So, my wife is finally ready to get rid of her 99 Jag XK8 for a large AWD vehicle. We test drove many SUV's but didn't like any except for the 06 Porsche Cayenne. I'm not an SUV fan so westarted branching out to AWDcars and came up with the05 S500 4matic. My wife LOVES this car in Pewter and we looked at an 05 with4400 miles2 days ago for $57000, but they sold it the next morning before we could look at it again.



http://www.cars.com/go/search/detail...eadExists=true
Ouch. It was alot of money for us, but the mileage was so low, it was really tempting. We really wanted to stay at around $50k for less for a car, so my buddy is taking me up to the Manheim highline auction in Pennsylvania and maybe we'll see one there.

I told my wife we could save quite a bit of money and maybe get an 06 for the price of an 05 at our local MB dealers (if we buy it at auction). My friend had been in the wholesale business for about 20 years off and on and recently found an 06 for another friend for about $54k with very low miles. Were there any significant updates in 06, it's last year? Or is it better to just get an 05 and save the money?

We also may look at an 06 A8 but I think it's a little too sporty for her from what she said in showing her the pics on line. She drove the S500 4matic the other day after driving the 05 E55 last week and really prefers the S class. We have to have all wheel drive as we'll be doing lots of skiing in the winter and we get snow now and then. It snowed 3 days in a row last weekend and my BMW 7 series didn't do so well.

Also, is it worth it getting the extra Starmark warranty at about $2500 for an extra year? It sounds like alot of money, but my buddy recommended it anyway. I don't normally buy extended car warranties as I feel it's a money maker for the company selling it, otherwise they wouldn't sell it.

This is a great forum you have here. I read through many pages of previous posts and find it fascinating. I never thought we'd get a MB S class. We test drove an 01 S55 before we bought our current 01 BMW 740i Sport and thought it was too flashy, and cost about $15k more, 18 months ago when we had to make the decision. The S500 4matic is alot less flashy as the wheels are fairly sedate, and it seems to blend in better. I'd kill to have the S55 instead of the 4matic, but she's adamant about getting an AWD and it's either this car, or a Lexus RX330 (yuck) or a Jeep Grand Cherokee (I actually love this SUV!). Or, a Cayenne, which I love too, but I'd rather have a sedan.

Thoughts?

Thanks in advance,
Steve R
Silver Spring, MD

 

Well Steve, looks like you havea lot to think about. You can't go wrong with either an 05 or 06. These should be well de bugged in the late years of the model run. I also do not buy extended warranties. $2500 for one year is obscene (unless you run up $3000 in repairs that year). By spending the $$ for a low mile car it is very unlikely you would ever use the extendedwarranty (if you bought a properly taken care of car). FWIW, I bought my 00 S430 lastSpring and did not get the warranty with 73K on the clock.So far so good, at 10 months I have had only 1 repair ($370 ball joint) and I am way ahead by not getting the warranty. I do have the up function on the steering wheel not working which I will not repair.

Although this car is not in the same league as an S Class and I am reluctant to bring it upbut have you considered the Infiniti M35 AWD.

Re: the A8- a broker friend who goes to Manheim told me before Ibought my S"buy two A8s, one to drive while the other is in the shop", you can just keep one at the shop and alternate them.