Hi everyone.
Yesterday I decided to sell my 2011 E350 and buy a 2014 Kia Optima SXL.
Weird huh?
I decided to sell my E350 because my drive shaft is weeping oil where it connects to the transmission, and the Mercedes service guy that have been servicing my Mercedes told me that it is normal for the seals to weep a little fluid and did not replace the seal.
My concern is that my car was at 48k miles and had only 2k miles left on the factory warranty, and it costs a lot to repair the drive-shaft seal or any transmission related issue on the 4matic out of pocket, which will happen if i bring it back to the dealer when the leak becomes worst.
To the service guy's credit, he did replace my control arm bushing and belt tension-er for free out of warranty due to finding them worn when was checking the car out.
My other problem is that the extended warranty offered by my bank is nearly 9k dollars for my old E350, which is too much in my opinion.
Well, I decided to test drive a new loaded KIA Optima instead of paying nearly 9K-10k to gain more warranty coverage for my E350.
Damn. The car has more equipment than my E350!!! Heated/Cooled seats,heated steering wheel,reverse sensors/backup camera,blind-spot/cross traffic warning, Nappa leather seats/trim,dual panel panoramic sunroof, HID lights,LED fog lights and DRL, push button start, heated rear seats,etc. and it has a turbo engine that is quicker than my 2011 3.5 engine while giving better gas mileage.
All for the price of what my 2011 E350 cost used a year ago, a little over 29k with the KIA having only a 100 miles on the odo new.
Plus, I get a 5 year/60k mile full warranty and 10 year/100k mile power-train only warranty from KIA, plus the dealer only extended power train warranty that adds an addition 10year/100k protection on the factory power-train for total of 20years/200k miles at that particular dealer I bought the car from.
To me this was a no-brainer, because my 2011 E350 do not even have leather seats(inserts maybe) or HID lights or heated steering wheel or cooled seats, etc.
Plus, me and the wife have an new loaded AWD Ford Edge, so I really did not need the 4matic(which was the only plus for my old E350).
I know some of you may be thinking that it was bad move, but I actually like driving the KIA Optima more than my old E350.
The KIA is very quick, brake well with out fading, roomy on the inside, looks good in person with the HID and LED lights.
However, I can do without the turbo badge and red brake calipers.
Now I know that Mercedes E-Classes does come with those features on higher end models like the E550 or optioned out E350 models, but I am deciding to spend my money more wisely now.
I want to gives thanks to this forum for all its help and advice that have save me tons of money.
Take care everyone.
Here my new KIA!! I have got to get used to saying that.
Yesterday I decided to sell my 2011 E350 and buy a 2014 Kia Optima SXL.
Weird huh?
I decided to sell my E350 because my drive shaft is weeping oil where it connects to the transmission, and the Mercedes service guy that have been servicing my Mercedes told me that it is normal for the seals to weep a little fluid and did not replace the seal.
My concern is that my car was at 48k miles and had only 2k miles left on the factory warranty, and it costs a lot to repair the drive-shaft seal or any transmission related issue on the 4matic out of pocket, which will happen if i bring it back to the dealer when the leak becomes worst.
To the service guy's credit, he did replace my control arm bushing and belt tension-er for free out of warranty due to finding them worn when was checking the car out.
My other problem is that the extended warranty offered by my bank is nearly 9k dollars for my old E350, which is too much in my opinion.
Well, I decided to test drive a new loaded KIA Optima instead of paying nearly 9K-10k to gain more warranty coverage for my E350.
Damn. The car has more equipment than my E350!!! Heated/Cooled seats,heated steering wheel,reverse sensors/backup camera,blind-spot/cross traffic warning, Nappa leather seats/trim,dual panel panoramic sunroof, HID lights,LED fog lights and DRL, push button start, heated rear seats,etc. and it has a turbo engine that is quicker than my 2011 3.5 engine while giving better gas mileage.
All for the price of what my 2011 E350 cost used a year ago, a little over 29k with the KIA having only a 100 miles on the odo new.
Plus, I get a 5 year/60k mile full warranty and 10 year/100k mile power-train only warranty from KIA, plus the dealer only extended power train warranty that adds an addition 10year/100k protection on the factory power-train for total of 20years/200k miles at that particular dealer I bought the car from.
To me this was a no-brainer, because my 2011 E350 do not even have leather seats(inserts maybe) or HID lights or heated steering wheel or cooled seats, etc.
Plus, me and the wife have an new loaded AWD Ford Edge, so I really did not need the 4matic(which was the only plus for my old E350).
I know some of you may be thinking that it was bad move, but I actually like driving the KIA Optima more than my old E350.
The KIA is very quick, brake well with out fading, roomy on the inside, looks good in person with the HID and LED lights.
However, I can do without the turbo badge and red brake calipers.
Now I know that Mercedes E-Classes does come with those features on higher end models like the E550 or optioned out E350 models, but I am deciding to spend my money more wisely now.
I want to gives thanks to this forum for all its help and advice that have save me tons of money.
Take care everyone.
Here my new KIA!! I have got to get used to saying that.