SinCity350Z

Which is a better Luxury car?

A. Mercedes E320 CDI
- 3.2L Turbo Diesel Inline 6 CYL
- 201 bhp, 369 btq
- 31 mpg city, 37 mpg hwy.
- 0-60 in 6.6 seconds
- $51,825 base MSRP

PROS: Great dealership, diesels hold their value better, comfortable for all passengers.

CONS: Virtually no aftermarket parts, Diesel is not offered at every gas station, my dad already has one.

B. Lexus IS350
- 3.5L V6
- 306 bhp, 277 btq
- 21 mpg city, 28 mpg hwy
- 0-60 in 5.3 seconds
- $36,420 base MSRP

PROS: IMO looks better than the CDI, faster, still pretty good gas mileage, Toyota quality, good aftermarket, factory SMG.

CONS: Lexus of Las Vegas is the worst dealership in the world, a little small, "entry level" luxury car.


I did some math and figured out based on an average mpg I would have to drive the CDI well over 500k miles to make up the price difference with the IS350. Thats not going to happen, so to me the gas mileage isn't really a strong feature, but the value that the diesel cars tend to hold is. I will be putting a lot of miles on the car with a 60 mile a day round trip from home to work and a few annual trips to SoCal. Then again, I will be driving the Corvette to work sometimes as well.

My main concern is portraying an image of success because in my line of work, the car you pull up in is the client's first impression and I want to be viewed as successfull as possible because then the client knows that you must be good at your job.

My second concern is reliability and value. Chances are, I will be upgrading the car after 2-3 years, which is why I like the fact that the diesel holds its value pretty well. On the other hand, Toyota has a very very good reputation for reliabliity and Mercedes is so-so in that area. My dad has had only one problem with his E320 CDI and I had no problems with my old IS300.

So what do you guys think?

NismoPick

I've heard quite a few mixed reviews about the new IS's...

You want gangsta look?



Deffinately the Cedes. The new IS looks like a Mazda/Honda knock off to me. Throw some 18's or 20's on the Cedes.

roneski

+1 on the Mercedes. Nothing really conveys "I make lots of money" like MB does.

rob209

Mercedes still demands more respect than Lexus, especially if you go into the AMG's. The IS is nice, but fairly common. You can get a '03 CL55 AMG for under $60k, or a CLK55 AMG for $40k.

SinCity350Z

Here's how my Benzo would look. Lowered on 20" Brabus wheels with the Brabus ECU upgrade.

SinCity350Z

For that money, I would rather have the E320 CDI.

wreckedj30

Get the diesal, then if you get a little money, your able to make you own. The machine is like 5grand, then your car can smell, like french fries.

SinCity350Z

Zoning here prohibits that. Already looked into it for other reasons

wreckedj30

Really, why, as long as you weren't selling it, It would be for personal use. Well under the table, but still personal.

SinCity350Z

I forget what the wording was, but I can't manufacture anything at my house. Besides that, I would also have to get it passed by the neighbors due to my CC&R rules, and I don't think my neighbors will agree to that biodiesel machine and barrells of fuel sitting in my backyard, especially with the smell.

wreckedj30

They'll think the neighbors is a BK, or mickey D's or something. That'd be bad. My buddy has one in Havasu(Can't spell), in his back yard. But yeah i see your point. Theres always your garage, then they'll think you got a meth house or something.

nismo619

Meth House ? Lol

wreckedj30

That smells like bugers and fries.

SinCity350Z

This subject has gotten into a good debate between all of the forums I posted it on. Each forum is either all for the IS or all for the E320. The IS guys say that the E320 is too much of an old man car for a 23 year old and that I would look awkward stepping out of it. The E320 guys say that the IS and the E320 aren't even on the same level of "looking successfull". I am truly torn between the two now lol. Does somebody want to give me $200k so I can just buy an S65 AMG and be done with it?

NismoPick

WTF? Obviously they never watch TV now days... gangstas n highrollers gunna be in the Cedes. Man... I remember that old school Mase/Puffy music video... they had a couple E's in that fresh body style.

The new IS's are in the same class as Honda.... ICK!

E320 FTMFW!

SinCity350Z

Ok well, I just got through browsing BMW's website and now enters a very attractive 3rd option... the new twin turbo 335i Sedan. Not only do I like the car, but they offer a really bad *** European Delivery option where you can pick up your car at the factory in Munich Germany and then take a pre-planned 5 day vacation. The best part is that the vacation costs an average of $2,600 per person and if you do the museum delivery, they knock $2,710.00 off of the purchase price. So basically thats a free European vacation and a bad *** experience. That price includes all 4-star hotel stays, insurance for when you are down there, transportation from the airport to the factory, and insured shipping back to the US. Thats bad ***.

rob209

^^^ yup, i drove one of those on Friday night. VERY freakin' fast. Not sold on the styling, kinda Camry'ish to me, but an awesome car that can hang with the E46 M3. I really like the SMG and paddle shifting, too. Here's a link to the ED forum for ya mike...
http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=25

Nforce1

BENZOOOO



Wesssttt SIIDDDEEEEEE!!

wreckedj30

I'm still down with the diesel. Although a vacation sounds nice, wait Twin Turbo. Hmmmm.... have to think about that one.

SinCity350Z

I have ruled out the E320. Its the most expensive and probably the least fun to drive. The diesel is cool, but thats really all it had going for it besides the MB name.

So then I ask myself one simple question. For roughly the same price, would I rather have a twin turbo BMW 335i and an essentially free European vacation, or a Lexus IS350 and have to deal with the worst dealership in Las Vegas. When I stepped back to look at the situation, the BMW has so much more to offer that I like. It has the BMW name, a 6 speed manual trans, 300hp, and the museum delivery option. It also has free maintenance for two years, which is my estimated life expectancy for this car in my garage.

Now I have to go test drive both just to make sure, but I am guessing I will be going to Germany within the next 6 months.

wreckedj30

What elemanate the diesel thats blasfame, horrible. No i'd go to germany, thats not only a life experience but then you can hit up J out there. And try out the autobahn, go with the TT. Plus its not a toyota, or whatever.Jk

z-hag

hey, suga---EVERYONE knows if you wish to make an entry you choose the benz. if you want to look like every otha boy in da hood you get a bmw 740 so you can deal yo crak in style, man. if you wanna go wit da lexus, why not go acura, the pretty sporty model??? or, uniquely, why not just get a ZZZZZ? they clean up pretty good for jap---- but, if ya need a lux car--benz lasts way longer still looking nice. and diesel----no smog--- very durable, tough car.

rob209

the only problem with European Delivery is that once your trip is over, you have to wait about 2 months until your car can join you in the US.
i don't think i could bear it, especially since when you first drive the car you have to baby it and follow the break-in procedures.

wreckedj30

Damn thats funny zhag, but true. I wonder if his bmw would be right hand drive. That would be sick, i'd definetly pick the w. But zhag is true no smoging. Thats always an upper.

SinCity350Z

Break-in procedure? I break it in how I want to drive it, if it breaks, thats what a warranty is for .