Today's Wall Street Journal - "Another Glitch..."
05-27-2004, 12:42 PM
#26
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Join Date: May 2004
Location: Warren, NJ
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'05 E320 CDI;'04 S2k;'94 Supra TT;'10 QX56;'38 Buick;98 Port City Offset Late Model
First, the '03 amd possibly the '04 E-class has had some problems. I think I started another thread on that: How Good Are The Latest W211s?
The E-class is in the most competitve market for '05:
MB E-Class, new '03, 6 & 8, range $50-80k
5-Series, new '04, 6 & 8 range $48-85k
Lexus LS430, new '04, 8, range $60-70k
Audi A6, new '05, 6 & 8, range $45-60k
Acura RL, new '05, 6, $50k
Cadillac STS (not CTS), new '05, 6 & 8, range $45-65k
Inifiniti M45, new spring '05 as an '06, 6 & 8, range $45-60k
Lexus GS-series, new spring '05 as an '06, 6 & 8, range $45-60k
Also, the bottom of the 7-series ranges overlaps the top of the E500 and as you have seen, some $30-40k cars (CTS, GS35) may offer similar room and race track performance.
My railing against the TL is not 'its a good car for the price' but rather it is a spec sheet without substance. Bluetooth phones that can't navigate voice menus, 5.1 stereo that makes radio and CDs sound bad, exterior panels that don't fit, beautiful interior with materials that won't wear well. While bi-xenon's, heated seats, CD changer, and sunroof are standard, thinks like more than 4-way passenger seat, fold-down rear seat active headlights are not available. And one reason we don't have on is the dealer screwed up the backup sensor install (installed them crooked); even then, hard wired off the backup lights, they gave just a faint beep.
I am curious about the bad dealer experience. I understand the frustration at being unable to fix the car, however the dealers here will pick up the car and drop off a loaner. The Acura service departments here seem more revenue focused, and the dealerships seem much more of a hustle. The MB places just seem to charge a lot.
However, in the real world (at least my neighborhood), where the residents are not on this forum, the car of choice--combining features, quality, performance, price, and dealer service--is the Lexus LS430. Ventilated multiadjustable seats, park distance sensors and backup camera, great audio, nav, really bad bluetooth implementation (nearly useless), keyless entry, silent V8, nice leather everywhere: $60k.
The E-class is in the most competitve market for '05:
MB E-Class, new '03, 6 & 8, range $50-80k
5-Series, new '04, 6 & 8 range $48-85k
Lexus LS430, new '04, 8, range $60-70k
Audi A6, new '05, 6 & 8, range $45-60k
Acura RL, new '05, 6, $50k
Cadillac STS (not CTS), new '05, 6 & 8, range $45-65k
Inifiniti M45, new spring '05 as an '06, 6 & 8, range $45-60k
Lexus GS-series, new spring '05 as an '06, 6 & 8, range $45-60k
Also, the bottom of the 7-series ranges overlaps the top of the E500 and as you have seen, some $30-40k cars (CTS, GS35) may offer similar room and race track performance.
My railing against the TL is not 'its a good car for the price' but rather it is a spec sheet without substance. Bluetooth phones that can't navigate voice menus, 5.1 stereo that makes radio and CDs sound bad, exterior panels that don't fit, beautiful interior with materials that won't wear well. While bi-xenon's, heated seats, CD changer, and sunroof are standard, thinks like more than 4-way passenger seat, fold-down rear seat active headlights are not available. And one reason we don't have on is the dealer screwed up the backup sensor install (installed them crooked); even then, hard wired off the backup lights, they gave just a faint beep.
I am curious about the bad dealer experience. I understand the frustration at being unable to fix the car, however the dealers here will pick up the car and drop off a loaner. The Acura service departments here seem more revenue focused, and the dealerships seem much more of a hustle. The MB places just seem to charge a lot.
However, in the real world (at least my neighborhood), where the residents are not on this forum, the car of choice--combining features, quality, performance, price, and dealer service--is the Lexus LS430. Ventilated multiadjustable seats, park distance sensors and backup camera, great audio, nav, really bad bluetooth implementation (nearly useless), keyless entry, silent V8, nice leather everywhere: $60k.
Last edited by DavidNJ; 05-27-2004 at 01:08 PM.
