Ok, so what would you take?

2003 Mercedes E320
Midnight Blue
Engine 3,199-cc SOHC 18-valve 90° V-6. High-pressure die-cast alloy cylinder block, alloy heads.
Net power 221 hp @ 5,600 rpm
Net torque 232 lb-ft @ 3,000-4,800 rpm

Options:

E3 Sports Package
Bi-Xenon Headlamps, Headlamp Washers
Black Birds Eye Maple Trim, Blue Tinted Glass
LED Brake Lights, Sculpted Side Skirts,
Front Bumper, Rear Apron,
17" Sport Wheels with 245/45 R 17 tires

Drive Dynamic Seats

Keyless 'Go'

Panoramic Sunroof

Harmon Kardon Upgrade

Motorola V60 Phone with Voice Control

E5: Value Added Package details
Heated Steering Wheel
Heated Front Seats

4 Zone climate control

Factory installed CD Changer

Parktronic

Power Rear sunshade

Solar Panel

Tire Pressure Monitor

Price: $65,487.60


3002 Mercedes E500
Midnight Blue
Engine 4,966 cc SOHC 24-valve 90° V-8. High-pressure die-cast alloy cylinder block, alloy heads.
Net power 302 hp @ 5,600 rpm
Net torque 339 lb-ft @ 2,700-4,250 rpm

Options:

E3 Sports Package
Bi-Xenon Headlamps, Headlamp Washers
Black Birds Eye Maple Trim, Blue Tinted Glass
LED Brake Lights, Sculpted Side Skirts,
Front Bumper, Rear Apron,
17" Sport Wheels with 245/45 R 17 tires

Drive Dynamic Seats

Keyless 'Go'

Panoramic Sunroof

Harmon Kardon Upgrade

Motorola V60 Phone with Voice Control

Price: $64,968.35

 

add the panoramic sunroof to the E500 and go for that...definately get the V8 engine...

 

I'll take the 3002 E500 you mentioned. That one is surely capable of space travel.

If I was forced to choose a 2003 model however, I'd much rather get an SL than an E class.
Of your choices, I'd take the E500 though.

 

No question about it... you need the Two extra cylinders!!

 

I dunno. Is your goal to save up money and move out on your own or do you already own a house so you can you just spend everything you make?

I just graduated college and right now I'm living with my parents while I job hunt and plan to stay living here as long as it's in commuting range of where I get a job so I can save some money up for the future. So in my situation I wouldn't go blowing everything I save on a nice car.

Maybe if you tell us your financial situation it would be easier to choose a car for you. Besides, there's no contest between a wimpy 6cyl Benz and a hot hot E500 even if the price is the same.

 

E500, get rid of the keyless go...and get some more of the options u had on the 320 on the 500...

dont forget E500 comes with 4 Zone climate control standard...

btw, i heard that Tire Pressure Monitor is b.s. save your money.


i would get rid of keyless go and add these options :
Heated Steering Wheel
Heated Front Seats

I would also choose between the cooling seats or the solar panel...u dont need 2 forces freezin u up in the summer, just choose 1..

research keyless go in the new e-class forum, lots of people dont think its necessary
http://forums.mbworld.org/forums/for...php?forumid=20

also, post your question on that forum too...

 

what makes the car a dream to drive is the V8 and the Airmatic that only comes standard on the 500...

 

oh and ernie, the sport package isn't that great...the regular rims on the E500 are 17" and look good anyways..

the bodykit isnt even AMG, dont bother with it...i actually think the front of the E500 without the package looks more aggressive and cool..

save your money, dont get the sport package, wait for aftermarket to make nicer kits, that are gonna even be cheaper..and get AMG rims later on, no rush


here is my dream E500:
.S.R.P.* $55,515.00



Exterior Color (Metallic paints are standard for this model.)

Alabaster White $0.00



Interior Color

Stone Leather $0.00



Options

Factory Installed CD Changer details $400.00



harman kardon details $700.00



Panorama Sunroof details $1,500.00



Packages

E1: Value Added Package details $1,150.00



E5: Value Added Package details $875.00



Luxury Tax $625.05

Gas Guzzler Tax $1,000.00

Total $61,765.0

 

E500

 

Its already been established, that the E500 is a much better deal than the E320 (once you add the Sport package to get the Airmatic system).....the price difference is very small. Don't forget the E500 has a $1000 gas guzzler tax.

I personally don't like the Pano roof, the Sport package might be a good choice for someone that isn't 50 yet. The interior with the black bird's eye maple, aluminum trim, White gauges are really nice (it closely resembles what the E55 interior is going to look like).

It doesn't have the AMG kit as mentioned above, but it does have flared rocker panels and sculpted front/rear bumpers (which is better than nothing). Its a bargain at $1300-includes Bi Xenon's, LED rear lights, blue tinted windows, on top of the other things I mentioned.

 

e500

the 320 doesn't seem like much of a value in its class with that kind of motor.

 

get any AMG... like the new to come E55 replacement...

 

i would take the baddest one i have found besides the S500,


please tell me you like it!!

 

I know you haven't mentioned it but what about the new bodystyle CLK?

 

i'd pick the slk 32 AMG...fastest stock mercedes.

 

Ahahahahaha what is that yellow eyesore?? Ugh. That's terrible.
It looks like it just rear-ended a truck and is squished under the bumper while the back got impacted by whatever was behind it.

 

not anymore, since the sl55 is out...

 

E 500 for sure..

 

hmm ok that one then LOL.

 

If you want to spend $65000 on a E-class, gotta be a E500. Midnight blue sounds a very nice color, too bad I still have not seen a new E-class on street yet.

 

65,000 is a lot for a E class IMO. You can get a lot of other cars for that money, such as the C32 or CLK55. Spend a few more dollars and you can move up into a S430. What about a Jaguar S-type R?

I sat in a brand new CLK500 and E320 and is it me or is the interiors of Mercedes getting cheaper?? My moms old 99 E class felt much more luxurious and the materials looked less plastic.

 

I see alot of problems with these e-class cars on there site..

 

Financial situation is simple. 65K or less is the objective and it's not a desperate reach for me.

 

E500... no question

 

The C32 is a small car, the CLK55 is a 2 door (not to mention the new CLK isn't the best looking Benz to date). An S430? What's so special about that, its not fast, its not fun to drive, and its a tank. The S-Type R I wouldn't argue with, that's a cool car.

The CLK500 interior isn't all that nice (Benz put their efforts into the E), an E500 with the gathered leather on the doors is very nice. The W210 (previous Eclass) did "not" have a nicer interior than the new W211......looks and material wise, the new car is plainly superior.

 

Ern: Then E500 or get something non-Benz, IMHO.

 

Really...if your going to pay 65k for a E class you might as well put down a few more thousand and go with an S. The E class isnt a fun car to drive, if you want sporty go with the GS430. I know he is boycotting BMW, so I wont mention the 540i. The new E320 I sat looked cheap. It WASNT nicer than the W210 E class. I havent sat in a E500, so I cant tell you if its nicer. Did you ever consider a Audi A6 2.7T 6 speed?? They can be made quite fast with a few simple mods.

 

C coupe, new CLK...:thumbsdn:

I'll take a AMG CL 600 please!

 

um i would take a E500 over a s430....

maximized..u gotta do some research on the new E to know whats really going on..

 

The new E500 shares the same engine as the S class. Tell me why I should get a 72K bare bones S class which is over my budget by a good 7K and I'm sure 10K with options. I suggest you look a little bit closer into the new E before you just say it's not 'fun to drive'. With the suspension in sport mode and a nice V8 I wasn't slugging through traffic I'll have you know and I can't find a car as unique in options and safety galore.

 

No offense to him, but think good and hard before you take advise from Maximized.

 

I know whats going on. I am just stating my opinion like everyone else here. The new E isnt anything special IMO, at least the E320 I sat in. If eclipse wants a sporty car, which obviously he does since he was looking at an M3, he will be dissappointed with a NON AMG model.

 

Actually,

The CLK500 is looking more appealing every time I look at it. I priced one out practically fully loaded and it came out about the same price. If only I could test drive one there is a wait till January for them I'm gonna try to find one before then to drive.

Thanks for all the opinions guys I'm really in car limbo right now but I definitely love the new Mercedes lineup for 03'

 

Honesly, just do what you want with your own money. If you like one car, go buy it. I dont know people ask other people over the internet what car they should choose for them.

 

It's called an opinion and I wanted to hear some thoughts on it.
I'll ultimately choose the car I buy and I think it's fine for me to listen to some reasoning as to why or why not one car looks appealing to another, etc.

 

To coincide with your post Ern....actually, the E500 has a better engine than the S430. You would have to get an S500 to compare apples to apples (so your price spread is more than $7k). My family has a 00 S500 and I have driven the E500 three times already, the E500 is the more entertaining vehicle, which shouldn't be a suprise. The Sclass is for someone that wants/needs a ton of "space." At this point, the Sclass has nothing on the new E technology wise (E has the same or more). But, if someone is hung up on status and you think an Sclass is going to impress people more....be my guest and go get one (your going to be in for a big surprise).

 

Have you test drove....
-Jaguar S-type R
-A6 4.2 or 2.7 T 6 speed
-GS430

Those are all within the same price range and should fit your budget.

 

NEITHER.... I'd buy a BMW!

 

Jaguar: Honestly, flame me all you want, it's not worth the price tag. It has none of the nice ammenities as a simliarly (if not less)
priced E Series. It's terribly fast but like C&D said, and it's true, the car's computer really holds back the punch of the car.

The A6 was really nice I just did not like the options in the car at all.

The GS430 is also really nice I just don't like the look of it.

 

I'm sure this was covered in anither thread, but why not just go to another dealer and get the ///M3? I understand you have a bad experience with one BMW dealer, but why not try another?

If you really don't want a Bimmer any longer, then I'd go with either the CLK500 or E500...