You mean LEASE a 2011. The last thing you want to do is BUY NEW to turn around a trade in at the 3 year mark. That's why i entertained the used E350 , as it has already depreciated some...

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1995 E320 smoke silver / parchment

It's the same thing, the lease company is buying the car for you and charging an excessive amount to finance the difference between the new cost and the residual value. Do you think the lease company is losing money on the deal? If you had the cash, you could make exactly the same deal.

WHO CARES about lease vs purchase vs paying cash .. That wasn't the question, lol... I can make my own financial decisions... my parents let me, really they do!! LOL

Lets get back on track.. Bottom line? Cars will continue to be swapped every 2-3 years... I am not going to drive a car to the ground, just to keep it 4-5 years... thank you..

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1995 E320 smoke silver / parchment

Head 'em up and LEASE 'em out.

Plain and simple.

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'06 E320 CDI
'17 Corvette Stingray Vert

Really?

Regarding car choice, I would buy the used E320/350; IMO, you will get more car for the money and avoid taking a hit on a new car. You should be able to find a decent, low-mileage example for $30k. I'm considering buying a used one for one of my kids (probably in the $15-20k range), it's a good solid car for the price.

I guess you should just go out and find whatever $30,000 car you like the best. The E350 will be a pretty safe bet if unscheduled repairs is all you care about. BMW's program is hard to beat, though. from 0-50,000 miles you don't even have to worry about oil changes or wiper blades, its all covered for free.

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1985 500SL Euro w/ AMG bits 130k
1984 300SD Turbodiesel 192k
1980 240D Stick China 188k
2001 CLK55 AMG 101k
2007 S600 Biturbo 149k Overheated Project, IT'S ALIVE!!!

That's really the best advice, buy whatever you like in your price range. It doesn't really matter what anyone else thinks, you're the one who has to drive it. Maybe, you will discover that you don't have to replace your car every 3 years if you find something you really like.

Not quite.

The used "$30,000 E350" will be worth $10,000 (if that much) in 3 years - it'll be 6 years old.
A new 2011 E350 lease for 2-3 years will not exceed that out-of-pocket any more than a smidgen. Besides, the new E350 will be 100% net repair cost free. The used E350 will be an at-risk net expense, and be worth jack at 6-years of age.

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'06 E320 CDI
'17 Corvette Stingray Vert

The difference is with most brands the bank they own is floating them. So, if MB financial offers a considerably cheap leasing program, they get their units moved, make 1-2% APR on the lease term, and get good steady stream of CPOs at the end of the run.

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1985 500SL Euro w/ AMG bits 130k
1984 300SD Turbodiesel 192k
1980 240D Stick China 188k
2001 CLK55 AMG 101k
2007 S600 Biturbo 149k Overheated Project, IT'S ALIVE!!!

I understand that it might be a better deal than you can get from the local bank, but you are still paying more than a cash deal. I leased one new car when I was young, stupid, and broke; it allowed me to drive a car that I couldn't really afford without a down payment. In the long run, I paid too much but I thought I needed a new car. I should have bought something I could afford and saved my pennies. I wouldn't have listened to anyone either, but some of us eventually grow up.

Leasing is the only way to go for this guy.

He'll likely be in a new 400 HP Mustang GT anyway. Or a new E350 or BMW.

No way he can afford buying anything this pricey for 2-3 years outside a lease. None whatsoever.

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'06 E320 CDI
'17 Corvette Stingray Vert

No way you can make the same deal. No way whatsoever. Paying cash for a new car to sell it in 3 years is NOT less than a lease. No way whatsoever.

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'06 E320 CDI
'17 Corvette Stingray Vert