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Sedans Luxury Lounge
21430 messages, Last post on Nov 29, 2009 at 6:29 PM
You are in the Sedans Forum. Your Hosts are pat & karens
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Replying to: anthonyp (Jan 04, 2009 2:36 pm) link title It’s fine,” Mr. Cucciniello said. “In my younger days, I was a reckless driver and racked up some tickets. I haven’t had a run-in with the police since I got these.” BING0!! No cop has ever given me a speeding ticket with my MB 300D despite the fact that I got caught a few times already. Every time a police officer will laugh at my jokes and just give me a warning instead of a ticket. Seven times I tried that with my BMW 335i and instead not a single officer laughed at my jokes and one even accused me of being too snarky and gave me two tickets instead of just one (dangerous lane changes and speeding)  I recently posted an article about a famous celebrity who insists he will never replace his 85 MB 300D with a car that is not a MB 300D. In July I had posted a NY TImes article reporting that the MB300D is about the only vehicle that has increased its resale values these past few years. And now we have a new NY Times article on someone who cant stop buying MB 300Ds including his family members. Coincidence? No! Certainly not based on my great experiences with a MB300D. Mine is for keeps. |
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Hello everyone. I've been away for quite a while, but I just skipped lightly through the last 16,000(!) messages posted over the last two years, and was thrilled to see most of the great posters of the past still participating (except Merc) - even Len came back recently! I've spent the last 2 years not thinking much about cars but focussing on my business. And I am almost embarrassed to say, 2008 was financially the best year of my life. I ended up selling our firm, that we had built up for 22 years, to a large insurance company. We announced the transaction in September, just days before Lehman went down and the financial world fell apart. We managed to keep the transaction on track and closed 11/30 - probably about the only voluntary, profitable transaction done this last quarter (what do you think Len?). I tell you all this because first, it is nice to be able to share some positive news with all my old friends from the HELM/HELC/LL boards; and second, I have started to think about rewarding myself with some tangible item that I otherwise would not buy myself, and of course a luxury car comes to mind. One other thing you need to know - you may recall that I have a chronic back problem (from failed surgery), so I can't handle sitting in a sports car. So I have to stick with the luxury sedans. I have my '05 LS430 now with only 20,000 miles on it, so I don't "need" a new car, it's purely a "want" item. So what do I want? What else but a S550 4matic. Another LS just doesn't turn me on. My car has been great, but I have to say it does not "excite the senses" to drive it. So here's the interesting thing: MB dealers are certainly willing to deal on a new car, but what I have found is that the used car market for '07 or '08 S550s is incredibly attractive. I find well-equipped 2 year-old cars with less than 20,000 miles on them (some as low as 8,000!) for the mid-$60Ks, vs. buying a new one for around $90K (MSRP around $100K) . A CPO'd 2 yr old car (with new tires and brakes) gets an additional year of warranty, so with the remaining original warranty you end up with 3 years, only one less than a new car. That's such a relative bargain that I am finding it difficult to pull the trigger on a new one, although I have yet to find a used one that has exactly what I want: 4matic, black on black (so the ugly wheel arches don't show as much as on the light colors), with the upgraded multicontour seats (the adjustable bladders really help to perfectly set up the seat for my back), but no Sports package (the low profile wheels and tires ruin the ride over the many potholes in this area). So my friends, what should I do? A local dealer has the perfect new car for me just sitting there, but I am still hoping to find the same perfect used one, but not a one has been available anywhere in the country in the past 3 weeks. The second point I want to make is that the Euros' financing arms are obviously getting killed on their lease turn-ins. My salesman tells me he lost 4 new car sales this month alone to people who bought used cars instead of new, given the large price differential. The final point I want to share is that my salesman (who is an investment client of my firm, so he is straight with me), says that there are no new S class cars on order for his dealership (one of the largest in the country) except for 4 that are already in port in Baltimore. That's right - none on the water, in port in Europe, in production right now, or even ordered for production. Basically, MB believes it has enough already sitting in dealerships or in port to cover demand for the next few months. My salesman says that is the way MB is going to make it through this recession - cut production on the S to the bone. If you want a new S and none around meet your specs, they will build one for you with a 90 day lead time. But I assume that pricing will be very close to MSRP for such a custom build. So if I let that new one sitting at my dealer get away, and I can't find a used one the way I want it, I'll end up either not buying a car now, or paying $10K more for it than the one available now. Such a conundrum. Anyway, I want to wish you all a Happy, Healthy and (hopefully more) Prosperous New Year! GaryH
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I just made my predictions a few days ago and now this: Isuzu says that it is officially ending new light vehicle sales in North America on January 31 as it attempts to clear out the last of its GM-derived pickups and SUVs. Isuzu had been selling rebadged versions of the Chevrolet Colorado (called the Isuzu i-series) and the Chevrolet Trailblazer (Isuzu Ascender), but the automaker managed to move just 7,098 vehicles in 2007 - and 2008 sales will be even lower when they are announced. Isuzu has no plans to pull out of the commercial truck and diesel engine markets, where it has generally proven to be a strong industry force. A bit off, as I expected Isuzu to go bye-bye totally from US. I had no idea how well Isuzu's commercial truck sales is in US market. |
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Replying to: garyh1 (Jan 05, 2009 1:01 am) It has been a long time  sure is up beat news, and I congradulate you on your good fortune. Fairly recently I suggested the same thought to another poster on this board....I think the opening is probably only a month or so more, and I peronally would try and buy a slightly used car through your dealer friend...On the Audi d3 board there is a person mamed Bruce, who will purchase a car for you from one of the high end auctions, and he charges five percent to do so..Something worth looking into.. Good luck, and remember if nothing works out in the used market, there is bound to be that new one you have looked at Tony |
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Replying to: garyh1 (Jan 05, 2009 1:01 am)  Regards, OW |
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Replying to: garyh1 (Jan 05, 2009 1:01 am) Just curious, what do you think of the A8? '06 examples are available in my area for a lot less than $60K, more like $35-45, with warranty until the end of 2012.
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Replying to: lexusguy (Jan 05, 2009 3:37 pm) |
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Replying to: lexusguy (Jan 05, 2009 3:37 pm) About a year ago, I checked out A8. I dislike the nose of the car, but I guess in black I could live with it, since the oversized grille with the black piece through the middle gets lost in the all black background. But I really disliked the MMI interface; it just didn't work for me. Plus I already own 2 MBs (both my kids drive older Es) and have a great MB-only mechanic, so that gives me another reason to go with an MB. Clembo, the S8 is probably too much engine for me (and too much a sacrifice in mileage). In fact, I was really hoping that MB would bring out an S450 or S500 by now for a lower price, but they haven't. I guess it's because they don't make an engine between the 350 and the 550 anymore, right? In '06-'07, when they were selling S550s as fast as they could make them, maybe that made sense. But with sales almost gone now, why not bring out a more fuel efficient version? In the previous generation, the S430 was a big seller when the S500 was around. I just don't get it.
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Replying to: garyh1 (Jan 05, 2009 1:01 am) When I took the GL 450, the MB dealer had a stunning brand new (25 miles on odometer) 2008 S550 in charcoal grey (IMO the LS460 and the S550 are made for that color and black) that MSRP'd at $99,500 that they were offering for $76K at Christmas. This one had AMG styling (not AMG) and several other options. Best buy I've ever seen on an S-class.
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German billionaire, referred to by some as Germany's Warren Buffett committed suicide by jumping in front of a train this morning per CNBC. The only reason this has significance here is that he lost big in the Porsche corner that drove VW shares to $1,000 a few months ago and it seems to be the cause of his suicide. Here's a link to his problems, not his suicide. http://www.badidea.co.uk/2008/12/adolf-merckle-like-some-financial-crisis-jack-b- auer-has-just-24-hours-to-find-the-cash-to-save-vem/
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