult to find a good Jag specialist for service, given their low popularity, so the stealer is generally the only option.
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From: Toledo, OH
88 535is, 89 318iT
An XJ8 VP was next on my list, but just couldn't find a 2000 + in the right condition for the right price, when I was looking. I may try one next, though. Same with the 740iL, S320/420/500.
David
David
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'98 E320 4Matic, '85 380SL
A good number of the people on the JagLovers forum felt that the '95-'97 X300 had better build quality than the similarly styled '98+ X308. Kind of like the W210/W124 comparison, except the cars look the same.
