First post. Need help deciding
 

Hello!

First time posting and hoping this is the first of many many future posts. Currently looking into trading my current lease;2007 Accord; for a nicer vehicle, but really having a hard time deciding on what vehicle to get. Knowing that this is an MB board I expect to have probably many biased recommendation but really hope for some legit things to help make the decision.

Planning to get lightly used 2010, as I would like to stay around the $45t mark. This is my short list e350, m37, gs350, a6 and genesis.

They all basically meet my needs and amenities I look for but really worry about reliability for all. Due to the nature of my job I work with pharmacists and people in the medical field quite often and they created a negative perception about German cars which pushes me away. Still very impressed with the E class looks.

Any input would go muchreciated as I have less than 3 months to make the purchase

Thanks

Ed

After 37 years of M-B ownership I am aware that M-B's are only as good as their servicing.

I have had nil faults in the last three M-B's that I have purchased (E550, ML 500 and ML 320CDI).

It is possible that a 1 year old car is being sold because someone has had a problem but make sure it is fixed by the dealer before you take it home.

It will have a warranty anyway.

I am sure a Japanese Car is probably more reliable but I wouldn't be seen dead in one and recent M-B's post 2005 seem to be a lot better again.

Bill

Well Ed, welcome to the board. Not sure why medical people would create a negative perception about German cars? Is it cause they drive German auto's and you don't like them as people or they have told you bad things about their German auto's? Either way, you really have to go with what pleases you, cause it's much easier to pay for when you really enjoy it. They key word here is "enjoy" and I would bet you will enjoy your benz more than any of those other cars listed. So which car do you think is going to be the easiest to pay for? See now that was easy, now go get that benz.

Honestly, spend an afternoon test driving those and see which one puts a smile on your face you can't wipe off. Oh then come back and post up some pics of your e350.

My grandfather loves his new e550 but he barely drives as he is older. Unfortunately he is in a different country. What people pay on this new? Close to retail? Wonder if I would be better off buying new.

Thanks for the prompts reply

Stretch yourself and buy new imho.

But I think the advice given above about "see what puts a smile on your face" is the most important and then look after it.

Bill

If reliability is the biggest concern for you, I think the Infiniti or Lexus will keep your mind at ease.

Having owned 3 of the Lexus GS series I can tell you that I had no reliability issues. It was harsh, noisy ride and squeaks, groans, and rattles in my GS350 AWD that drove me to Mercedes. Haven't had the e350 long enough to comment on overall reliability but so far so good.

As previously stated, drive them all and buy what gives you the biggest grin.:zoom:

Personally I will not buy a Japanese car no matter how much some medical field people talk for it. Almost seems like some simple people go after a car name that somehow sounds "luxury".

I like car to be made strong and safe and also relieble and as I spend a lot of time in my car on sometimes 10+ hours long drives I want it to be the most confortable you can buy in the money bracket I can use. This especially includes how quiet the car is and very importantly that it does not "snap, crackle and pop" at every little bump I hit on the roads. There is nothing as annoying as hearing rattling noises inside the car that costs "half of a house" so a Japanese for me does not cut it.

One easy way to rate cars for build quality is just to sit on the driver's seat and close the door as you normally do it, i.e. windows closed. The way door feels and sounds when it closes tells a lot of the rest how the car has been made. Go compare.

Long test drives
 

I compared Lexus, Infiniti, Audi, Acura and Genesis. In fact had great deal on Genesis as a member of their advisory board. After a year of researching, test driving, etc. picked E350.
This was in late 2009, but got much better deal on E350 than Lexus would even think about.
Having owned a Hyuundai Azera, reliability will not be a problem and service costs are much lower than M-B or Lexus. Great warranty.
However, Hyundais do not ride as well as Lexus or M-B. I found Infiniti M, Audi A4/A6 and Acuras too small inside-and I'm a small guy. GS does not seem to get a lot of good reviews.
Visit a lot of websites. The one below is my favorite for seeming to be most objective re: cars.
Personally don't place a lot of faith in the automotive press magazines and websites, but it is information. Also, Consumer Reports provides information, but IMO they have biases also. Their "findings" are based on surveys of people who subscribe to the magazine and return the forms. 2010 E class is rated better than average on reliability by CR.
Consumer Digest picked E class as a Best Buy in their December issue. Also picked Genesis as a Best Buy in the "luxury" field.
You really need to test drive them for at least 30 minutes (minimum) each over various roads. Alone if possible or tell sales person to sit in back and read a book.
Have worked with a lot of MD's in my life and have little value for their opinions on cars.
If using in work, that's a lot of miles and a lot of maintenance.
Good luck-lots of choices.

http://consumerguideauto.howstuffworks.com/

We just moved from Lexus to MB primarily for reliability issues. The wife had an RX350 that started experiencing electrical issues at 40k and service tried to tell us we had three bad batteries in a row....coincidence or the batteries were much cheaper to replace that serious electrical work considering the standard 4yr / 50k warranty was about to expire.

We've had both Lexus and Infinity vehicles and werent that impressed with fit / finish / interior construction. Both were pre 2008 vehicles. I Hope we made the right decision based on our reliability research!

I recently bought the e550 4matic and love it. I also thought that the e350 was great as well. These cars have wonderful fit and finish and feel bank vault solid. They are not what I would call overly sporty as far as drive but have the balance that I was looking for. You are coming out of an accord which has a very sporty ride but way to hard and noisy, IMO. The e350 will be a polar opposite and will take much mental adjustment. Some of your other possiblities such as the m37 are probably closer to what you are used to, especially if you get an e350 with the luxury suspension and the 17 inch rims as opposed to the sport which comes with 18 inch rims and a slightly firmer tuning. If you go down the e350 road, you might check out the thread on e350 sport or luxury which has a good debate on the topic. Ultimately, drive them all if you have the time and pick the one you like the most!! My dealership in NJ might still have an almost new e350 4matic with the p1 package in steel grey for a good price. Thanks. Ned.

Over the years my wife and I have owned 18 MBs. In the 80's they had no competition for quality,fit and reliability. By the early 2000's MB produced many crappy cars and by 2007 my wife and I bought two BMW's. They are great cars and you should have them on your shopping list. In 2010 we decided to try MB again and traded the two Bimmers. We have no regrets. The E class MBs have been the best cars we have owned to date. We have no issues to date and I highly recommend this new generation E class.

Consumer Guide Auto
 

Forgot to mention. Their scores are much lower than you would expect. For instance, 2010 E Class overall gets 72 out of possible 110, but this is either highest or second highest score in the class. They also frequently score each model separately, e.g. Luxury vs. Sports.

I have to disagree with the recommendation to include BMW in your list of vehicles to consider. I have owned three BMW's and four MB's. No contest, the MB has the BMW beat by a long shot. My latest BMW was a 2011 535i. I kept it three months and traded it in on the 2011 MB E550 that I am driving now. The E550 ride is smooth, the 535i was harsh. Also, the 535i had significant reliability issues -- in the shop three times in less than three months, and the initial problem was still not completely fixed. It was due for another shop visit for a recall when I traded it in.

I have also owned Cadillacs (Deville, El Dorado, CTS and DTS), Nissans (200SX, 280Z, 280ZX, 300ZX, 300ZX turbo), Toyotas (Camry & Celicas), Buick Le Sabre, Chevrolets (Impala, Monte Carlo, van, Suburban, Tahoe, S10, C1500, two Corvettes, Nova, and even a Vega GT many years ago), Mercurys (Grand Marquis and Cougar), Fords (Explorer, Ranger and F150), Dodges (Ram, Magnum RT, and motor home), Jeeps (Grand Cherokee and Grand Cherokee Limited), Audi, MGB, Porsche 914, VW beetles, Oldsmobile 98, Pontiac, Saturn Outlook, BMW( 520, Z4, 535i), and Mercedes (240D, CLK500, S550, E550) - none compare to Mercedes.

The point I was trying to make is that as a long time MB owner and a certain bias for the brand that I have also enjoyed BMW and in the three years we had the 335i coupe we had one fuel pump problem and that's it. The 328xi in thirty months of use was only at the dealership for free maintenance, no warranty claims. They are are a different car from MB and who likes what is subjective. BMW is as valid a choice as the Japanese cars the OP is also considering.
I will certainly shop BMW when it's time to trade my car and I believe BMW is equal to MB in build quality,durability and reliability plus it's a superb road car. One troublesome car is not representative of the whole Brand.

I couldn't own that many cars if I lived to 400 years old. I'm 57 and have owned a Mazda 626, a Mercedes 500sel, a Mercury sable wagon,a jeep grand cherokee, a Mercedes e320 4matic, a lexus rx330, a mercedes e55 and a mercedes e550. That's between me and my wife. That all folks!! Regards. Ned.

It seems to me that I have heard more nightmare problems about BMW than I have ever heard about Mercedes. It could be my biased ears, however. Thanks. Ned.

Petee1997, I am glad for you that your experience with BMW's was positive. Granted, all cars of any manufacturer are not bad just as some of any manufacturer will be. Automobile manufacturers are not perfect. However, my "troublesome BMW" was not "one troublsesome car." The problems I experienced were present in other cars -- just check posts on the internet. The issue that was never totally resolved was a hesitation from a standing start followed by an abrupt acceleration. That issue has been reported in BMW SUV's, 7 series, and 5 series. (While waiting for the service rep. to get the keys to a loaner for me, the other customer waiting with me had a 740i. He told me that his car had the hesitation issue and that the mechanic told him to "drive it like you stole it and you will not notice it.") The air tube connected to the turbo coming loose has been discovered in several 2011 535i's according to the local BMW factory representative (as reported to me by the service manager). That problem caused the engine to turn off as I was pulling onto busy traffic. BMW has been very slow in recalling cars. The recall this past fall seemed to occur only after significant reporting of the issue on national news. BTW, my BMW Z4 which was a fun car had one major issue: the electric steering failed while still under warranty. Fortunately, it was the only issue with that car.

What can I say. There were a few others I forgot about. I enjoy cars. I am 65. I have held onto a few of the the cars for more than a year or two. The ones I have kept the longest have been very reliable: Cadillac Deville (5 yrs), Cadillac El Dorado (5 yrs), Chevrolet Suburban (5 yrs), Oldsmobile 98 (5 yrs), Mercedes S550 (3 yrs) - only routine maintenance plus one shop visit for the Deville (tighten tilt steering column) and one for the Suburban (replace power window motor). The least reliable have been Chevrolet Vega, Chevrolet Monte Carlo, Audi (bought it used so it was an older car when I got it), BMW 535i.

A person that I work with just picked up his brand new BMW 535ix last Friday. It has been in the shop since Tuesday with a differential problem. They need to get the part from Germany. One car, one large problem. All anecdodal I know, but it adds up. Thanks. Ned.

I applaud you!! I think that it is great. A car is one of the best boy toys that exists. Party on!!!! Thanks. Ned.

24 cars in 33 years (now 49), not counting my wife's cars. They were each "my best or favorite" at the time I purchased them, yet I always found reason to replace them with another.

As I reflect, I've piddled a lot of money away on essentially transportation. They each did it differently, some with more comfort, some more sport, some more power, but in the end, they all got me from Point A to Point B, and became a great, slightly used car for the next buyer.

Pick what you like, but you will always like something else a few miles down the road.

The last two MB's I owned before moving to BMW were horror stories. My wife's 03 CLK500 had a total of $18,000.00 in warranty claims including transmission failure,cooling system failure,front end issues, and finally drive shaft replacement. My 04 SL500 had in excess of $10,000.00 in warranty claims including transmission replacement. The car was traded at 9,000KMS(5500mi) in 06.
It appears MB has gotten their act together since then (the Chrysler experiment) and have addressed their quality and reliability issues. I am extremely happy so far with the the E's that we currently own. As far as BMW is concerned, they may be having a few glitches on a new model but they have a track record for producing great road cars.

So many horror stories... One thing does keep coming up and is that people are really happy with the new E's.

Every day I lean more and more for one.


What are people typically paying them new? Also any major reason to go P2 over P1 ? Really trying to stay around 800$ car payment


Thanks

Sorry for veering off of the primary question in your thread.

I have gotten P2 on the three Mercedes I have owned recently. I think the answer to your question comes down to: Are you willing to pay the extra cost for Keyless Go, automatic dimming headlights, and remote trunk open/close. That is what P2 gives you. All three items are something you can do without and still enjoy the car. My first car with P2 was purchased off the lot, not ordered. Once I had the Keyless Go, I wanted it in the subsequent cars. It is just a matter of individual preference.