I have a 2003 E500 mercedes E500 sport (silver / black) with 87,000 miles. Leased it in 2003 and love the styling etc. If I kept the car I would add the AMG body, paint the brakes red and lower the car, add some carbon fiber, add Nav.)

My lease is up next month and the residual is $27k + local taxes, etc. = balance = $28k

I am over mileage approx. 30,000 miles at $0.14 per mile (which is CHEAP mileage).

- so I can write the bank a check for $4500
- than have to write a check to get into another car (approx. $6.5k)
- so out $10.5k or so.

I drive so many miles and on the interstate that I do not want to pay CRAZY monthly payments for my daily driver.

I was looking at a mercedes E550 and that was over $1,000 per month so I looked at a E350 with the AMG package but I DO NOT like the handling of the car and it is $6.5k down, $650 month / 33 months and $0.25 per mile. I drive 30k miles a year, so the mileage will KILL me. I always lease my cars, but at $0.14 to $0.20 per mile, which is not that bad. BUT $0.25 will be a $10k cost for just the overage in mileage.

Now my options:

A). The bank has a great incentive at 4.9% with NO money down and 60 months = $545 a month. And drive it to the wheels fall off.

B). Pay the $4500 and then go out and lease OR purchase another car. (no idea on what to get for $700 a month with $5k down as a lease. Most leases have big penalties, anywhere from $0.25 to $0.30 per mile)

I have already spent the dollars on 20" wheels, xm, blah blah. With A I do NOT have to come out of pocket (with the exception of service / maint issues).

Any thoughts would be helpful.

 

Buy it out, dont bother modding it though. Just keep it as a DD

 

You have to think about what makes the most sense to you. Personally, I wouldn't buy the car with the high milage. I don't know if you've had problems with your car in the past, but I would plan on something going wrong once you hit 100k miles. If you do keep the car, keep it stock. I don't really see a point to modding it. I love the look of the AMG body-kit, but red brakes?
Have you considered a new 535? You won't be paying as much as a new E550 and it has decent power. Also, I don't know if this is a consideration for you or not, but it would probably get better gas milage as well.
Just my 2 cents

 

Buy it out and drive the **** out of it, F the amg kit brakes and other BS you own an fcar thats why this is a DD.

 

Daily Driving a AMG is perfect.

 

Yup

/thread.

 

nope,
I decided to get a 08 e350 with the P1 and AMG packages (flint grey with black int). I love the car, it will be a GREAT daily driver. I got it last Tuesday 8/14/07

 

Congrats on the 350, Its great aswell and 272hp is adequete by all means.

 

thanks,
It has been a fun car so far. I use the paddle shifters on the steering wheel and can come out of corners with just enough speed, etc. It has been a fun daily driver so far.

I put my 20" wheels on it and it stiffened up the suspension a little. De-Badged it last night.

So she is nude with badges

 

Any pics ?