[eamon]

Thinking about going after a Mercedes
It would either be a 2005-7 sl base or a 2007+cls

Which one looks/is nicer to you?
Are they too dated? My other option would be to get the new E class merc.

[keepittrill]

Originally Posted by eamon

Thinking about going after a Mercedes
It would either be a 2005-7 sl base or a 2007+cls

Which one looks/is nicer to you?
Are they too dated? My other option would be to get the new E class merc.

When it comes to luxury cars, I would have to say the newer the better. Eliminate the SL and decide on the E VS CLS. The CLS is way better looking, but the E is new.

[Sedoy]

I drove CLS550, not bad, but the interior was way too dated. Get newer E-class or 07/08 S550, also if $$ is not a problem CL550 is very nice as well. Saw CL550 with LCI CL63 AMG aftermarket bodykit looked amazing:

[eamon]

Originally Posted by keepittrill

When it comes to luxury cars, I would have to say the newer the better. Eliminate the SL and decide on the E VS CLS. The CLS is way better looking, but the E is new.

I love the E-class, I just wish it wasn't the bread and butter car of Mercedes. And the stigma it might carry as an "old mans car."
I'm still keeping my options open to to other brands, looking for a car with personality.

[eamon]

Originally Posted by Sedoy

I drove CLS550, not bad, but the interior was way too dated. Get newer E-class or 07/08 S550, also if $$ is not a problem CL550 is very nice as well. Saw CL550 with LCI CL63 AMG aftermarket bodykit looked amazing:

Very nice
Too big and probably out of my range
Sexy nonetheless

[F1Venom]

Get a CLA45 AMG. what's your max budget? Or a used C63 AMG, heck even the C350s are awesome.

[py0413]

Not old men's car = AMGs

[keepittrill]

You can get a certified C63 AMG for new E class price!

New E class starts at $51,900.

New C63 AMG starts at $59,800.

If you were prepared to buy a new E class, maybe it's time to save for a few months(;

[Desert_Fox]

My general opinion of Mercedes-Benz is that they are boring, exclusively old man cars UNLESS you buy an AMG. It completely changes the car.

[keepittrill]

Originally Posted by Desert_Fox

My general opinion of Mercedes-Benz is that they are boring, exclusively old man cars UNLESS you buy an AMG. It completely changes the car.

The C350 sport isn't too bad

[NemesisX]

Well I've always had a soft spot for the previous generation SL, so I'm quite biased. I just love the subtle "wide body" look of the SL when viewed from the rear.

I'll second the suggestion for the C63 AMG, though.

Originally Posted by Desert_Fox

My general opinion of Mercedes-Benz is that they are boring, exclusively old man cars UNLESS you buy an AMG. It completely changes the car.

Well there's no question Mercedes tends to be driven by older people. I don't have the age range data on hand, though, but IIRC the median owner age for Mercedes is like 45-50 years old whereas the median owner age for BMW is somewhere in the late 30s or perhaps early 40s.

[jayb289]

old cls is a classic

[yousefnjr]

I used to work for Mercedes around ~2007 when these cars were new-ish. The SL will cost you a small fortune to maintain out-of-warranty. It rides on an air suspension (I think it was called active body control) that is prone to expensive failures. Parts on that car are at the same price point as the S and CL classes, which is high. Think $2000 for an instrument cluster when a pixel goes out, at least when I was around these a few years ago.

CLS is a nice car, but I remember the visibility from the drivers seat being pretty poor. The small windows make for good style at least.

As you said, E-class is Mercedes' bread and butter, and it really is their best product. It gets the nicer materials that you don't get in the lesser Benzes, and it doesn't cost an arm and a leg to take care of (relative to their other models). The updated W211 (2006-2009) is a fantastic car, especially in AMG guise. While it isn't made for track duty, the noise and effortless acceleration from the E55/E63 really can't be matched. I once worked on an E55 with an electronic cutout in the exhaust, it sounded like the meanest American muscle I've ever heard.

One more horror story I remember, I once had to fix a busted catalytic converter on an SL55. The entire exhaust is one piece, and just the part costed $11,000... luckily for the owner it was covered under warranty

[SaMaster14]

My dad has the CLS500 the first year it came out (06) and I must say, it's a great car!

I was never a fan of the 07/08 SL... and for matters of practicality, the CLS is good their too (coupe body, but 4 seats and a ton of luxury!) My dad has the new SL550 now with AMG package and fully loaded. His old SL was the 09 SL550 and it was base model... MAJOR difference - the packages make or break the car.

I would go with the CLS!