QuestionQUESTION: Jeff,
Does $40,200 for an 06 Mercedes E350 4dr sedan sound like a good deal? Kelly bb lists at $42,450. Interest rate is 5.9 for 60 mos. I looked at '05 BMW 5 series (06's were in excess of $46k). I liked the Mercedes but wanted an expert's opinion on price.
Thanks for your thoughts.
ANSWER: If you're serious about the E350, go to edmunds.com and check the value there. Kelley Blue Book numbers are notoriously high; Edmunds uses actual sales figures to determine a vehicles value, while KBB relies on what amounts to dealers' asking prices. I'm not the "final authority" on a used car's value, as there are too many factors that come into play. Therefore, I really can't comment on whether or not a particular price is a good deal.
I will advise this: think twice on the Mercedes. Their reputation has been growing worse over the past few years, and Consumer Reports ranked them the most unreliable brand on the market for 2006. And the E-series is one of their worst. A great car to drive, but be prepared to spend a lot of time at the local M-B service counter. It's rated even more unreliable than Jaguar! Until they can resolve their issues, I really can't recommend the purchase of a Mercedes. The 5-series is far from perfect, but the 525-530 is a lot more dependable than the E-series (the 550 is somewhat trouble-prone). Hope this helps,
Jeff
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: Jeff,
Great comments and much appreciated. I recently came across similar articles about the E series. Moreover a buddy of mine recently purchased a new Infiniti G35. I recently priced one.. I can get a new one loaded (nav system, sat stereo, premium sound, etc...) for around $37k before haggling with the dealer. Hard to fathom paying $40+ for a 2006 E350 with 30000 miles on it. Any thoughts on the Infinitis?? I've heard good reviews.
Tks again for your time!
AnswerThe only thing the Infiniti doesn't have is the history and cache of a name like Jaguar, BMW or Mercedes (hey, no one ever grew up dreaming of someday owning an Acura...). Other than that, it's hard to fathom why ANYONE would shell out that kind of money for a used M-B! Although I'm no longer active in the automotive business, please keep in mind that I did sell BMWs at one time, so I'm a little biased towards that brand. If someone is determined to spend a lot of money on a European sports sedan, then the "Ultimate Driving Machine" should be at the top of your list. As I've said many times, BMW is more than a car, it's a culture; you either get it or you don't. If you don't (and there's nothing wrong with that), then don't spend the money on one. I'd love to own a 530, but I can't justify spending that kind of money on a car when I can't appreciate its performance abilities on our roads. BMWs are designed for the autobahn- where in this country can I drive that car at those kind of speeds? A racetrack on the weekends, maybe? Sorry, not for me.
As for the Infiniti, it's a heck of a car for the money. I haven't seen the new one, but I understand it's nothing but improved over the old model. I was recently in a 2004, and I thought the interior looked a bit cheap, particularly the plastic panels that made up the dash and console. If they've addressed that, then the Europeans should be worried. Jag and M-B have quality issues to address, Volvo and Saab are also-rans (they really don't compete in this category), Audis are nice but the A4 is just too small. Lexus is a different breed altogether, as luxury is paramount and performance comes second. They're going after the younger, affluent buyers that abandoned Cadillac and Lincoln years ago, which I think is smart on their part. The Acura RL is nice (BEAUTIFUL interior, IMHO), but I think it comes across as a high-end Accord. Just doesn't look "special" enough.
Okay, enough "preaching" for today. Best of luck with the purchase, and don't be afraid to keep in touch.
Jeff Clark
markii56@yahoo.com
