I prefer the W210 body style, but made the mistake of buying a new 2002 E430 when I should have bought the E55.

Question is. Do I take the hit now and trade up to the E55? There are still a couple of new ones left.

Or

Do I do the E43K mod with Kleeman?

Either way, about the same money.

 

I say just mod the E430. The used car market sucks right now.

 

My mother traded her 1997 E430 for a 2003 E500 3 months ago. Aside from being much more technologically advanced, the W211 is far superior in handling and performance to the W210. The difference is no more evident than in the E55. The supercharger speaks (or more appropriately whines) for itself. Why potentially void a long factory warranty by adding an aftermarket SC when a factory one as potent as the AMG is offered on the new E55? Also, the W211 will be current for the next 7 years rather than investing major dollars in an already discontinued body style. If you can afford it, the 2004 E55 is the way to go. I cannot wait until May!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

If you buy the W210E55 you're compounding your problem.
You'd be paying premium price for a car whose value is dropping like a rock now, and whose price will plummet much faster once the new model E55 comes out in 5 months or so.

You'd be throwing good money after bad to take a hit twice in the same year on the same outdated model.
The biggest hit you take on a car is the depreciation which occurs when you drive a new one off the lot. Don't take that hit twice AND get beat up on the depreciation of the E430 trade-in AND get in on the rapid depreciation phase of the old E model now that the W211 is out.

 

Dr Chill & amg55, you gave the easy answer - Buy the W211 E55. What if TBMpilot is not on the W211 E55 waiting list? If he is not then he could be waiting for that W211 E55 for a while. Some AMG cars take more than a year to get. If he tries to buy one without being on the list at MSRP then he 'may' expect to get robbed by the dealer with a $10k market based dealer mark-up.

 

In many parts of the country, the demand for the new E55 is not as high as you suggest. At the dealership I deal with which supposedly is the 12th largest in the country volumewise, there are only a few on the waiting list as of two days ago. The economy is really doing a number on the auto industry.

 

I have nothing but praise for the W210E55....at the right price.
If a dealer offered it new for $62K, that would be fair in my mind, though TBMpilot would still be out depreciation on the 430 and accelerating depreciation on the 210E55.

True, there won't be any deals on 211E55's in the next few months. But I'll guarantee you there will be numerous people now on waiting lists who will back out on deliveries this summer.
There will be quite a number of unclaimed 211E55's sold at less than $1-2K over MSRP this coming summer and fall, and it won't be too long before you hear of reports of options thrown in for free as enticements.

This is no longer the go go economy of 1999-2000, and dealers know that everyone else knows that. Sure, I'll pay MSRP for my E55, and retail for options. But if scrounging for a deal was worth my time, I'd find one for under MSRP in pretty short order by going out of state (which is how I got my last one).

 

Even with the economy and stock market in the toilet - new car sales and home sales are booming overall.

 

Going back to the original question stick with the E430 and Kleemannize it! You won't be sorry with the results!

 

JamE55 -

I think you are right. This is probably the most prudent financial decision. Even though I found a 2002 E55 for 62k, I have to take a huge loss on the 2002 E430 by trading it, so unless I sell the E430 privately, it's probably not worth it.

Thanks...

 

Not only that but once you get the Kleemann system installed the hp results are just simply amazing. Have you sat in a Kleemannized car before because if not i would highly recommend it and you'll be surprised at what exactly you're getting!