K-A

Oh, don't forget, if you hold off, you can still get a '10 for much cheaper, as they will be highly discounted when the new drivetrains come out, IMO the E550 would be a great catch, you can enjoy the nice V8 and power, and get it for a song, while everyone will want the new MY's with their motors.

gaazmon

to answer emliner's question, u are definitely from Northern CA

i doubt MB will go with BMWs route and have 2 V6's. If they do it would probably be the E300 (same engine as C300 w/ 230hp) and an E350 (same engine as SLK350 w/ 300hp). This will match BMWs lineup with mid size sedan and might be able to capture lower price point.

K-A

LOL^^ (hella)

I think I'm pretty sure I remember them saying they will have a TT V6?

It does seem foolish for M-B to have to V6's, M-B buyers aren't really as "enthusiastic" and performance oriented as BMW buyers, so it would do them no good. At the same time, I doubt they'd have only one V6 that is a hi-po TT, no way.

Regardless, and E300 would be weeaaaaak.

220S

kennyboy:

fwiw, I came from performance cars and ended up buying a 2009 W211 E350. In less than a year I dumped it and ended up with a 2009 E63.

Get the 550. You won't be sorry. But if you don't, you'll always be wondering if you are sorry.

You may even be able to find a new left over 2009 W211 E550. That would give you a major discount and full airmatic all the way around. I personally like airmatic; a pneumatic suspension system is adjustable and supremely comfortable. Good roads or bad roads, you can make changes on the fly instead of being stuck with just one ride (and the AMG tuned airmatic allows for really decent handling for such a heavy sedan.)

Maintenance/repair is more expensive with airmatic, yes. But that's what warranties are all about. And steel springs/gas shocks wear out too. They are simply less expensive to replace only because they're basic and common components.

MB went to steel springs up front because it's cheaper. But under the marketing guise that it handles better. But don't get me started on MB's recent campaign of cost cutting.

Rowrbazzle

I agree somewhat. The 350 and 550 are both well tested engines and seem like a pretty safe bet. There's no telling what is going to happen with the new engines.

But I imagine resale depreciation will be pretty much a wash after 7-8 years. Older cars are always inadequate in some way, whether it's HP or features or whatever. Most people don't care enough to really learn all the differences b/t two model years that look the same. If you can afford the price difference, then get whichever one you like the most.

emilner

There will be a large difference in price when comparing the 2010 and 2011 engines at resale time. Any time a manufacturer issues a new updated engine in a desirable car the outgoing motor drops in value and stays lower when compared to used vehicle with the new motor...

Rowrbazzle

Edmunds puts depreciation for the 211 at 13%, 23%, 20%, 18%, 11%, 11%. The 18% is when the engine changed from 3.2 to 3.5 - no worse than the changes b/t 3.5's from later years (except 09-08). I suppose that might change once those more recent 3.5s drop off a bit more, but for now 211s with 320s don't seem to be experiencing worse depreciation than 211s with 350s. Of course the difference b/t a 3.2/3.5 and a 3.5/TT might be more pronounced. Guess it'll depend on how good the new engines actually are.

(I'll have to re-visit this post in a couple years to see if anything changes haha)

gaazmon

ie when the new 3 series sedan came out (325 and 330) and the next year they changed engines (328 and 335).

emilner

I think one thing the numbers are not reflecting is the fact that 2010 cars will be a one year engine, new body style/ old engine vs all future years which will be new body and engine....

aeggroup

Where have you seen info that 2011 engines will be new ones ? I think MB people were talking about 2012 or even later .

emilner

This fall, the 2011 models will debut with a new TT DI V6 and a TT DI V8...

aeggroup

Hmm..I'll be driving old engine almost 20 months ...sucks...

I hope they will have some kind of payment forgiveness program ..

220S

MB? Yeah, right

They don't even have a real loyalty program, except for the b.s. "loyalty accelerator program" which is designed just to get you into another expensive lease and only with a different model car then you already have. Or the MBCA member "loyalty" program which just gives you credit ($1500) from the dealer (no cash off MSRP) and doesn't even apply to all models.

gaazmon

this does blow. talk about bs. they couldn't unveil the new car with the new engine??? i remember the BMW guys being pissed when that happened. they had to let it out a year THEN offer the new engine.

Well, I'd be glad in a way I didn't get the new engine (more headache with new tech engine). The current V6 and V8 are awesome choices (the V8 especially). I'm actually upset they are getting rid of the n/a engines for forced induction (more upkeep).

aeggroup

I don't agree with you. This my third leased Benz and two of them I returned 5-6 months before lease maturity date with no problems...
We'll see .....

emilner

I for one will feel confident in the reliability of a new motor. The current v8 came out in '07 and the '07s seem to be bulletproof. Same for when the 350 came out. I can't really remember MB having motor issues in recent memory, even with the AMG and V12 cars....

220S

No, I'm not talking about getting out of your lease early in order to get into another car. I'm talking about a loyalty program. A discount for staying loyal with the brand. In the "loyalty accelerator program" MBUSA will pay for two of your remaining payments, but only if you move into a different model.

The MBCA "loyalty" program is $1500 in credit (not credit off the price of the car, but in goods and service) from the dealer you bought the car from. And it's for MBCA members only and doesn't apply to all models.

Volvo, as an example, will give you a loyalty discount off the price of your next Volvo.

MB has no incentive program to stick with them. They just take your money with never giving you a thank you for sticking it out with them

K-A

Yeah that's what I'm saying.

I have confidence in M-B's motors, even through their biggest quality fiascos, the drivetrains were always solid.

That said, even the 3.5 and 5.5's are too new for us to see how lasting they REALLY are, keeping my fingers crossed.

220S

Motors they can certainly build. Always been their highlight. They supply Force India, Brawn (until they bought the team) and McLaren. Through racing they learn a lot. Like Porsche does. MB motors designed and built in the UK are state of the art F1 motors. Daimler bought all of Ilmor in 2005 (they used to own only part of it.) All that motor building experience does trickle down to production cars. http://www.mercedes-benz-hpe.com/hpe/index.htm

And don't forget the Silver Arrows of the '30s.

Rowrbazzle

It does seem an odd situation. Lucky for me, I plan on keeping the car for a good long while so resale value isn't much of a concern. From what I can tell MB's (maybe just luxury cars in general) drop off pretty hard. My last car ('04 Mazda3) cost about 30k less than an 04 E-Class but is now worth only 7k less (per Edmunds). Of course there is more to a car than resale value.

And I'm sure I would have enjoyed driving the E-Class more than the 3 these past 6 years. I've heard the pre-FL 211's were the best E's ever, right K-A?

K-A

You must have spoken and heard from the M-B Gods as I have.

Kennyboy

I am planning to purchase the E550 sport package, which I believe it has sport tuned suspension. But is the Airmatic suspension still here?

K-A

Yeah, all E550's are Airmatic cars.

salamt

I have tested the E350 sport before ordering it and I liked the handling and how it absorbs the damaged roads feelings. My point is: the sport suspension in the E350 is great and I enjoyed driving it as it feels awesome, solid and comfortable in the same time.

gaazmon

+1, it's nice. Even the C350 handled well IMO when I drove it, and it wasn't harsh compared to our 07 C230 we had.