RJC

A good friend just bought a new 320 with the premium pkg he drove it from the dealership to his house tonight, about 3 miles. After speaking with me he thinks he should have bought a base 500 as I explained the price difference was only about $3k +/- and most of what he paid extra for on the 320 is stock on the 500 ie; 17" wheels and tires, which was the most important upgrade to him of the prem pkg on his 320. Plus with the 3.5 on the near horizon why not get the sweet 5.0

1) Am/did I give him bad advice?

2) Can he return the car first thing in AM and switch to the 500? The title work etc could not have possibly been procesed in a day and the car will only have about 11 miles on it upon return.

cdiken

They probably won't say no if the 500 is in stock.

He may want to offer to flat-tow it back to the dealer so no more miles go on someone else's new car.

Don't forget the extra $1000 gas guzzler tax so actually it would be $4k more but also if he ever wants to sell it, it will obviously have a higher resale value than an E320.

Plus, in my opinion, the E500 will inherently last longer (all other things equal) because the engine will not be working as hard at any given time, and a V8 engine is more naturally balanced, whereas a V6 has counter-rotating balance shafts.

If the oh-so-good CDI did not exist I too would go for the E500, but for all intents and purposes, in practical driving real-world situations, the E320 CDI is more powerful because it has more torque and that torque comes on at a lower RPM where it is useful in typical, real-world driving. Not to mention the perfectly inherently balanced I6 engine is bound to be very durable and is super fuel efficient.

I will get my 17" wheels and tires on EBAY as new take-offs from somebody who bought an E500 and wanted 20" spinning chrome.

KB

F1Fan

I understand the technical aspect of your argument but I just don't buy it. Both engines will last a long time given proper maintenance. If your argument were true, shouldn't we see some sort of failure of the V6 models by now?

RJC

Well said. I hope he goes for it because once he feels the difference he will be sorry.

Kar don

base 500 is a much better car, now that it has the 7spd too. Def a good choice to switch, dealer probably wouldnt care.

RJC

Hey Al...What's up

THundar

If the Dealer is worth a darn, they will want a happy customer. Besides, I think they have provisions for someone to change their mind, but he may have to eat a few hundred bucks.

hoffyvortex

One reason the dealer may not want to do the deal is because there is marketing money direct to the dealer on the 320 that does not exist on the 500, so if you are comparing a similar prices as compared to invoice or MSRP, there will be more profit in the 320 than the 500. If you friend allows the dealer to make the same profit on either car, then they are less likely to care, assuming they have plenty of both in stock. Right now dealers are pushing to move the remaining 320's out of inventory. That is the reason for the factory to dealer incentives on the 320.

Good luck though, i agree that a base 500 may be a better choice for your friend. When i was looking a month ago, I didnt see too many base 500s on the dealer lots in my area.

nasdaqsam

I just bought a E320 4matic for my wife(actually have not received it yet.)

From what I can see from my exhausting research is if there is only $ 3,000 difference then it is a given. Go for it (unless like me your wife does not need or want the extra power)......but if it is only $ 3,000 it means he paid a premium for the E320. I got mine at about $ 8,000 off the best price I could find on an E500. The E320's are everywhere (I live in NY and bought mine out of California for a significant discount compared to local and it will be delivered to my door step all included) and it is much harder to find a real good deal on the E500. This is just from my research YMMV.

Brian_I.

I opted for the 320 with more options. I could have gotten a good deal on a base 500 for less than I got my 320 for but I really wanted every option I got and I just wouldn't have been able to afford it on the 500.

Gas-wise I'm really glad I got the smaller engine. It has enough power for bumper-to-bumper traffic anyway.

pa28pilot

Ken probably knows this, but for the non-oil burners out there:

Another point in favor of the CDI is that fact that the gas guzzler tax doesn't apply. (Nor do emissions inspections in Virginia - one less thing to have to remember every 2 years.)

sacguy

By the way there is no gas guzzler tax on the 05 E500, only on the 04 E500. The 7 speed transmission on the 05 increased the gas mileage just enough to avoid the gas guzzler tax that was on the 04 E500 with 5 speed transmission.

jameson75

the E500 is obviously a better choice, however I would also have to agree that when I bought my 05 E500 there weren't too many "base" models available. Most of the 500's had some package or option that put the MSRP upwards of 60 grand. BTW, the 05 E500's don't have a gas guzzler tax, well at least not in California.

benzboy

No comparison - tell him to go back for the E500. Much more car!

RJC

Well he kept the 320, I don't think he's going to regret it too much until the 350's hit the streets in March..oh well.

michael10128

500 All the way
one step on the gas - he will realize why

rusnakmb

I'll probably wait for 06' E350. It is coming out soon in Feb or March.

HELL ONA HARLEY

My 04, and it has the seven speed (7G) had a guzzler tax of $1000.00. Not quite sure how they raised the milage the 1 or 2 M.P.G to get away from the tax, but it wasn't because of the seven speed....

B.T.W.... 03 was the last year of the 5 speed.

SAguirre

Don't forget that 4 Matics are still all 5-speed


I am still laughing at your Volvo picture

Steve

rusnakmb

The E500 4-matics werer really nice. Who cares about 5 speed. In snow, 4-matics rock!

SAguirre

I was not discrediting the 5-speed transmission. I was just pointing out that there still are 5-speed automatic transmissions on the E500. Also, the new V6 CDI will still be matched to a 5-speed. I would like to have the 7-speed transmission, but the 5 is a proven system.
Also, I think that the 4 Matic has benefits in other conditions than just snow.


Steve

Und viele Gruesse an die Bremer Stadtmusikanten. HB = Hansestadt Bremen? Ist das dein Wagen in dem Bild? Du sprichst doch Deutsch oder? Mein Deutsch ist eingerostet.

Silvergt02

For me, its all about the engine and drive experience. The throttle response, off the line power and high speed downshifts are what make my experience enjoyable. The extra options are nice in the beginning, but after a year the novelty wears off and you are left with the "feeling" and drive qualities of a car. I say go with the base 500. You will be happier down the road.

jhh

I'm puzzled -- I believe the gas guzzler tax is still there on the '05 E500, and in fact went up to $1,300 (from $1,000 on the '04). As noted on another post, the 7-speed tranny is on both the '04 and the '05. Does anyone have information that the GGT is definitely gone from the '05 E500?

Brav

simple question of what the guy wants the car for- or if he would appreciate the extra power, or the extra goodies. Personally, I have to have both.. I hate buying cars without options. Especially a car like this. An E with Pano, wood wheel, vent seats, navi, appearance pckg, airmatic, DD seats, V8 etc is a completely different experience than an E without.

I'd say there is a better value in the E500, but its subjective and again is based upon tastses and preferences with your friend.

SAguirre

Well, there is nothing I hate more than having blanc slots in dash boards or switch panels. I agree, I don't like getting cars without options. My car is well equipped, but if I would have ordered it myself I would have ordered a few more things.

I personally like the E320 a lot, the 500 will cause me to exercise more self-control and restraint. When I drove the E500, it was as if it was begging to be driven harder, but maybe that was just me.

Steve