OMG a Merc being a dressed up Chrysler are you serious?? Merc bought Chrysler and their cars benefited from Merc technology not the other way around. If you want lux go with Merc if you want a sportier go with BMW. Stay away from Audi unless you want the dash to glow with warning lights all the time.

But I can tell you now if I lived in NYC then I would definitely have an auto and something that can soak up the bumps and pot holes. Let us know what you decided.

 

May as well chime in.

I bought my first mini in March of last year. (March 25th to be exact... found it while on my anniversary). Took 3 weeks to get it and between April and June, I ended up with 3 minis.

The first two were convertibles and the third (my present) is an '08 coupe S.

While I enjoyed driving the stick, I made the mistake of going to Myrtle Beach and getting stuck in traffic for 2.5 hours.

I immediately came back and traded in my 2nd convertible for my automatic coupe.

If anyone thinks the automatic is a slushbox, they obviously haven't driven one.

With the automatics being a six speed, they haul butt. They're fun to drive and don't regret it for a second when in traffic.

Unfortunately, now, I've got 3 other vehicles to drive and wish now I could have a stick back....

Trade it in for an automatic, you won't regret it.

(or you can trade it in with me.... )

Mark

 

I prefer the 6-Speed Manual in our MCS Coupe, but recently I test drove new MCS Convertible with an Automatic. I was very impressed with the Automatic and think it would solve your problem. Go test drive MCS Auto to see what you think. After all, you already have the best commuter car on the market...

 

Seriously, your way off base. Low end MBs are dressed up Chryslers now, and if Chryslers benefited from the merge, why are they still such crap cars. MB has done nothing but go down since the merge. Audi has made huge improvements over the last 5 years, go take a look at how they rank in customer satisfaction the last 5. They consistently out perform and out rank their competitors. I've owned 2 over the last 6 years and they were both super reliable, but besides that they completely out classed in both fit and finish and performance (although performance to a lesser extent with BMW) comparable BMW or Merc. model.

 

How do you go about trading your 6 speed for an auto? Used car on the floor? New car? It is financed.

Thanks!

 

OMG don't know what you have driven lately but name one part on a merc that is from a chrysler?? The crossfire was a SLK 320 from head to tail except for the shell. Plus they aren't even together anymore its been 2 years since they dropped chrysler. Not really sure where you get chrysler are crap cars if you look at them before the merge and after; mostly dodge models have stepped up the game in quality and materials. I think you are working on a personal choice when l am evaluating on cars in general to give an opinion.

Yes Audi has made it up on the rankings but they are still a rebadged VW and they rank at the bottom. Mercedes is even tied with Toyota now for #4 http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2008...ings-released/

 

Um by 2003 Chrysler and Merc. shared 40% of parts between models, the current 300C was based on the prior E (a joint venture) , Jeep and MBs SUV share a ton of parts and a few engines, all cars still share electronics and an number of other parts. Since the split both co. have agreed to continue sharing parts into 2012, at least:

http://www.motorauthority.com/chrysl...s-sharing.html

I will agree Chrysler has improved (although Jeep has gone down) but they are still crap cars, what your ignoring is the quality of MB during the merger has taken a huge drop from the 90's. The new E has been their first step in the right direction in close to 10 years.

MB has been getting routinely schooled by BMW and Audi in every comparison test I've read over the last 8-10 years, aside from the new E.

And Audi is hardly a rebadged VW (not that that would be that bad, I'd take a VW over a chrysler any day) the only cars that share a chassis are the A3 and the MKV GTI/Jetta, which has been the most celebrated VW models in years.

 

The article you quoted said nothing about "low end" Mercs sharing parts or being "dressed up Chryslers." The C-Class, which is what I assume you mean by "low end MB," is its own car, and does not have a Chrysler equivalent. Sharing some electronics and suspension parts within SUVs is not what I would call "basically being a Chrysler."

 

No Sabastian, the article that I linked to (not quoted) was to point out that despite the break up, they will still be sharing parts, as the sentence prior to the link indicated.

I think I pointed out many times that the C-Class is a step in the right direction, is it better than the E90 3 series or B8 A4, no not even close, but certainly better than the former C, that was basically a dressed up 300C.

 

Everyone! RE: Chrysler and Mercedes. It never worked because the Germans always despised the Americans and didn't really want to share anything. When they say share technology and parts they mean sell leftover and extra stuff to Chrysler. I worked there for a while (Chrysler) and saw a lot of it. There were never any shared platforms, either, just parts here and there - the largest being transmissions and axles.

 

The old C was also its own car. The 300C was based on the W210 E-class which ran from 1996 to 2002.

 

I would stay away from any car company that still offers "chrome rims" as an option, so that removes GM from the equation. And if you don't want a boring car why are you even considering a MB...yikes! The 300C sport has a nice "ghetto" 8" MB emblem on the grill, would go nice with the GM chrome rims...lol

Stay with a drivers car either BMW or Mini.

 

Well, that was naive or ignorant. Each manufacturer offers something different.... saying you wouldn't buy a car just because it offers chrome rims as an option is just plain ignorant.

I was one of those ignorant people that wouldn't ever buy a eurotrash POS. Having worked on mercedes, bmws, porsche and volkswagen, there is no way I'd ever own one.

Then I drove a mini and fell in love with german engr'ing.

Point is, don't be too hasty to judge, you may be surprised.

Mark

 

Not Hasty or judging...I have worked on all cars for 8+ years. It's my opinion and I seem to be in the majority or else we wouldn't be pooring billions of dollars into this crap called GM. If you like the "ghetto fab" look then GM, Chrylser and MB would be a great choice. Go for it!

 

MINI offers the S-Lite in chrome.

http://www.trademotion.com/partlocat...catalogid=5277

 

the only other car ive ever owned, was a C230 coupe kompressor. love the hell out of that car, but i beat the crap out of it. it did not hold up very good at all, the technology sucked, and so did paying for repairs..

i thought about going back there before i went to mini, but at this point in time, what i got out of my MINI i wouldnt have come close to getting at benz.

if youre considering, at least check out infiniti or acura first, before another benz.... jus my .02

 

You are incorrect sir, that is some tacky manager at a NJ dealership who is offering a chrome package. You will not find that on Mini's web configurator.

 

Well, better stay away from Mini then! Ohmygod, they got chrome s-lites! Holy hell!

 

It is a dealer installed official MINI accessory. In the configurator, go to the last step (#6) and look under wheels.

Part #36116778962: http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts...=36&fg=15&hl=8

 

Really? I just configured a Mini on Miniusa.com with chrome S-lites. Must be that damned tacky manager again...

 

Yikes that is nasty... wonder if they make matching chrome teeth as well.

 

Guess you'll be selling your mini now...



just messin' with ya man. I know what you meant but I wouldn't discount any manufacturer that offers chrome. On some cars, it looks good, on others, it's tacky as hell.

Mark

 

The Mercedes bashing is quite amusing in its ignorance... as is the "BMW mothership" loyalty of some of the posters in this thread. MB's are fantastic vehicles with a character and styling all their own and, unlike some of BMW's designs of late, euro styling that endures.

Now if we were in the e46 era I would indulge "healthy" Mercedes bashing a bit more, but with appliance-like e90's cluttering the roads vis a vis the current C-class... Perhaps some of the posters here should get out and test drive more cars, of all brands, or at very least get a clue on the auto industry (e.g., previous Daimler-Benz acquisition of Chrysler).

 

Getting back to KyleE... You can either order a new auto Mini and trade yours in when it comes in or sell it privately just before your new Mini comes in. If you sell it privately you'll get about $3 to 4K more than trading in. You can also find one on the lot and trade your old one on the spot. Hopefully you're not too upside down on your current Mini, in other words, hope you don't owe more than the car is worth when you trade in. That could make a big difference on your payments on the new Mini.

 

KyleE,
I would shop around and see what dealers would be willing to give you for your car. It might surprise you what you get for it. I would keep an open mind about the cars you drive. It sounds like you've had good luck with MB in the past and you liked their looks and performance. I ended up trading in my 07' MCS and getting a used 08' Mustang GT Convertible. My MCS had 37k miles on it and they gave me $18.5k for the trade in. I bought the car for $24k so it didn't depreciate as much as other cars would have. For instance, I got that Mustang for $11k less than I would have if I had bought it brand new. It had 9.9k miles on it and was in mint condition. Someone else mentioned your work and how your commute could change again. I don't know your situation but it might be worth your while to look for a car just for the commute. A lot of dealers are sitting on cars they would love to move. You might be able to pick up a used vehicle in good condition that would fit the bill for the commute. If you shop around then you could still keep the MCS and put the miles on the other car. Maybe that's not an option for you though, again I don't fully know your situation. Good luck whatever you end up doing. For those who posted about other cars not measuring up to the MCS. I would challenge them to drive my Mustang and not have fun driving it. With that said I live in IL and most of the roads are flat and straight. Perfect for cars with lots of HP