Edmunds Members - Cars and Conversations (Archived)

driver100

abacomike said:

driver100 said:

abacomike said:

See, sometimes I even surprise myself. I had tried to post it directly from my iPhone 6, but it came out too big. So I decided to download the file right to my computer and then try to post the picture. I must be becoming a bit more tech savvy than I thought!

Way to go Mike! If you can operate a smart phone you can surely post a picture. What do I think of a Tangerine Orange Bimmer...........U-G-L-Y!

I took the E400 for the recalls. One was for the brackets, one for a upgraded program for the GPS...may not affect you in the USA.

They have so many people in this dealership, and it is like a palace. Scares me to think how much it must cost to run, and more importantly, where that money comes from. I sat down to read my newspaper and a friendly young lady asks me if I would like a coffee. I say sure, 2 milks. She brings it to me in a china cup.

Next to the large screen TV in the waiting area there is a screen that gives your first name, last initial, type of car you brought in, and the status of your car while you are sitting waiting.

My wife came in to try a C300 and a CLA. Our sales guy was off so she just sat in them. She found that because the roof is kind of squished down to give it a low affect, the viewing area out of the windows...especially the front window is narrow. I noticed a used 2014 C Class and it has a higher roof line....windows are larger...higher. She sat in that and she liked the 2014. What are the chances she will find a brand new 2014?

She likes driving the Audi A4, but she has lost confidence in it since they blamed her for the clutch problem!

I am surprised she didn't like the C300 or the C400. None of them are available in a standard transmission, anyway.

I would suggest that she actually test drive the C400 and adjust her seating and mirrors correctly. The blind spot monitors and lane tracking are a must in those cars. And with the cameras on the 2015, her visibility would be outstanding.

.

I agree, I told her she will have to test drive a C because you do get used to the narrow glass area. But, if she finds the 2014 is more to her liking she won't care about the economics of buying the 2014. She found one with 9000 miles on it about 50 miles away. The 2015 is a much better car....but, none of that matters to her. She does the same with a house...it has to be the way she wants it...doesn't matter about resale value. But, it works for her and she knows what she wants and will find a way to get it.....after all, she got me

driver100

robr2 said:

They have so many people in this dealership, and it is like a palace. Scares me to think how much it must cost to run, and more importantly, where that money comes from. I sat down to read my newspaper and a friendly young lady asks me if I would like a coffee. I say sure, 2 milks. She brings it to me in a china cup.

Next to the large screen TV in the waiting area there is a screen that gives your first name, last initial, type of car you brought in, and the status of your car while you are sitting waiting.

driver - you're a smart guy. The money comes from their customer and that would be YOU!! There's no magic fairy that comes in and makes it all possible.

They gave me the top value for my trade in and they took off 4% from the new one....so, they couldn't be much fairer. Although this dealership costs big $$$$s to run, they must find it brings in the customers, and that could offset the cost too. They sure are busy.....and you are treated like a king (or queen I suppose, depending).

driver100

ab348 said:

I need the group to cheer me up. Just did my income taxes. Govts of Canada and Nova Scotia get a total of nearly $56,000 from me, by far the most I ever paid and likely the most I will ever pay in the future. I know that tells me I had a very good year but still and all it stinks.

I'll try to cheer you up ab.

If you are paying it you must have earned it...plus a bit more. Be thankful you have to pay so much, if you paid less you would have made less.

*From the Driver100 rules of economics and financing

abacomike

Driver, they made a profit on both your cars - probably 4-5 percent of MSRP Canadian and several thousand on your trade.  So they did fine on your deal - but so did you because you got what you wanted for your trade and got 4% off MSRP on a car that was a brand new model.

If my dealership didn't make money on my deals, they wouldn't sell me cars for what I buy them for.

But my dealership is not a Taj Mahal like your's.  I get lattes and cappuccinos, but in styrofoam cups.  I can get brownies and fresh baked cookies, but I can't have any sugar - so my Dad takes advantage of those perks.  The free car washes are very costly to them, but that's all they provide above and beyond their excellent service.

They have no spas, no massages, no china cups or mugs, etc.  the Lexus dealer I bought my GS350 from is one like your dealership - manicures, massages, bagels and cream cheese, Danish, donuts, car washes, etc.

I'm glad my Mercedes dealership is not a Taj Mahal - I'd be paying much more for my cars, that's for sure.

Mr_Shiftright

Well everybody still pays sales tax, gasoline tax, license fees, property taxes (for some), and tax on social security income (for some) etc. And Tesla --let's keep ourselves on topic --will end up all in all getting a cool $1.2 billion over 20 years from the state of Nevada. Government largesse goes in many directions and taxes are levied in a variety of ways. But if your point was that the American middle class is getting squeezed to a pain point, I totally agree with you.

abacomike said:

ab348 said:

I need the group to cheer me up. Just did my income taxes. Govts of Canada and Nova Scotia get a total of nearly $56,000 from me, by far the most I ever paid and likely the most I will ever pay in the future. I know that tells me I had a very good year but still and all it stinks.

We all have to pay our fair share. I just think my "fair" share is a bit more than it should be. When you think that over 50% of the people who live in the United States pay absolutely nothing in taxes, and that close to 50% of the people receive some form of government assistance in the form of food stamps, dependent tax credits, public assistance/aid, one has to wonder what's going on here.

imidazol97

abacomike said:

When you think that over 50% of the people who live in the United States pay absolutely nothing in taxes, and that close to 50% of the people receive some form of government assistance in the form of food stamps, dependent tax credits, public assistance/aid, one has to wonder what's going on here.

Romney was right. LOL

imidazol97

With all the talk about which car is better than another car here, often because of personal
preference items more than real palpable differences, here's the result of the iPhone vs Android
phone debate, which has also been inferred here:
http://www.thesmokinggun.com/documents/stupid/smartphone-debate-ends-with-stabbings-908541

Nobody here is going to be stabbed, I hope.

The gas tax increase has been introduced into the Congress by a combination of R's and D's.
They are calling it a use tax. They don't address quitting all the non-roadway and non-bridge
expenditures for walkways, urban railroads, swamp trails, etc.. I wrote to my congressman
to let him know how I feel about any increase, especially without stopping the 20% waste on
nonhighway spending and without a way to tax those whose cars use too little fuel such as
EVs and high mileage hybrids. Recouping the lost tax from the low gasoline use vehicles would
also help with road building and bridge buildiing money.

imidazol97

Andoid phones:

I note that I connect to WiFi in various locations but my phone doesn't actually
get logged onto the system. There is often a sign-in page that has to come up
and a check off absolving them of any responsibility for my misuse of their
airwaves.

I can even start Chrome but the log-in page at Lowes didn't come up on first
and second try. Am I missing a step? Android 4.4, KitKat. LG Ultimate 2 phone.

cdnpinhead

. . .over 50% of the people who live in the United States pay absolutely nothing in taxes, and that close to 50% of the people receive some form of government assistance in the form of food stamps, dependent tax credits, public assistance/aid, one has to wonder what's going on here.

Well, no, one doesn't. Santa Claus wins elections.

A poster I have up in my cube says: "Teach a man to fish and he'll eat for life. Give him someone else's fish and he'll vote for you."

Clearly, the issue here is the personal pronoun "he."

Or, perhaps not.

suydam

I'm thankful that I earn enough to pay taxes and don't have to try to survive on public assistance.

abacomike

imidazol97 said:

Andoid phones: I note that I connect to WiFi in various locations but my phone doesn't actually get logged onto the system. There is often a sign-in page that has to come up and a check off absolving them of any responsibility for my misuse of their airwaves. I can even start Chrome but the log-in page at Lowes didn't come up on first and second try. Am I missing a step? Android 4.4, KitKat. LG Ultimate 2 phone.

Imid, once you have logged on to a WiFi source, your phone keeps the log-in info or  password and uses it when you are in proximity of the WiFi source again and logs you on automatically.  It happens every time I am at my barbershop.  When I am at my dealership, I have to manually agree to the stipulations of use before I get logged in.  At the casino, there is no log in necessary - it logs me on automatically.

It all depends on how the WiFi is set up.

driver100

Mike, I would feel more comfortable if my MB dealership wasn't a Taj Mahal....I keep wondering what they are going to try to clip me for. Though I got a great jacket for $120.

My wife has found a 2013 C350 completely loaded, it has 9000 miles and they want $39900 Cdn, or about $36K U.S. Here's the link:
2013 Mercedes C350

We may go to look at...it does come with 7 year 160K power train warranty, but not sure if that covers electronics etc.


From 0.0%*OAC+3 PAY WAIVER (up to $1500 value)+EXTENDED LIMITED (7yr/160k - $2950 value)WARRANTY**LOADED....PREMIUM+DRIVING ASSIST Pkgs**Accident-Free, Local trade... Featuring the all-new 302hp Direct Injection 3.5L V6 with ECO Start/Stop system to maximize performance and fuel economy PLUS - PREMIUM Pkg. w/ Parktronic with park assist, Power Glass Sunroof, Rear View Camera, Media Interface Kit which includes iPod and USB connections for all your music and album covers to be displayed in full-colour on the COMAND unit?s high definition display, the intelligent & intuitive LINGUATRONIC Voice Activated HDD COMAND NAVIGATION...SPORT Pkg. w/ Unique Body Styling, 18'' Sport Alloys, Mercedes-Benz Brakes with Cross-Drilled Front Rotors, Sport Suspension, flat-bottom 3-Spoke Sport Steering Wheel...DRIVING ASSISTANCE Pkg - Blind Spot and Lane Keep Assist (it's like having your own personal force field)...PLUS Bluetooth Phone and Audio, Active BiXenon Headlight System w/ Adaptive Highbeam Assist (will peer around corners and automatically lower your high beams for oncoming traffic) and Heated Washer System, LED Lighting, leather steering wheel/shift knob, rain sensor wipers and so much more, Contact Performance Mercedes-Benz to arrange a day and time with one of our Sales Professionals at our state-of-the-art facility in the beautiful Niagara Wine Region where we will present this vehicle and offer information on lease and finance options. Free Delivery in Southern Ontario. Rates, Pricing and Promotions subject to change. *See dealer for details. Till April 30th, 2014 and for 36 month term only. Premium Package , Driving Assistance Package

explorerx4

Driver, Personally, it seems way overpriced. 160k powertrain warranty is 100k miles this side of the border. The financing looks like it could work.

abacomike

Driver, it is overpriced.  That C350 should cost no more than $$28,000 American, and only if it has a certified bumper to bumper "Mercedes-Benz" warranty for up to 100,000 total miles.  You need to convert my figures to Canadian dollars.

I have a feeling it is not a fully certified Mercedes-Benz pre-owned vehicle.

Driver, why not "insist' she drive a 2015 E400 before considering anything else?  Just drive the car and then compare it to a 2014.

Buying a used car is not your style and you'll be very sorry you did in a year or so - believe me about this one!!!

Mr_Shiftright

Hahaha. That's a rephrase of a quote for the illustrious (infamous?) LBJ -- "Ain't nobody shoots Santa Claus".

I dunno....you look at shopping malls filled with people, theaters, cruise ships, restaurants, car showrooms...life is still ok for most americans. When I see thousands of people trading in their Bimmers for used Kia Rios, I'll start to bite my nails.

cdnpinhead said:

. . .over 50% of the people who live in the United States pay absolutely nothing in taxes, and that close to 50% of the people receive some form of government assistance in the form of food stamps, dependent tax credits, public assistance/aid, one has to wonder what's going on here.

Well, no, one doesn't. Santa Claus wins elections.

A poster I have up in my cube says: "Teach a man to fish and he'll eat for life. Give him someone else's fish and he'll vote for you."

Clearly, the issue here is the personal pronoun "he."

Or, perhaps not.

28firefighter

Yuengling is without a doubt my favorite go-to beer. Aside from Wawa and reasonable cost of living, it is what I miss most about living in PA. 

The closest thing I have to a favorite go-to out here is a microbrew called Manny's. 

abacomike

28firefighter said:

Yuengling is without a doubt my favorite go-to beer. Aside from Wawa and reasonable cost of living, it is what I miss most about living in PA. 

The closest thing I have to a favorite go-to out here is a microbrew called Manny's. 

I guess when they opened the Tampa Brewery, it opened up a new market for Yuengling.  As I said, I became addicted to their beer when I lived in northeastern PA in 1999-2000.  I hadn't seen the brand until I was at our local casino a year or so ago.  I asked the bartender which beer he would recommend.  He named of several beer, but when he said "Yuengling", my eyes lit up as if I was in Disneyworld.

The beer is available everywhere down here in South Florida.  What a gift!  I drink beer once a month or less, but when I do, it's always Yuengling.

roadburner

cdnpinhead said:

. . .over 50% of the people who live in the United States pay absolutely nothing in taxes, and that close to 50% of the people receive some form of government assistance in the form of food stamps, dependent tax credits, public assistance/aid, one has to wonder what's going on here.

Well, no, one doesn't. Santa Claus wins elections.

A poster I have up in my cube says: "Teach a man to fish and he'll eat for life. Give him someone else's fish and he'll vote for you."

Clearly, the issue here is the personal pronoun "he."

Or, perhaps not.

Yep. And expecting someone to accept the negative consequences of their moronic decisions is "heartless and cruel."

abacomike

Well, we had our first round of thunder showers this evening and the extended forecast shows more of the same.  Summer has come early to south Florida with highs in the lower 90's for Sunday.  The thunder showers become a daily occurrence as we get closer to rainy season - which sounds like it has started a bit early for us.

ab348

I feel for you, Mike.

Meanwhile, I still have a foot of snow in my backyard.

Michaell

ab348 said:

I feel for you, Mike. Meanwhile, I still have a foot of snow in my backyard.

I had the "best" of both worlds in the last 24 hours. Woke up to 9" of wet snow this morning. Shoveled a path for the dogs in the back yard and cleared the driveway out front. 

Clear skies this afternoon but we had rain that turned to sleet that turned to hail that turned to snow this evening. Oh, plus thunder and lightning as well. 

Gotta love spring in the Rockies!

driver100

abacomike said:

Driver, it is overpriced.  That C350 should cost no more than $$28,000 American, and only if it has a certified bumper to bumper "Mercedes-Benz" warranty for up to 100,000 total miles.  You need to convert my figures to Canadian dollars.

I have a feeling it is not a fully certified Mercedes-Benz pre-owned vehicle.

Driver, why not "insist' she drive a 2015 E400 before considering anything else?  Just drive the car and then compare it to a 2014.

Buying a used car is not your style and you'll be very sorry you did in a year or so - believe me about this one!!!

Explorer, Mike, I agree, it is a very high price.....$39k Cdn is about $31 to $32K U.S. Our dollar sunk with the price of oil. I don't think it is an option, we would pay a lot to trade in the A4 which was $45k new, and end up paying $10k or so to move up to a car that is one year newer - but still used.

As pointed out, that warranty could be a private company warranty. Drive train is also a concern, that part doesn't usually breakdown, the problems are the electronics, computers etc...lots can still go wrong.

An E400 is not an option as it is too big...she likes being a passenger in the E400 but she doesn't like driving a large car. She likes the instrument panel (dashboard to older readers) to be very low, and to have a large window area. Most cars these days have narrow windows because of low rooflines, and then the instrument panel is higher than the bottom of the windshield. I found that was true when I got my bmw 535, but, you do get used to it. Probably an X1 or GLK would be higher, but I think she would find it to be too big...though it is an illusion.

I am not sure what the options are, but getting a 2014 used C Class isn't a very good option. My MB salesman is trying to find out if there is a 2014 new C300 hiding somewhere.

abacomike

Now that I figured out how to post pictures, I thought it would be appropriate to post a few pictures of my new car.



I hope they come out OK and hope you like them.

Michaell

Mike, they came out great on my laptop and that is a beautiful car.

I also like the palm trees in the background.

abacomike

driver100 said:

abacomike said:

Driver, it is overpriced.  That C350 should cost no more than $$28,000 American, and only if it has a certified bumper to bumper "Mercedes-Benz" warranty for up to 100,000 total miles.  You need to convert my figures to Canadian dollars.

I have a feeling it is not a fully certified Mercedes-Benz pre-owned vehicle.

Driver, why not "insist' she drive a 2015 E400 before considering anything else?  Just drive the car and then compare it to a 2014.

Buying a used car is not your style and you'll be very sorry you did in a year or so - believe me about this one!!!

Explorer, Mike, I agree, it is a very high price.....$39k Cdn is about $31 to $32K U.S. Our dollar sunk with the price of oil. I don't think it is an option, we would pay a lot to trade in the A4 which was $45k new, and end up paying $10k or so to move up to a car that is one year newer - but still used.

As pointed out, that warranty could be a private company warranty. Drive train is also a concern, that part doesn't usually breakdown, the problems are the electronics, computers etc...lots can still go wrong.

An E400 is not an option as it is too big...she likes being a passenger in the E400 but she doesn't like driving a large car. She likes the instrument panel (dashboard to older readers) to be very low, and to have a large window area. Most cars these days have narrow windows because of low rooflines, and then the instrument panel is higher than the bottom of the windshield. I found that was true when I got my bmw 535, but, you do get used to it. Probably an X1 or GLK would be higher, but I think she would find it to be too big...though it is an illusion.

I am not sure what the options are, but getting a 2014 used C Class isn't a very good option. My MB salesman is trying to find out if there is a 2014 new C300 hiding somewhere.

C400, not E400. The C400 has the same engine as the E400, but the C400 is a "C Class" with 4-Matic (AWD)

abacomike

Michaell said:

Mike, they came out great on my laptop and that is a beautiful car.

I also like the palm trees in the background.

Michael, can you delete that small picture at the bottom of the post that shows my plate number. I tried to delete it, but it won't delete.

abacomike

Michaell said:

Mike, they came out great on my laptop and that is a beautiful car.

I also like the palm trees in the background.

Yes, the Palm Trees always look nice - I wake up to them every morning. The color of the car is a light medium gray called Palladium Silver. Those are the added wheels - 19". They sure look good in the post.

abacomike

abacomike said:

Michaell said:

Mike, they came out great on my laptop and that is a beautiful car.

I also like the palm trees in the background.

Michael, can you delete that small picture at the bottom of the post that shows my plate number. I tried to delete it, but it won't delete.

Forget it Michael, I deleted it myself. I didn't realize it until I posted it and then I got nervous about it showing my plate number. Thanks anyway.

ab348

abacomike said:

Yes, the Palm Trees always look nice - I wake up to them every morning. The color of the car is a light medium gray called Palladium Silver. Those are the added wheels - 19". They sure look good in the post.

The color and the wheels were the two things I was going to comment upon as liking very much. Beautiful car.

graphicguy

Any politician that I even sniff is in favor of any sort of gas tax, will not get a scent of support from me or any family members (nor friend support if I can help it).

Not going to go on another diatribe, as most know how I feel about it.

There's no way that higher gas prices benefits the majority of people. It causes undue harm to those who can least afford such increases. It thwarts any sort of business growth for any company who relies on transportation in any form. It causes higher prices for food, goods, and many times, services.

Need a bridge? Put a toll road in. Need road infrastructure upgraded? Find out what your state or Municipality is doing with the gas taxes they're already collecting.

There is a real opportunity to finally put a dagger into big oil, big oil traders, foreign entities who want us to fight for THEIR profits on THEIR oil.

Raising gas taxes puts us right back where this whole mess began.....charging the consumer so some company or foreign country can get rich off the backs of the U.S. public.

The time to put a stop to this is right here, right now.

We're oil independent. It's taken decades upon decades, American know how, and 10s of thousands of American lives to get there. But, we're there. Let's not let any sort of politically motivated group, PAC, try to convince us that they deserve our oil savings so they can profit from it.


Off soap box again!

abacomike

ab348 said:

abacomike said:

Yes, the Palm Trees always look nice - I wake up to them every morning. The color of the car is a light medium gray called Palladium Silver. Those are the added wheels - 19". They sure look good in the post.

The color and the wheels were the two things I was going to comment upon as liking very much. Beautiful car.

Thanks, ab.

nyccarguy

@abacomike - very sexy! I like those 19s too. Very sharp looking car!

roadburner

nyccarguy said:

@abacomike - very sexy! I like those 19s too. Very sharp looking car!

Ditto!

imidazol97

abacomike said:

That's a very good set of color and wheels. It's very tastefully done. I like it.

abacomike

GG, I just filled the car up with PUG @$2.79.9 a gallon at Costco.  The lowest priced PUG at one of the top-tier gasoline stations down here is $2.99.9 a gallon.  We pay more for gasoline here in Florida because we pay the 3rd highest gasoline taxes in the country (State Taxes).

Raising gasoline taxes would really hurt us down here, probably more than most other states.

abacomike

nyccarguy said:

@abacomike - very sexy! I like those 19s too. Very sharp looking car!

Thanks!

abacomike

imidazol97 said:

That's a very good set of color and wheels. It's very tastefully done. I like it.

Thanks!

abacomike

roadburner said:

@abacomike - very sexy! I like those 19s too. Very sharp looking car!

Ditto!

Thanks!

ab348

Mike, is that a bar code sticker on the passenger side rear quarter window? What is it for?

abacomike

ab348 said:

Mike, is that a bar code sticker on the passenger side rear quarter window? What is it for?

I live in a gated community.  With the bar code, I use the "resident's lane" which reads the bar code and the gate opens.  Visitors and other commercial vehicles must stop at the gate and get a pass - I have to call the gate if I am expecting a delivery or guests - otherwise they will not be given a pass to enter our community.

Down here, it's very comforting to have that security.  We have two main gates - the West Gate and the South Gate.

You must go to the security office with your resident picture ID, driver's license and vehicle registration to get a bar-code appliqué.  Then, they go out to your car to verify the VIN and "they" apply the bar-code appliqué to the right rear window.  Each bar code is different - if it is read at one of the entrances or exits, it is recorded on computer.  They know when I leave and when I come in because the code is registered to the vehicle itself.

jayrider

abacomike said:

Now that I figured out how to post pictures, I thought it would be appropriate to post a few pictures of my new car.



I hope they come out OK and hope you like them.

Such a styler ! Great car.

abacomike

jayrider said:

Now that I figured out how to post pictures, I thought it would be appropriate to post a few pictures of my new car. I hope they come out OK and hope you like them.

Such a styler ! Great car.

Thanks!

graphicguy

abacomike said:

imidazol97 said:

abacomike said:

That's a very good set of color and wheels. It's very tastefully done. I like it.

Thanks!

Mike...I like that....NICE CAR!

I always got a charge out of coming out of Orlando Airport and immediately hitting the toll booths less than a ½ mile outside of the airport exit. You guys don't have any weather that is all that taxing on the roadways, either. That money's going somewhere, but probably not to taking care of the roads.

abacomike

GG - they are constantly resurfacing I-95, The Turnpike and all of its extensions.  The are just about finished widening I-595 which runs from I-75 (far western suburbs) to US 1 and Ft. Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport.

They also just completed a new runway at FLL, 9R/27L, that actually rises as the plane takes off to the east and travels "over" US 1 toward the ocean.  FLL now has non-stop flights to South America, Europe and the eastern Caribbean.  The runway can handle the big jets now like the Boeing 787 and the big Airbus as well as the 777 and 747.  Pilots have mentioned that when they approach the new runway to the west (from over the Atlantic Ocean), it's actually downhill for the first several thousand feet which takes getting used to.  The same taking off to the east as the plane goes up a hill that is several hundred feet above the rest of the airport.

imidazol97

abacomike said:

They also just completed a new runway at FLL, 9R/27L, that actually rises as the plane takes off to the east and travels "over" US 1 toward the ocean.  FLL now has non-stop flights to South America, Europe and the eastern Caribbean.  The runway can handle the big jets now like the Boeing 787 and the big Airbus as well as the 777 and 747.  Pilots have mentioned that when they approach the new runway to the west (from over the Atlantic Ocean), it's actually downhill for the first several thousand feet which takes getting used to.  The same taking off to the east as the plane goes up a hill that is several hundred feet above the rest of the airport.

I'd like to see a picture of that. I used to sit under the runway that was east-west along the service road or the highway 1and planes were taking off maybe 60 feet above you head at full power. Really thrilliing to see a 747 coming at you and lifting at the last minute.

driver100

Mike, car looks great!

We spent an interesting morning talking to our salesman at the Mercedes Palace this morning....3 hours!

I think I convinced my wife she won't be happy with a used car. The salesman showed us a C300 and adjusted my wife's driver seat to maximum height. It really makes for a narrow opning for her to view the road. If I get down to her eye level the dash is high, the hood bulges up.

Then, I had a brain wave....we'll try the GLK. For those who don't know what a GLK is it is a small MB SUV.


She sat in it and the seating is extra high, you are looking down at the whole hood. The instruments are way down low....the best vision you could ever have, I can't see how it could be better. We took it out for a drive and it is built like a tank......solid ride and just absorbs the bumps. It is nimble, great steering. Very comfortable. Lots of power too, the same engine as my E400......330 hp.

We love it. The 2015 models will be very different, probably round and curvy and it just won't have the same great sight lines.

The Audi will have a warranty until October 2015....but here is our dilemma....

I looked up the trade in value of the 2012 A4 and it is worth $21300 to $24250. They said it is immaculate and offered $26000! It has 16k miles on it.

The GLK comes in 2 models...we'll take the better model and it comes out to $53k. Normally they discount 2% but since we are loyal good customers we get a 4% discount.

This gets a bit silly, we prefer to use a line of credit and pay cash, but we actually pay less if we do the payment plan. We would have payments of $700 a month, but the 1st 3 months they pay. Actually the dealer pays for the first month, but Mercedes Corp pays for 2 months. We could do the payment plan and we can pay it off after 3 months, and save $1100 if we buy it using a payment plan.

It means the new car would cost about $32000 difference. On one hand, it is hard to justify trading in the Audi while it is still under warranty, and paying $33k.

But, using the Driver method of Financing, The alternative is to wait a year, but then the Audi will be worth $21k at most, and the GLK will be a different vehicle and will probably cost more.

The only way to come out ahead is to keep the Audi for 7 or 8 years to make it pay off.

They aren't building new ones, and there is only one around in the color we want, white with a beige interior. We have to decide soon.

I like this quote from the Edmunds Review of the GLK
The GLK is utterly composed at high cruising speeds, and it rides and handles as well as most luxury sedans. And being a Mercedes-Benz, the sharply chiseled GLK feels like it's built out of a single block of granite

I just told my wife we should go back and buy it today before we lose it.

abacomike

Driver, I've driven the GLK 350 because they use them as loaners at my dealership.  I found it super comfortable and drove and handled to perfection.  The GLK 400 should be nice.  Also, they are giving you top dollar for the Audi.  I am surprised your wife is giving up on the standard transmission.

Let us know what you decide.

abacomike

Imid, why not Google "FLL new runway" and see what comes up?

Just Googled it and came up with a broadcast from our local channel 4 news.  They showed a landing and how the runway goes over US 1 along the coast.

driver100

abacomike said:

Driver, I've driven the GLK 350 because they use them as loaners at my dealership.  I found it super comfortable and drove and handled to perfection.  The GLK 400 should be nice.  Also, they are giving you top dollar for the Audi.  I am surprised your wife is giving up on the standard transmission.

Let us know what you decide.

My wife prefers a standard transmission, but she has had some automatics, so she can live with it. Also, as I say, we are getting older and if you break an arm or a leg it is better to have an automatic. Even, just a sore muscle.

I called MB and said we would be there at 4 pm and buy the GLK.. I think it is the right thing to do, it will only cost more to do it in a year from now, and she may not find a car that she will like as much.

jayrider

driver100 said:

Mike, car looks great!

We spent an interesting morning talking to our salesman at the Mercedes Palace this morning....3 hours!

I think I convinced my wife she won't be happy with a used car. The salesman showed us a C300 and adjusted my wife's driver seat to maximum height. It really makes for a narrow opning for her to view the road. If I get down to her eye level the dash is high, the hood bulges up.

Then, I had a brain wave....we'll try the GLK. For those who don't know what a GLK is it is a small MB SUV.


She sat in it and the seating is extra high, you are looking down at the whole hood. The instruments are way down low....the best vision you could ever have, I can't see how it could be better. We took it out for a drive and it is built like a tank......solid ride and just absorbs the bumps. It is nimble, great steering. Very comfortable. Lots of power too, the same engine as my E400......330 hp.

We love it. The 2015 models will be very different, probably round and curvy and it just won't have the same great sight lines.

The Audi will have a warranty until October 2015....but here is our dilemma....

I looked up the trade in value of the 2012 A4 and it is worth $21300 to $24250. They said it is immaculate and offered $26000! It has 16k miles on it.

The GLK comes in 2 models...we'll take the better model and it comes out to $53k. Normally they discount 2% but since we are loyal good customers we get a 4% discount.

This gets a bit silly, we prefer to use a line of credit and pay cash, but we actually pay less if we do the payment plan. We would have payments of $700 a month, but the 1st 3 months they pay. Actually the dealer pays for the first month, but Mercedes Corp pays for 2 months. We could do the payment plan and we can pay it off after 3 months, and save $1100 if we buy it using a payment plan.

It means the new car would cost about $32000 difference. On one hand, it is hard to justify trading in the Audi while it is still under warranty, and paying $33k.

But, using the Driver method of Financing, The alternative is to wait a year, but then the Audi will be worth $21k at most, and the GLK will be a different vehicle and will probably cost more.

The only way to come out ahead is to keep the Audi for 7 or 8 years to make it pay off.

They aren't building new ones, and there is only one around in the color we want, white with a beige interior. We have to decide soon.

I like this quote from the Edmunds Review of the GLK
The GLK is utterly composed at high cruising speeds, and it rides and handles as well as most luxury sedans. And being a Mercedes-Benz, the sharply chiseled GLK feels like it's built out of a single block of granite

I just told my wife we should go back and buy it today before we lose it.

True car has your GLK at $51700 $100 under invoice. $3300 off MSRP.