So I have a service appointment scheduled for the Merc tomorrow...

"WilliamsSW" (williamssw) 05/13/2019 at 14:56 • Filed to: How about NO

1

40

And the dealer called me today, noting that I have a service appointment scheduled so how about just trading it in instead, because they really want to buy it and will give me top dollar. Lolnope.

On the other hand, I have a loaner reserved, so maybe I should tell them I’m interested in an E63 so they should totally give me one of those as a loaner. For science reasons.

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > WilliamsSW 05/13/2019 at 15:10

4

I feel weary about trusting a car to a place that badly wants me to just buy something.

“H eyyyyyy sooooooo engine blew up during the tire rotation. Crazy! Anyway, with your insurance buyout, that’d be a nice downpayment for this beeee-YOOOOO-tiful FWD A220!

Arrivederci > WilliamsSW 05/13/2019 at 15:16

1

If they want to buy it, print out the full retail pricing from the highest of KBB, Edmunds or NADA and say you’ll take that offer in cash, today.

Manwich - now Keto-Friendly > WilliamsSW 05/13/2019 at 15:19

1

They’ll give you Top Dollar? Well I say that you should tell them that Top Dollar for your car in your opinion is US $200,000.

Or you’re willing to sell them your used car for a new E63 as a straight trade.

WilliamsSW > Arrivederci 05/13/2019 at 15:20

0

I’d be tempted, but I’ve only had the car a year, and I’m still making payments on it. So I’m not interested unless they can give me an E wagon straight up in trade tbh.

If I had more time and patience it would be hilarious to have them work up a trade in value and then say “ yeah I’ll take it. And I don’t accept checks, just cash"

WilliamsSW > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 05/13/2019 at 15:22

0

This doesn’t make me feel comfortable either. But the car is under warranty, so it’s their problem if they do something stupid.

WilliamsSW > Manwich - now Keto-Friendly 05/13/2019 at 15:23

2

I’ll start at 200k and let them haggle me down to a new E63 I think. 

Tripper > WilliamsSW 05/13/2019 at 15:28

1

I feel like premium dealers always throw out the “you might need tires soon, so you should probably just buy a new car” offer out there...

I had a similar experience at Audi, got an S6 as a loaner :)

WilliamsSW > Tripper 05/13/2019 at 15:36

0

I feel like there are enough goofballs around me with the kind of money that will actually agree with the suggestion because they don’t care . That’s the problem.

I presume there’s a 90% chance that I get a C300 loaner, which is fine with me, but moar power is always more fun of course. 

vondon302 > WilliamsSW 05/13/2019 at 15:37

1

Well why your here ....

Yeah I'd be on hi alert for the appointment lol.

WilliamsSW > vondon302 05/13/2019 at 15:40

1

  Yeah why waste a few h undred when you can waste $ 60k??

The message was implying that my 2014 car is just soooooooo ooooooold...

BrianGriffin thinks “reliable” is just a state of mind > Tripper 05/13/2019 at 15:45

2

That’s literally how my mom bought cars for the first 3 0+ years of her car purchasing life. It needs tires? Brakes? Thank u, next. 

Tripper > WilliamsSW 05/13/2019 at 15:53

2

“I feel like there are enough goofballs around me with the kind of money that will actually agree with the suggestion because they don’t care.”

This is at least 80% of premium brand clientele.

Also, once they’ve got you in the car it’s easy for an impulse decision to be made. When I had the S6 loaner, they called mid day to see how I was liking it. Then offered a trade for my car and what was a very manageable payment for the S6. Saying you can just hang onto the car and come by and sign the paperwork when you have a few minutes...

I didn’t want an S6, but boy if I didn’t spend the rest of that day thinking, “hmmm... for less than a couple hundred dollars a month I could be big pimpin’ in a brand new S6!”

I knew it wasn’t my style and I didn’t want a payment. However, if I was paying $500/month and the S6 was $600/month...There’s a good chance I might have sprung for that if you caught me on a really giddy day .

WilliamsSW > Tripper 05/13/2019 at 16:04

1

I think Mercedes/ BMW etc customers are split into 2 camps, if you oversimplify a bit.

There are those that lease the lower end models because they want the badge. Those people would probably love to trade up, but really can’t afford it.

Then there are those that buy/ lease the higher trims. Those are the people that will flip over because they’re bored, or tired of the color, or whatever.

When new, my car fit more into that latter category. But they apparently didn’t pick up on the fact that I bought it only a year ago for a fraction of   the original MSRP . I’m not a player that can swing a 75k impulse buy. That’s not really my personality, either.

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > WilliamsSW 05/13/2019 at 16:06

1

I suspect it's sales department crap, looking through the service schedule, and didn't actually have anything to do with the people in service you'll be dealing with. Sales and service are basically two different species and they do not get along.

WilliamsSW > AMGtech - now with more recalls! 05/13/2019 at 16:11

1

It’s been a million years, but I worked in parts at a dealer.

We got along okay with service, though we did fight a lot.

But we were u nited in our hatred of Sales. The only group lower than New Car Sales was Used Car Sales. 

fintail > WilliamsSW 05/13/2019 at 16:31

2

I have a lot of love for the W212, having leased 3 of them and had a few more as rentals at various times. However, I will say the electronics in the W213 does make the 212 feel like something from 2009 (which it is).

You got the right one, as I call it, the last of the V8 interceptors.

WilliamsSW > fintail 05/13/2019 at 16:42

1

I love the 213, but I expect it will be a long time before I look to replace this car.

It’s a unique beast - and was never really replaced in the Mercedes lineup after it was discontinued. I suppose the current E450 and E53 sort of bracket the E 550, but neither one is a direct comp.

It’s wild to me that this car is so damn quick, yet has zero sporting pretense and looks identical to the E350, other than 1 little number on the trunk lid.

It’s like they   weren’t even really trying to sell it in the US , honestly.

fintail > WilliamsSW 05/13/2019 at 16:57

1

It’s the last V8 non-AMG E-class. It will be the last, there will never be another. I’ve read that car can be tuned to E63 performance with little hassle, too.

I wonder if it could have been ordered in “luxury” trim (grille and hood star), that would be the real sleeper.

WilliamsSW > fintail 05/13/2019 at 17:08

1

I’ve seen ads for ECU tunes from reputable tuners that claim up to 575   HP and 700 ft lb at the crank. So yeah, it can easily hit AMG numbers.

Even the tuners will tell you that the engine is more like 435 HP ( not 402) bone stock.

What would hold me back from doing that ( besides the warranty) is concern over the 7gtronic and 4matic systems. The trans needs some internal work to handle it, not sure about the AWD.

For at least 2013-14, the sport package was standard - and I think that change was made when they switched to the M278. The older W212 E550 with the NA V8 could be had with the luxury package I believe. Pretty sure I’ve seen one. 

fintail > WilliamsSW 05/13/2019 at 21:08

1

There’s a lot of potential there. I think some prior V8 E were also underrated in terms of hp. My old W210 E55 felt a lot faster than the claimed 349hp (which seams meager these days, but was a big thing 20 years ago). Good call on the transmission. Old AMGs had the transmission from V12 cars - cars like yours have the same unit no matter the engine, I think.

I think I have seen pre-facelift E550 in luxury trim, too. Too bad - I prefer the look with a grille and hood star - but even for plain facelift 6cyl or diesel 212s, I suspect they are under 10% of sales.

WilliamsSW > fintail 05/13/2019 at 23:27

1

Yeah, the AMG cars from that era had a beefed up trans.

I like the idea of a hood ornament, but otherwise I do like the sport package look better, personally.

How’s the S213 so far?

Chariotoflove > WilliamsSW 05/13/2019 at 23:31

2

I tried the same thing to get a Stinger loaner.  Nope.  Best I could swing was a S0ul.

WilliamsSW > Chariotoflove 05/13/2019 at 23:45

1

Yeah, I’ll take whatever they give me really. Hoping it’s not that little FWD sedan, but even if it is, I’ll live. 

Chariotoflove > WilliamsSW 05/13/2019 at 23:46

1

Haha.  That “little FWD sedan” is still a pretty nice ride by the standards of most of the unwashed masses.

fintail > WilliamsSW 05/14/2019 at 00:01

1

I am a MB traditionalist, I like a formal grille and ornament. The wagon being a relatively uncommon lux trim car was a huge selling point, I probably wouldn’t have been interested without it. The lux cars also have a somewhat plusher suspension, which I like, as the runflats make things more than rough enough for me.

S213 is brilliant so far, smooth and refined with huge build and material quality. One can see where the money goes with this car. I’ve also hit 30 mpg in calm highway cruising, which is respectable for such power and weight.

WilliamsSW > Chariotoflove 05/14/2019 at 10:10

1

It is a CLA250! And it’s not bad, though I don’t think it’s worth what Mercedes wants to charge for it.

Mine is black, has some nice wheels and a panoramic sunroof.

But also grabby brakes, and pretty unresponsive unless you put it in Sport mode.

WilliamsSW > fintail 05/14/2019 at 10:19

1

I didn’t realize that Mercedes has gone to run flats. My car doesn’t have them, and I’m quite glad. I’d swap then when they wear out if I was in your shoes.

If you’re a Mercedes traditionalist, you’ll LOVE the service loaner I’m driving today.

CLA250. It’s about what I expected. Not sure why anyone would pay the prices they ask for these ( Ok badge snobs).

Chariotoflove > WilliamsSW 05/14/2019 at 11:13

1

I think the CLA was probably a bad idea in the same way the X-type was. I understand wanting a piece of the downmarket pie, but building a car to a price point never seems to work for a luxury marque. 

fintail > WilliamsSW 05/14/2019 at 11:26

1

Both of my diesel 212s had runflats, and so does the 213.  I know they’ve been a thing on BMWs too.   If I keep this car, I’ll do that.

With the new (more refined and modern looking) A out in high volumes, I suspect the CLA will be a loaner staple or a cheap lease g iveaway model.   There’s huge overlap in the sub-C space now.

WilliamsSW > fintail 05/14/2019 at 22:48

1

Hmm, that’s odd - my car doesn’t have run flats.

Agree on the CLA - the car had its good points, but I didn’t like it.

However, jumping back into my car after picking it up at the dealer I realized that I’m really spoiled by that thing.  

WilliamsSW > Chariotoflove 05/14/2019 at 22:50

1

Yeah, it really doesn’t work.  I can’t think of an example where a luxury brand pulled that off.  I’m sure someone has, but I’ve got nothing.

fintail > WilliamsSW 05/14/2019 at 23:01

1

I think for 212s, diesels had them because of the adblue tank. But the wagon has them too, so maybe they’ve moved on to more like BMW.

You effectively have a 4:5 E63 for 2:5 the price, you have something unusual indeed, and a one year only model in the facelift.

Interesting to me, the woman who parks beside me in my building’s garage has a relatively basic CLA (4Matic but no sunroof etc). She actually bought it, and she loves it.  I’d be claustrophobic in one of those.

Is your car diamond white, or silver?

WilliamsSW > fintail 05/14/2019 at 23:15

1

The CLA was a weird mix of good and bad. Interior materials were decent for the price, and the seats were very comfy. Steering felt reasonably good for the class, too.

I think the engine was fine, but the transmission was balky at low speeds, and the auto stop/start was awful - it is impossible to pull away from a stop without jerking the car around, between the transmission and the start/stop.

Plus, I didn’t like the feel of the brake pedal - grabby, and the car would jerk when it downshifted as you slowed.

On the other hand, the car behaved quite nicely between 45 and 85 mph, and in sport mode (comfort mode is unusable) , it seemed to be in the right gear accelerating out of corners.

My car is Iridium Silver. I didn’t mention it, but the picture in this post is *not* my car. I thought it was a silver car, but I think the photo on top actually is of a Diamond White car. Here’s mine on the left, with a lovely Lunar Blue E450 wagon for the low, low price of $77k:

fintail > WilliamsSW 05/14/2019 at 23:59

1

I’ve never driven one, but I’ve driven a couple 4cyl Cs. I am not a huge fan of CLA styling, that alone would do it for me. Funny thing, I usually had the Bluetec in “E” and also the wagon so far - I like the shift points, which in that laid back mode, are virtually imperceptible. And as I am in traffic a lot anyway, there’s nothing gained with a more aggressive mode. I want something quiet and mellow for the commute.

77K on an E450 wagon is a midrange car. I’ve seen them in the low 70s, but also closer to 90. I have yet to see another lux trim car (like mine) actually on the road.

I thought the pictured car looked Diamond White.  My 2nd W212 was an Iridium Silver car, 2014 as well, it was a super good lease deal :

WilliamsSW > fintail 05/15/2019 at 16:05

0

Visibility to the rear quarter isn’t grea t in the CLA, and I don’t like the proportions .

I’ve driven a W213 E300 and liked it a lot, but the power was just lacking. But the engine and trans seemed to be in harmony at least - that’s not quite true for the CLA.

I leave the 550 in E most of the time, too. Really it has so much torque at low RPM, gear selection becomes largely irrelevant. It’s a real eye opener in S though (!)

That 77k wagon was nicely optioned, but far from loaded. It still had MB-TEX . It would be easy to add leather, distronic plus and a few more items to get to 90k, I’m sure.

Nice looking W212 you had earlier - mine has black leather, whi ch is nice with kids!

I see a lux S212 on occasion, but have only seen a couple of S213s, period.  

fintail > WilliamsSW 05/15/2019 at 22:08

1

Yeah, it’s hard to make a small sedan look right. E is the “right size” and always has been, it just fits.

I have yet to drive my car in sport or sport+ . I did test drive a demo E43 and had it in sport+, which has the flamboyant exhaust crackle. Fun for a bit, but I probably wouldn’t do it all the time. I’ll have to try it out in the wagon.

My car also has Tex, but I have Distronic and other things which are more important to me. Leather is nice, but I would rather have some gadgets. A Designo E450 wagon can hit 90K.

I don’t think I have seen a lux S212 on the road here, nor a lux S213. I have seen several sport S213s and even some E63. Canada gets an E53 wagon, which might be ideal, as I like I6 - but no lux AMG . Lux W212/213 are rare enough. That iridium W212 of mine was moderately optioned, but that very light interior was striking, and definitely not for kids.

WilliamsSW > fintail 05/18/2019 at 21:38

1

Here is one for you that I just saw. Pre facelift Lux in a color that seems pretty rare to me. And it’s an E550.

I think someone near me has a Lux S212, I probably keep seeing the same one.

The E53 is intriguing to me - IIRC it’s a hybrid also?  

fintail > WilliamsSW 05/18/2019 at 23:53

1

By those wheels, I will guess a 10-11 model. Back in the day, a similar color was called “Desert Silver”, but I don’t know about the more recent name. Someone at work has a loaded pre-facelift S212, I think it might even have Distronic, but it is a sport. Still, a rare bird.  I can’t recall seeing a lux S212 on the road here, and I have yet to see a lux S213 aside from mine.  Of course, E wagons of all generations are relatively uncommon.

Yep, E53 is a mild hybrid with an I6.  I wish the powertrain existed in non-AMG trim.

WilliamsSW > fintail 05/19/2019 at 11:35

1

Yes, I presume that car has the NA 5.5 liter V8, and not the smaller TTV8 in my car.

W212s are very common around here ( as are 211s for that matter, but the 213s outnumber them all ), so I do see Lux W212s, but even so, the wagons are rare.

I need to drive some of the higher performance W213s - it’s probably a good thing I didn’t do that when shopping last year...

fintail > WilliamsSW 05/19/2019 at 14:13

0

Not a bad engine per se, but maybe outdone by newer tech. My E450 is faster on paper anyway than my old E55 - and it is a bit heavier, too.

I see quite a few 213s now (I often peek in to see if it has widescreen gauges), but 212s are still the thing. Early ones have fallen below 10K now, which just opens up a broader customer base.

I’ve only driven the E43, which was cool, but maybe not for me - the demo I drove wasn’t optioned as much as I want, and I fear it might be too rough on roads here - much worse there, of course.