2017 Model Year Best and Worst Design

"66671 - 200 [METRIC] my dash" (66671) 08/20/2017 at 11:24 • Filed to: None

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Good:

MB C63 (S) AMG Convertible

Bad:

2017 Lexus NX200t

Runner up, these also look pretty good:

2017 Infiniti Q60

Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap > 66671 - 200 [METRIC] my dash 08/20/2017 at 11:28

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Oh but the seats in the C63 are just fantastic.

66671 - 200 [METRIC] my dash > Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap 08/20/2017 at 11:41

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I sat in the Q60 at the auto show and overall was pretty pleased, never sat in the C63 though.

The first few times I saw them I didn’t think they really looked like an AMG, but they’ve grown on me, and the convertible I think is even better. Can’t wait to see the C63 R. The AMG GT and GLE63 Coupe (hence the name lol) are cool too.

sony1492 > 66671 - 200 [METRIC] my dash 08/20/2017 at 11:44

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The Lexus aught to be replaced by a Civic R or Prius. To me it dosent seem that bad, maybe too flamboyant but still everything is tied together and thought out.

66671 - 200 [METRIC] my dash > sony1492 08/20/2017 at 11:51

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Yeah the Prius is pretty bad... I just saw one of these in real life though and had to voice my discomfort.

The predator grille and in particular the way it sticks out, imo, is ugly af.

sony1492 > 66671 - 200 [METRIC] my dash 08/20/2017 at 12:02

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Better than the RX which looks like they’ve been rebodying the same car since the second gen. I kinda like how the nx grille sticks out, to each his own though

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > 66671 - 200 [METRIC] my dash 08/20/2017 at 12:12

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Personally I don’t think the NX should be anywhere near the worst. Sure, some people may hit the design, but at least it is cohesive and well done. Some of these cars are just hideous over complicated melted faces that look like they were grafted onto random boring shapes.

Textured Soy Protein > 66671 - 200 [METRIC] my dash 08/20/2017 at 12:16

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The NX has a weird front look on the non-F Sport because in order to qualify as a “truck” and thus easier fuel economy standards, the bottom of the front bumper needs to be a certain distance above the ground. Outside the US the non-F Sport is less weird looking.

US:

Non-US:

F Sport:

They’re all weird looking, but the other versions at least don’t have the oddly upturned bottom angle of the front bumper.

fintail > 66671 - 200 [METRIC] my dash 08/20/2017 at 12:53

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I’ve never wanted a soft top in the damp climate here, but when the C63 cabrio depreciates to my level (I have seen several on the road, so they will be out there), who knows.

hike > 66671 - 200 [METRIC] my dash 08/20/2017 at 14:25

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The Q60 is the car I see on the road and think how good it looks. It’s incredible how much better it looks than the sedan

66671 - 200 [METRIC] my dash > Textured Soy Protein 08/20/2017 at 15:08

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2018 version gets rid of it, I think.

66671 - 200 [METRIC] my dash > fintail 08/20/2017 at 15:10

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Yeah I would prefer a hard top, but it just looks so good with it down...

Audistein > fintail 08/20/2017 at 15:19

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My Merc dealer has a C63 S convertible priced a $101,000 MSRP. So unfortunately it has a long way to fall before it makes sense to buy.

Also if you want a hard top convertible, BMW 440i and M4 are also stupid fast, though not quite as good looking or as luxurious as the Merc. They’re close though! I drove a 440i conv. the a couple weeks ago and it was a beast; it’s absurdly fast and the exhaust pops and crackles on the overrun.

fintail > Audistein 08/20/2017 at 15:43

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I bet when the 3 year lease is up, it will cost half that, and continue to sink like a stone. Check what a 12 E63 is worth now.

Not so much into the BMWs for some reason, and I like cars with turn signals as standard :)

fintail > 66671 - 200 [METRIC] my dash 08/20/2017 at 15:45

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Soft tops definitely allow better proportions.

66671 - 200 [METRIC] my dash > Audistein 08/20/2017 at 15:57

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Yeah paying for the performance brands will really cost you it seems, and you’ll get way better value when you take one step down the performance ladder.

I mean I’d have to drive both to really determine value (I’ll dream), but I’m guessing.

66671 - 200 [METRIC] my dash > fintail 08/20/2017 at 15:59

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Tbh neither are ideal compared to the shape of a coupe, and I think the convertible looks better with the top down than the coupe, so I’ll take whatever I can get.

66671 - 200 [METRIC] my dash > fintail 08/20/2017 at 16:00

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I’m also really curious as to what their longevity is like (especially electronically), but I’m not too optimistic...

Audistein > fintail 08/20/2017 at 16:25

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Well let’s not forget that a 2012 E63 is a 6 year old car.

But yeah, the depreciation on expensive Mercs is still insane. $50k would still be a lot for a 5-6 year old C-Class though.

Audistein > 66671 - 200 [METRIC] my dash 08/20/2017 at 16:29

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Yeah, it really feels like there is a massive step up in cost for depreciation and maintenance (and pretty much every associated cost) to go to the AMG or M cars.

It’s sort of scared me away from them so far.

66671 - 200 [METRIC] my dash > Audistein 08/20/2017 at 16:39

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I guess maybe leasing one wouldn’t be such a bad idea? At least not being stuck with it long term would help.

Audistein > 66671 - 200 [METRIC] my dash 08/20/2017 at 17:55

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In my experience the best thing to do with these cars is to buy them 1 to 3 years old Certified Pre Owned and trade them in or sell them when the warranty runs out. This usually ends up being way cheaper than leasing because you avoid the fastest/largest depreciation. Either paying cash in full or getting a loan with an APR less than 2-3% to alleviate opportunity cost limits costs. (The loan means not sinking so much investable capital into a depreciating asset, especially now when borrowing is so cheap with a good credit score. That money can go into index-tracking funds or blue-chip stocks instead.)

It’s what I did with my Mercedes now and my Audi before that. Got the Merc 18 months old with 17k miles CPO for exactly 60% of MSRP. It’s in perfect condition; the sill plates and accessories were still wrapped in factory plastic. Unfortunately Merc’s CPO warranty is only one year while other brands do two, but I don’t plan on keeping this car more than the remaining 3.5 years anyway. By the time I sell it, the cost will be less than 2/3 of leasing the same car new. This is especially due to the obscene cost of the options on my car; options increase lease payments a lot but don’t help much with depreciation.

There are manufacturer extended warranties to extend it even past CPO coverage but in my experience they’re usually absurdly expensive. Sometimes it’s worth it though so you could keep the car even longer but I just upgrade to a newer model or change brands.

66671 - 200 [METRIC] my dash > Audistein 08/20/2017 at 18:54

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Makes a lot of sense to me, 60% of MSRP not even 2 years in is pretty crazy depreciation...

fintail > Audistein 08/20/2017 at 19:06

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Yep, and this will be in the same place when it is 5 or 6. Find one that has been cared for, and it could be fun.

fintail > 66671 - 200 [METRIC] my dash 08/20/2017 at 19:08

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I think a lot of these cars today are given a ~20 year service life, maybe a little more if cared for, less of neglected. Where in the old days, the service life of a MB was determined on how much you wanted to maintain it - keep up with it perfectly, and it would last forever.