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YACT: having a change of heart

C

Corporate Thug

Lifer
So I really had my heart set on the new accord coupe. The 3.7L 300 HP engine makes the car sporty but still fairly practical. I expect to pay nothing less than 28K for this.


Today I saw a 2003 E500 with 40K miles, still has factory warranty. Dealer was asking $31k. Even without haggling, the prices is very comparable.

Then on my home I saw a 2005 Toyota 4Runner with 30k miles for $22k. This is much cheaper than the other two, probably has more utility, but not nearly as sporty or as fun to drive as the other two.

What should I go with?
 
If you want class, E500. If you want reliability, the Accord. If you want utility, the 4-Runner. It all depends on what you're looking for your car.
 
If you have your heart set on a performance oriented coupe/sedan, you are going to want to bitchslap yourself with a tire iron after buying an SUV.
 
Originally posted by: Corporate Thug
So I really had my heart set on the new accord coupe. The 3.7L 300 HP engine makes the car sporty but still fairly practical. I expect to pay nothing less than 28K for this.


Today I saw a 2003 E500 with 40K miles, still has factory warranty. Dealer was asking $31k. Even without haggling, the prices is very comparable.

Then on my home I saw a 2005 Toyota 4Runner with 30k miles for $22k. This is much cheaper than the other two, probably has more utility, but not nearly as sporty or as fun to drive as the other two.

What should I go with?
Click to expand...


I dont know anything about those cars, but it seems that you need to sit back and relax for a couple of weeks, then attack this question again. Your considerations are too vast to be able to yield a clear choice.
 
Get the E500. Same body style as an E55, which I have a lot of experience with. And let me tell you... the trunk space on that thing is ENORMOUS. It's a five-body trunk, easy. Granted it's no 4Runner, but it will haul a lot more than you might initially think.

Since you live in SoCal (I think?) you don't really need a 4Runner anyway unless you really have a lot of people or stuff to haul around.

But take my advice with a grain of salt; my family is very MB-oriented.
 
I wouldn't even go near the used E500 or any used Mercedes for that matter.

Accord or 4runner? I don't think you can go wrong with either.
 
I vote for the Accord, you will save some money on gas in the long run, and it will be reliable and less expensive to fix when something does go wrong, and it will be the most fun of the 3.
 
Originally posted by: Eghck
if the warranty expires soon, don't get the E500.
Click to expand...

You've never owned a benz, have you?

If the car has been dealer maintained so far, it will be virtually maintenance free. I've got a clk 430 with 70K miles and I haven't had a single issue. My moms got a C class with 140K and she spent maybe 1500 bucks maintaining over the past 3 years/45K miles (tires, battery, serpentine belt tensioner and ventilation motor).
 
Originally posted by: halik
Originally posted by: Eghck
if the warranty expires soon, don't get the E500.
Click to expand...

You've never owned a benz, have you?

If the car has been dealer maintained so far, it will be virtually maintenance free. I've got a clk 430 with 70K miles and I haven't had a single issue. My moms got a C class with 140K and she spent maybe 1500 bucks maintaining over the past 3 years/45K miles (tires, battery, serpentine belt tensioner and ventilation motor).
Click to expand...

You should buy a lottery ticket! 😀
 
Personally, I wouldn't spend so much on a car. I usually buy mine when they're several years old. You're only going to lose money on the transaction, you should minimize your losses as much as possible, as long as you're not the shallow type obsessed with image.
 
I'd get the 4Runner in a heartbeat. But then I'd want something with 4WD. Though you didn't say if it had it. If it didn't I wouldn't get it. But this is for myself. I do a lot of camping and driving on mountain roads and stuff so yeah I'd go for the 4Runner.
 
Originally posted by: Naustica
Originally posted by: halik
Originally posted by: Eghck
if the warranty expires soon, don't get the E500.
Click to expand...

You've never owned a benz, have you?

If the car has been dealer maintained so far, it will be virtually maintenance free. I've got a clk 430 with 70K miles and I haven't had a single issue. My moms got a C class with 140K and she spent maybe 1500 bucks maintaining over the past 3 years/45K miles (tires, battery, serpentine belt tensioner and ventilation motor).
Click to expand...

You should buy a lottery ticket! 😀
Click to expand...

seriously
 
Originally posted by: FilmCamera
Originally posted by: Naustica
Originally posted by: halik
Originally posted by: Eghck
if the warranty expires soon, don't get the E500.
Click to expand...

You've never owned a benz, have you?

If the car has been dealer maintained so far, it will be virtually maintenance free. I've got a clk 430 with 70K miles and I haven't had a single issue. My moms got a C class with 140K and she spent maybe 1500 bucks maintaining over the past 3 years/45K miles (tires, battery, serpentine belt tensioner and ventilation motor).
Click to expand...

You should buy a lottery ticket! 😀
Click to expand...

seriously
Click to expand...

I really haven't heard anything bad from Benz owners outside the ML... stay the hell away from that POS. Dealer maintenance is expensive though, but you really get what you pay for. They always wash the for me 🙂
 
In your price range there are a lot of sweet choices. For under $30K you could get a new GMC Acadia which is a new midsize SUV with a 275HP engine for example. H3 Hummer falls into this price range as well.

I'm looking at a new vehicle right now and am simply overwhelmed by all of the possibilities.
 
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