crhait

Some advice please....
Tring to help my Sister. We have ordered a 2006 E350 with Sport (333) Premium & Xenon. Question, Should She reorder and get the 2007 or keep the 2006 due to arive in a few weeks. Keep in mind she is not in any rush. We know that there are a few changes on the 07' vs 06' Do you think the 07' is a better equiped car, etc? Having a hard time deciding. Any input would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Ron.

Frank Wiesmann

When exactly did she place her order? If it was April 1st or later, she will get an 07 since Mercedes changed the production line to the new model as of this day. Also, I suspect the dealer will charge her more for an 07 since it is the new model. It is hard to say how much better it will be since very few people will have driven the new model so far. A new 350 engine with direct injection and 288 hp is due sometime within the next year, so I would suggest either to stick with your order or wait for that.

harperb

The new model sports over 2000 modified/new/improved parts, better headlights, better brakes (by removing the electronic SBC uber-brakes which lacked decent pedal feel and were generally unreliable), and....purportedly much greater reliability. They are also including more standard features, to keep up with competition, and to decrease option costs for the customer, streamline production and lower costs of of maintaining numerous small options that few customers order. Mercedes have been slowly decontenting their cars of electro goodies, to focus on technology that solves problems, versus causing them (or so they say), read: SBC. I think if I were you, i'd wait and get the '07 (if you indeed ordered an '06 vs an '07 unknowingly), since your long-term costs will probably be much less, due to fewer (hopefully) repair costs once your W211 goes out of warranty. That being said, the 05-'06 seems to be pretty reliable, but I think the '07 will probably bring mercedes back to their reputation for extreme reliability and durability, and a focus back to the basics of quality engineering. We will see!

p.s. now Mercedes, please update the bluetooth firmware for COMAND so I can download the phonebook from my Treo 650 into my car, and let me control my ipod from the unit self, mounted inside my center console please? ;-)

crhait

not sure of the order date. I will check with her later.
Thanks for the reply.

cyclerider

I would definitely get the 07. The 06 has one full model year depreciation on it before you even take it home.

DavidNJ

Ditto. At the end of three years the difference is 6-12% of MSRP, more than any additional discount. After 4-5 years, the discounts for leftovers sometimes make sense. Sometimes.

sklasse

2007 looks sharper imo and has nice "touches" that really make it more favorable.

1. sharper steering
2. 7G tranny
3. nice interior guages/sharper profile
fixed that butt too,

SPIKES

FRANK - please share more info on this please.

AndrewAZ

You sure its not the new V8 the E550 with 388 hp? The 350 V6 hasnt been out that long in judging from past engines mercedes doesn't up the HP unless they release a new engine. But I suspect that the current 350 V6 making 268 is way underrated so that people could justify spending more for the old 5L V8 at 302 hp.

crhait

well looks like the car my sister ordered (06) will be here this saturday.
what to do? she it still up in the air about this.
I would like her to go for the 07'
guess we will see what the incentives are on the 06'
thanks for your input.
Ron.

edspider

I would look at it as a money question. A new 06 today is a year old car tomorrow, when the 07 shows up. So I would expect to pay less for the 06 over an 07. I would take 06 if it cost $8-10K less. Otherwise, I would order the 07.

Yes 2000 parts where changed, but there is little visible difference between the cars. I have the 06 and have absolutely no complaints about the SBC brakes. I doubt most people would notice anything unusual. The V6 engine and tranny are unchanged for 07. From the pics I've seen, the new front end and tail lights are only slightly different and not necissarily better.