clkcadet

Well I know you hear this all the time, should i buy it, whats a good deal blah blah,
Well basically im coming out of a w209 and the e350 is leasing very very well.Being 22 years old, would you think i would enjoy this car? i would most probably be looking for a car with the 333 sports pkg and pano roof.

do you guys find the car to be sporty at all? it has a great engine with 268hp but can it keep up with other cars on the road? same goes with handling, does it handle anywhere near the way how a bmw would handle (since i am also considering a 330i 4 door)

The E350 may be cheaper than the BMW but i will test drive both. I am also considering an Infiniti either the fx35 or g35 coupe, both on a rediculous deal 12 month lease for about $450 for either one (you get premium package just pick the color you like in stock)

Sorry one more question, my w209 is a 2004 so i get free maintnance, is MB still making you pay for oil changes and such or did they stick with their decision on the 2006 cars as well?

Kar don

is the 450 lease deal on the infiniti or the benz?

mmgrad

free maintenance is no mas...

khaug

Several thoughts here:

I think you're comparing apples and oranges: The E-class M-Bs are mid-sized luxo cruisers (AMG models excepted). They tend to be soft, floaty, have numb steering and to be biased toward comfort and silence. The 3-series BMW, OTOH, is a smaller, lighter, lithe handler that can be a driver's car if you avoid the "active steering" that comes with the sport package. That is, if you can put up with the hideous Bangle "styling" and the i-Drive!

For a comparable M-B, look to the C-class.

Have fun choosing.

lig

I agree with the above post. Very numb steering "feel" and my early '03 had horrible brake feel as well.

Sporty is not an word I would use to describe a non-AMG W211. Comfy - yes. Classy - yes. Solid - yes.

It's been a long time since I was 22 - but if I were that age I would choose something more fun.

3 series BMW will be more fun to drive but suffers a bit in the interior vs. the W211. Personally I think the new 3 Series cars are the least ugly of the Bangle generation.

For some reason I'm somewhat tempted by the new MZ4 Coupe. It's still ugly - but it'll be a kick-*** car.

JimPurdy

I had a W202 previously. It was much more "sporty" and handled better than the W211. The downside of the W202 was it was just too small for us. The car wasn't comfortable on a trip and we didn't like to ride in the back seat for more than a few minutes so passengers on a trip wasn't an option. The W211 is a comfortable cruiser and we are comfortable for long periods of time. The W211 is a compromise between the handling and comfort for us.

DWP

While I realize that there are lots of 20-somethings here, I still can't see a 22-year-old in an E-class. If I were you, I would go for the BMW 3-series. The new styling isn't as nice as the current E-class, but it's still a huge improvement over the 5-Series or Z4. Based on the road tests I've seen, the driving dynamics of the new 3-Series are so far beyond the E-class that they might as well be from different planets. And, if you can do without navigation on the 3-Series, you can also avoid i-Drive.

mmgrad

i'm 28 and i left my W208 CLK for a W211 E and I feel a little young to be in this larger car, but, I got this car because I have a kid on the way and I don't want to deal with a coupe & a childseat....

if you don't have a family, you defintely don't need a big cruiser like this... a C-Class is a good fit if you aren't tied down with the ball-n-chain

don't focus your pruchase on which will save you the most money... if thats your focus, get a honda fit or yaris... in the end, you should get what you like that is within your budget

clkcadet

I dont want to put down the C class owners, but i feel it would be a downgrade to me.And with the new model around the corner i dont want to get stuck with it.

It just bothers me that for the exact same payment on a 330i 4 door, i can get into a E350... i havent had the chance to test drive an e350 yet, but i have driven a 325i, and it was great! But i know how my benz drives it is not exactly on the sporty side yet i felt it drives nicely and i got used to it.(i also dont want to leave the MB family!)

I am thinking im better off getting the g35 coupe for the 12 month lease deal, but in a year from now im going to be in the same boat: convertible leases will be high, and a comfy 4 door doesnt really fit me since im still young.

clkcadet

that would be for the infiniti, both the g35 and fx35

06E350Sport

I have to agree with the previous posts. We just ended a lease on an '03 BMW 540i Sport. We went MB due to not liking the current 5 series BMW's looks. The BMW out performs our new E350 Sport hands down. The BMW is a much sportier car. We were debating getting a 3 series since it looks better than the new 5, but went with the E350 Sport due to trunk size, rear cabin size, and rear seat comfort (AKA married with a 6 month old lol). If I was in your shoes, I'd get the BMW 3 this time around, and maybe save the E class for down the road if you are still interested.

If you do go with the E, definitely get the Sport. It handles much firmer and sportier than the standard and air ride models. I drove all 3 models back to back the same day before choosing mine.

clkcadet

good advice, maybe the E will come back to my attention down the road. i am currently focused on a G35 coupe i cant beat the 12 month lease. i hate to leave the MB family, but it will only be temporary

lig

G35 Coupe is a pretty sweet ride. Great looking exterior. The '06 interior is better than the previous years as well.

VQ engine is pretty decent - not silky smooth but good power and they sound really good too.

$450/mo for a 12 month lease? Nice.

mmgrad

if you are worried about the image of downgrading from your CLK to a C Class... What do you think you are doing going to a 3 Series or G35?

If your motivation is a sporty drive, then, yea... I can see the 3 or the G35 as a good buy... If your focus is on class and prestige, you are taking a step backwards with the G35

thats my opinion at least...

clkcadet

i do totally agree with you, image is not everything to me, i just meant that the C class would not be such a good choice for me at the moment.
I figure pick up the G35 enjoy it for the 12 months then who knows what can happen, maybe ill need a comfy 4 door or maybe ill want a 2 seat roadster... we never know what lies ahead of us. (especially with having a serious gf at the moment )