Committed to 2006 E350 4Matic :)

[sdifox]

So here I am, debating which car to get for my wife. It will also serve as a family car on weekends and trips.

I like the 4Motion, but chances are I will pay more in upkeep. I have been in the Lex and it is fairly nice, she likes the Lex better.


Updated to include poll.


Further update: We drove the C350 and it is quite nice. She loved how it handled snow ( I was terrified by her driving in the snow)

Now I am contemplating roadtrip to the big bad USofA and drive back a used E350

Damn exchange rate...me think the E350 4Motion is not in play due to Canadian dollar tanking further against US dollar...


Nov 24 update

Damn the exchange rate, I am going to go through the whole hazzle of importing a MB E350 4Matic. Going to get rimmed by MB Canada when I bring it in, but with the rimming (up to 5k apparently) it is still cheaper than buying a similar mileage same year C350 4Matic locally.

Nov 27 update
Got the ball rolling on the 06 E350 4Matic in Illinois, will be shipping it here. Crossing all fingers and toes.

alimoalem gets the credit for drawing my attention to E class. And will get the blame if it turns sour

 

[halik]

My parents were shopping between a c350 and es330 little over a year ago - they ended up going with the lexus. More of a comfy ride.

Do you get a lot of snow?

 

[sdifox]

Originally posted by: halik
My parents were shopping between a c350 and es330 little over a year ago - they ended up going with the lexus. More of a comfy ride.

Do you get a lot of snow?

Toronto, ON. Not a lot of snow, but when it comes, it is usually a big pile. Will be getting snow tires for sure. My impression is also the Lex would be a bit roomier. I do have a 4 year old so...

I have been in a ES350, my boss has one and she loves it. I liked the car, I still have to drive the c350, but I have been in a C55 AMG and I don't think it is all that different interior wise, but ride would obviously be better than the C55 AMG.

The main point for C350 is the 4motion. I was originally going to get a new Legacy with leather, but for the same money I can get a used Lex or Benz...

 

[Xyclone]

They are different cars. The C-Class has been an IS competitor, not an ES one, unless the new one is much bigger.

The C-Class will be a smaller, sportier sedan, while the ES will basically be a luxurious Camry-sized sedan.

 

[sdifox]

Originally posted by: Xyclone
They are different cars. The C-Class has been an IS competitor, not an ES one, unless the new one is much bigger.

The C-Class will be a smaller, sportier sedan, while the ES will basically be a luxurious Camry-sized sedan.

no way I can afford an E class, even used...humm, I guess it is time to look at the Lex more seriously. My wife is not big so she'll be ok in the C class. She even said she liked the B class and I could not get into it without hitting my head...and I am only 5' 10" and I lowered the seat completely (or at least I think I did)

 

[iamwiz82]

If it matters, ES resale rivals that of domestics. It nose dives like an olympic athlete.

 

[sdifox]

Originally posted by: iamwiz82
If it matters, ES resale rivals that of domestics. It nose dives like an olympic athlete.

That is why I am looking at Benz 2006 and Lex 2007...they end up on the same pricepoint, about C$35K before taxes


Structurally I like the Benz a lot better than the Lex, albeit it being smaller.

http://www.trader.ca/Search/De...D=7370413&ADS=7370413|

http://www.trader.ca/powerpage...id=299097&adid=7200337

 

[BassBomb]

We've got the 2007 ES350 with the first package (no nav)
It's a roomy car, very fast, mileage is not bad for the amount of HP its got, great seats, very comfortable in the back (where I sit since it's my dads) and even better in the front (when I get to drive sometimes)

Beware the steering is VERY floaty so you don't feel the road in it very well due to the electronic power assist steering...

Takes premium gas if that is a concern

I'm also near Toronto... we have not exposed this car to a winter yet (had it sit in the garage last winter) so this one will be its first

The side mirrors are oddly shaped and due to the large doors seem kindof high for my likes, its sortof got an odd feel when you look out the sides and the pillar is somewhat large

The view out the rear is also high up so backing up may be trickier, theres an option for your side mirrors to tilt downward (so you can see the ground) while in reverse

The stock soundsystem (ie not the upgraded one) is pretty good overall, not very extravagant bass like Infinity Bose

 

[sdifox]

Originally posted by: BassBomb
We've got the 2007 ES350 with the first package (no nav)
It's a roomy car, very fast, mileage is not bad for the amount of HP its got, great seats, very comfortable in the back (where I sit since it's my dads) and even better in the front (when I get to drive sometimes)

Beware the steering is VERY floaty so you don't feel the road in it very well due to the electronic power assist steering...

Takes premium gas if that is a concern

I'm also near Toronto... we have not exposed this car to a winter yet (had it sit in the garage last winter) so this one will be its first

The side mirrors are oddly shaped and due to the large doors seem kindof high for my likes, its sortof got an odd feel when you look out the sides and the pillar is somewhat large

The view out the rear is also high up so backing up may be trickier, theres an option for your side mirrors to tilt downward (so you can see the ground) while in reverse

The stock soundsystem (ie not the upgraded one) is pretty good overall, not very extravagant bass like Infinity Bose

Never been crazy about floaty steeling from Toyota. I don't care about sound system on car, as long as it doesn't sound like a walmart pa system, I am fine with it. I don't need more distractions when I am driving.

Premium gas is a small concern, this will be a low mileage car.

 

[Fenixgoon]

what about an Audi A5 or A6?

 

[thomsbrain]

If it's your wife's car and she likes the ES better, just get her the ES. It is the more practical of the two choices, will be the most reliable, and will be cheaper to maintain. The fact that she likes it best seals the deal.

But practical considerations and your wife's opinion aside, I think the C350 is vastly more appealing in nearly every respect.

 

[alimoalem]

I'm not sure how either drives but the C350 is a better looking car, imo.

And if those are the best deals you can find on those cars in Canada, I think it's time for you to come down to the U.S. and buy a car. You can easily find E350's in that price range.

 

[sdifox]

Originally posted by: alimoalem
I'm not sure how either drives but the C350 is a better looking car, imo.

And if those are the best deals you can find on those cars in Canada, I think it's time for you to come down to the U.S. and buy a car. You can easily find E350's in that price range.

Except the exchange rate plummet killed off the savings...we are at like C$1.23:US$1 now. Throw in the hazzle, duty, it becomes too expensive to buy from the south. I would love to get the E350 at that price range...

Also, I would not be able to finance in the states. I do have access to US$30K so maybe I should take a look.

 

[sdifox]

Originally posted by: thomsbrain
If it's your wife's car and she likes the ES better, just get her the ES. It is the more practical of the two choices, will be the most reliable, and will be cheaper to maintain. The fact that she likes it best seals the deal.

But practical considerations and your wife's opinion aside, I think the C350 is vastly more appealing in nearly every respect.

In terms of reliability, the C does come with ext warranty til sep 2011 so I am not left entirely out in the cold.
She said she is ok with the C class too. I felt safer in my buddy's C55 AMG than in my boss's E350, if I take his driving habit out of the equation

 

[sdifox]

Originally posted by: Fenixgoon
what about an Audi A5 or A6?

Have their reliability improved? I was contemplating an A6 2.7T a while back...

 

[KDKPSJ]

Originally posted by: sdifox

Originally posted by: Fenixgoon
what about an Audi A5 or A6?

Have their reliability improved? I was contemplating an A6 2.7T a while back...

Yes, but not in the level of Lexus. More likely a little bit below MB. Also, A5 is out of price range as it's fairly new model. Maybe you can find something with 80k+ km/50k+ mile for less than US$ 30k, but that's the point where Audi becomes headache.

I'd get 07 ES350 over 06 C350 anytime. If it was new C-class, I'd think twice, three times, many many more times, but older gen is nah.

 

[Arkaign]

Just get the Lexus. Boring but dependable. Happy wife FTW.

 

[mb]

Mercedes quality = junk. Get the Lexus.

When I had a Benz it gave me so much trouble.

In terms of reliability, the C does come with ext warranty til sep 2011 so I am not left entirely out in the cold.

Perhaps, but you will still be left without your car when it's in the shop all the time.

 

[alimoalem]

Originally posted by: sdifox

Originally posted by: alimoalem
I'm not sure how either drives but the C350 is a better looking car, imo.

And if those are the best deals you can find on those cars in Canada, I think it's time for you to come down to the U.S. and buy a car. You can easily find E350's in that price range.

Except the exchange rate plummet killed off the savings...we are at like C$1.23:US$1 now. Throw in the hazzle, duty, it becomes too expensive to buy from the south. I would love to get the E350 at that price range...

Also, I would not be able to finance in the states. I do have access to US$30K so maybe I should take a look.

I was using the C$1.23:US$1 exchange rate for the calculations. IIRC it came to ~$28k. I didn't factor in hazzle(?), duty, etc. but how much does that come out to? I was looking for E350's for my dad and there's a few in my area (California - San Francisco Bay Area) and found, for example, one with 18k miles (~29k km) for $24,900, 36k miles (~57.5k km) w/warranty to 100k miles for $22k, etc.

See if it works out for you. I don't know much about these cars in terms of reliability (C vs E-class), gas mileage, etc., but even if the E350 comes out $1-2k more in the end, I'd go for it.

 

[chris7b]

My vote goes for the lexus as well. If you want a spacious, dependable car with lower operating costs its a no brainer

 

[sdifox]

Originally posted by: alimoalem

Originally posted by: sdifox

Originally posted by: alimoalem
I'm not sure how either drives but the C350 is a better looking car, imo.

And if those are the best deals you can find on those cars in Canada, I think it's time for you to come down to the U.S. and buy a car. You can easily find E350's in that price range.

Except the exchange rate plummet killed off the savings...we are at like C$1.23:US$1 now. Throw in the hazzle, duty, it becomes too expensive to buy from the south. I would love to get the E350 at that price range...

Also, I would not be able to finance in the states. I do have access to US$30K so maybe I should take a look.

I was using the C$1.23:US$1 exchange rate for the calculations. IIRC it came to ~$28k. I didn't factor in hazzle(?), duty, etc. but how much does that come out to? I was looking for E350's for my dad and there's a few in my area (California - San Francisco Bay Area) and found, for example, one with 18k miles (~29k km) for $24,900, 36k miles (~57.5k km) w/warranty to 100k miles for $22k, etc.

See if it works out for you. I don't know much about these cars in terms of reliability (C vs E-class), gas mileage, etc., but even if the E350 comes out $1-2k more in the end, I'd go for it.

I am on the east side of the continent so... wish we had California used car prices...But it looks like the scale is tipped towards the Lex, at least in here. I guess off to autotrader.com I go I would love the E350 if I can score it in the budget. Wonder how much shipping is from California to Toronto

 

[BassBomb]

let me know if you have any more very specific questions about the ES and i'll try to answer you

 

[sdifox]

Originally posted by: BassBomb
let me know if you have any more very specific questions about the ES and i'll try to answer you

will do once I think of one.

Bumping for poll.

 

[sdifox]

great, 3:3...

 

[bozack]

dude, if it is for her then get the lexus, and like you said it would be alot cheaper to maintain. MB imho suck though I do like the look of the new C class.