What's the best car around $30,000~$35,000?

[JHEM]

Congrats - that's a great car. I thought you were looking at an S600 for the Mrs.?

S500 to replace our venerable 450SEL 6.9L.

Brought several S Class home, and all I got from her was "nice, but too big". This from a woman whose daily driver is an Exploder, which she loves. Go figure.

NOW over dinner tonight she tells me that the E is nice, but she still likes the V-8 Jag S Class I brought home Thursday better!!!

Even at 10K less miles on the S and almost $10K less, I'm not sure I'd give up the E500 for the S. Time for some smoooooooth talking.

Regards,

James

[JHEM]

It has been my understanding that the Missus would greatly enjoy an SL600, No?

Yes, but unlike her and Bill, I can't afford one!

Regards,

James

[christopher_wolf]

Congrats - that's a great car. I thought you were looking at an S600 for the Mrs.?

S500 to replace our venerable 450SEL 6.9L.

Brought several S Class home, and all I got from her was "nice, but too big". This from a woman whose daily driver is an Exploder, which she loves. Go figure.

NOW over dinner tonight she tells me that the E is nice, but she still likes the V-8 Jag S Class I brought home Thursday better!!!

Even at 10K less miles on the S and almost $10K less, I'm not sure I'd give up the E500 for the S. Time for some smoooooooth talking.

Regards,

James

Huh?

The only Jag I might take over a Benz nowadays would have to be the XK Type. Besides, Jaguar is owned b-b-b-yyy...owned by Ford. Reason enough for getting the E500.

Ford, the same people who decided to would be a good idea to have a welded crankshaft in in addition to a ridiculously weak transmission (a la a differential pin that would get loose no matter what you did and tear up everything inside) in the Taurus SHO.

[JHEM]

Huh?

This is a woman we're dealing with here Chris, logic and common sense will have no part in her pleadings.

The only Jag I might take over a Benz nowadays would have to be the XK Type. Besides, Jaguar is owned b-b-b-yyy...owned by Ford. Reason enough for getting the E500.

Actually, both Jag and Volvo have improved since being acquired by Ford.

Ford, the same people who decided to would be a good idea to have a welded crankshaft in in addition to a ridiculously weak transmission in the Taurus SHO.

Yamaha-ha built the engines and the 5 speed for the Shogun.

Regards,

James

[epbrown]

Actually, both Jag and Volvo have improved since being acquired by Ford.

And that's the kicker for me - Ford's European division and Jaguar have come out with some great designs. Heck, I even like the 1st edition of the Focus. Somehow in the states, we end up with the Ford Five Hundred.

I do like Volvo's new designs, but I thought they were owned by GM?

[christopher_wolf]

Nope they are owned by Ford; See, http://www.allpar.com/vl/automakers.html

My guess is that Ford is funding them quite nicely and brought even more clever people...as opposed to what their "new" offerings have been like in the states as of late.

Yeah, the engine in the Taurus SHOs were made by Yamaha(-ha)...but that isn't an excuse for the rest. Later on, the 3rd gens, Ford made more and more of the parts that went into the engine and Yamaha assembled them in Japan.

This is a woman we're dealing with here Chris, logic and common sense will have no part in her pleadings.

And, in conclusion, I have only this to say...

*runs like the wind away from the target site*

[JHEM]

I do like Volvo's new designs, but I thought they were owned by GM?

No, that's SAAB.

If the 9000 Turbo was still being made I'd have no problem choosing a new ride.

Regards,

James

[JaneL]

This is a woman we're dealing with here Chris, logic and common sense will have no part in her pleadings.

[GomJabbar]

And, in conclusion, I have only this to say...

*runs like the wind away from the target site*

I think James just painted a target on his back.

[archer6]

I just bit the bullet and grabbed a loaded low-mileage '03 MB E500 lease return.

After a month of actively looking for a replacement for "The Hammer" I had reached saturation and was considering sticking with the status quo awhile longer.

But I got a call to come look at this car and it was everything I wanted. Jet black, all leather, BIG V-8, etc., etc., 23K miles and $34K!

Couldn't resist.

Regards,

James

Nice job negotiating! You got a great deal on that one. Here in California the price would have been higher than that by a nice margin. So three cheers, good negotiation, Great CAR!...enjoy...