Committed to 2006 E350 4Matic :)

[sdifox]

Originally posted by: 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.

I am starting to think that way too.

 

[sdifox]

Well, we finally went to test drive the MB C350 4Motion and she loved it. Currently it's sitting at ~C$40K after tax including winter tires (but no rim, which is weird, but steel rims are cheap anyway).

I'll see if I can do better or I might have to go south.

Damn, a 2006 E350 4Motion is about US$30K? I might just have to drive one back.

 

[JulesMaximus]

We get the Lexus ES350 as a loaner sometimes when we take my wife's car in for service and it's a really nice ride. Very luxurious and comfortable, good power and road manners too. I really like this car.

 

[996GT2]

Get the Lexus for her. Our family has one and it's quiet to the point of being eerie. The ride is very good, it's extremely smooth, and 272 HP is honestly more than you need unless you're shopping for a sports car. Our ES350 also gets 27.6 MPG in combined 70% city/30% highway driving (my dad likes to be a hypermiler of sorts lol)

We've also had zero problems with the ES350 in the first year, so reliability is shaping up to be very good so far. That is not something I could say for the Mercedes...one of my richer friends got a C350 for her 18th birthday (*cough*spoiled*cough*) and it's already had a steering issue that left her without a car for over a week.

 

[ElFenix]

Originally posted by: 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.

as much as the lexus drives like a bowl of pudding, looks like some sea cucumber or flounder and has horrible visibility because of it, you've got to go with the bolded

 

[sdifox]

Originally posted by: ElFenix

Originally posted by: 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.

as much as the lexus drives like a bowl of pudding, looks like some sea cucumber or flounder and has horrible visibility because of it, you've got to go with the bolded

She liked the test drive of the C350 and the 4 wheel drive, which the LE350 lack. She has oked the purchase of C350. I am now looking at maybe going E350

 

[EvilHorace]

You do know that the ES 350's really a 6 cyl Camry?

 

[sdifox]

Originally posted by: EvilHorace
You do know that the ES 350's really a 6 cyl Camry?

You understand that Camrys do come in 6 cylinders?

I liked the Lexus ES350 fine when I rode in my boss's, I just don't trust it enough to have my wife and kid in it.

 

[996GT2]

Originally posted by: sdifox

Originally posted by: EvilHorace
You do know that the ES 350's really a 6 cyl Camry?

You understand that Camrys do come in 6 cylinders?

I liked the Lexus ES350 fine when I rode in my boss's, I just don't trust it enough to have my wife and kid in it.

Wait, why?

The ES350 has better crash-test scores than the Merc...

Government crash test scores for both, out of 5

Frontal impact, driver side:
MB 4 Lexus 5
Frontal impact, passenger side:
MB 4 Lexus 5
Side impact, driver side:
MB 5 Lexus 5
Side impact, passenger side:
MB 5 Lexus 5

I can understand you not liking the Lexus's quiet, soft ride and handling, but not liking it because it scored better than the C class in crash tests? I don't understand the reasoning behind that.

 

[dirtboy]

AWD > FWD

I wouldn't even bother driving the Lexus.

 

[SickBeast]

Oh man, why do you have to be so boring with that much to spend on a car?

If I had to pick I would take the Lexus, but come on and live a little!

I'd say go for a Nissan 350z for that money, or the infinity flavour if you need back seats.

I also think that BMWs make nice luxury cars that are fast and fun to drive.

Lexus is nice if you want something quiet.

 

[sdifox]

Originally posted by: 996GT2

Originally posted by: sdifox

Originally posted by: EvilHorace
You do know that the ES 350's really a 6 cyl Camry?

You understand that Camrys do come in 6 cylinders?

I liked the Lexus ES350 fine when I rode in my boss's, I just don't trust it enough to have my wife and kid in it.

Wait, why?

The ES350 has better crash-test scores than the Merc...

Government crash test scores for both, out of 5

Frontal impact, driver side:
MB 4 Lexus 5
Frontal impact, passenger side:
MB 4 Lexus 5
Side impact, driver side:
MB 5 Lexus 5
Side impact, passenger side:
MB 5 Lexus 5

I can understand you not liking the Lexus's quiet, soft ride and handling, but not liking it because it scored better than the C class in crash tests? I don't understand the reasoning behind that.

lol, I should not have skipped the word trust. I am talking about confidence level. Call it placebo effect if you will. I just didn't feel as safe in the ES350 compared to the C350 4Motion. May just be the AWD thing.

 

[sdifox]

Originally posted by: SickBeast
Oh man, why do you have to be so boring with that much to spend on a car?

If I had to pick I would take the Lexus, but come on and live a little!

I'd say go for a Nissan 350z for that money, or the infinity flavour if you need back seats.

I also think that BMWs make nice luxury cars that are fast and fun to drive.

Lexus is nice if you want something quiet.

I am not going to venture out. Never been a big fan of Beamers. May have to do with the Beamer drivers I know (Spoilt brats) so my opinion may be skewed heavily. But then, I also see a lot of spoilt brats in Benz. Nothing pisses me off more than spoilt brats.

I started from a new 2009 Mazda 6 like 2 or 3 month ago...

 

[sdifox]

Further update. I have decided to brave the border and buy a 2006 E350 4Motion from Illinois. Question is, does anyone know how I can ship the car back? Maybe I should just drive it.
MB Canada wants to do all safety modifications. AKA ripoff. Does anyone know where I can find out if the 2006 E350 comes with daylight running lights and electronic imobilization system?

 

[alimoalem]

you could call a dealership and ask. or check the site benz site (mbusa.com i think). it might have it listed.

 

[SickBeast]

Originally posted by: sdifox
Further update. I have decided to brave the border and buy a 2006 E350 4Motion from Illinois. Question is, does anyone know how I can ship the car back? Maybe I should just drive it.
MB Canada wants to do all safety modifications. AKA ripoff. Does anyone know where I can find out if the 2006 E350 comes with daylight running lights and electronic imobilization system?

I'm pretty sure there are lists of cars that you can just drive over and they're street legal. I would advise against getting one that you need to modify.

Can I ask what the point is in getting one in Illinois when our dollar is at like 77 cents US?

 

[sdifox]

Originally posted by: SickBeast

Originally posted by: sdifox
Further update. I have decided to brave the border and buy a 2006 E350 4Motion from Illinois. Question is, does anyone know how I can ship the car back? Maybe I should just drive it.
MB Canada wants to do all safety modifications. AKA ripoff. Does anyone know where I can find out if the 2006 E350 comes with daylight running lights and electronic imobilization system?

I'm pretty sure there are lists of cars that you can just drive over and they're street legal. I would advise against getting one that you need to modify.

Can I ask what the point is in getting one in Illinois when our dollar is at like 77 cents US?

because even with the crappy 80 cent (just checked) dollar and duty and fees, it is still cheaper. It's about C$36K all in. Here the same car is C$60K all in. And my math is using 1.3 exchange rate.

The so called modification is just MB being an ass. The cars are basically identical. Government of Canada is expecting them to explain why

The list is just a list of admissible cars, if the car is not on the list it cannot be imported period.

Any other company's car (other than BMW and MB) you just drive your car to Crappy Tire, they put in the daylight running light module if your car doesn't have it, sticker the dash to show metric and you are done.

 

[SickBeast]

So what happens if the car breaks down and you need warranty service? Will the dealer here do it for free?

You're saving a ton of money, but you're also getting a used luxury car at a time when the economy is tanking.

What was wrong with the Mazda 6?

I don't think it's fair how the Americans get their cars so much cheaper. Our government here in Canada does a whole pile of things that are anti-consumer and anti-taxpayer.

 

[sdifox]

Originally posted by: SickBeast
So what happens if the car breaks down and you need warranty service? Will the dealer here do it for free?

You're saving a ton of money, but you're also getting a used luxury car at a time when the economy is tanking.

What was wrong with the Mazda 6?

I don't think it's fair how the Americans get their cars so much cheaper. Our government here in Canada does a whole pile of things that are anti-consumer and anti-taxpayer.

Warranty is still covered. I may get 3rd party warranty after factory warranty expires. And MBC is not touching my car any further than the first rimming.

You can't really blame the government for car pricing. Import duty is 6.1% or something like that. This is really a matter of the USA simply has a much bigger market thus more cars hence cheaper used cars.

http://www.ucanimport.com/show_news.aspx?id=51

http://www.cbc.ca/news/story/2008/02/28/cars.html


this is going to get interesting

As to buying luxury vehicle in a bad time, I am helping the (US) economy, how's that? Since our economy depends hugely on the US economy, I figure any consumption helps.

 

[SickBeast]

I still think you should get the 350z. There is also a 370z coming out. Trust me, the z-cars are fun to drive.

Gettin' the tail out on a sportscar is more interesting than a class-action lawsuit IMO.

:beer:

I know you'll get the Mercedez anyway. When I bought my Civic people cried foul, but once you make up your mind on a car I know how hard it is to snap out of it.

I'm still happy with the Civic, so congrats on making up your mind.

 

[sdifox]

Originally posted by: SickBeast
I still think you should get the 350z. There is also a 370z coming out. Trust me, the z-cars are fun to drive.

Gettin' the tail out on a sportscar is more interesting than a class-action lawsuit IMO.

:beer:

I know you'll get the Mercedez anyway. When I bought my Civic people cried foul, but once you make up your mind on a car I know how hard it is to snap out of it.

I'm still happy with the Civic, so congrats on making up your mind.

Remember, I am not the primary driver. My wife is, with my kid as the passenger. I intend to drive my 2002 Protegé 5 to the ground. I put 161K on it

Truth to be told, I am not much of a race car guy... I would rather ride in the back of a Bently.


Insurance company is going to own my ass though...

 

[sdifox]

Is there a company that I can hire to send in a mechanic to check out the car in Peoria Illinois?


http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/...&make=MB&seller_type=b

Anyone with unlimited carfax and willing to help out please pull the carfax on this car

VIN WDBUF87J96X184317


for extra lolz put in 2006 benz e350 4motion specs in google and look at what is the first link that comes back (may just be a google.ca thing)

 

[sdifox]

Paid for Carfax. Looks ok, but no service with MB, driven in NY, should I be worried? There is another one that shows service with MB, driven in OH, but accident involving hitting a deer. I am guessing the first one is more desirable?

Doesn't show Dealer service

Glanced a deer?


Damn, they just told me the accident free one got sold...the accident was classified as minor, what does that mean?

 

[sdifox]

It's official, I am buying the sucker and ship it up here. Anyone know any good shipper in Toronto?


http://s18.photobucket.com/alb...current=optioncode.jpg

 

[BassBomb]

seems fishy thats way undervalue unless theres been a major accident