Pntblnk

Agreed, I have a fantastic wife.

Noticed the H&K fanatic in your sig line. I had a chance several years ago to visit the H&K sales guys in Trussville AL. We went to the range and blew through $5k of ammo in an afternoon. PM me and I'll send you a couple pictures of some very cool toys.

The silenced MP5 compact was by far the most fun gun I have ever shot. They called it the bullet hose as the R&D guys put rubber pads on each end of the slide so it was capable of >1300 rounds per minute!

Pntblnk

2011 E350 Bluetec
Arctic White, P1, Split Rear Seat, rear spoiler
Sticker $56,815
Selling Price $49,715
Discount $7100
MB Finance 1.6% APR

clmulli

Ouch! But not a bad trade-in amout. I wonder how much they are willing to come down. If not, I agree, wait on the 2012 models to arrive.

MCF

I'm in the same 'boat' regarding the wife..she doesn't care how much I spend, but she does love her Luxury black/almond leather!! Other taxes and fees are going to sales tax on difference ($12908) and some misc junk. You are looking at about $750 for that. So you are now around $14,400 out of pocket. Starting to sting a little..ouch. I just took a guy from my office out to see my 2011 Luxury with the four round lights up front and he said, "Damn, that is classy. You're nuts for taking a loss on this car especially since it does't have any problems". The fact that they won't be offering the four round lights any more is another reason I don't mind keeping mine for a while.

Also, I think you should be able to get another couple thousand off the E550. If you want to do it, tell him you will bring him your car and pay $12000 out the door but the offer is only valid for this weekend. After that you may have too much time to think about it and back out.

ngerstman

I don't agree. The longer you wait the more it will cost as the e350 will depreciate even faster. Best case if you wait, you luck out and save a modest amount versus this offer. More likely case if you wait it cost so much you can't afford to do it and kick yourself for years. Always better cutting your losses. Regards. Ned

MCF

Not true, the E350 will continue to depreciate; however, the biggest immediate depreciation has already occurred.

ngerstman

I paid the price for my indecision and I felt foolish writing the check. I don't think about that for one minute any more when I'm driving my e550. Regards. Ned.

ngerstman

i never said this was a costless transaction. Like I said, there will be a cost for the indecision. I still say the bid/offer on this trade will only grow. Regards. Ned.

220S

Hopefully you're not in California where you get no tax reduction based on the trade-in value. Here we pay full tax on the car based on its purchase price and can't use the trade-in price to reduce it. We pay tax on every purchase, and not the difference.

ngerstman

I did not know that. That is outrageously bad!! And I thought NJ had the most unfair tax code. That would most likely kept me in my e350. Regards. Ned.

Pntblnk

Looks like this is going to get done. I spoke with my original MB salesman and told him about the deal in Atlanta and asked him if he want in. He called back 30 minutes later and beat Atlanta's price by $1,000. They have to get the car brought in from another dealer and I will know for sure in the morning.

Thanks for all of the insight and advice. I feel like a idiot for changing my mind so quickly after purchase but can swallow my pride long enough to write the check. . I will have forgotten about the cost long before my first A a service is due!

K-A

Exactly, the cost will be a distant memory. Do your best to minimize costs, call different Dealers, get aggressive, get them to get aggressive, then just go with it. If you can afford it, go with what you want.

Also, TAKE OFF THE SPOILERS THAT YOU PAID FOR and put them on the new car.

Pntblnk

They had to do the spoilers on a "we owe" sheet at time of sale and haven't put them on yet. Already got them to apply the $600 to the new one.

That said I like the way you think!

K-A

220S

That's correct but I think what ngerstman is trying to say is to sell it now to at least get as much as you can. We all know cars aren't investments (except for collectibles) and the only value we really get from them is use value. And we also know that a Mercedes depreciates like nothing else on the planet (you can buy a used Mercedes for next to nothing.) Given that, if the car isn't giving you the use value you want, then dump it now and get more dollars out of it while you can. Being happy or not being happy with a car is part of that use value. Otherwise why not just drive an everyday appliance car for a lot less $$; it will get you from A to B.

golfster

From our friends at Wikipedia...

Post-purchase rationalization is a common phenomenon which occurs after people who have invested significant time, money, or effort in something try to convince themselves that it must have been worth it. Many decisions are made emotionally, and so are often rationalized retrospectively in an attempt to justify the choice.[1]
This rationalization is based on the principle of commitment and the psychological desire to stay consistent to that commitment. Some authorities would also consider this rationalization a manifestation of cognitive dissonance.

I wonder if this would be of value in the Sprint Booster thread?

Pntblnk

Guilty as charged! But I'm giddy about it like a school boy the night before Christmas!

golfster

Good luck and best wishes, Pntblnk. I hope the transaction goes the way you wish. Please send pictures if you pull the trigger!!

htn75

I've done this countless times. Started a few years ago on an 08 IS250 then onto Infiniti M45, to 2010 TL, to 2010 MDX, to 2010 RX350, to E550 and just last week a 2011 Bmw 550i GT.
All this took place about every 6 months. I think I'm Crazy...

Good Luck buddy... Just have fun with it. It's only money.

ngerstman

Move on with no regrets!! Enjoy. Regards. Ned.

ngerstman

You went to the dark side! Why'd you do it. Thanks. Ned.

htn75

I guess dark as in the bimmer???
I still have the E550, still in the honeymoon stage.
Got rid of the MDX baby mobile for the GT, just wanted something that has the room, more lux, and power.
So far loving the GT and still in the honeymoon stage.

ngerstman

This is a Mercedes forum , so the BMW is the dark side. Just kidding!! Not quite sure how going from MDX to the BMW gets you more room. I just bought my wife an MDX. I actually like the MDX for what it is a lot. Compared it to the x5 and went with the Acura. Couldn't justify the $20,000 difference and wasn't convinced that the x5 was even any better. So you now own both the e550 and the BMW 550? What do you think? Once the novelty of the BMW being the newer toy wears off, which set of keys will you go for first as the everyday ride. Regards. Ned.

K-A

Remember that the 5'er GT isn't a 5-Series Sedan, and is a very different type of car than an E-Class. To me it sits in between Wagon and Crossover, on a Sedans platform.

vinrun

Good luck with your new car and enjoy it.