Chronic Car Buyers Anonymous (Archived)

qbrozen

Too bad it is black/black and on the pricey side. Not too bad though. About $27.5k would make me feel better. 

28firefighter

nyccarguy said:

Here's a very highly optioned C300

https://www.mbnanuet.com/inventory/certified-used-2015-mercedes-benz-c-class-4dr-sdn-c-300-4mat-awd-4matic-4dr-car-55swf4kb5fu006397?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=January_February_CPO_Event_Second_Email&utm_content=January_February_CPO_Event_Second_Email+CID_b8c9d8f5f11d95fa617c0c0e725e926f&utm_source=Email Marketing&utm_term=2015 C 300 4MATIC

Be careful with 2015 C300s. You want a production date of April 2015 or later to avoid a nasty wristpin issue in the engine that can require a full rebuild to repair. 

fintail

Early W205 with Tex also have an issue where the upholstery can aquire a weird kind of bloom film. I don't know the cut off, but it was a huge amount of drama on various MB forums when the cars were new.

I am now about 15 months from lease end, and already thinking hard about what I want. Assuming we haven't been nuked, I am still alive and employed, etc, here's what I am thinking now:

Maybe buy out the E250, but with the residual being comically higher than market value, and I've been told they don't like to negotiate it, buying it out might not be realistic. So, I'd move on.

Re-up a lease for something, but it would have to be a great deal at least on par with the current car. This is my third lease, and for some reason, I am thinking I might not repeat the process.

Possibly find another E250 to buy, but it would be tough - I want a certain car, full option load 4Matic with luxury trim package. I miss the hood ornament. Not sure if the right car even exists.

Maybe buy an E wagon - but again I want high options and luxury trim.

Maybe an E63 wagon - higher depreciation floor, cooler, more expensive and thirsty.

Left field choice is a G-Wagen - very high depreciation floor, good for Russian mafia cosplay, and I can let it get dirty more than I would a normal car. Hilarious fuel economy might be the real drawback. And even there I am picky - I would want a pre-2003 or so car - unofficial import, or a 2013+ car, as I don't like the steering wheel and some other design on the ones in between,.

au1994

kyfdx said:

class="Quote" rel="stickguy">am I a complete lunatic for actually being interested in this as a spare/2nd/beater car? Certainly won't mind tossing the dogs in this one! The interior is even the same color (yellow lab).

Might just be the price talking to me. Since I am cheap a tightwad frugal

http://www.royaleasing.com/detail-2007-saab-9~7x-awd_4dr_i6-used-17327683.html

Ugh... it’s a Chevy Trailblazer...

I’d go for the VW over the Saabrolet any day

mjfloyd1

Local vascular surgeon has a V8 Saabrolet. License plate reads "DED LEG". I wish that I was kidding.

stickguy

that AMG wagon had about 61K miles on it. Too steep for that price.

stickguy

you had me on the Passat. Until I looked at the picture, to find out it was actually an AT and not the stick the listed it as. I like those. Tried to buy one slightly used 10 years ago, but it got sold before I got there.

Nice enough C300. But I would not look to pay that much for a 2015.

corvette

Wasn’t the suspension tuning different on the Saab? I never drove any of them, that I can recall. I’m surprised more of the Saab’s weren’t sold with the V8, since it’s a premium brand, and all. 

stickguy

that SaabBlazer already sold. Someone must have liked it.

and for those keeping track, the bright blue S60R from the other day (with the bad angle gear/AWD)? Bidding war broke out at the end, and it sold at $13,000. Someone hoping for the best.

qbrozen

That makes no sense. Can buy a nice low mileage example for that dough.

stickguy

they have a super clean 2004 running now, with only 57,000 miles. Gray over beige. Much more subdued and looks nice. Bud oddly, no moonroof.

qbrozen

Princeton Volvo is still sitting on this one for 8 mos now.
https://www.cars.com/vehicledetail/detail/710824032/overview?aff=share_other

28firefighter

qbrozen said:

Princeton Volvo is still sitting on this one for 8 mos now.
https://www.cars.com/vehicledetail/detail/710824032/overview?aff=share_other

They’re smoking something good. Not to mention those aren’t the OEM wheels....

stickguy

it definitely looked warmer when those pictures were taken. Looks like a nice one, and they note that the angle gear was worked on. One owner, local car, looks clean. So probably about as nice as you will find. Just priced too high I assume. Is that about a 13K car realistically? I thought the 2007 had a lot of improvements too.

I drove one of these back in those days. Was actually a car in for service, and I was friendly with the woman that owned the dealership (paid to visit a lot!) She asked me to drive it for an unbiased opinion (complaint was IIRC it popped out of gear? Something with the shifter). So of course I obliged. Had no problems with it. I recall it felt like driving a muscle gear. massive thrust, and overall a "heavy" feel. But darned fun.

tbirdmarco

Nice nice

qbrozen

I test drove a used one once upon a time back-to-back with a C30. I thought the C30 felt a bit cheap. The S60R impressed the heck out of me. Damned quick, and the adjustable suspension actually works. I put it in Advanced and whipped it around an empty parking lot. Fun.

Value is beyond me. Manheim tells me even one with 60k miles would only fetch $4k. Of course, none have gone through with that little. I think $10k would still be an insane price, honestly. That one on BaT should have been a $6k car, at best.

Mr_Shiftright

stickguy said:

that SaabBlazer already sold. Someone must have liked it.

and for those keeping track, the bright blue S60R from the other day (with the bad angle gear/AWD)? Bidding war broke out at the end, and it sold at $13,000. Someone hoping for the best.

Well that was stupid. They could have just bought one, turn-key, ready to roll for that money.

stickguy

I looked at the comments. about 1/2 hour before it was supposed to end, it was sitting in the mid-6's. Then classic auction action started, with 2 guys wanting it and going after each other. Hope the winner really likes it.

Mr_Shiftright

That's why auction results are not considered the sole basis for "fair market"--because of the emotional element. It's akin to the reverse situation--basing market prices only on distress sales.

corvette

Wasn’t the suspension tuning different on the Saab? I never drove any of them, that I can recall. I’m surprised more of the Saab’s weren’t sold with the V8, since it’s a premium brand, and all. 

Mr_Shiftright

It does list a "sport-tuned suspension" as "standard equipment" but that could just be GM corporate-babble, I don't know. The LS2 engine option sounds like it could have made the car fun to drive.

tbirdmarco

 Sounds like would be sick car with the view probably river though right? Anyone 20 looking this weekend but raining on and off here all weekend so happy it’s not snow 

tifighter

Weekend update - punch achieved. And I can confirm that the top goes down...more to come.

28firefighter

tifighter said:

Weekend update - punch achieved. And I can confirm that the top goes down...more to come.

Nice! Which one?

tifighter

So over the weekend, I went to test drive 2 different Audi Cabs and ended up with a 13 MB E350 Cabriolet. So mission accomplished?

I mentioned this car a few weeks back. Grey over tan. Special order designo interior, so "personalized" interior color, with leather trim panels on the dash, doors and center console. P2 (active xenons, heated/cooled seats, keyless) with appearance pkg (AMG wheels, multicontour seats, sport steering wheel, suspension, etc) and lane tracking pkg. Airscarf heaters and the funny Aircap windscreen spoiler.

My initial beef was it has 45k miles, which is more than ideal. But in person, the car is immaculate. Spotless interior, wheels have no curbing at all, which blows my mind. The condition impressed me, and I'm very OCD with cars. Clearly looked after, and finding another equipped like this would be impossible.

Advertised $25k, done for $24k. Guessing this car originally listed around $70k, @fintail might have a good guess. Took some games but got $20k trade on the 86 (thanks @qbrozen ) which I bought over the summer for $20,500, so I feel okay about it. Never bonded with that car.

Anyhow, happy camper. For now

28firefighter

Haha! Congrats, @fintail. Sounds like you made out great.

stickguy

Sounds like a great deal all around.

nyccarguy

@tifighter

Wait a minute. You said that Toyota 86 was your "friend's" car

Congrats on the E350 Drop Top! Beautiful car! Nice price!

fintail

Don't congratulate me, I didn't buy anything

When I do make a move (likely next year), it might be even wackier.

28firefighter said:

Haha! Congrats, @fintail. Sounds like you made out great.

fintail

Yep, with designo, P2, and the nannies, you'd be at around 70K. This was the ex-Medina car, right?

tifighter said:

Advertised $25k, done for $24k. Guessing this car originally listed around $70k, @fintail might have a good guess. Took some games but got $20k trade on the 86 (thanks @qbrozen ) which I bought over the summer for $20,500, so I feel okay about it. Never bonded with that car.

Anyhow, happy camper. For now

28firefighter

Doh! Congrats, @tifighter!

tifighter

fintail said:

Yep, with designo, P2, and the nannies, you'd be at around 70K. This was the ex-Medina car, right?

Yes, same car. And correction on the color, its designo graphite exterior with black/anthracite/designo porcelain nappa interior. So now I'm feeling pretty fancy. Thanks Germans.

carnaught

Congrats @tifighter. Beautiful, awesome car! Pictures please.

fintail

With designo paint, the MSRP probably crept over 70K

I really like the porcelain interior surfaces, but they'll require maintenance, and definitely not something for pets or kids.

tifighter said:

Yes, same car. And correction on the color, its designo graphite exterior with black/anthracite/designo porcelain nappa interior. So now I'm feeling pretty fancy. Thanks Germans.

corvette

Nice! That makes five punches so far this year. 

I had to drive about an hour and a half this morning. The roads were very iffy during the first part of the drive. I noticed that nearly all the cars that had spun out into the ditch were too old to be equipped with ESC. I kept it slow and steady until the roads got better a good ways south of town. Thankfully, no ESC activation or other drama during my drive. 

rayainsw

Congrats !
And I would like to see pics of:
'black/anthracite/designo porcelain nappa interior'
Thanks,
- Ray
Unclear on what that all would look like...

Michaell

@tifighter - congrats!

Along with the pics, you'll also need to update your signature line.

xwesx

@tifighter Impressive! I am shocked at the trade value on that FR/S. $500 depreciation over six+ months? Where do I sign up for that?!

kyfdx

@tifighter Congrats!

Do you get a trade-in credit on the sales tax?

tifighter

kyfdx said:

@tifighter Congrats!

Do you get a trade-in credit on the sales tax?

Thanks. And yes, we do the credit in WA.

tbirdmarco

 Turn fighter congratulations on the new Audi drop top I know you talked about this car and some others a number of months ago sounds like a beautiful lovely car I knew that Toyota we’re not stick around for Long ha ha Ha 

tifighter

xwesx said:

@tifighter Impressive! I am shocked at the trade value on that FR/S. $500 depreciation over six+ months? Where do I sign up for that?!

@xwesx Please, the 2017 is an 86, not an FRS. Those are for kids

I lucked out last year. A red sport coupe wasn't really what I was after, but the dealer was pretty desperate to cut it loose after sitting on the lot for 4 months. And I was happy to help out. I enjoyed it, but ultimately, wanted to go another direction. I'll be curious to see what it gets listed at.

tifighter

Pics or it didn't happen-

breld

Congrats @tifighter!  That is beautiful!  

And can’t beat the depreciation (or lack thereof) of the Toyota! 

stickguy

that is gorgeous. Enjoy it. Definitely different than the 86 of course.

suydam

Gorgeous! Looks really large! Is it?

fintail

Different world than the Toyota indeed. Nicely optioned car, don't see them like that every day.

roadburner

tifighter said:

Pics or it didn't happen-

Nice!

ab348

Wow, @tifighter , I love that E350 Cabrio. Congrats!

The bloom went off the 86 pretty quickly.

28firefighter

Gorgeous car.