Mercedes S350 - What's the Point? - Page 2 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Skid Row Joe · #16 04-23-2013, 04:38 AM

Leasing pricey vehicles is a way of life for some people - especially at either end of the income scale, going from what I've observed and read. A new S350 costing nearly $100K would have to be a hot lease item. Pricey lease=payments each month constitutes sound judgement to some, with initially little out-of-pocket. However, it's no different than carrying what ends up being endless car payments. Something that many believe they will always have, so leasing seems to mitigate and justify a never ending monthly payment. People that pay cash for an upscale 2 to 4 year old used car are the ones that according to many experts have figured out how to drive the most for the least. Off-lease S400 Hybrids are being dumped on the market left and right around here. Costs are high $30s to a tad over $40K on the ones I've seen.

C280 Sport · #17 04-23-2013, 01:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim B.

Almost NOBODY "buys" a new $100,000 - $130,000 S class in the USA or the UK.

They lease one, at lease end,dump it and lease another one, or some other expensive make.

Multimillionaires don't usually like to tie up their assets in a guaranteed depreciating asset such as a new $100,000+ automobile; likewise, corporations or private investors don't either.

Yes correct.... but the objective of the thread was when spending $100,000 on a car would you buy the S350 or another sedan. Leasing is a whole different aspect of car shopping. Also almost nobody buys a new anything now a days especially the higher up the latter you go with car prices. Leasing thru your business as I have done time and time before is a great write off. A friend of mine does it with his Audi as well but leasing is another story.

C280 Sport · #18 04-23-2013, 01:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skid Row Joe

Leasing pricey vehicles is a way of life for some people - especially at either end of the income scale, going from what I've observed and read. A new S350 costing nearly $100K would have to be a hot lease item. Pricey lease=payments each month constitutes sound judgement to some, with initially little out-of-pocket. However, it's no different than carrying what ends up being endless car payments. Something that many believe they will always have, so leasing seems to mitigate and justify a never ending monthly payment. People that pay cash for an upscale 2 to 4 year old used car are the ones that according to many experts have figured out how to drive the most for the least. Off-lease S400 Hybrids are being dumped on the market left and right around here. Costs are high $30s to a tad over $40K on the ones I've seen.

Those S400H I am amazed on how little they are selling for now a days. Very low miles on them and selling for high 30's up in NY. Would not mind one for a long commute.

Hatterasguy · #19 04-23-2013, 09:10 PM

Hell no, I'd buy a slightly used 2013 Audi S8 and beat Justins slow ass S65's to 100!

Diesel is about saving money, you don't buy a $100k car to save money.

Hatterasguy · #20 04-23-2013, 09:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by C280 Sport

Yes correct.... but the objective of the thread was when spending $100,000 on a car would you buy the S350 or another sedan. Leasing is a whole different aspect of car shopping. Also almost nobody buys a new anything now a days especially the higher up the latter you go with car prices. Leasing thru your business as I have done time and time before is a great write off. A friend of mine does it with his Audi as well but leasing is another story.

Yeah in a few years I'm going to take a vehicle allowance from my company and have it lease me a car. Probably an A8.

Why in the world would someone tie up $100k in a piss poor asset like a car when for $800 a month you can control it and write it off?

C280 Sport · #21 04-23-2013, 10:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hatterasguy

Yeah in a few years I'm going to take a vehicle allowance from my company and have it lease me a car. Probably an A8.

Why in the world would someone tie up $100k in a piss poor asset like a car when for $800 a month you can control it and write it off?

I am fortunate to be able to write that off and it sounds like you are as well but remember not everyone is self-emplyed

I agree with you however. If I did want to buy one just buy it used. When you put all the options on the S350D you are well above the 100k mark anyways. But hey someone needs to take the first punch

spdrun · #22 04-23-2013, 10:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hatterasguy

Hell no, I'd buy a slightly used 2013 Audi S8 and beat Justins slow ass S65's to 100!

Diesel is about saving money, you don't buy a $100k car to save money.

Burning less oil is also an environmental responsibility. What's wrong with being clean AND comfy? Not all wealthy people are carbon-stomping pigs, last I checked

The Clk Man · #23 04-23-2013, 11:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skid Row Joe

Leasing pricey vehicles is a way of life for some people - especially at either end of the income scale, going from what I've observed and read. A new S350 costing nearly $100K would have to be a hot lease item. Pricey lease=payments each month constitutes sound judgement to some, with initially little out-of-pocket. However, it's no different than carrying what ends up being endless car payments. Something that many believe they will always have, so leasing seems to mitigate and justify a never ending monthly payment. People that pay cash for an upscale 2 to 4 year old used car are the ones that according to many experts have figured out how to drive the most for the least. Off-lease S400 Hybrids are being dumped on the market left and right around here. Costs are high $30s to a tad over $40K on the ones I've seen.

If you live alone, "What's the POINT of wiping your a$$?

spdrun · #24 04-23-2013, 11:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hatterasguy

Yeah in a few years I'm going to take a vehicle allowance from my company and have it lease me a car. Probably an A8.

Why in the world would someone tie up $100k in a piss poor asset like a car when for $800 a month you can control it and write it off?

If you're pulling in $5MM per year, $100k is beer money.

Jim B. · #25 04-24-2013, 01:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Clk Man

If you live alone, "What's the POINT of wiping your a$$?

To the man that took a dump on my doormat,

I need to go suit up some dweeb in a full Hazmat suit, and have him give that guy an enema with a fire hose.

Skippy · #26 04-24-2013, 08:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim B.

To the man that took a dump on my doormat,

I need to go suit up some dweeb in a full Hazmat suit, and have him give that guy an enema with a fire hose.

The doormat that says, "Come Back With a Warrant"? I think I want one of those BTW.

If I had a hundred grand to spend on a car, I'd probably end up with a '78 911SC, and a '78 300D, with enough left over for a Ducati or Triumph, plenty of gas, diesel, tires, and track day expenses.

SwampYankee · #27 04-24-2013, 09:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by P.C.

If you had $100k to spend on a car, would you spend it on a diesel sedan?

In a word, yes.

Unfortunately for me it's a moot point.

Hatterasguy · #28 04-26-2013, 06:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spdrun

If you're pulling in $5MM per year, $100k is beer money.

You can't write the whole thing off if you buy it.

C280 Sport · #29 04-26-2013, 07:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hatterasguy

You can't write the whole thing off if you buy it.

The only way to write it off is via leasing thru your buisness as I have done before but you can even buy a car that is to be used for business can add to your yearly tax deductions as part of your operating expenses. For those who are not self employed but work for a company and have used your own personal car for business-related purposes like if your a salesmen you can claim those expenses on your tax deduction if your company has not reimbursed you for expenses.

Skid Row Joe · #30 04-26-2013, 08:43 PM

Perhaps it is possible to get all your cars free by leasing them through your business, but I really question the reasoning on disposing of large sums of money on exotic "business" living that could be allocated elsewhere - even after paying taxes on it.

Nothing's free, since you're paying for it out-of your's or your business's accounting. One way or another, it's costing you money, even if at a reduced tax rate. Nothing's free.

I worked for a time in sales training for a very big earner when starting out in sales. Although he earned big, he was totally obsessed/fixated on "write-offs." He continually claimed; "he made too much money, and that if he didn't spend it by writing it all off, the Government was going to get it all!" What a misguided individual that guy was - making the equivalent pre-tax of close to $500K a year, and spending it all. He would spend and gamble on lavish Las Vegas and cruise vacations year after year, claiming they were all write-offs. When he died of old age, his estate was worth zip, his wife had to borrow for the funeral, move out of the pricey rental home, which he did not buy a decade and a half earlier, because he never had any money because he had written it all off. He was driving an old POS American car. Really a sad situation.

Over the years I've run into other self-employeds that live very high off the hog. At times, some mention they need the write-offs because they're making too much money. I just take a deep breath, and roll my eyes when I hear that schpiel coming. I've learned that if you don't write so much off, you will have more money to fund your retirement spending years with cash.