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Mercedes-Benz S-Class
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Now, getting back to this scam, I came across this ad in the autotrader from this guy who was selling his fully loaded vehicle for $79K (got everything except night view). Got his contact info and spoke with him over the phone. I asked him for the specific details of the car, including any and all 0ptions of this vehicle. He emailed over 25 photos of this vehicle, including a photo that showed that the car was located in FL. However, this guy was calling from CA. So, I asked him for the VIN which you gave me. Did the carfax and the vehicle checked out. But, I still was a bit concerned so I asked him to send me a copy of his driver's license, car registration and title, so that I can verify the ownership. He said he would send it but I never saw it.
A few days later, I was checking out cars on ebay and found this identical vehicle, including all of the photos and VIN.
I realized then that I was talking to someone who tried to defraud me.
Now, he initially sounded like he was leery of internet transaction so he proposes to do the transaction via escrow.com. In fact, he said that he would register on escrow.com and then notify me to make the payment. I know that this guy probably has something on his sleeve. This guy is probably good enough to phish the escrow.com website and take the money that way.
For the difference of $1 to $2K, I wouldn't want to be penny wise and pound foolish.
For those in the know, any recent news on this elusive model please? I already searched the forums; no one seemed to know for sure. Someone somewhere did mention October as the possible introduction date. If not October, what is the possible release date, if at all? Thanks in advance.
M
Here's some of my thoughts.
First off, Lexus did a wonderful job and had enough cars that the lines to drive them weren't excessively long. The entire affair was handled with polish and class. Kudos to Lexus for an entertaining and informative afternoon.
Lexus LS 460 - Very much the "big brother" to our car. Nice but not drop dead "holy cow, I can't believe it" nice. Very fast, nicely balanced and pretty flat through s-curves. On the negative side, the throttle is still very non linear with small changes corresponding to either no change in power or massive "throw you back in the seat" acceleration; the brakes, too were very notchy and "grabby" with small moduations in pressure causing unpredictable and overly aggressive braking. All in all the drivetrain was a major dissappointment in it's lack of harmony and linkage. As this is clearly present in our cars (the ES) one begins to think that Lexus just can't get engines and tranny's to link together properly.
M-B S 550 - WOW!!! Both inside and out, this car radiates class and elegance. Literally everything about it pretty much screams "in this car you have reached the pinnacle of automotive sophistication and refinement." Everything looks like quality and radiates good taste. Awesome, simply awesome. The engine is incredibly torquey (sp?) and it feels like the ability to accelerate is limitless. Power delivery is entirely linear with the degree to which the accelerator is pressed and there is no hesitation whatsoever when you push the gas pedal. Power delivery is immediate with your right foot, the accelerator pedal and the drivetrain all feeling as if they are governed by one mind. Very impressive! The transmission is as smooth as fresh butter and you never feel any shift points at all. On the negative side, the car is heavy and the front end doesn't respond to rapid direction changes as nimbly as the Lexus. There is very little body lean, however and the car maintains a nice neutral posture thru s-curves. The steering is positively awful. The steering wheel is too big and feels like a Mack truck it's so heavily weighted. All this comes at a price (what doesn't?). $86k is what you'll need to bring one of these home.
BMW 750 - This is one seriously ugly car. And you know what? It gets even worse (if that's possible) when you get in. The interior looks cheap and as if it's ergonomics (I admittedly use the term loosely) were designed by a psychotic, retarded person. Buttons and knobs are strewn everywhere with little or no apparent planning. The button to adjust seat position is mindlessly placed on the side of the center stack by your right knee. Buttons are everywhere and you don't even want to get me started on the mind nubbingly dumb-assed "I-Drive" system. It's all a design and ergonomic nightmare. Chris Bangle should be shot for the exterior but whoever "designed" (again, I use the term loosely as this thing doesn't appear so much designed as thrown into some cosmic blender and put together based on whatever spilled out) the interior should be given to Saddam Hussein's kids (if they were still alive, but I guess you get my point). Now onto something a bit more pleasant. The car drives like a dream. As with the M-B, there is total harmony between the engine, transmission and accelerator pedal. Power delivery is immediate and the thing is a rocket ship. There is essentially no body lean and it handles like a slot car. Pretty impressive for a 4500 lb. vehicle. There is simply nothing bad to say about the driving dynamics of this champ. If you could get by it's "Ugly Betty" appearance and hideous interior, this is a killer car. And a steal at "only" $74k.
Lexus SC 430 - Ughhh! Who buys this thing? It looks like an upside down bathtub. It's proportions are all wrong and it's cramped inside. It's not terribly fast and it handles like a Cunard ocean liner. I simply don't know what to say. This baby is just a joke.
Lexus GS 450h - OK, I'm on record as saying that I despise the hatchback appearance of the GS and I stick to that. And the interior is cramped. I couldn't car less about any dimensions that Lexus publishes that say that this is as roomy (or roomier) than the ES...it's not! You feel confined and claustrophobic. It's interior is quite spartan, perhaps taking its lead from it's target demographic, the BMW 5 Series. It's instrumentation is very nice, however and thankfully there are just enough buttons and knobs to control everything that needs to be controlled on a regular basis. You say you want power? Well, let me tell you, have you come to the right place! If the BMW 750 is a rocket ship (and it is), this thing is an anti-missile missle. This thing is frighteningly fast. This must be what driving a Ferrari is like (well, maybe not quite, but close). In very unLexus-like fashion, power delivery is pretty much immediate and the car feels like it could take off with another millimeter or two of accelerator travel. The chassis is as flat as a carpenter's level and it handles s-curves with complete composure and confidence. This thing is like driving a go cart at a carnival. Except it's much bigger, has a roof and goes a whole lot faster. Oh, and it costs just a little more too ($62k). The brakes are a little notchy in reassuringly Lexus-like fashion (what's the problem here guys, you can get this right...you really need to work on this..."Relentless Pursuit of Perfection" huh?...well you have some work to do here) and you have to be very careful modulating them or they grab way too hard, a characteristic seen on just about every Lexus vehicle. If Lexus wants to know how to do brakes right, they should just copy whatever M-B is doing because, let me tell you, they have it dead solid perfect.
OK, end of rant, er, I meant review.
Flame away!
I loved it so much, wanted to upgrade and a month after buying it, I just traded it in for the S600 (That's the car to get.) Sticker, $143675'ish, and they took $500 off, not a good deal but at least I am done shopping and pining away for it. I got $92,500 on the trade in. The S600 is what I got the ext warranty on. Loan rate 5.99%
Two small complaints, the sticker on the inside of the flip of vanity mirror and the ones inside the gas cap door were stuck on crooked. Why can't they get the easy stuff right. I hope they got the complex stuff done. Why bluetooth is not standard, I have no idea.
For those deciding on options - Distronic Cruise is great & Back up Camera is handy too.
Will keep you updated as isssues arise.
Too bad, Mercedes used to have such a strong reputation. I hope they get it back with the new generation but I remain skeptical.
Also I love the free loaner car. Sales guy tells me to call him ahead of time so they get me a good renta and I do. You turn in a $140+ car for warranty work and they give you a C-Class. When will MBZ learn to treat it's customers better. At least I don't own the stock.
Will continue the postings as things occur. 650 miles....looking forward to 1,000 plus so I can begin to really drive it.
J
Is there something in particular you have heard, or have encountered personally?
M
M
I wonder if you have ever bought a house? I have invested a dozen times what we pay for a S Class, and had similar horror stories I could recount to you, about houses. For that matter about the market, and its periodic "adjustments".
Maybe if you look at in the proper perspective, you will laugh, just a little. If not, perhaps that tells you something as well....
Thanks,
Chintan Talati
Corporate Communications
Edmunds Inc.
They told me the engine squeak was from the pwr strng pump and that it was backordered. They eventually were able to replace the pump. Got my car back with a different squeak. They told me there was another squeak masked by the original squeak that I hear now. They told me the other squeak is coming from the AC compressor and that needs to be replaced (Backordered too). Once the AC compressor is in, they will let me know to schedule it’s replacement. To fix the seat issue and replace the PS pump took them two days. I did check and was relieved to at least see that they did replace the PS pump. I had an issue with the pump being on backorder and emailed MBZ basically saying how can these be on back order, as if you are not building any more S600’s or V12’s anymore and don’t have one available for me. I am told they expedited shipping one out and that’s why I didn’t have to wait that long. I will update about the AC compressor when that is worked on.
ALSO does anyone want to comment on how annoying the blinker sound is in the car. I might be picky but it just seems so unluxurios (if that's even a word). Also, why isn't the open and close functions on the sunroof all one touch? I believe, unless I am doing something wrong, I have to hold the thing down or forward all the way until it closes. Probably safety related. At least you can use the nav while you drive, unlike Lexus. Though lexus has all one touch operation on the sunroof.
The good news is, you can sell the S Class, and buy a Lexus, and still have money in your pocket. :P
So far I have driven my '07 S550 2000 miles with no problems at all. I love the car!
Wow, it's good to know that MB stepped up to the plate.
The priorities for me (in no particular order) are, reliability, good power, great sound system, quiet ride, AWD, roominess, and comfort. I'm 6'1" / 240 lbs, so I assumed a large sedan would be the best vehicle type to look into. Fuel economy would be nice, but its not a major concern...basically I'll have a 3 - 4 hours a day behind the wheel and I want to make it as pleasant as possible. I like a sharp looking car as much as the next guy, but its the inside that I'm more interested in.
This happened before. What gives? How can I fix this?
It's a bug they are still chasing. When it happens to me sometimes I am logged in, sometimes I'm not. (I use autologin and I assume you do also, otherwise bookmarking your "my tracked items" page would never work.)
If I am logged in, clicking on My Tracked Items on the left gets me to the right place. If I'm not logged in, clicking on the bookmark again gets me where I want to be.
This isn't a good place to talk about this, though. You can email me if you like, or you can post in the Forums Software discussion.
Hope this helps.