|
|
|
|
|
#1
08-25-2007, 04:00 PM
|
|||
|
|||
|
My E430 is totalled...
Well.......the dream is over.
About 10 days ago I was involved in a very minor traffic accident. I was swerving to avoid a car that was changing lanes into me, and slammed into a curb. The right front wheel took most of the damage, bending the wheel inward. After the right front wheel hit the curb, the rear wheel then slammed into the curb, damaging that wheel, and causing the side curtain airbag and rear side airbag (in the door) to go off. Surprised the heck out of me. It took 10 days for AAA to call me and tell me that the damage was about $15,000, and that it was to close too the value of the car, so they are totalling it out. I am absolutely beside myself that what appeared to be relatively minor ended up costing $15K. In any event, after two weeks of having the car, The Auto Club insurance still hasn't told me what they will give me for the car. They explained that they do not use KBB value anymore, and use an outside company called Auto Tech to determine the fair value market of the car. I see this as a way to basically screw me and give me less money for the car. The KBB wholesale value is about $13K, and the dealer retail is about $18K, so I'll just ballpark it around $15K. There is no room in my budget for a car payment. I can kick in about $3,000 of my own money, so I am setting my budget at about $18,000-ish. I am making a short list of cars to buy. 1. Volvo S80 (2002-2004). 2. Honda Accord EX V6 (2002-2003). 3. Acura RL (2002-2004) 4. Subaru Outback H6 3.0 (2001-2004). Any comments or other recommendations?
__________________
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". 
|
|
#2
08-25-2007, 04:54 PM
|
||||
|
||||
|
Ah *****. At least no one was hurt, minor accident or not.
I'm not going to comment on the way insurance co's value cars or how they determine values-- to the point! Why not another E430? Prices for 00-01's run from $14-16k, how 'bout the sport model? From your list, I'd go with the Acura. Sharp looking, fun to drive, dependable. (I've driven a few) No to the Volvo because you already have one.
__________________
'07 Yukon 2500 '13 Subaru Outback 3.6R '13 Orbea Carpe 9-speed Currently Benzless Formerly: 300TD, S600, E55, 560SEL ---= The forest breathes, listen. -Native American elder
|
|
#3
08-25-2007, 05:01 PM
|
||||
|
||||
Paul, I also replied in your review thread, sorry to hear about the accident. With the car's considerable weight bearing into the wheel during impact, frame damage is probably a given.
In terms of your car list, I agree with Ted - why not another E430? You are very familiar with them and know what to look for, many of the known issues can be determined by an educated shopper. A budget of $18K should net a very nice example of one. As stated, a sport model would be a nice 'upgrade' and you could have cash left over to beef up that wallowing stock suspension.  Only thing I would add is that I'm not a fan of the Volvo sedans, especially the larger ones. Drove an S60 as a rental when my 300E was being fixed and I loathed it. The design is aesthetically pleasing but the interior room is crappy and the visibility is horrible, especially if you are on the taller side (I'm 6'1"). The rear window is thin and the B-pillars hide a lot of the usual visual room when shoulder-checking. The handling and performance also left a lot to be desired. My father has an S40 which has been very reliable, but it is a fair bit smaller than the S60 (and presumably the S80). Not a fan of the Hondas either, they tend to be rev-happy engines and don't have that solid feel on the highway that I like from German sedans. I'd second the Acura as well. In any case - best of luck and let us know what you end up with!
__________________
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
|
|
#5
08-25-2007, 05:13 PM
|
||||
|
||||
|
Yes, let's visit the sport model. Here's what I had in mind.
There has to be some nice examples in SoCal. 
__________________
'07 Yukon 2500 '13 Subaru Outback 3.6R '13 Orbea Carpe 9-speed Currently Benzless Formerly: 300TD, S600, E55, 560SEL ---= The forest breathes, listen. -Native American elder
|
|
#6
08-25-2007, 05:23 PM
|
||||
|
||||
|
Quote:
Groooooooaaaaaan. Oh no!!!! Paul, this is awful!!!! I am really, really sorry. Of all the people here, why did this have to happen to you? This really blows! You aren't hurt, are you? That is the important thing. This is really sad that this happened, I know how you feel-- that was a beautiful car, well kept by you with Mr MB's help and was in such good shape..... Have you seen the car yet? Could you go, being the reason that you have some tools and posessions and papers you need to take out of it? Then you could look at it and try and figure if there is a 4th option: Settle and buy back the "salvage" and repair it. Drawback is that, of course, there could be really severe suspension damage to it, and it might make its way down the road like a crab, and forever have to have a salvage title. I think these days, to do it, you would sing the pink to them, and you'd get a salvage pink back from them....  In a way it blows there is no witnesses, police reports or other damaged cars to corroborate the story. The underwriters at AAA will chalk it up as a "SOLO" accident that could be called your fault when it really wasn't I used to joke with friends in the bar when they said "Oh you work for AAA, what are they really like. I always said, "They are like my old girlfriends - Tight but Fair" Being in LA, hopefully you have another car you can use in the meantime. About 35 years ago, out of school, I worked for a while as an adjuster in Physical damage for the AAA, and I recall that on the "total" losses back then, they wanted to always settle them "fast", because of the daily tow yard storage charges that would pile up. The adjusters got in trouble if they sat for over 30 days. Sometimes they would pay higher to make a really stubborn one go away. Or even avoid the total, if a body shop would work with them, and "save" it with used parts.- I think if you have a printer, you could make a nice case to sellte if it is a good car, by printing out "comparables" - local sale prices, newspaper, autotrader magazines, dealer website examples, Craigslist, ebay examples, all your service papers to show yours was a real cherry, things are different now, but it may be possible the same techniques. If you aren't a lay down, you could get more. My guess is that in your area, though, $15k might be about the value though. The good part though is that the pickings are rich for used ones in LA : Sunny climate, car enthusiasts, LOTS of cars around, advantage: buyer. Just imagine if you were in Loose Gravel, Arkansas. Have you called around to the Mercedes dealers to see if a nice one got traded in? It could happen, and I think in LA the car is a little too old to get Starmarked and sold as a CPO. They would want to wholesale it out of there. They are about 20+ Mercedes dealers, down there, I think if you cover from Riverside-San Diego-Ventura/Thousand Oaks. What say you? I tried this and eventually found mine at House of Imports by Disneyland, as a Starmarked (Encore, then) car, and it was nice -a PO had owned the Beverly Hills Hotel. I think you could maybe nab another one just like it, with luck, if you wanted. Think hard about the Volvo. They have the best seats in the business, and every kind of safety device you can imagine....however, the early ones 1998-2000 or so, at least, have horrible reputations for reliability, and build quality. I hate to say it, having owned one of the old rear wheel drivers. ('91 740) Once when I was relatvely flush, bought a new 2001 Volvo C70 turbo coupe. Very fast and comfortable, but the torque steer on the FWD turbo was really bad. Quality was bad; so bad, that the car was a lemon that spent almost its whole life at the dealer in Burlingame where we got it new, and we had to get a Lemon Law attorney, who helped have the car repurchased by Volvo in the end. It was Mint, but only had 7700 miles on it and was a huge disappointment. But __ have you contemplated a new Ford Taurus (nee 500 - pre '07) or Mercury Sable (nee Montego -pre 07) Reason I say so, is that they are actually built on the Volvo S80 chassis, and if you look real hard they actually do appear the same car. Volvo is owned by Ford and these are in the PAG (Fords Premium Auto Group - Jag, Volvo and Aston Martin.) Maybe, you could get if not a new one, a really nice 10 month old rental return. Maybe in your color or equipment choice? Go look at least..... I think the sellers would deal, and you could get a factory warranty, what is left of it on one. They are nice cars. Alternatively, you'd cringe at the thought, but what about a 2 year old Crown Victoria/Grand Marquis? Older body style and tech, but very roomy, anvil reliable (think: Taxi and Police) and high build quality (made in St Thomas Assembly Plant in Windsor, Ontario, Canada.) A new Grand Marquis LX about 10 months old that was a rental could be run down at a good price. MSRP was about 25-32 k new, but they are dogs the first year on used car market, so if you are lucky, a new Grandma LX could be had for $17-18k with rest of 3/36 warranty on it. I ve been thinking of doing this myself, actually, as I owned a couple of these, and they were the cheapest to run cars dollar for mile I ever had. I like them a LOT. New ones today have SEC-style seat controls, tach on the dash, ABS, lots of good features you would enjoy, leather seats. If you like fabric seats you need the base model, but few are around. The performance is leisurely though. The hot setup is the Marauder, (300hp) but they cost. The CV LX sport, the next best thing to it, has leather buckets, floor shifter, better wheels, and goes for higher and is rare, but can be found. . The Acura TL is a cunning choice too. I think the new ones cost around $49k, ? ( am I wrong? mayb be) back in '04 and if FWD is OK, you get impeccable build quality, a measure of sportiness, and under the radar classsiness. They look real nice, and they are known to have excellent repair histories. The really fancy Honda. Almost a real sport sedan. The Honda Accord EX makes a nice choice. Depreciation is horizontal and they are America's bread and butter car. I don't like their restricted vision (windows a little small) but their sales figures don't lie, and if you accept FWD, they make a good, reliable choice, for a non enthusiast. My ex- and I had a friend who used to sell cars and had a connection with other sales men and we went to a Honda place in El Cerrito and got a brand new Accord LX (top selling model,middle of the line, no leather) for $18,000 which was really cheap for a 2004 brand new one. Is that an option for you? Used ones are pretty high. I think the EX was the ultra luxury one, with leather, CD, etc. I had bought a 1995 Subaru Outback for the snow country here. Those things are utterly without soul but sooooooo reliable. I have no love for it (I really tgried) but it just runs and runs. Absolutely reliable. Put in a timing belt at 118k a few yrs ago. No problems at all. Still going strong and VERY well equipped with safety and luxury features. The 2004 ones (neighbor gave me a ride to church in theirs several times) are downright plush, I was astonished. But I have heard quality control has slipped badly on them the past 2-3 years so look into that.. I think you are on the right track, Paul----pretty good choices for you. There would be no better place to look than in LA for a car, new or used. Maybe even Enrique at Mr MB might know of a lead. To keep you in the Mercedes family. Sometimes he might hear of a car. Anything other than your Mercedes will probably feel a step down. Your 2000 has impeccable safety, no matter what they say about its quality for the year. Tney are really elegant safety cocoons, a world away from, say the W124 or earlier cars. Good luck as you contemplate your strategy.... All the best wishes to you and your family. I do hope to be in LA one of these days, (to visit Mr MB for the Benz) and you are one of the premier MNB shop folks I would like to see, with Curtis and Ernesto if somehow possible.. A real good guy I am sorry this happened to you, but at least you are safe. Jim
__________________
 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)
Last edited by Jim B.; 08-25-2007 at 05:51 PM.
|
|
#7
08-25-2007, 05:57 PM
|
|||
|
|||
|
I went to Carmax the other day and test drove a bunch of cars.
I drove a 2nd generation Acura TL (up to 2003), and didn't like it. I'm 39, and it's like they designed it for a different demographic. The center console stack was solid black plastic and ugly. Looked like the kind of cars college kids graduated to after they abused their Integra's. I got behind the wheel of a 2002 VW Passatt V6 4 Motion and liked it, but it felt slightly underpowered, even with the V6. It felt really nicely put together, though. I then drove a 2000-ish Saab 9-5, and that was the biggest POS I have ever driven. Underpowered, noisy, dash was creaky. The only thing good about it were the front seats were comfortable and the cabin was roomy. The salesman then persuaded me to try a 2004 Accord EX V6, and I absolutely loved it. Surprised the heck out of me. It was more solidly built than the Passat, the V6 had a lot of power, the front seats were comfortable (more so than my E430), and the back seat had even more legroom than the W210's. It is true what people say about the Honda's. They make great cars. They don't do anything particularly great, but they do everything really well. Yesterday I went to a Volvo dealer and drove a 2004 S80 T6. That thing is a rocket. Had 95% of the power of the E430. I loved it. Sat in an S60, and the backseat was incredibly small. I still need to drive the normally aspirated S80 2.9 (inline 6) to see what the power is like. I don't expect it to be fast, but hoping it to be at least more than adequate. I still need to drive a Subaru Outback and an Acura RL. I knew you guys would suggest another E430, but I'm not sure. This whole experience has ripped my heart out, and I'm not sure if I could do it again. I retro-fitted a Euro version of Command navigation in my car, and loved it. It is rarer than hen's teeth to find another W210 with navi, and I'm reluctant to buy another one and spend $2,000 to have one retrofitted. I also didn't care for the seats that much. I'm 6'1", and the backrest is too damned short. The Volvo seats put the Mercedes seats to shame. Even my W124 seats were far superior to the W210 seats. The backrest is much taller. I'll post a little bit more later. We've got company coming over in about 2 and 1/2 hours, and my wife is nagging me to mow the lawn and help cleaning the house. Shoooooot.
__________________
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". Last edited by suginami; 08-25-2007 at 08:17 PM.
|
|
#9
08-25-2007, 06:13 PM
|
||||
|
||||
|
210 E55
__________________
'07 Yukon 2500 '13 Subaru Outback 3.6R '13 Orbea Carpe 9-speed Currently Benzless Formerly: 300TD, S600, E55, 560SEL ---= The forest breathes, listen. -Native American elder
|
|
#10
08-25-2007, 06:30 PM
|
||||
|
||||
|
Quote:
Paul - those are some nice cars you've listed, but I think you may fall short overall compared with the experience you've had with the E430 (seats aside ) ? Any chance you can claim the Command system you retrofitted? How about a 540i? I need the cabin room of the E430 but I also looked at some 540is when I was shopping. They're an awesome sedan, consistently ranked at the top of the sport sedan category. A 2001 pre-Bangle model is a gorgeous car. 
__________________
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
|
|
#11
08-25-2007, 06:32 PM
|
||||
|
||||
|
Quote:
 If you can get a good S80, you would like it. Real luxury, and acclaimed as the best seats in the Industry, hands down. You could pick one up for a song. 210 E55 > everything else.
__________________
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)
|
|
#12
08-25-2007, 06:42 PM
|
||||
|
||||
|
I've seen '00 E55's FS in the $17K+ range. Ebay has a few examples. There's got to be some good one's in Cali.
__________________
'07 Yukon 2500 '13 Subaru Outback 3.6R '13 Orbea Carpe 9-speed Currently Benzless Formerly: 300TD, S600, E55, 560SEL ---= The forest breathes, listen. -Native American elder
|
|
#13
08-25-2007, 06:44 PM
|
||||
|
||||
|
The Honda Accord V6 would be my choice. Took a trip as a passenger
and liked it. Subaru: MPG is not so good with AWD 23-25mpg. I have a "96" with 165K , The heads have been done. Again rode as a passenger in H6 3.0 much smoother than my 2.5 4
__________________
cult plus time equals religion
|
|
#14
08-25-2007, 06:52 PM
|
||||
|
||||
|
Quote:
Staff cars down there. Most of those "Beverly Hills Volkswagens" are silver ones. Black looks good too. Some of the Passats from then had a lot of electrical problems
__________________
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)
|
|
#15
08-25-2007, 07:07 PM
|
||||
|
||||
|
Quote:
Plus, the Pit Bull dogs in the storage yard get one "free" bite, legally, rumor has it. The BMW e39 (I think they are called) are the most beautiful cars BMW made recently, w/o doubt. Sexy looking sport sedans, practical, no iDrive or run flats and other such nonsense on them yet. Very very covetable cars in their own right, but still useful for a family, too But the 540i ( a really good one) is out of his budget I think. Plus they are only available in manual if you want the M5. 540ia "sport" is wonderful though. I howled with glee after driving one in San Mateo. The 525i or 530i are more reachable but even then, it would be hard to find a mint '03 or '02 for much less than 23. But they are not too fast. Plenty of BMW indies around to work on them, so cost of running wouldn't be too tragic. So long as the white gloved dealers are avoided
__________________
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)
|
 |
| Bookmarks |
|
|
Linear Mode
