Foo - New Car Rants

I recently purchased a new (to me 2007) Mercedes Benz C280 4-Matic sedan in metallic silver. OK car, not what I went out that day to purchase, but the deal was extraordinary and could not be passed up.
Wanted a VW Jetta GLI special edition. They did'nt have it so I stopped by the MB dealer just for fun.

So my neighbor also just bought a new Toyota Camry V6. Nice car. We get to talking, where he says;
O that (my MB) is just a glorified version of my camry and his is so much roomier, nicer, much cheaper, better looking, blah..blah..blah. Completely ripping my car apart. Said he paid $23k beyond loaded with every imaginable option under the sun.

I said not much except, I agree, but its not a Camry but a Mercedes, and I did not buy it for bling, flash or upkeep with the Jones. Added it has all wheel drive.

Quite an annoying butz he was.

Did you buy an older model on sale? Cause when I was looking at new cars, the smallest model they had with 4-matic was the C300.

The inside of the C300 was better than the Camry but not that much. It looked better but they were both pretty plasticky. The previous C280 that I saw before I started looking at cars, OTOH, really did have a pretty drab interior. And I believe it's something like 50hp down from the Camry V6 and gets worse gas mileage.

Your neighbor is a total ****** for bashing your MB like that but I can't imagine a C280 (or C300 for that matter) being better than a new Camry or Accord V6 in any way other than brand recognition. I went through the same thing when I was looking at new cars. On the list were the VW GTI, Mazda3, Subie Outback, C300-4, 328xi, G35x, A3, and is250awd. I had a spreadsheet with like, a thousand metrics on the cars and in the end, I dropped the C300 and 328 for value, reliability, and performance for the price. In the end, I too, completely pulled a 180 and bought something completely on impulse and my coworkers give me hell for it almost every time I drive it to work.

He probably should've kept his mouth shut though.

Burn his car to the ground and say "Funny, looks like my car runs far better than yours."

Simple solutions. :D

Napoleon complex...

It is a 2007 C280 4Matic. Like I said, not an "S" class MB and true not that much better than a Camry......but still for $41+ sticker price and me getting it for $29457 as a leftover, quite a good deal.

The VW Jetta GLI SP was $27.3 out the door no real deal.

As far as burning his car to the ground, I would rather have an affair with his wife, which may be possible.
Here we go.........Do it with his wife in the back seat of the Camry:)

napoleon complex...

+1

I used to have an MB, back in the early 80's. I loved the car, but it wan't very practical for me. I had the 81 560SL. It's main drawback was it was a 2 seater, and had no real cargo space. I drive a Lumina minivan now.....not for kids, but for bike stuff. :0 I take out the seats and I still have a 2 seater, and it handles much like a sports car, too, unlike a standard van. I can carry the bikes inside, though, which keeps them covered by the insurance, unlike being on a rack on the back. :p

http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o260/TomStormcrowe/3cd3d12c.jpg
This is an 81 560, but not mine.
Mine was the darkest, deepest midnight blue you ever saw, though, rather than red.

The 07 C class isn't that great and the new Camry is better in many ways. It's not as stylish but better engineered. Only recently has Mercedes shown a glimmer of it's former quality.
The huge depreciation on your C class shows what value it holds. The Camry will hold it's value much longer.
He's right, the Camry is better in most respects.

But you did get a good deal and if you're happy, that's all that's important.
Of course people love to say they made the better choice but luxury brands aren't just about numbers.

There is something great about german sports sedans that a Camry just can't touch.

I drive a Lumina minivan now.....not for kids, but for bike stuff. :0 I take out the seats and I still have a 2 seater, and it handles much like a sports car, too, unlike a standard van.

Ladies and gentlemen of the Internet, this is the FIRST and ONLY time ever in human history that you will EVER see the bolded words in the same sentence. Truly a momentous event.

Back on topic. Guy with the Camry was a jerk, but you win with 4Matic. Also, good on ya for not getting the Jetta. I'm not sure VWs are worth it anymore in terms of $$ and reliability. Mrs. A and I went car-shopping last year and the VW dealer was offering used previous-generation Golfs for the same price as a new Fit at the Honda dealer down the street.

Ladies and gentlemen of the Internet, this is the FIRST and ONLY time ever in human history that you will EVER see the bolded words in the same sentence. Truly a momentous event.

Back on topic. Guy with the Camry was a jerk, but you win with 4Matic. Also, good on ya for not getting the Jetta. I'm not sure VWs are worth it anymore in terms of $$ and reliability. Mrs. A and I went car-shopping last year and the VW dealer was offering used previous-generation Golfs for the same price as a new Fit at the Honda dealer down the street.

Let me clarify that....

It should have read "as compared to a standard van". :p

I also agree, Camry guy was ajerk, by the way. enjoy your Benz. It was a great deal relative to the cost of the car not on sale as a lefover and has more panache than a Yota. :p

It is a 2007 C280 4Matic. Like I said, not an "S" class MB and true not that much better than a Camry......but still for $41+ sticker price and me getting it for $29457 as a leftover, quite a good deal.

The VW Jetta GLI SP was $27.3 out the door no real deal.

As far as burning his car to the ground, I would rather have an affair with his wife, which may be possible.
Here we go.........Do it with his wife in the back seat of the Camry:)

Why you should never buy a car you did not do research on. The 41k sticker was a chuckle. The car has a retail value of about 25,00-26,000 in pristine condition. Had about another 2k in wiggle room.

Who cares if one is better than another, the guy is a jerk. I am so fed up being nice to idiots just because it's easier than being honest....

If someone offers you an MB or a Camry for the same price, you'd be a dhead to take the Toyota. When the Camry is taking up space in a landfill somewhere the MB will just be getting broken-in.

Set his car on fire! This must happen.

Couch

This thread is so typical of car buyers. I bought a new 2003 C240W. It was what I wanted and loved the fact that it is easy to drive but had too many options for me. I just wanted a car, not a computer. Anyhow, I took it to the window tint shop and some dude comes up to me talking about his used E320 and how his car has this, that and the other. I don't care. If I wanted an E Class I would have bought one. It just doesn't fit in my garage. Buzz dude.
There are those who would say crap like "you bought the car to prove a point" or "you are rollin' now" when they are cruising around in buckets. Oh yeah, and those are the ones who talk about the high maintenance costs. It is all relative depending on the car. Furthermore how do they know if it is expensive if they don't have one? I don't drive my car much anymore because I cycle and ride a scooter around. No matter what kind of car you drive, it is yours. I bought the car for me, not them. You bought your car for you, not your neighbor no matter what make, model or year. People will always try to out talk or out do the other when it comes to big ticket items. Heck, I have seen men on bikes do the same. No one will ever be satisfied with anything that others have.

Why you should never buy a car you did not do research on. The 41k sticker was a chuckle. The car has a retail value of about 25,00-26,000 in pristine condition. Had about another 2k in wiggle room.

+1
A dealer quoted me a very well loaded 2009 C300 4-Matic for $35 OTD.


This is why my last 3 vehicle purchases have all been a grand or less. Can't overpay by more than you spend.

Last car I had was free. Put quite a few grand into fixing it up and it was still a death defying experience going anywhere over 90 in it.
I wouldn't knock the OP for getting the Merc. Its a great car. It's just that some of us here think that he could've gotten something better in that price range.

The one thing I'll say is that a 200hp MERC with awd will handle MUCH MUCH better than a 270hp fwd toyota in the dry. In the snow, forget about it. Plus it just plain looks better.


Ladies and gentlemen of the Internet, this is the FIRST and ONLY time ever in human history that you will EVER see the bolded words in the same sentence. Truly a momentous event.

LOL...

I sold MB cars from 1983 to 1991 at one of the largest MB dealerships in the US.

Great cars. Pricey, but great. Back then they really never broke. I owned a couple of them.

Now I'm a Honda/Acura/Toyota guy. MBs are nice but too pricey. But I like the deal they made you on that C class. Good luck with the car.

It is a 2007 C280 4Matic. Like I said, not an "S" class MB and true not that much better than a Camry......but still for $41+ sticker price and me getting it for $29457 as a leftover, quite a good deal.

The VW Jetta GLI SP was $27.3 out the door no real deal.

As far as burning his car to the ground, I would rather have an affair with his wife, which may be possible.
Here we go.........Do it with his wife in the back seat of the Camry:)

Forget the back seat...do it on the hood. That's class!

Travelmama, I know exactly what you're talking about with people talking about vehicles as status symbols. Usually a simple "Oh, yeah, it's nice. I prefer my bike though," will get them off your back. :D

You both lose because you bought new cars. :p

+1

Lauren nails it and sticks the landing.

Forget the back seat...do it on the hood. That's class!



You mean like this?

http://media.ebaumsworld.com/mediaFiles/picture/65587/1064274.jpg

wait till your first repair bill. my friend sold his so fast the the outline of the car was still in the driveway.

wait till your first repair bill. my friend sold his so fast the the outline of the car was still in the driveway.

I bought a 1981 Porsche partially because I couldn't afford the repairs on a late model Honda Civic.

I sold MB cars from 1983 to 1991 at one of the largest MB dealerships in the US.

Great cars. Pricey, but great. Back then they really never broke. I owned a couple of them.

Now I'm a Honda/Acura/Toyota guy. MBs are nice but too pricey. But I like the deal they made you on that C class. Good luck with the car.The last of the "classic" MB with unlimited engineering was probably around 1992. After that, the quality went down big-time. Major electrical problems, engine-harnesses catching on fire, etc. Customers who came to the dealer when their car burned to the ground got the cold-shoulder.

Around the late '80s, MB did a market-survey and discovered that the majority of the people who could afford their cars had already purchased one. And back then, they were made to last 20-30 years. So they had to tap new markets... lower-cost MBs... grrrr.....

There are two strategies I've used with cars:

First, on vehicles that have high resale values (like trucks and SUVs used to have), I'd buy new. Used, the price difference was so close, it was worth the couple thousand to have a one owner car, especially amortized over 10 years.

Second, on vehicles where you get hit in the face by heavy depreciation (a number of luxury cars), its better to buy used, just due to the cost difference. In some cases, the difference between MSRP and what a one year old car is selling on a lot in nice condition is almost 4 times.

Thanks for all the replies.

I did spend the famous $500 mercedes oil change but other than that no problems at all with 18,433 miles on it.

Some have said the interior is plasticky and cheap. Actually not so at all, very high quality.
If you are comparing it to a Bently Arnage "S" than yes, cheap, but up to MB standards. I do have a problem with the square button cluster above the radio, where there are many blanks despite the fact that mine is loaded w/ the heated seat button their, the power sunshade in rear, power headrests, etc.

18k is very low miles and I will probably die in it.
My one buddy has a new BMW 328i and he likes the inside of mine better, although the bimmer has better driving dynamics. The MB is built like a bank vault.

My other buddy has the CL550 w/ AMG package. Makes mine look and feel like a radio flyer wagon:)

I also have a Maserati Bi-Turbo "E" in showroom condition..........but thats my meal and viagra ticket latter in life. Also a 2000 Ford ranger PU and girlfriends toyota solara which is mine but she pays for.

One more quicky that completely floored me about it.

I have the communication option....so one day I'm driving to work and the freakin phone rings.....I mean the system integrated phone. So I press the phone button and here this female voice tells me about the next service sched. at 15k and wished me a good day Mr. Wagner.
Then on the way home the LCD readout panel informed me of this service.


They know where you are...Scary

FWIW, Camry's are for losers. That Benz is a nice ride.

Ladies and gentlemen of the Internet, this is the FIRST and ONLY time ever in human history that you will EVER see the bolded words in the same sentence. Truly a momentous event.

Back on topic. Guy with the Camry was a jerk, but you win with 4Matic. Also, good on ya for not getting the Jetta. I'm not sure VWs are worth it anymore in terms of $$ and reliability. Mrs. A and I went car-shopping last year and the VW dealer was offering used previous-generation Golfs for the same price as a new Fit at the Honda dealer down the street.

:love: LOVE my FIT!!! $14,000: automatic Sport model with 8900 miles on it at purchase

You both lose because you bought new cars. :p

Completely useless comment on my part but, LOL.

I am lucky, only thing my car had needed is catalytic converters (last owner removed the cats, threw them away, but we have inspections here in NC), $45 gauge cluster, and an AC charge.

That's one thing about buying new cars, I don't have to rely on luck.

Certified pre-owned with a warranty is probably the best option with today's cars, though you only really end up saving about 4-5000 sometimes, which gets eaten up by the extra mileage on the cars eventually. They'll get their money some how.

Obviously if someone can't comfortably afford it, I wouldn't recommend a new or under-10k 1yr old preowned car but if you want something hassle free without having to play the lemon lottery. In the end, a used car might end up costing almost as much as a new car over 5-6 years of DD'ing depending on how conditions are and your luck.


One more quicky that completely floored me about it.

I have the communication option....so one day I'm driving to work and the freakin phone rings.....I mean the system integrated phone. So I press the phone button and here this female voice tells me about the next service sched. at 15k and wished me a good day Mr. Wagner.
Then on the way home the LCD readout panel informed me of this service.


They know where you are...Scary

I think the Camry's have the same thing. Honda has some kind of variable service interval where sensors continuously monitor your driving style and conditions and adjust the service intervals accordingly.

Second, on vehicles where you get hit in the face by heavy depreciation (a number of luxury cars), its better to buy used, just due to the cost difference. In some cases, the difference between MSRP and what a one year old car is selling on a lot in nice condition is almost 4 times.

I take it you mean the new sale price vs. msrp and pre-owned sale price. Not pre-owned sale price vs msrp. Otherwise, that would mean an MSRP of $40k is selling for $10k after a year. :)

I still say the OP should've researched a little more. For the money, he could've gotten an infiniti g35x. Faster, handles better, better interior, cheaper, more reliable, sleeker looking. I was actually thinking about buying one but my boss has one... "NO RAISE FOR U!!"

http://cooknkate.files.wordpress.com/2009/05/sein_soup_nazi.jpg

No point in bragging about doing a project car. I'm sure the op spent the money because he wanted a nice Merc, not something he'll have to sew new stitching on after 6 months.


:love: LOVE my FIT!!! $14,000: automatic Sport model with 8900 miles on it at purchase

A neighbor of mine had the rims stolen off his Fit... no kidding. There was an accord parked behind him, and a couple of bmw's in front of him. Could never figure out that one because the Fit isn't that popular a model yet for someone to be parting it. It is a nice looking ride, though my gf prefers the Yaris, it's more "podish".

I did spend the famous $500 mercedes oil change but other than that no problems at all with 18,433 miles on it.

Yikes, what kind of oil was added to your car? I have had to pay for only one oil change and some minor service and it cost $145 at the dealership.

A neighbor of mine had the rims stolen off his Fit... no kidding. There was an accord parked behind him, and a couple of bmw's in front of him. Could never figure out that one because the Fit isn't that popular a model yet for someone to be parting it. It is a nice looking ride, though my gf prefers the Yaris, it's more "podish".

hahaha... whoa.

We have an '08 base Fit (got keyless entry later) with the steel wheels. My wife drives it 90% of the time, but we both have a lot of love for it. I don't think anybody will be taking our cheap steel wheels, though.

I sold MB cars from 1983 to 1991 at one of the largest MB dealerships in the US.

Great cars. Pricey, but great. Back then they really never broke. I owned a couple of them.

Now I'm a Honda/Acura/Toyota guy. MBs are nice but too pricey. But I like the deal they made you on that C class. Good luck with the car.

Thanks. I also had a 1999 C230 Kompressor, which was very nice except the engine was a bit raucous.

I like the bank vault teutonic ride quality of a Mercedes.

Yikes, what kind of oil was added to your car? I have had to pay for only one oil change and some minor service and it cost $145 at the dealership.

They claim they used Mobil 1 and a OEM filter, changed a filter somewhere and rotated tires, checked everything.
Still, $500 was a large bill. Does'nt Jiffy lube do all that for $40.

They claim they used Mobil 1 and a OEM filter, changed a filter somewhere and rotated tires, checked everything.
Still, $500 was a large bill. Does'nt Jiffy lube do all that for $40.

Many times they don't change the oil filter because many modern cars only require the filter to be changed every other oil change if you're changing the oil often.

$500 sounds about right for dealer pricing if ur talking 6 qts synthetic, oem filter, air filter, rotated the tires, topped off fluids, etc.