what wud be the next best benz?

[mr benz]

Whats a good price to pay for 500e betwween 92 and 94? Say it didn't have all the upgrades.
Also what is the next best Benz in line , besides a 500e that would cost a bit less that $20,000. a 400e or 300e?
Which one wud u buy if u couldnt afford a 500e.
Please state yr and model etc.
Feedback please

[Glen]

A good price to pay depends on the individual car. Lower mileage, better condition, records, geographic location will determine the price. If you're looking for a specific color combo you may have to pay more or less depending on what's for sale at that point in time.

I played the scenarios over in my head a thousand times...I could've bought a 400E/E420, upgraded the suspension, changed the differential, and ended up with a car of equal or better performance to a stock 500...for several thousand dollars less.

But I wanted a 500E since they first came out. The bodywork, the Porsche connection, etc. all played into it. In the end, I decided that I'd rather have a real 500E than any other car of equal or even greater performance.

I think you need to ask yourself what you really want. If you want a great car, with lots of performance potential but don't really care about the flared fenders, Porsche's contribution, and rareness, then a 400E/E420 is a great substitute. Personally, I feel that with proper suspension tuning, the right wheels/tires, and a diff. swap, you could pull away from a stock 500E! Heck, if you're really ambitious, you could source a 5.0 liter M119 V8 from an SL or S-class (or wrecked 500E) to swap into a 400E and really have a screamer!

[carman850]

I have a 400E myself, I want to make my car as fast as 500E, but modifying a 400E to make it on par with 500E costs a lot, it may be even more expensive than just buying a 500E at the first place. I guess that's why you didn't see too many 400E owners upgraded their differentials.

I will probably buy another MB this year, I want a 560SEC, they are so beautiful, and as fast as 400Es, though their gas mileage isn't good, but I think they have potential to become collector items.

[-fad]

on another note:
...you may wish to do a search on this...I faintly recall a post saying the the 400e/e420's were made in Mexico - hush.hush? (or something of that sort)

you'd probably get the most out of your $20k by purchasing as new/low mileage and well-kept/maintained a vehicle as possible no matter what the candidate (although that pretty much rules out garage-queen 500e/e500's ie autotrader.com has a couple of '94 e500's close to $50k asking prices which means over $50k with taxes & reg fees / and a couple of 20K mile odo '92-'93' 500e's in the $30k's)

as other choices:
>seems pricing on the newer e-class sedans are dropping to your stated range too
>I've also seen a few low mile 560SEC's or 560SL's in that $20k's range

hope this helps

[Jim's500E]

If you didn't want to spend the money on a newer, cookie cutter car then look at the pre-95'cars; like 500E/E500s that can be had for a very reasonable price b/t $20-40K with good mileage numbers nowadays...400E/E420s are also super deals and plenty fast enough with the same excellent build quality. The AMG C36 & 43s are also cool but still command big bucks (I was looking for a C43 before I found my 500E)I assume you are looking for a fast car with 4 doors that you can daily drive....although you couldn't go wrong with just a plain old Sportline 190E or 300E...solid, reliable, classy and with a bit of further tweaking...it would be a fun car to throw around the roads and last you indefinitely provided you maintain it sensibly. Let us know how your search goes.

[c43amg]

If you can find a '92 or '93 190E with both the factory Sportline package and a 5-speed manual, that might be an optimal budget alternative. See 190E 2.6 (6-cyl) w/5-speed manual on Ebay

The 190E Limited Edition (of which 700 were made in '93 only) had the factory Sportline, quicker ratio steering, a smaller steering wheel, special wheels with 205/55/15 Z-rated tires, 4 place sport interior like the 2.3-16V but with black leather with red piping and inserts, carbon fiber dash, etc. -- however, the transmission is the 4-speed automatic rather than a manual. Given the limited production, they are very hard to find (there are currently two listed on Autotrader) -- I got one for my daughter with 64,000 miles for under $12,000, which I thought was a real bargain and well within your price range.

Another alternative is the C36 (tho it does not have the interior room of the 400E, it will blow its doors off as well as leave it in the twisties) -- the earlier versions are now down in the $20's, tho the '97 with the 5-speed transmission is, IMO, more desireable. You'll pay a bit more for a Starmarked example, which might be worthwhile as insurance against replacement of expensive AMG-specific engine and drivetrain parts (tho there's no reason to believe that they are susceptible to failure).