Today I got into a argument with a Cadillac Devile owner about out the quality and overall "whose better" argument. Of course I defended Mercedes Benz vehemently, but the other person kept on putting mercdes down in every aspect, :handling, safety, performance luxury, resale, and etc. They even challenged me to a race, but I backed down and refused to do so. Of course that made everybody feel that he was right and that even I am not confident. I know all he sadi was B/S however who do you guys would win in such a drag race. He claims he has a 300 hp V-8.

------------------
300E
Soon To be E55
27 foot Grady White Offshore Sportfish.

If he has a Northstar, he'll kill you flat out. Hell, one of those'll eat an E420 no prob. However, that car's crap; ask zruszny (Gary Barash-he had one)

Tell him you would be delighted to race him, and that since a quality car ought to be able to do more than go in a straight line, pick a twisty hilly route where your brakes and suspension will leave him sinking in your wake! If he won't race under those conditions, tell him you are willing to let the Kelly blue book settle it - assuming 100,000 miles on an 89 sedan de ville vs 89 300E, the trade in on the cadillac is $3100, the trade in value on the MB is $8450!

------------------
JCE
87 300E, 65k miles
Smoke Silver

[This message has been edited by JCE (edited 10-13-2000).]

No he does not have Northstar. The car is a 89 and that year i don't think they had northstar. I would also think that a Northstar would not be able to "eat" a E430. O-60 on that caddie is about 6.5 and the 0-60 on the 430 is about 6.2.
Come on guys keep the anti-Caddie comments going. Oh he also said that he loaths, hates etc all M-B's and Bimmers and the people who are driving them. He said that if he could he would ram and destroy every one of them. Even mentioned that he would take out any mercdes benz ever built. I made mention of the e55 and the 500E : his reply was : "you buy any of those cars and try to race me and I will beat you every time."

------------------
300E
Soon To be E55
27 foot Grady White Offshore Sportfish.

[This message has been edited by CaptAlex300e (edited 10-13-2000).]

tell him youll race his cheap american car anyday. Besides cadillacs are for grandpas and ghetto rides. As for the prestige factor, tell him to read motor trends october issue where they compared mercedes lexus bmw and cadillac. They gave the mercedes the highest prestige rating. Long live the 3 pointed star.

If I race him and loose I will embarass the honor od the three pointed star. I am wary of racing after my "Maxima experience" I am afraid of disgracing the star.

------------------
300E
Soon To be E55
27 foot Grady White Offshore Sportfish.

My uncle had a 95 Caddy w/ a northstar. the car's suspension would electronicaly lower something like an inch at sppeds over 55 mph. I would occasionally run it on friday evenings out on the 'Pike (Berlin Turnpike- Newington, CT) way back in the day (being a former high school gear-head as I was). This car would absolutely smoke Stangs. And 5.0 owners tend to get real flamed about that sort of stuff. ahh the good ol days. Thats not to say Id ever buy one of those stupid things. The term American Luxury is nothing short of an oxymoron. Caddys hey day was about 60 years ago. 'nuff said.

Cadillac DeVille eat a M-B E420 for supper!?!?!

2001 Cadillac DeVille DTS:
300hp
295lb-ft
3978lb curb weight

2001 Cadillac DeVille DHS:
275hp
300lb-ft
4049lb curb weight

1995 M-B E420:
275hp
295lb-ft
3660lb curb weight

I think a toss of a coin would be more appropriate when you put a E420 against a DeVille DHS/DTS! However, the next time I see a DeVille at the red light, the only thing he is goin' to be seein' is my newly repaired rear end, and he can choke on my exhaust!

------------------
<- WaVe & DaNCe the DiScO DuCk if you spot a '95 black pearl/black Mercedes-Benz E420!!!

Yup, you folks are right; no Northstar system that far back.

As to giving an E420 a hard time, I was thinking of the Seville STS, the hottest current Cadillac and a quicker car than the DTS mentioned earlier. Would be a tough call.

Regardless, I think the resale values say a lot...and you really shouldn't be talking with such a knucklehead anyway!!

.

Northstar didn't come out until 92 and then only in the Seville. Never buy a 92-93 Seville. They are garbage. It took them a while to work out the bugs. The Deville didn't get Northstar until 94 or 95, maybe even as late as 96. As for whose car is better, the 300E wins habds down. I can see the other guys point though, especially if he has never driven a Benz. My wife's parents bought an 89 Deville with the 4.9l engine brand new, and gave it to us when we got married. I won't contest that the thing has power. From a dead start if you hammer it, you'll spin the front wheels (yes, front wheels, besides the Catera and some fleetwoods Cadillac hasn't made a rear wheel drive since the early eighties.) I actually broke off the front wheels several time (not actaully broke off, but the spin so fast before they grip that they come off the pavement) At the time I thought it was the best car in the world. The we needed two cars. I spent several months looking for another Caddy in as great a shape as the one we already had. Couldn't find one. One day I passed the local Benz dealer and decided to check it out. I bought an 86 420SEL. Man, did that Caddy start to look and drive like crap. After a week I firmly decided that the Caddy would be her car and the Benz mine. A few weeks later I took her car out to fill it with gas for her, and decided to give it a good run. Excellent car, no question, better than anything else put out by North America or Asia, but its no Benz. I'll admit, given proper drivers that the Caddy might have a slight edge over my 420SEL (which is about 800 pound heavier than the Caddy by the way) from a dead start, but it would take long for me to blow its doors off. I think your 300E would accelerate better than my 420, and I know for a fact the 300 is damn fast (I was driving 90 on the highway last week and a 300E passed me like I was standing still). I wouldn't tell the guy his car is crap (compared to yours and mine it is), it is a good car....but its no Benz. You have the better car. If I didn't like really big cars I would own a 300E for sure.

------------------
Jason Priest
1986 420SEL

Forgot to add, we would have the Deville if it hadn't been stolen three months ago. Won't be buying another. I also know he doesn't have 300 HP. The Devilles with Northstar, starting in 95 had 300HP. His is closer to 260-275, but its off the flywheel. His transmission will easily eat up 20-25% of that, so thats about 220 on the road. Also that front wheel drive handling (while excellent compared to other front wheel drives) sucks for high speed handling. NO question about it, he has a great car, probably the best full sized sedan an american car company has made, but yours is better. Also, his won't last more than 200,000 miles if he is lucky. You're 300E should last twice as long.

------------------
Jason Priest
1986 420SEL

Tough call there. One of the finest sedans Germany has ever produced or a typical American German-wannabe piece of **** car that has an engine that isn't that slow.

Hmm, I'm stumped {note extreme sarcasm}. I think I'd give the Benz the slight edge. Grin.

------------------
1988 Mercedes-Benz 260E (W124)
Arctic White/Grey
Debadged
Euro Headlights
Clear Turn Signals and 1994/1995 Taillights
16" x 7J 8-hole
Michelin Pilot HX MXM 205/55WR16

1997 Mercedes-Benz E420 (W210)
Pearl Black/Ash
Debadged
Michelin Pilot XGT Z4 P225/55ZR16

1997 Mercedes-Benz C280 (W202)
Polar White/Parchment
Michelin Pilot SX-GT 205/60VR15

I really, really hate to say this, but so far my 88 Deville (4.5) has outdone my 83 300D as far as repairs goes. And, in another 20somethousand miles will have out distanced it also. I heard that the 4.9's are supposed to be better. Don't get me wrong I still prefer a Benz! but I have to give at least some credit to Cadillac...they have had a good amount of success in improving their cars...especially compared to the crap they were selling in the early eighties. What do you suppose would have the equivalent (or slightly better) accelleration wise...a 420? Reason I ask, is I have gotten spoiled by the V8 vs the 617 and would like something close to it. (one more thing...the deville speedo is the single most annoying thing on that car...go over 85mph and all you get is 85...85...85...85...85...grrrr!)
-Larry

The stats on that car say that it has 155 HP. How the hell does he think he has 300 hp???? Why doe people pick on M-B's so much. I have had quite a few people laugh at my car, and make fun of it ,"piece of ****", "oh the only thing that those nazi-mobiles" are good for is for crash testing", "your car is poorly designed and has not guts". Theses are some of the comments made by some individuals. I know its all B/S but why are these things said??



------------------
300E
Soon To be E55
27 foot Grady White Offshore Sportfish.

I think the main reason people say things like that is that either they are ignorant, or just plain jelous. Some people really tie their whole self worth in to their cars. If that's all they have, I say let them have it. Best way to deal with it is just to ignore it and walk away knowing that even though you drive one of the best cars in the world you don't have to prove it. As for which car is easier to maintain, my old '89 Caddy needed a whole new engine at 80,000 miles and I have maintained it had been serviced meticulously. Also, the Caddy will be cheaper to service, only because it is really a dressed up oldsmobile. Only the powertrain, interior and body are different, all of the other guts (brakes etc are shared and cheaper (also not the high quality performance parts you find in your Benz.) I never understand how people never realize that the only reason parts for Mercedes are more expensive is because they are so much better. The standards are higher, performance is better. You always get what you pay for.


------------------
Jason Priest
1986 420SEL