Tarun Chadha

Advice here - would you buy a car today without Blind Spot assist that your teenage would sometimes drive or would you even consider an aftermarket blind assist on a car such as the e400 ? Or just suck the difference of $2000 between two similar e400 2016 convertibles ?

I am purchasing a 2016 e400 conv.. Difference between 2 very similar cars is $2k and one has the premium 1 package (no lane assist) and the other has the premium 2 package (with the Blind Spot Assist) + the sports package (with AMG body styling, 18' AMG spin spoke wheels, and some suspension differences - though don't know the impact of these). I already drive a e400 2016 wagon with the premium 1 + 2 packages. Mileage / condition are similar though car 1 is from a MB dealer (not certified) and car 2 is a private seller.

Thanks for your insight (trying to make a decision today).

kajtek1

Tell us what driving skills you guys have?
I used to be 1 of those drivers who could merge into next lane of traffic with couple ft clearance, but now, turning over 60 I do appreciate "extra eye" who warns me about the car I might overlook. Still the beeps when I make close merge can get annoying, but on other hand you can recoup the $2k by avoiding single fender-bender. I think the option also include cross traffic sensing? Good for backing up on busy street with limited visibility.

ygmn

There is more different bewteen packages then lane assist.

Suggest you run the VINS and compare option codes fro what is different.

DFWdude

^^^^^^^^^^^ Yup, this... Then...

Wait, you're thinking of letting your teen drive a MB as a first car? And a convertible at that?

Reminds me of the rich kid I knew in HS who wrecked two new '69 Mach 1 Mustangs in less than a year.

I've raised three to adulthood. All are good, sharp kids, but ALL had 'at fault' accidents within the first year of driving and two of them totaled (NEW) cars. As much as it costs to repair a MB, I would not let them drive one, period. Well used Toyotas or Hondas only, and without blind spot assist, so they learn how to properly look over shoulders to clear blind spots. Build good, safe habits... not laziness.

I would ask the private seller why his car is $2000 more than a dealer that has looked over the car extensively (CPO or not) and where you can purchase a maintenance plan. The goal is to split the difference for the better equipped car, and apply the $1000 towards a beater for the kid.

Tarun Chadha

where can you do that comparison of options based on vin codes ?

DFWdude

Get the VINs for both cars, then...

There are two good sites (corrected):

https://www.datamb.com/

https://mbworld.org/forums/vindecoder.php

Pull data sheets for both cars from the same site...

Tarun Chadha

:-) I ask myself the same but bottom line dont want to have 3 cars till he goes to college (I rarely am in town so my car just sits there)....I am replacing a 1995 Saab Conv. 5 speed with just 125k miles that I bought when I was in my early 20s off the lot...but don't think that is safe car for him with all the safe stuff today and hence the move to the MB Conv since I want a Conv to replace the aging saab. So he "may" drive my car to school at times once we feel he is upto it....so far he mostly drives with us or on short distances on his own. No right answer on that.

Tarun Chadha

thx

DFWdude

There's the old adage. "A bird in hand is worth two in the bush." By all means, buy the convertible for you and keep the Saab and park it on the curb. It's not like any 1995 model car will give you anything in trade, anyways. Just divorce yourself of any attachment to the Saab, for when the inevitable happens.

Saabs are safe cars to begin with, and most of the safety features added today just protect lazy drivers from themselves. Up to you, and there is no right answer as you say. But IMO, its best to make a new driver learn and practice all the basics without too many aids. Skills learned early on stay with you a lifetime.

kajtek1

I had the young sons becoming driver dilemma years ago.
In those years I collected several newspapers articles how young sons took performance car and sometimes killed themselves, when years ago young driver in Pleasant Hill, CA managed to reach 70 mph on very short street with big trees along and kill 3 out of 4 friends in the car. There always was the parent's dilemma how much they participate in deaths by giving muscle cars to students.
At the time I was searching for old Mercedes 220 D as the 44 HP car would be good idea to start.
Now I read about GPS monitors that can set alarm when kid speeds out of control, so that would be the main option to install.

Tarun Chadha

Great words of wisdom. I will do so. I fear my Saab 900s Conv. would be death trap vs. the safety of the other cars....and both do go fast. Use tech to limit and alert speeds is a great idea. thanks. (getting parenting advice on cars - and that is great too). I would rather he drive a MB to school at times vs. the rigged out jeeps that seem to prevail in the parking lots....those look more dangerous.

ml3504matic____

get the one with blind spot assist. Totally worth it. I’m a teenage driver. Second driver of an 2014 E350 with blind spot assist and is very helpful. Trust me.

Tarun Chadha

Thanks for a teenager perspective. It is very valuable. Thanks to all. Hopefully decide by tonight but inclined to spending the 2k extra as intend to keep it for awhile. May also teach my little guy the joy of stick in the 95 saab conv.

bob2011

2k for just blind spot is insane, If you were to spec out this car new, 900 more dollars would have brought you active blind spot, active lane keep, and distronic. Skip the blind spot and save the 2k lol.

kajtek1

Bare in mind we are talking radar technology here, who is still pretty new in cars.
First navigation systems in MB were $2600 option. Now MB burries the price in command center, but you can buy stand-alone system for slightly above $100 when you want live traffic.

Kilt

Blind spot assist, by itself, wouldn't be worth $200 to me much less $2000. Adjust the outside mirrors properly -- most people don't -- and you'll never need it. Plus, it's just another electronic thing to rust out, stop functioning intermittently or completely, screw up some other computer stuff in the process, and end up costing a lot of money.

I never let any of my kids drive a good car, because like all kids they are statistical accidents waiting to happen. Two of them totaled cars, just as I did at their age. Teens and college age kids should learn how to drive properly and carefully without electronic gadgets in a junky car, and be thankful they have one. JMO.

Arrie

I must voice my opinion here about the car safety. SAAB was the fore front car maker for a lot of car safety especially about the cabin crush etc. They made some safety bumpers for their cars in the past designed to take a 7 km/h hit against a brick wall with no damage on the car at all. For driving safety they were way ahead of others with front lighting as they had some lights in front of their cars ON at all times since early 19970s. I had a pleasure to own a SAAB 96 of model year 1972 that could not be driven without lights on in front. If your lights rocker switch was set to OFF it gave you only 6 volts to the lights in front and there was no way to turn he lights OFF. The 1975 model was the same.

SAAB is one of the most safe car to drive if you think hitting something or someone else hitting you but for sure it does not have the modern "gimmicks" in it.

For your car choice (without reading all posts) get the one with blind spot warning. It is worth it if the driver knows what the warning beeps mean.

cetialpha5

Don't have it and never smashed into someone in my blind spot. Just make sure the kid learns to drive properly and always check your blind spot by looking over your right shoulder. For the left, I cheat and use a blind spot mirror. Blind spot just tells you something is there, looking will tell you how fast someone is closing in on you.

SimMB

Crikey, how did I survive into adulthood in my '89 Citroen AX with big bore exhaust.

kajtek1

Pure luck.
I lost several friends from my growing-up years due to lack of safety technology. Not something we want to remember, but it is the fact.
If you are old enough, you will remember how people objected safety belts when they become mandatory. We are only humans.