Drive everything. What about a Lincoln LS?

It's an Opel underneath. Anybody know how well these hold up? I haven't heard good or bad about them.

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past MB rides:
'68 220D
'68 220D(another one)
'67 230
'84 SD
Current rides:
'06 Lexus RX330
'93 Ford F-250
'96 Corvette
'99 Polaris 700 RMK sled
2011 Polaris Assault
'86 Yamaha TT350(good 'ol thumper)

You are thinking Cadillac Catera, that was a Opel Omega (had on for two years and loved it). The Omega was a solid car, heard the Cateras had some problems and they cut the engine power, what a shame.

Another possibility if he will consider a FWD car is the Mazda 6, especially with the sport package...really nice car.

I believe the LS is built on the DEW98 platform also shared with the Jaguar S-Type. Not a bad place to start but I think it's overweight.

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Glen Tokuhara
Beauty & the Beast and the wagon that could!

Lexus GS series tons of room, very reliable and great performance or a C-Class.

Can't you get a new Infiniti G35 for around $35k? That's plenty of car for the money and would be under warranty.

While not a 'sports sedan' per sea, a W124 E420 with a Euro- Sport suspension upgrade (shocks & springs) would give plenty of driving pleasure for your low dollar amount.

Regards,
- Ryan

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'95 E420 - 'Shadowfax' 138kmi.
'92 Volvo 740Turbo Bard 193kmi
'74 240D - 'Ol' Green' 4spd Manual 104kmi. (sold )
'77 300D - 'Red' 223kmi (sold)
'75 240D - 'Bianca the Blue Bomber' (sold)

I think he might be a little high..


http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2437244108&category=6330

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2000 Ford 7.3 Powerstroke 4x4
2006 Mazda Tribute
1983 Black 300 D (donated to charity)
1993 Teal 300 D (160K) Sold
"I love the smell of burnt diesel fuel in the morning, it smells like ....VICTORY"

Semper Fidelis
USMC 1973-1976

JCE, don't worry about using any 500E500 as a daily driver! I've found it to be an ideal commuter AND highway car....eats miles like cheerios The combo of powerful torque and automatic trans makes for low-stress daily driving...a perfect choice IMHO.

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Dean Albrecht
"Lead, follow, or better yet, get out of the way!"E500 owners motto

After talking with Esvic about his E500, maintenance costs sound pretty high. But maybe the same as any Benz of the same years.

"You are thinking Cadillac Catera, that was a Opel Omega"
Oh yeah. My bad But I do know the LS shares the platform with something else. But I guess so does most any car anymore. :p

__________________
past MB rides:
'68 220D
'68 220D(another one)
'67 230
'84 SD
Current rides:
'06 Lexus RX330
'93 Ford F-250
'96 Corvette
'99 Polaris 700 RMK sled
2011 Polaris Assault
'86 Yamaha TT350(good 'ol thumper)

E420/400E would do the job quite nicely - room for passengers, plenty of power, nice ride and handling.

It's going to be my next Mercedes so maybe I'm a little biased...

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Chris
2007 E550 4Matic - 61,000 Km - Iridium Silver, black leather, Sport package, Premium 2 package
2007 GL450 4Matic - 62,000 Km - Obsidian Black Metallic, black leather, all options
1998 E430 - sold
1989 300E - 333,000 Km - sold
1977 280E - sold
1971 250 - retired

"And a frign hat. They gave me a hat at the annual benefits meeting. I said. how does this benefit me. I dont have anything from the company.. So they gave me a hat." - TheDon

I concur!

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'94 W124.036 249/040 leder; 8.25x17 EvoIIs
'93 W124.036 199/040 leder; 8.25x17 EvoIIs, up in flames...LITERALLY!
'93 W124.036 481/040 leder; euro delivery; 8.25x17 EvoIIs
'88 R107.048 441/409 leder; Euro lights
'87 W201.034 199/040 leder; Euro lights; EvoII brakes; 8x16 EvoIs - soon: 500E rear brakes
'70 R113.044 050/526; factory alloys; Euro lights

MOST of the parts are straight out of the benz parts bins. there are a few 500E specific parts that may take a couple of extra days to get from Germany, but as far as routine maintenance goes, it's not really much higher than any other W124 of the same era. it just uses slightly more consumables. (no. of spark plugs, qty of oil, etc)

it only gets expensive when something goes drastically wrong with the engine and that is usually a result of abuse or neglect.

rear suspension bushings are a common wear item on the 500E, but the same goes for any benz with the 5-link rear.

timing chain replacement is pretty pricey, but at 90k miles, you should be considering it anyways.

__________________
'94 W124.036 249/040 leder; 8.25x17 EvoIIs
'93 W124.036 199/040 leder; 8.25x17 EvoIIs, up in flames...LITERALLY!
'93 W124.036 481/040 leder; euro delivery; 8.25x17 EvoIIs
'88 R107.048 441/409 leder; Euro lights
'87 W201.034 199/040 leder; Euro lights; EvoII brakes; 8x16 EvoIs - soon: 500E rear brakes
'70 R113.044 050/526; factory alloys; Euro lights

I think that he started off thinking 500E as first choice, and a C36 tied for second with the G35. I have been forwarding him this link as it progresses, but haven't asked him his current thoughts. He is over 6 foot and sort of wide through the shoulders from his ice hocky, so maybe the larger 500E would be a better fit? My 202 doesn't feel as roomy to me as my 300E, but it is adequate for my 5'10". Our Japanese car tech is saying he thinks the new Nissan products (G35) is likely to be more reliable than the Honda products (!) but adds don't keep any manufacturers new cars past the warranty, in his opinion.

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John

2003 Firemist Red/grey leather SL 500
2015 Palladium Silver/black mbtex GLK 350
1987 Smoke Silver/burgundy mbtex 300E Sportline (SOLD)

Click to see 87 300E

John,

Considering his height and breadth in the shoulders, I don't think he'd be too happy in a C class.

I would suggest he consider, in my order of preference:

1. 1992-1994 W124 chassis 500E / E500
2. 1997 E420 (same M119 engine). Like I said, I don't know if this was offered in a Sport model, but with the amount of money he'd be saving in the purchases price, he could put together his own sport model.
4. 1994-1995 E420 (same M119 engine as 1997 E420 and 500E) - (see note above about customizing to create "sport" model with Eibach shocks / springs, swaybars, etc.
3. 1998-2002 E430 sport.

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Paul S.

2001 E430, Bourdeaux Red, Oyster interior.
79,200 miles.

1973 280SE 4.5, 170,000 miles. 568 Signal Red, Black MB Tex. "The Red Baron".

M119 engine is the best. Of course I'm a little biased.

First off, the transmission is an overdrive transmission 5 sp with a 2.82 rear axle ratio (vs 2.27 for the 400E). This means the acceleration is better than the previous 4.2 M119.

The '97 E420 had an optional ESP stability control device that helps you to avoid accidents(I've got that on mine).

Yes there IS a sport package for the E420. I don't know exactly what else it includes, but I know it comes with 18" AMG monoblock wheels.

The 500E is a very rare car. You'd be lucky to find a good example. Don't compare a 500E with an Infiniti, because that's like comparing apples to oranges.

The valuation over time for one of those new Infiniti's over 10 years will drop near zero. They are very weak in used car pricing.

And, there is no comparison, of any car out on the road, to the combination of the ride feel, safety, and handling these cars provide. Really!

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1987 300SDL (324000)

1986 Porsche 951 (944 Turbo) (166000)

1978 Porsche 924 (99000)

1996 Nissan Pathfinder R50 (201000)