OK. I have an 1993 Acura Legend with 180k miles ready to die so i'm back in the market for another car but i have no idea what i want. I never had a car payment for years and i'm not looking forward to it. I did some research online a lot pointed toward Lexus for reliability, comfort, luxury, etc...

So i start looking in the paper for a Lexus GS300 and found a used 2006 with warranty for sale at the MB Dealer. A good friend of mines is the top sales rep there so i schedule to go down and see the car. We drive around the block and he asks me what i think. Immediately he says, no bs, here's the rock bottom price for the GS300 and the dealer makes a few bucks. I'm not totally convinced that this is the car i want to drive around for another few years so he asks what are you really looking for?

I reply, "I want a car that gives me a boner every time i step into it. A real looker." People judge my profession by the car we drive. I have been in my industry for 15 years and my Acura was a flagship status icon in the 90's but simply isn't anymore. Time for an upgrade.

The my friend says, "you want a car that will give you a boner?" He grabs a set of keys and says follow me. We walk out to a 2005 CPO E55 AMG back from lease and says this is what you want. I look at the car and 1st impression says it looks boring or like grandpa's car. I have no idea that there's a difference between a E55 and E320 like my co-worker has.

He says get in and takes me for a ride around the block. I won't tell you the rest of the story as you can assume how it went. My jaw hit the floor and face got peeled back. What the hell is in this car? I am now addicted.

I never bought the car however, he is giving me a killer deal. $62K asking price. No BS OTD price $45K. Warranty until 100k and a CPO. The car has been on the lot for 70+ days and they are going to move it to another dealer on Monday if it doesn't sale. Its a bit more than i wanted to spend but nonetheless, this car makes me feel like i have the biggest **** on the road.

Is this a good deal? Will i get bored of the car? Reliability? I've always been a Japanese auto owner for that reason. It also worries me that if i should decide to sell the car, i'll have a hard time. Its a niche buyer who will want it.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions, comments, advice!

 

It sounds like a good deal, what mileage is on the car? What options does it have? And FYI, it will continue to give you a boner for the rest of your life, there is simply nothing like it. But it sounds like a good deal for an 05 w/ 100k mile warranty

 

How many miles, options, etc? If it has low miles I will buy it if you do not . A Lexus is a grandpa car, not a E55. I had the same thing happen to me. I was getting ready to pull the trigger on a CLK55 and made the mistake of test driving an E55....it was all over after that.

 

Life altering experience, once upon a time we were all nice guys.

https://mbworld.org/forums/w211-amg/168875-e55-ownership-treatise-antisocial-behavior.html

 

It will give you that feeling every single time you drive it. Trust me.

Heck it does me and I have the wagon!

I've owned a lot of cool cars. BMW M3. Supercharged BMW 540. Three Corvettes. Etc.

The E55 gives a thrill like no other Daily driver (I only make that exception because the Corvettes have their own cool feeling).

Assuming the mileage is reasonable, that's a STEAL.

Buy it. People that don't know what it is will still know you drive a Mercedes. People that do know what it is will be blown away.

 

Just sent you an e-mail. Let me know what you think...

 

Just gotta remember you are dealing with 2 different animals and you should be fine.

If you are expecting her to run flawless like most of the jap cars, you might be a little bummed. They are kinda qwerky cars sometimes. Quite a few are around that run with ZERO problems and just as many that need little things now and then. Long as you have that warranty, you will be in great shape.

Car will also be used quite differently than your Acura as you already have learned. You will turn into a monster in this car quite fast and your driving will adjust accordingly.

I say come on in and join the club. You'll be so glad you did.

Don't let that baby slip away man....RUN TO HER!!!

 

Forget about what I said earlier... The car will give you a boner when your just thinking about it, but when you turn it on, you will ***. There is no way around it. Resistance is futile. And if you're married, you will soon be telling your wife that you're having an affair when you're really out with the car. It will become your love. And as Yacht Master said, we all used to be nice guys.

 

That price for an '05 is a little steep. You should be in an '06 for 62. It's best to be patient and look at several and then make a decision. What color is this car and what are the options?

 

$45k not $62 as far as I understand it. If the car has decent miles this is an absolute steal regardless of the options

 

Come to the dark side. I did late last year and have nothing but praise for my 55. If its status you're after this is the car. It has no Jap rival, period!

 

Go for it. I'm a car nut. NOTHING this side of a 997tt comes close. Stiil go to heaven each time I stomp the gas!

 

just be ready to pay out the nose when doing ANYTHING after market... no longer the CHEAP jap/american pricing for upgrades like on my Saleens... now it's REAL money for upgrades!

 

The E55 is a great car. Once you drive it, it'll become very difficult for you to drive any other car. And it sounds like you're getting a very good deal. I wouldn't worry much about reliability since you're getting additional warranty. Try to get the maximum warranty coverage you can get, and you'll be set......

 

Sounds like a great deal. not to thread-jack but have you 55 guys came up with any problems in the car? Would you pick one with withOUT a warr?

 

I've only had mine for a few months, but neither I nor the prior owner has ever had any problems with the car. Any problems were very minor. But from what I understand (i may be wrong) an extended warranty is 7k, and I know that a new AMG tranny is gonna cost more than 7k, because the new tranny for my brothers cls500 cost 7k, so just to be on the safe side, id get a warranty.... Then continue to drive the hell out of it.

 

Thanks for advance everyone. Car has 19k miles on it. Owner returned after 30 months on a 36 lease. Options...not sure. It had Nav, vented seats, rear shade, power trunk, parking sensors, etc... And yes, car is begin offered for $45K from MB dealer.

Parents had an s class when i was in high school but i never drove it unless dad was in the car. I'm a MB virgin since that was years ago.

 

Mercedes CPO optional extended Warranty (for an extra two years) is $3995 (and well worth the dollars up front).

I say go for it... @ $45K with a warranty that's a steal!

Make sure you buy the Extended Two year option, the normal CPO covers you for 12 additional months or to 100k miles... the extended adds time ( one or two further years) to the warranty - but are you really going to do 80K miles in one year? Buy the extra time up front and know you'll be covered for another 3 years...

 

I think you meant scarred for life, but maybe not.

 

If they give you $45K.... pull the trigger.

Did a search on MBUSA and found the car. If the description is accurate, it seems it may be a little light in options (no keyless go, no dynamic seats, no pano, no distronic, etc.). But you can't go wrong w/ $45K for a CPO car

 

OK! I'm the newest member of the E55 AMG crew. Pulled the trigger a few hours ago. Got mine for 43K with warranty too 100K! Thanks for advice everyone. This thread is official done.

And yes i did mean scarred.

 

thats a good deal.

all the guys FS on this forum take notes. and stop asking 50k for your 03s and 04s.

 

Congrats. Be careful, get out the camera, and go to work.

 

Congrats!! You got an awesome deal. I guess the economy is taking a toll on the luxury items. I can't believe you can get an 05 for that! Have fun with the beast.

 

I would have to disagree...

One: Sellers could ask whatever they want. They must have some subjective space for negotiation - just like dealers. Are you going to yell at the dealer as they were asking $62K for OP's car initially? The bottom line is: Buyers have the right to give an offer and sellers have the right to reject the offer.

Two: Private seller is more likely less able to sustain loss. Dealers could do a lot of hedging. They can't have a car on the lot forever, which private seller could. Just like OP's case, the dealer was about to wholesale it and for sure the playing cards were with the buying dealer.

Three: OP's market is Hawaii... so more or less it's secluded from the mainland. OP's choice is limited... so is the dealer's market. In this case, whoever is more desparate losses. For many of us living in mainland, the market is a lot bigger for both sellers and buyers. Shipping is less prohibitive (you could always drive it back). This means more buyers and more sellers for one type of car.

Four: OP's situation is also unique. Not many members have a good friend who's a car salesman. OP's friend may tell OP the truth, nothing but the truth, about the $ dealer's wants. They gave OP the playing card just like that - more like a good will. Just like if your friend says: "Hey, I'm gonna let this car go at the price the dealer offered me". For sure, if you buy it from him, you'd get a good, if not killer, deal. Not many members in this type of situation... and that's the playing card for the sellers.

Five: There's always an outlier in any transactions. Some for sellers (selling at a lot higher price than market); some for buyers (buying at a lot lower price than market). They don't always come around... so expecting/forcing that to happen every time every transaction and ridicule sellers if they don't want to do it is absurd. Sellers have the right to wait for the right buyer; buyers have the right to wait for a killer deal. It's a gamble.

If you don't agree, let me buy your car (or brother's car - whoever is posting this) for $40K. Deal?