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I've already installed Android Auto/Apple Car Play in my 2016 E350. I don't drink the Apple cool-aid, but the Android Auto works fine. Although to be honest, I really like the "Send-2-Benz" feature in the Mercedes-Me App, and use it all the time for navigation input. I'm sure all future cars will have similar features, so I'm in no hurry to buy anything newer.
I still love my 2012 E350. It just rolled 80,000 miles. Had an oil change and car wash before covid-19 broke out. Not worth much and mine is a solid 9/10. Only issue is faded wood and I thought of having it wrapped or replaced. Interior other than that it looks brand new. No ripped seats or stains. No dents on the body or scratches.
As far as what would I replace it with? CLS400, E43 or E53 W213 body in a sedan. Or possibly wait for a used S550 Maybach to come down in value. Used ones are as low as $65,000!
Keeping mine until she costs me more money then I wanna spend to keep running so hopefully around 2030 she is still with me.
I hate buying cars as they are such a waste of good money you never see again... unless you get lucky and bought a Gullwing back in the day... and kept it.
I bought one brand new car in my life. A 1995 GMC SUV. $38,000 right off the showroom floor. Since then I have always bought CPO with a payment or even used cars cash with low miles. I paid $13,000 for a 2004 CLK Convertible with every option with 45,000 miles. Paid $32,000 for my W212 E350 with 20,000 miles it was only a couple years old and still had warranty! Last year I bought a 2015 GLK for $27,000 with 15,000 miles. I loved used and CPO! I cannot make myself buy another brand new car.
New car is luxury, so is CPO.
Being car enthusiast my whole life and having mechanical education I was buying Mercedeses for 20% of their original price, whenever that come to the margin.
Only lately, getting lazy for my semi-retirement I bought "expensive" MB, who with all radars and keyless go cost me close to 40% of original price.
Update:
With all the 0% for 72 months promo ads flying around these days, we've looked at a few offers & found a brand new 2019 Jaguar XJ, with 28 miles on odo.
Got a great price off sticker & they gave ok/decent trade in value for our '15 E400.
Figured a brand new vehicle with new 5 yr warranty & 5 yrs of included maintenance makes sense for us...
I love my E350. It is comfortable, has most of the features I want in a car, and gets exceptional fuel economy for a car this size and with the power that it has. And it is quite reliable.
That said, it doesn't measure up to the '07 SL550 I had. Sure, the SL550 was older, and some of the features were dated compared to the E350. But other features were nicer. And I just miss the convertible top, having plenty of power on tap, and the stellar handling. And it was so fun to look at.
So I'll probably keep the E350 until I can get into a '14 or '15 SL.
So, I bought a 2 year-old W212 instead. Just 4 years old now, I will keep this one another 6-8 years, and then buy my first electric vehicle (a sedan, not an ugly SUV). Tesla is the only one with decent styling atm. Maybe some other EV manufacturer will realize by then that styling matters...
Still looking at electric vehicles. I don't drive much, and when I do, it's generally local (under 50 miles). So, while keeping the E350 for long distance trips, an electric for local use seems to be practical for me.
I've waited to see that new Tesla Model 3 in person. I don't know why Tesla insists on styling these cars with no character at the front end. The absence of a grille is understandable, but that vast real estate can sure use something to break-up the expanse of nothing. WTH?
This bumper could easily sport a "This Space for Rent" sign...
No, wait... Ah, here's a Tesla 3 with some character, some teeth...
I bought my 2016 E350 wagon as a leftover in December 2016. New car warranty lasts until December of this year or 50K miles, whichever comes first. As of this post the car has 37800 miles. I don't know if I'll put more or fewer miles on it in the near future, though my guess is fewer. For the first time in my life I've bought an extended warranty, the 7/100 version, which will take me to December 2023 or 100K miles, whichever comes first. I have no intention of replacing the wagon before then. My son should graduate from high school in June 2022; his postsecondary education plans and the amount of financial assistance he may be able to obtain will be a factor in if/when I replace the wagon.
What would I replace it with? I can't say for certain. I would like another M-B wagon, but will it be a new or newer one? I'm not entirely sure the current S213 is an improvement over the S212. I've only driven W213 sedans as dealer loaners but IMO the seats aren't as comfortable, the footwells are narrower and the steering isn't as communicative compared to the 212s. The four feels underpowered - not an option in the wagon but the current V6 in the 213 wagon delivers worse fuel economy than the 212. Maybe the inline six will rectify that. I'm also not crazy about the All-Terrain option; if I wanted a Subaru Outback I'd buy one and pocket the difference. I hope MBUSA doesn't make the All-Terrain the only E-Class wagon option.
Market forces and/or government regulation may force us all into electrics or hybrids at the least. Will MBUSA offer an electric in E-Class wagon form? I'm doubtful as it's such a niche model in the lineup. I understand E-Class wagon hybrids are currently available in Europe but again, such a niche in the US that it may not come here.
Finally there's also the possibility that I go full Luddite, seek out the cleanest S124 without 4matic I can find and ride that into the sunset. By 2030 I may be driving very little either by choice or by force, so that's not out of the question.
I don't know why Tesla insists on styling these cars with no character at the front end. The absence of a grille is understandable, but that vast real estate can sure use something to break-up the expanse of nothing. WTH?
This bumper could easily sport a "This Space for Rent" sign...
No, wait... Ah, here's a Tesla 3 with some character, some teeth...
I agree with you 100%. I've said all along that the front end of the Model 3 looks like the design engineers were stumped on what to do. Someone said "Let's leave it for now and finish the rest of the styling. We will come back to it later". And they never did.
I bought my 2016 E350 wagon as a leftover in December 2016. New car warranty lasts until December of this year or 50K miles, whichever comes first. As of this post the car has 37800 miles. I don't know if I'll put more or fewer miles on it in the near future, though my guess is fewer. For the first time in my life I've bought an extended warranty, the 7/100 version, which will take me to December 2023 or 100K miles, whichever comes first. I have no intention of replacing the wagon before then. My son should graduate from high school in June 2022; his postsecondary education plans and the amount of financial assistance he may be able to obtain will be a factor in if/when I replace the wagon.
What would I replace it with? I can't say for certain. I would like another M-B wagon, but will it be a new or newer one? I'm not entirely sure the current S213 is an improvement over the S212. I've only driven W213 sedans as dealer loaners but IMO the seats aren't as comfortable, the footwells are narrower and the steering isn't as communicative compared to the 212s. The four feels underpowered - not an option in the wagon but the current V6 in the 213 wagon delivers worse fuel economy than the 212. Maybe the inline six will rectify that. I'm also not crazy about the All-Terrain option; if I wanted a Subaru Outback I'd buy one and pocket the difference. I hope MBUSA doesn't make the All-Terrain the only E-Class wagon option.
Market forces and/or government regulation may force us all into electrics or hybrids at the least. Will MBUSA offer an electric in E-Class wagon form? I'm doubtful as it's such a niche model in the lineup. I understand E-Class wagon hybrids are currently available in Europe but again, such a niche in the US that it may not come here.
Finally there's also the possibility that I go full Luddite, seek out the cleanest S124 without 4matic I can find and ride that into the sunset. By 2030 I may be driving very little either by choice or by force, so that's not out of the question.
if you're driving much due to the pandemic, 7/75k sounds cheaper than 7/100k
I agree with you 100%. I've said all along that the front end of the Model 3 looks like the design engineers were stumped on what to do. Someone said "Let's leave it for now and finish the rest of the styling. We will come back to it later". And they never did.
there's an Austria company which made a Model 3 Hybrid with an gas engine, and they put front bumper from the Porsche Cayman on and it looks just right,
Tesla is doing a half *** job on all of their design work.
My car was manufactured in Nov. 2009, but has only about 35,000 miles so I am not looking to replace it anytime soon. Still in very good shape with no defects. I do not like the appearance (outside or inside) of anything after the original W212. Still love the outside and inside appearance of my car.
However, I am very aware of what it costs to maintain any M-B once it gets some age on it, whether you use dealers, independents or DIY. So, there is that.
Would not purchase any European car. Probably the only sedan I would purchase would be a Genesis G80.
One problem I have with M-B, as well as other European cars, is that safety and other features require expensive upgrades or options packages. Almost all US and Asian cars have significant "safety suites" and audio included in standard cars or as very inexpensive options.
Actually have a list I keep and only vehicles on it are small SUV's due to how much easier they are to get in and out of and how much more comfortably they ride. Although I never have liked GM products, I would consider a Chevy Equinox or maybe the new Buick Encore GX (not an Encore) or Nissan Rogue Sport (not a Rogue). Equinox has already proven itself, but the Encore GX and Rogue Sport are new this year, so need a couple more years to determine if good or mediocre.
The Rogue Sport would be number one. I have a 2014 Rogue that has given great service. It rides better and is quieter than my E350 Luxury model. Although the Sport is a crossover rather than an "SUV."
As for electric, will avoid that for the time being. Maybe if I hold out for five more years. But never a Tesla!
One factor for all of us is that the choices of sedans, coupes, etc. is dwindling. The ones that will remain will have higher relative price tags and less technology than crossovers and SUV's.
However, I am very aware of what it costs to maintain any M-B once it gets some age on it, whether you use dealers, independents or DIY. So, there is that..
Not my experience. I drive mostly diesels, what makes some difference, but then I have few of them closing on 300,000 miles.
I sold my last W210 diesel at about 15 years of age and 270k miles after 7 years of ownership. When I had to fix few things on it on early years, for last 3 years (car age 12-15 years) I did absolutely nothing on it. Finally I start feeling bad about not doing anything, so replaced flex disk on driveshaft. Organized small GTG for forum members at the time and their comments were "you still could make another 50k on it"
Car was bought by forum member and from what he reported, he replaced AC compressor and some suspension parts. 23 yo car with over 305k miles now. His biggest problem was that his sister borrowed the car when her's failed and liked the old clunker so much, that it took him few years to get it back... with dented fender.
This W212 forum is for E-class in the years 2010 - 2016.
So all of our vehicles are 4 - 10 yrs by now, with factory warranty gone & maybe some with extended warranties running out soon.
So what's everyone's future plans on the next replacement car? or keep her for a while?
Looking for another Mercedes? Staying with another E-class , or move bigger/smaller with C or S-class?
These new E class is getting pretty pricey.
What other makes you're looking at? BWM, Audi, etc...?
Our 2015 E400 is now at 40k miles, still looks % & runs great. Has 1.5 yrs left on extended warranty, so guess we'll keep her until expiration.
We're also open to looking at Audi A6, BMW 5-series, or other mid size sedans also.
Our son bought an 2018 Audi A6 last year in Jan 2019 for almost $20k off sticker because new 2019 were a newer generation, but he still loves it.
So we're also looking at similar valued purchase....
New to me vehicle is 2013 S550, 76 000 miles.
2010 E550 still in fleet with 179 000 miles on the clock.
there's an Austria company which made a Model 3 Hybrid with an gas engine, and they put front bumper from the Porsche Cayman on and it looks just right,
Tesla is doing a half *** job on all of their design work.
They could make a fortune just selling that front end. I am usually critical of mods done to Mercedes because I always think the look half baked, but in this case it is a huge improvement over the lazy front end design of the model 3.
Like I said, I am not planning to be on car market for some time, but would I want to buy 1 next year - the 2.5 seconds recliner, with 400 miles range on battery would be on top of my list.
Lucid is starting it safe, so no self-driven option now, but I guess it won't take long, so I would be able to drive it from this seat.
04-14-2020, 08:35 AM
