If I'm spending $130K on a mass made sedan, the blanking covers aren't anywhere near a deal breaker.

I do agree that the older Mercedes sold in the US tended to be ordered by the dealerships "fully loaded" and only a minority had optional equipment wanting, like ortho seating control, heated seats and the like.

Unless you pay for it up front? Sorry but if I'm buying a 130k car I want it to feel like it has everything and hasn't been cookie cuttered out. Above say, 60k, are you really getting that much better quality and performance?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

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TC
Current stable:
- 2004 Mazda RALLYWANKEL
- 2007 Saturn sky redline
- 2004 Explorer...under surgery.

Past: 135i, GTI, 300E, 300SD, 300SD, Stealth

Well, technically above $60k, you're getting access to twin-turbo V12s, things like granite interior paneling instead of wood, aluminum accents instead of overlayed plastics (like the airvents and seat switches), more exclusive paint/interior/trim packages, and more options... So yeah, I'd say better quality and performance.

Edit: The S65 has carbon ceramic brakes as standard now... Not available on the S550... So yeah, more options.

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-Justin

91 560 SEC AMG - other dogs dd
01 Honda S2000 - dogs dd
07 MB ML320 CDI - dd
16 Lexus IS250 - wifes dd

it's automatic.

That $60K to $130K is basically the difference between a E and the S. Better quality . . . as far as materials and engineering, just slightly. With regard to design innovations and comfort, the S has always been ahead of the E in those areas. It takes about 2-3 years for design innovations in the S to make it's way to the E and C.

Why would anyone want to live on the bleeding edge vs having someone else debug the innovations?

have we not discussed risk tolerance before?

There's certainly no shortage of folks that will spend on "the latest and greatest" when it comes to cars, planes, phones and other human inventions. Some companies are hesitant to adopt new technologies for mission critical applications, but individuals not so much.

80-90% of new $130k automobiles that first hit the road are leased, not purchased.

Since the majority of them get dumped at (or before) the lease's end probably many of their drivers probably don't care.

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1991 560 SEC AMG, 199k <---- 300 hp 10:1 ECE euro HV ...

1995 E 420, 170k "The Red Plum" (sold)

2015 BMW 535i xdrive awd Stage 1 DINAN, 6k, <----364 hp

1967 Mercury Cougar, 49k

2013 Jaguar XF, 20k <----340 hp Supercharged, All Wheel Drive (sold)

Factory and extended warranties help rationalize the choice. (It sure did with my new BMW.)

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1991 560 SEC AMG, 199k <---- 300 hp 10:1 ECE euro HV ...

1995 E 420, 170k "The Red Plum" (sold)

2015 BMW 535i xdrive awd Stage 1 DINAN, 6k, <----364 hp

1967 Mercury Cougar, 49k

2013 Jaguar XF, 20k <----340 hp Supercharged, All Wheel Drive (sold)

I find that an interesting claim. Do you have a reference?

careful, Jim is going to Ignore you and say Good Bye . . .

From 2011:

Certainly in my area it seems to back up Jim's claim, and it makes for some great CPO deals. My BMW was off-lease when I got it, but no way in hell would I have paid full price for it. I even had second thoughts on the used price given the issues it has had and the terrible dealers I've mingled with in the last year or so. Especially modified, it is an amazing driver's car, but nothing a turbo miata can't deliver minus the class. When it comes to prices like 130k+ I just wonder why someone needs to get their kicks out with a 4 second 0-60 time, when you can get that with a supercharged mustang on the weekends or even just a used M5 (which, btw there was an m5 and a e90 m3 on the last autox course I ran and beat them both because they didn't know how to drive...shows how much that is worth). Granite trim is nice I suppose, if you have a full time driver.

__________________
TC
Current stable:
- 2004 Mazda RALLYWANKEL
- 2007 Saturn sky redline
- 2004 Explorer...under surgery.

Past: 135i, GTI, 300E, 300SD, 300SD, Stealth

My 190D has a blank switch above the center vents, and like it or not, there is quite a bit of plastic in the W116 300SD, most of the interior chrome trim is chrome over plastic.

Nothing beats our Sprinter for plastic interior as everything is plastic, but that is to be expected, but the plastic is high quality.

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Current: 1975 450SEL, 83 300D, 88 Yugo GVX, 90 300D OM603 swap, 91 F150 4.6 4v swap, 93 190E Sportline LE 3.0L M104 swap, 93 190E Sportline LE Megasquirt, 03 Sprinter, 06 E500 4Matic wagon.

X 2


When you can afford to buy new, and actually do buy new, then it's expected.

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'06 E320 CDI
'17 Corvette Stingray Vert

Minor Hi-jack ... sorry in advance.

For the two folks with 190's, when I had to replace the plastic above the center vent I was able to order one with only the two cut outs (moon roof and Air circulation). It had the cut for the Ant which was not used. So you can order it with at least 2 or 3 cut outs. I would think if that is possible you can order it with 0-3 cut outs.

OK, back to *****ing about blanks again.

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Sent from an agnostic abacus

2014 C250 21,XXX my new DD ** 2013 GLK 350 18,000 Wife's new DD**

- With out god, life is everything.
- God is an ever receding pocket of scientific ignorance that's getting smaller and smaller as time moves on..." Neil DeGrasse Tyson
- You can pray for me, I'll think for you.
- When you understand why you dismiss all the other possible gods, you will understand why I dismiss yours.

'Not even if I won the Lottery (S) !

FOR $60K you could get a nice used W140 Diesel and "OM 606-erize" IT.
In addition to R+R ing everything else on the "M" Schedule Stuttgart
claims it COULD POSSIBLY EVER need !

("M" as in Make It NEW)

__________________________________________________________________

A New Mercedes ?
'Might rent one ...

ONLY!

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'84 300SD sold
124.128