2003 S500
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
2002 Escalade
2003 S500
Hey all new guy here. Currently drive an 02 Escalade and with the gas prices rising and getting 12 miles per gallon doesn't really work. Have been looking around and found an s500 with 49k on it. Sport package black on tan for about 17k. Was wondering if there are any big issues with the s series and if it's worth the extra cash to get an 03 instead of an 00. Also wondering what people are getting gas mileage wise with these cars. I've noticed it's rated at 16 city and 23 highway is that realistic? Thanks for any feedback.
Here's the link to the car.
http://portland.craigslist.org/mlt/cto/2257318561.html
Here's the link to the car.
http://portland.craigslist.org/mlt/cto/2257318561.html
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 310
Likes: 0
From: ON, CA
2003 S430
well all i know its worth spending the extra money to buy 03 than 00.. if you research a bit more in the forum you will see that people asked these questions before and you can read about their experiences
plus 03 looks nicer thats what i think
good luck
plus 03 looks nicer thats what i think
good luck
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 6,150
Likes: 533
Mercedes
realistically youre going to get not better than 18mpg or so overall. $16700 is a bit high, if you can get it down to $14000 or so it would look better. The 2003 is much better than the 2000
Get a prepurchase inspection.
Get a prepurchase inspection.
Super Member
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 986
Likes: 6
From: Kingsville Ontario (South of Detroit)
2003 S500 4Matic (SOLD) + 2004 S55 (SOLD) 2005 CLK 500 Cabriolet 2008 S 450
I drive an S500 4Matic. Other than a burned out front headlight motor I've had zero problems. On the highway it is a consistent mid 20's MPG dependent on cruise speed. Tires do seem to become noisy after about 12K miles but that could be the Michelins. I'm going for an alignment and tire rotation to see if that will correct the issue. IMO if you can buy near 17K the price is reasonable.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 3,063
Likes: 26
From: Tampa, FL
2005 S500 4-Matic, 1978 450SL
See post 36 of the W220 S-Class Owners Start Here sticky at the top of the forum, download the pdf, and scroll to the reliability/buying information at the bottom of the document.
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
2002 Escalade
Thanks for the heads up skylaw. Been reading quite a bit of it. Doesn't seem to have many huge issues besides the airmatic which can be an expensive fix. Nothing really new though. My escalade has issues with its airride which is pretty similar, and isnt to bad to fix. Also while looking through the pictures of the car, it seems to be a good height above the ground which eases my worry a little. Thanks for all the responses. Will probably go and take a look at the car soon.
Super Member
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 539
Likes: 5
From: Planet Earth
2006 CLS500 - Iridium Silver w/ AMG Sportline
Hey all new guy here. Currently drive an 02 Escalade and with the gas prices rising and getting 12 miles per gallon doesn't really work. Have been looking around and found an s500 with 49k on it. Sport package black on tan for about 17k. Was wondering if there are any big issues with the s series and if it's worth the extra cash to get an 03 instead of an 00. Also wondering what people are getting gas mileage wise with these cars. I've noticed it's rated at 16 city and 23 highway is that realistic? Thanks for any feedback.
Here's the link to the car.
http://portland.craigslist.org/mlt/cto/2257318561.html
Here's the link to the car.
http://portland.craigslist.org/mlt/cto/2257318561.html
http://www.epa.gov/otaq/cert/mpg/fet...023-appx-a.pdf
I have a heavy foot and drive mostly in the suburbs. So, lot's of stop/go. I get lower mileage and just about everything I drive.
You also need to fact in total cost of ownership, not just fuel mileage. I'd bet than parts on your Tahoe in a bow tie are a lot cheaper than the benz.
Bosch rebuilt alt for the Benz: $284.94
Escahoe: $123.17
I just pulled some samples via google. The delta is $161.77. At $3.75/gallon, that's 43 gallons of fuel. I bet the labor to install this is substantially more too. So, given the difference in fuel mileage between the two, I bet the total cost of ownership is not less, considering both have taken the bulk of their depreciation.
I think you need to look a little deeper into this, as fuel consumption is only one element of the cost of operating a vehicle. Check your cost of insurance too. I bet it's more b/c the cost of fix the benz is more. Maybe play w/ this:
http://www.edmunds.com/tco.html
I have a 2001 Tahoe and it's not been in the shop a day in it's life. I wish I could say the same for the benz's Iv'e owned.
Last edited by boschk; Mar 13, 2011 at 05:59 PM.
Trending Topics
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
2002 Escalade
Well by using edmunds it seems the escalade has a higher tco than the mercedes. Also im not so sure insurance would be much higher due to the size of the cars. They dont only look at the expense of the car itself but the amount of damage it can cause. Which in this case would be the escalade. Plus with the escalade being the number 1 broken into/stolen suv didnt really help my insurance costs either.
Wish i could say the same when it comes to my escalade. Its been in the shop numerous times, and i keep my cars very well maintained. I'll admit it could be from the previous owner, but when it comes to spending a lot of money to keep a car going its nothing new.
Wish i could say the same when it comes to my escalade. Its been in the shop numerous times, and i keep my cars very well maintained. I'll admit it could be from the previous owner, but when it comes to spending a lot of money to keep a car going its nothing new.
Last edited by RByers91; Mar 13, 2011 at 07:26 PM.
MB World Stories
The Best of Mercedes & AMG
Manual Mercedes? 6 Times Sindelfingen Let Drivers Have All The Fun
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren
Verdad Gallardo
8 Classic Boxy Mercedes Designs That Have Aged Like Fine Wine
Verdad Gallardo
Flawlessly Restored Mercedes 190E Evo II Heads to Auction
Verdad Gallardo
Electric Mercedes C-Class Unveiled: 11 Things You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes EQS Gets A Major Update: Everything You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
5 Underrated Mercedes-Benz Models That Don't Get the Love They Deserve
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes 300D Has Pushed Well Past 1 Million Miles and It Ain't Stopping
Verdad Gallardo
10 Most Reliable Mercedes-Benz Models You Can Buy Used
Verdad Gallardo
Junior Member
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 22
Likes: 0
From: Huntersville, NC
S500
I have a 2003 S500, which I purchased in 2009 with 103,000 miles. The car now has 151,000 miles and the only problems I have had are drivers side cat at 135,000 miles and now the ***** joints at 151,000 miles. I acutually came out of a 2003 Escalade into this car and do not regret it at all. These are great cars...
I would look for an 2004 to have the 7 speed tranny and the DVD nav. I bought my 2003 because it was a deal I couldn't pass up.
Good luck with your search...
I would look for an 2004 to have the 7 speed tranny and the DVD nav. I bought my 2003 because it was a deal I couldn't pass up.
Good luck with your search...
