Well, my mom's 01 dodge minivan is getting pretty beat from long trips, and from sucking to begin with. Its about time to get her a new car. We are going to Mobile, AL tomorrow to test drive a bunch of cars and see what she likes.



Cars we're gonna drive:

Lexus Ls 430 and Gs400

Infiniti Q45 and M45

Mercedes E and S class (whatever models they have in stock)

Bmw 750i and 750li



We're also gonna cruise around town and have a nice lunch and stuff. I'm about to move away to college and my mom and I haven't been able to spend much time together other than work here lately, so I'm lookin foward to it.

MBZ ml 500 or ml 350, can't really go wrong there, and in the same price range as the others listed.

[quote name='89 Rag' date='Jul 13 2005, 06:49 PM']MBZ ml 500 or ml 350, can't really go wrong there, and in the same price range as the others listed.


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they aren't on mb's website... did they quit making them by chance? All I get is c,e, and s class for sedans...

[quote name='venomrx7' date='Jul 13 2005, 07:52 PM']they aren't on mb's website... did they quit making them by chance? All I get is c,e, and s class for sedans...


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Suv's mang! My mother has the '06 ml 350, 6 cylinder, great gas mileage, and all the amentities offered under the silver star logo, nav, proximity sensors, heated seats full air front and rear, onstar, and a great service plan too. It's really hard to go wrong with a Benzo...

oh. duh. I knew that, but my brain isn't workin tonight...



She is pretty adament about not getting an SUV... She says she is NOT a soccer mom and doesn't want to look like one. lol...



She want a big nice sedan. She's going to test drive them to see what she just likes the best, and I'm going to get the technical side since she knows nothing about cars. We're gonna compare notes at the end of the day and see what the best choice is.



Lexus ls430 is looking like the best choice now, but we'll see...



i'm gonna drive an infiniti fx45 for shits and grins too. and hopefully the mercedes c55amg. the dealer said he would let me drive his, but he wasn't sure if he was going to be able to get it, or if his wife was going to need it... lol...

Benz is nice, but expensive. Imagine buying a part once your warranty is over with? European cars are uber expensive to take care of. If they were not, everyone would have one. https://www.nopistons.com/forums/pub...IR#>/smile.png



I am actually impressed by the Mazda MPV. It seems like you are going high luxurious cars.



EDIT- See if she would lease it also. It is easier to get out of(no negative equity) 24 month or 39 month contract. The car is actually WORTH something when she gets out of it. We are learning about leasing right now at work, and it is honestly the better way to buy a car, unless you are mile conscious.

[quote name='rowtareh' date='Jul 13 2005, 07:06 PM']Benz is nice, but expensive. Imagine buying a part once your warranty is over with? European cars are uber expensive to take care of. If they were not, everyone would have one. https://www.nopistons.com/forums/pub...IR#>/smile.png



I am actually impressed by the Mazda MPV. It seems like you are going high luxurious cars.


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Yeah. My parents are at a point now that they can pretty much buy what they want to a certian degree. My mom has been wanting a nice sedan for a long time. We aren't bringing anything home tomorrow. They are going to make the actual purchase when they sell the first group of lts from their subdivision development.

[quote name='rowtareh' date='Jul 13 2005, 08:06 PM']Benz is nice, but expensive. Imagine buying a part once your warranty is over with? European cars are uber expensive to take care of. If they were not, everyone would have one. https://www.nopistons.com/forums/pub...IR#>/smile.png



I am actually impressed by the Mazda MPV. It seems like you are going high luxurious cars.



EDIT- See if she would lease it also. It is easier to get out of(no negative equity) 24 month or 39 month contract. The car is actually WORTH something when she gets out of it. We are learning about leasing right now at work, and it is honestly the better way to buy a car, unless you are mile conscious.


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They own thier own business, buying is the better option, write off and such and most of the cars mentioned hold their value well. A trade in for new in 4 years works well without going upside down or putting a ton of cash out up front and evades warranties running out



Venom...If it's a sedan she wants the S500 is the car, hands down

[quote name='89 Rag' date='Jul 13 2005, 07:15 PM']They own thier own business, buying is the better option, write off and such and most of the cars mentioned hold their value well. A trade in for new in 4 years works well without going upside down or putting a ton of cash out up front and evades warranties running out



Venom...If it's a sedan she wants the S500 is the car, hands down


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The lex actually got higher ratings and better class value than the s500 did. I think she would be happy with either of them, but that toyota reliability is OH so nice. and considering that we will have to drive an hour and a half for service makes reliability pretty important. (main reason I tell her no to bmw)



I guess we'll see tomorrow what she likes. I don't know a whole lot about mercedes reliability reputation for some reason. Its not really a common car around here in boonieville https://www.nopistons.com/forums/pub...R#>/unsure.png

[quote name='89 Rag' date='Jul 13 2005, 11:15 PM']They own thier own business, buying is the better option, write off and such and most of the cars mentioned hold their value well. A trade in for new in 4 years works well without going upside down or putting a ton of cash out up front and evades warranties running out



Venom...If it's a sedan she wants the S500 is the car, hands down


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Never they had a business, so yes, it would then be a tax write off. But only if it was used for business purposes. But who's going to know that? https://www.nopistons.com/forums/pub...#>/biggrin.png



Good luck man, why not get a new Z06 Vette? Ooooh, or a Chrysler SRT8.

I think you mom is used to the minivan size and ability to move stuff around.



Tell her to go test drive the Mazda5

[quote name='rowtareh' date='Jul 13 2005, 07:35 PM']Never they had a business, so yes, it would then be a tax write off. But only if it was used for business purposes. But who's going to know that? https://www.nopistons.com/forums/pub...#>/biggrin.png



Good luck man, why not get a new Z06 Vette? Ooooh, or a Chrysler SRT8.


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She wants something cushy that will be comfortable for her, my dad, and lil sis on a road trip. we drive to florida (9-10 hours) about 4 times a year, and to Ole Miss for every home football game (5 hours). They will be coming to ole miss even more when I start this fall, so comfort is important.



And leasing makes 0 sense... you pay for a car and have nothing to show for it when you're through with payments. lease = lose.



Unless the dealership offers us 0% financing, we will be paying cash for the car anyway.

[quote name='venomrx7' date='Jul 13 2005, 11:40 PM']

And leasing makes 0 sense... you pay for a car and have nothing to show for it when you're through with payments. lease = lose.






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That is why it would be great for her. Every 2 years, hey she's got a new car with 0 miles on it. And if she falls in love with the car, then she can pay the rest. It just helps with negative equity a WHOLE lot. And in turn makes the customer happier. I sure as **** would want a new car every year. Who gives a **** about ownership of a car. It depreciates every year(most cars do) if you keep driving it. It's not a ******' house, where you can keep refinancing, take out loans, build up the house.



Just try it is all I can say. You have heard only ONE bad thing about leasing.



****, i feel like I am at work. And she wants something cushiony and a smooth ride. Go look at an SRT8. If you don't like that car, you are a ******* weirdo.

[quote name='rowtareh' date='Jul 13 2005, 07:50 PM']That is why it would be great for her. Every 2 years, hey she's got a new car with 0 miles on it. And if she falls in love with the car, then she can pay the rest. It just helps with negative equity a WHOLE lot. And in turn makes the customer happier. I sure as **** would want a new car every year. Who gives a **** about ownership of a car. It depreciates every year(most cars do) if you keep driving it. It's not a ******' house, where you can keep refinancing, take out loans, build up the house.



Just try it is all I can say. You have heard only ONE bad thing about leasing.



****, i feel like I am at work. And she wants something cushiony and a smooth ride. Go look at an SRT8. If you don't like that car, you are a ******* weirdo.


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look at my list in my first post. the srt8 isn't on the same playing field as the cars we are looking at.



And we dont just trade in a car every 2 years. Can you say "waste of money"? i'm not going to try leasing because it is one of the worst financial decisions possible. it is like renting under contract. And i give a **** about ownership of a car because it has many more benifits than leasing. and it gives you something to use for banking (read: collateral) and you can do whatever you want with it. no penalties or anything for doing what the owner doesn't want you to do.



as I said before, leasing = lose.

[quote name='venomrx7' date='Jul 14 2005, 12:02 AM']look at my list in my first post. the srt8 isn't on the same playing field as the cars we are looking at.



And we dont just trade in a car every 2 years. Can you say "waste of money"? i'm not going to try leasing because it is one of the worst financial decisions possible. it is like renting under contract. And i give a **** about ownership of a car because it has many more benifits than leasing. and it gives you something to use for banking (read: collateral) and you can do whatever you want with it. no penalties or anything for doing what the owner doesn't want you to do.



as I said before, leasing = lose.


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Yeah, in your situation, not in everyone elses. https://www.nopistons.com/forums/pub...IR#>/smile.png



Just post pictures of the car when it comes home. https://www.nopistons.com/forums/pub...IR#>/bigok.gif

[quote name='rowtareh' date='Jul 13 2005, 08:11 PM']Yeah, in your situation, not in everyone elses. https://www.nopistons.com/forums/pub...IR#>/smile.png



Just post pictures of the car when it comes home. https://www.nopistons.com/forums/pub...IR#>/bigok.gif


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as i said earlier, its not gonna be tomorrow that we purchase. I will have moved out (ONE MONTH LEFT!!!) before they actually purchase the car. (5 hours away)



I'll snap some pics on one of my trips home to visit though. I plan on taking a few tomorrow too.

Leases seem to work best for corporate employee's, white collar higher-ups that have transportation budgets worked into thier yearly wages. Small business and public end users can get caught up in a lease option due to the contractual stipulations, mileage, accidents etc. When you factor all that in, depreciation and buying seem rather small in comparison.

[quote name='89 Rag' date='Jul 14 2005, 12:19 AM']Leases seem to work best for corporate employee's, white collar higher-ups that have transportation budgets worked into thier yearly wages. Small business and public end users can get caught up in a lease option due to the contractual stipulations, mileage, accidents etc. When you factor all that in, depreciation and buying seem rather small in comparison.


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All I know is I sell used cars at work, leasing does not help me out right now, but they are training us on it. I could give a **** about leasing honestly. I don't sell new cars, and I honestly REFUSE to sell new cars. Too much bullshit involved.



Plus I like making 5k a month on only 8.5 sales. https://www.nopistons.com/forums/pub...#>/biggrin.png

[quote name='89 Rag' date='Jul 13 2005, 08:19 PM']Leases seem to work best for corporate employee's, white collar higher-ups that have transportation budgets worked into thier yearly wages. Small business and public end users can get caught up in a lease option due to the contractual stipulations, mileage, accidents etc. When you factor all that in, depreciation and buying seem rather small in comparison.


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thats true. https://www.nopistons.com/forums/pub...IR#>/blush.png oops. lol.

**** leasing i want to call something mine/banks, not the banks/dealer/mine. 33% isn't good enough

Bear in mind there's going to be a new S-class coming out pretty soon, which will make the current one less desireable and it'll bump down residual values a bit.



Mark

if your going to buy the car and not lease it, get the lexus



you wont like owning a benz or a BMW when you got to pay to fix it



[quote name='venomrx7' date='Jul 13 2005, 11:40 PM']

And leasing makes 0 sense... you pay for a car and have nothing to show for it when you're through with payments. lease = lose.




[/quote]





and leasing is not a loss, you are giving the car back before it needs any service or even tires or brakes

you dont take the hit on depreciation and dont have to bother selling the car when you want a new one, most of the time you dont even have to give a downpayment if your credit is good.



they also allow more damage then you think, when we got rid of the last lease it was 2 dings per panel and scratches were fine as long as they werent 3" or longer, its not like when they first came out with leasing and made you pay for everything, we were even 8k miles over our limit and they didnt charge us, we didnt even get the same brand car as a replacement either



look into "smartbuy" or ballon payment, they work like a lease but at the end of the term you either buy the car or give it back, at anytime during the term you can get out of the car as long as you satisfy the note with no penalty. Remember you can always purchase your leased vehicle if you really like it, and in a lease they usually let you give the car back almost a year early if you get another of the same make car.

My mom just got a 430.



It is a super nice car, quiet and comfortable, but i dont like it. It is SO boring! I see old men driving them around everywhere!

Well, today's the day. I'm about to hit the road. Pics should be up late today or tomorrow...

If you get a benz get an extended warranty from the dealer, trust me.



Lexus GS430 is a sweet ass ride. Can't go wrong with infiniti either

[quote name='93 R1' date='Jul 14 2005, 04:34 AM']If you get a benz get an extended warranty from the dealer, trust me.



Lexus GS430 is a sweet ass ride. Can't go wrong with infiniti either


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Definitely extended warranty on Mercedes, and if she gets the bmw.. ouch. I don't think they offer a warranty good enough for those pos's



Yeah. I'm liking the toyota/nissan reliability. I had a nissan and couldn't kill the thing, but the styling of the q45 is questionable. I've never seen one in person though, so it might turn out to be sexy as hell. we'll see.

acura rl with the SUPER HANDLING awd....

Yea, merc's build quality has been in the shitter for the past year or two, stuff just breaks way more often than it should. Lexus sounds like a good choice, but Id personally wait for hte new LS

I meant IS, but it wont let me edit

[quote name='toplessFC3Sman' date='Jul 14 2005, 05:13 AM']I meant IS, but it wont let me edit


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IS is WAY too small.



Alright, no pics, sorry, but here's the results:



Mercedes:

No new s classes in stock, so we drove the E350 and E320cdi. I liked them, but the back seat wasn't as roomy as I would have liked for it to be. I did not drive either, my mom did. The CDI is incredible. period. I would take it over a gas engine any day of the week. The cars were comfortable and soft without being floaty in turns. I was pretty impressed with them



Lexus:

Drove the LS430 first. I started out in the back seat, and wow. just wow. it was like having our leather couch installed in the back of a car. I loved it. then I climbed into the drivers seat. lose immediately. There are NO side bolsters on the bottom section of the seat. it is just a flat pad. no contouring whatsoever.. I was uncomfortable from the get go. The rest of the car was very nice, and if there were a different drivers seat availiable, this would be the instant winner. everything else was PERFECT.



Then we hopped in the GS430. I love this car. everything about it. I rode in the back first again, and was again throughouly impressed by the comfort and room. We pulled a game of chinese redlight and I started driving. I didn't want to stop. the v8 is instantly responsive and in a powerful way. i caught up with traffic and started passing people in about 5 seconds. Absolutely incredible. The ride was firm, but not harsh at all. Even my mom liked this car over the LS430. https://www.nopistons.com/forums/pub...1047683329.gif If it was my choice, this car would be in the driveway right now.



We met a cousin of mine at the dealership and rode downtown for lunch. We ate at a place called Wintzells (sp?) neat place, but my food wasn't great. I had fried fish and fried oysters. fish was ok, but the oysters sucked.... if felt good to sit in the A/C for a while anyway... and its always good to see my cousin, he's a character, and fun to be around. I also haven't got to see him in about 5 years for anything other than a funeral...



BMW:

as soon as we pulled into the bmw dealership it started POURING down rain. we were there for about 5 minutes when lightning started striking very near by (close enough that my cell phone went on the fritz) the power went out for about 2 minutes and popped back on... odd...



We hopped in a 545i at first, and it was a nice car. right on line with both the mercedes and the lex. I was impressed while sitting in it. The menu control on the nav/radio/climate/everything screen SUCKS. one big knob to twist, turn, press, push, and pull to operate the whole thing. I hated it instantly.



we also climbed into a 750li, it was as roomy as the big lexus, but not as comfortable. seats were much firmer, and the front seats felt weird on my legs. I didn't like it too much.



the rain finally let up and we went outside and hopped in a 530li for a drive. I quit liking it as soon as we pulled out. It was a nice car, don't get me wrong, but after driving and riding in the GS430, this thing wasn't ****.



The rain and storming started up again as soon as we climbed back into my truck. We never made it to the infiniti place because of the weather.



I had a good time today even with the weather. I can't wait till she decides which one she wants and has it parked in the driveway. I'm pushing pretty hard for the GS430, but I think she wants the diesel mercedes. And its her car, not mine, so if thats what she wants...

I didnt know they made an FD minivan, I thought they only made coupes...did it have a 3 rotor to compensate for the weight? I bet when the 3rd rotor kicked in it would be pretty fast

SHENANIGANS!

you double posted and had to edit both of them? damn. you suck at the postings

no one likes the BMW iDrive

yuppie car galore!



I would not get a IS250 or the new IS350. Buying a car that is it's first year of it's line is not a good thing usually.



I guess same could be said about mazda5, but I think it's a simplier car then any merc, lex, or bimmer.



My vote is mazda5

[quote name='Cheers!' date='Jul 14 2005, 10:59 PM']

My vote is mazda5


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not even remotely in the same league

Q45.

Not even out yet, but coming out. 2006 Jeep Commander. 3rd row passenger. It is based off the Benz G-series platform. They sound pretty inviting.

you need to pay attention to where he said his mom doesnt want a SUV



the new G wagon is nothing like the current one, bye bye military off road box, hello G wagon on a ML chassis

acura rl with SUPER HANDLING awd...