Which one would you choose?
 

I'm looking adding a new(er) Mercedes to my driveway.

I've found good examples of the following;

1992 500E
2002 E55
2002 C32

All of them are affordable, all with about the same kms. (100k approx)

This all started with a specific search for a 500E, so it has a slight edge in my heart.

Vintage styling (love the W124 Bruno Sacco lines), rarity, and cache. :cool:

C32, well, wow. Smaller, probably more tossable. Faster to 60 by at least a second. :) Newer, so more amenities, although driving a Benz is the biggest amenity to begin with.

E55, kind of a combination of the two. Fast, probably close to the C32, and the E-class is, well, class. Plus, I like the 2002 front end. :confused:

Any thoughts? :inquisiti:

Proposed use?

C32 is very impressive but interior quality is lacking and not exactly DIY friendly, E55... meh, every house wife has one. 500E is my choice for style and build quality.

I'd go with the 500E!

500E for sure. Drove one to Montreal for a weekend about 10-12 years ago.
Awesome, and built by Porsche.

http://image.automobilemag.com/f/fea...front_view.jpg
http://www.automobilemag.com/features/collectible_classic/0804_1992-1994_mercedes-benz_500e_e500/index.html

500E

- Peter.

Proposed use- conspicuous consumption. Slow (well, ok, mostly) driving, maybe 5000 miles per year.

Wow, I didn't expect such unanimous agreement!

Thanks so much for the input!

Hey man, why don't ypu choose a 2002 clk 320, I have one I'll sell to ya. :D:D:D:cool::eek:

Since it's not a daily driver, 500E.

If it was something you drove every day, 12k miles/yr. I'd say the E55. I had one and it was a great all around car, faster than the 500E as well.

Sorry man. My brain will only allow considering 3 vehicles at a time. Good luck with your sale!

Yes, the E55 could possibly result in me using it more. I was very tempted by it, the housewife comment notwithstanding.

But the cool, exclusivity factor of the 500E, seems to be holding the lead.

Interesting no one has supported the C32. I'm thinking maybe the Kompressor is a big red maintenance flag. As if any of them are going to be Honda-cheap to repair! :rolleyes:

The only concern I would have about the 500E would be the insurance. Of course, all of your choices are performance cars so they might all get hit the same.

I would go with the 500E as it offers comfort and quality and there is that hand built quality to it.

At the risk of giving away my ignorance, why was the 500E built by Porsche?

Never mind, I did some reading. Get the 500. How much is a nice one worth?

I wish college essay questions were this easy
 

Hands down, the 500E. I am a newbee to MB's, but I already have the two favorite MB's I have always wanted. I have the M104 1993 Black on Black 300ce, it even has integrated cell phone. I just aquired a 1993 500E with smog issues (egr., emissions passed), and it is a great car ! Both cars have over 200k miles and they drive great.

So, with a 500e with less that 100K, your are styling. Be part of the club. Do you know the Porche 356 club? Because those are rare. Not to far down the road, the 500e club will be such an exclusive club as 500e's are getting crashed and thru typical attrition.

Be part of the club, not part of the soccer mom club. You know the 500e is the most masculine sedan out there.

Excellent! You've put in to words what I felt all along, and momentarily got distracted away from- the exclusivity, the charm of hand-built, and the fact that down deep, this car was done right.

I know that the 500E is light years over the 300E, but even my experience with the latter (which I already love) tells me this is going to be Love Plus.....

My eyes are wide open on issues of repair bills, insurance, etc. But if that kind of thing was the final decider, well, very few Mercedes would fit the bill.

I'll let you all know how this comes down!

:2thumbsup