2010 Mercedes-Benz E350 Coupe Review

2010 Mercedes-Benz E350 Coupe Review AutoBlog.Com.

"This two door E-Class costs less than the four-dour version". This is rare for luxury vehciles especially Mercedes, for example the S550 four-door starts at $91,000 and the two-door is listed for an additional 20k. So why is the 2010 Mercedes-Benz E-Class 350 priced so low?

Some speculate the 2010 E350 is based off a C-Class platform and inturn Mercedes positions it lower in the market.  Are we getting less car for this lower price? No, this has been proven a rumor after Mercedes offered the car up to reviews late 2010. You are still getting the 3.5 liter V6 that produces 268 horsepower at 6,000 rpm. Long story short, the E350 has no trouble getting up to highway speeds.

"As much as we enjoyed driving the E350 Coupe, we actually enjoyed just being inside more. The chairs themselves are superlative; many-way adjustable and the driver's seat feature four controls to inflate/deflate various air bladders that provide all sorts of bolstering and support. The passenger seat has three and the quality of leather is without peer for the price point. "

-Jonny Leiberman Auto Blog
Read the original article.

Pre-Purchase Simple Inspection Continued...

If you are just joining Driving the Future of Car Buying, please visit our previous Visual Car Buying Inspections here. The following are the continued simple inspections a future car buyer can perform to minimize the chances of an unfavorable purchase.

CARFAX Report

Insist upon a copy of the CARFAX and/or Autocheck report. Ask if your vehicle would be billed as Clean, Average or Below Average. This automatically reduces your risk of costly future problems and hidden repairs. The CARFAX report will show any severe accidents, previous flood damage and any frame damage. The report will also list previous owners.

Paint & Body Work

Ask the dealer if the car has ever been painted, touch the paint along the edges of the car, the paint should feel smooth with no ridges. If the car has been repainted it isn't necessarily a sign of prior damage. In some cases, the dealer has just touched the car up. At BobStallingsCars.com we disclose up front if we have performed any touch ups,

Make, Model, Trim & VIN

Check that the badging of the make, model and trim matches that of the VIN. Cars have VIN plates on all panels, if you come across a panel without a VIN plate take notice. Double check the CARFAX report.

The Bob Stallings Cars Difference

At Bob Stallings Cars of Carrollton we encourage our future car buyers to be confident in their car buying experience. Not only do we offer a FREE CARFAX report to show how much pride we have in our inventory. BobStallingsCars.com performs a Championship Inspection before the vehicle enters our showroom.

How to Visually Inspect a Vehicle Prior to Purchase

When you are test driving your next vehicle, there are simple exterior eyeball inspections that should be performed. These simple steps can help avoid costly repairs and help you make an informed vehicle purchase.

Tire Inspection

Check for tire wear by feeling each tire with your hands. Check how deep the tread is. Also note if there is any curb rash on the wheels. Rubbing of the outer tread can be associated with poor maintenance and miss-alignment which could lead to worse damage down the road (literally).

Windshield Inspection

Look carefully at the windshield for any small cracks. Small cracks cause by road debris turn into large windshield cracks unexpectantly, forcing the new car owner to repair the entire windshield.

Mileage Regulations

Next, look at the mileage. Most vehicles in order be billed as Clean or Average, require that there are no more than 25,000 miles/per year of age. In other words, in January of 2011, a 2008 car should have no more than 75,000 miles. Vehicles that have only 15,000 miles per year or less are considered more expensive and overall, a better car. Many dealerships still "overlook" these requirements in order to receive the Clean or Average markings, now that you know, double check the dealer information.

The Bob Stallings Auto Group Difference

Most used car dealers do not inspect their inventory prior to sale. At BobStallingsCars.com, we ensure that your next vehicle passes our BobStallingsCars.com Champion Checklist. Our experience, supporting NASCAR’s Daytona Prototype Series racecars has enabled us to properly inspect our inventory for mechanical problems. That’s why we call it the Champion Checklist!

Non-Commissioned Salesmen | The Future of Car Buying

Those who have worked with Car Salesmen can all agree car salesmen come in two categories:

1) The professionals with a passion for cars
2) The professional liar with a passion for commission

Commissioned Salesmen

Few people are naturally great at selling and, we would expect those few people to use this skill to their full advantage. This is where commissioned car salesmen have the potential to earn the big bucks. For fined tuned salesmen, commission reflects their labor, experience and skills. More is always better. With pressure from their superiors, the salesman uses his sales super-skills to slam you into a car while retaining as much profit as possible. They thrive off impulse buys, higher interest rates, extended finance terms, and a full menu of exorbitant extras. Unfortunately, in the cut throat world of car sales, traditional dealers have stuck with this outdated model.

Non Commissioned Salesmen

There is only one car dealer that I've ever heard of that does not practice a commission based business model. For these car enthusiasts, less time is spent with tactics and more time is invested in inventory knowledge and market trends. By eliminating commission, BobStallingsCars.com, located in Carrollton, Texas has eliminated a dishonest and pushy sales transaction. In fact, they encourage our customers to investigate their next car thoroughly online, while they are by themselves. That's why they put a free CARFAX report with every listing on their webpage. Clients can quickly review models on KBB and Edmunds while simultaneously looking at the BobStallingsCars.com website.

Porsche Cayenne Turbo of Carrollton Review

 2009 Porsche Cayeene Turbo of Carrollton

I introduce the 2009 Porsche Cayenne Turbo SUV with it’s 4.8L Twin Turbo AWD 6 Speed Automatic Transmission. Carpool -like SUV Security when you need it and Sexy Suspension and Speed for date night. This is where I really remind my guy friends: You’ve got to push date night.


You can feel it now: The rush of inertia as you squeeze deep into the soft and smooth leather, covering a body- hugging firm seat, your heart pounding in sync with the music playing on your Bose Surround Sound System, your hands gently gripping the leather steering wheel…Yes. You are going 0-60 mph in 5 seconds. Yes. You’re driving a Porsche Turbo. But, it’s not a Carrera, it’s a Cayenne Turbo. And if you really want to let loose, you can hit a top speed of 174 mph. You have pondered it and if you’re like most red blooded American men, you’ve even discussed purchasing a Porsche. But, like most of you, even once the finances are arranged, your wife simply feels cheated.

Now that we’ve moved beyond the whole “taboo” Porsche idea, let’s get into simple economics. For about $134,000 you can purchase a brand new Porsche Cayenne Turbo. That pretty much blows the chance of convincing your wife that it is an investment: because it isn’t. You will blow your first born’s college fund in the first 2 years of ownership. However, it is possible to purchase a truly “like new” Cayenne, just like I did for a fraction of the cost. Purchasing a gently used Pre-Owned Vehicle with low miles that has been babied really is possible. And, allowing that first owner or two to absorb the majority of the depreciation only sweetens the deal. A 2009 Porsche Cayenne Turbo runs about $50,000-$60,000 less than a new one, depending on mileage, condition, color and equipment.

So, when you strike out on your 2 seater, consider a sports car on a SUV frame….The Porsche Cayenne Turbo. Please visit your trusted Luxury Pre-owned car dealer in Carrollton to test drive your next Porsche Cayenne Turbo.

Discovering Depreciation

2008 Mercedes-Benz E-Class 550 Carrollton Texas

Standard Luxury Vehicle Depreciation

Depreciation of your vehicle is a ugly thing. Most experts agree that a new car depreciates $3000-$5000 as soon as you drive off the lot. There are even website calculators devoted to guessing how much an average vehicle will lose. Check out Money Zine Depreciation Calculator to see how much your vehicle will depreciate before you pay it off. Also, Edmunds True Cost to Own Calculator can help in deciding which brands hold their value better than others.
According to Bankrate.com:

Depreciation for Dummies

1) Rule of Thumb

Let's start with some basics. Here's a standard rule of thumb about used cars. A car loses 15 percent to 20 percent of its value each year. A 2-year-old car will be worth 80 to 85 percent of its 1-year-old value. A 3-year-old car will be worth roughly 80 to 85 percent of its 2-year-old value. Let's say you have a 1-year-old used car worth $12,000 that loses 15 percent of its value each year. At 2 years old, the car would be worth $10,200. At 3 years old, it would be worth $8,670.

2) The First Year Sting

The depreciation in a car's first year tends to be even steeper. A new-car owner feels the sting immediately. A new car loses a big chunk of its value as soon as you drive it off the lot. Here's why.
When purchasing the car, you paid a retail price -- the price a dealer charges for a car. As soon as you're off the lot, the car is worth its wholesale price, the amount a dealer would be willing to pay for a car should you turn around and head back.

3) Where did the Value Go? 

So a brand-spanking-new car or truck loses thousands of dollars of value as soon as you drive it home. Whatever money you spent on taxes and licensing is gone for good as well.
"Just the difference between wholesale and retail prices is a large amount of what goes away right away," says Charlie Vogelheim, editor of Kelley Blue Book."

Save Car Value & Money

Unless you are leasing a vehicle, purchasing a 1-2 year old vehicle will save you thousands. Used cars hold their value much better. And, at BobStallingsCars.com, most of our PreOwned vehicles still have the remaining balance of their factory warranty which negates the cost of an extended warranty.

For a real trade appraisal, call us, email us at Sales@BobStallingsCars.com or visit our website. We will give you a 10 day buy bid on your vehicle.

In the market for a car? We don't have it in stock? No Problem! We will locate you one for a fraction of what our competition will sell it for. Just email Sales@BobStallingsCars.com or take advatage of the vehicle finder tab on our site.

Call and talk to the experts today! 972.248.2277- 972.248.CARS
BobStallingsCars.com
Driving the Future of Car Buying

Related articles

• How to Visually Inspect a Vehicle Prior to Purchase (bobstallingscars.blogspot.com)
• How to Buy a Used Car with Help from the Internet (bobstallingscars.blogspot.com)
• Non-Commissioned Salesmen | The Future of Car Buying (bobstallingscars.blogspot.com)

How to Buy a Used Car with Help from the Internet

Buying a car on the internet can be a foreign and scary process for many consumers. Some of the concerns have been pricing, price comparisons, shipping costs and dealer trust. Not anymore, buying your next car online can also save you money and time. Here's why:

Online Dealers Save Time & Money

At BobStallingsCars.com we pride ourselves on having low overhead. All of our cars are kept in a climate controlled, indoor warehouse in Carrollton, just north of Addison Airport. In Texas we have extreme heat, ice, hail and other types of crazy weather. Our cars are protected from damage-and our business insurance is considerably lower than an outdoor dealer. Because we are mostly online business, we have only a handful of capable employees. None of our salespeople are on commission. We are able to sell our vehicles much cheaper than the big dealers with huge, expensive buildings.

Quick and Easy Price Comps:

With the proper online dealer, you should be able to view multiple photos, descriptions, Carfax Reports and the price right on the website. That makes it easy for you to shop comparables. When you compare prices make sure that you take into account mileage, options/trim level, condition, color, vehicle history reports like CARFAX in addition to year, make and model.

Shipping will not Break the Bank

Once you've decided that you like the vehicle, be sure the dealer discloses what shipping costs will be (if any). Your trusted Carrollton dealership will put quotes available for all to see online. Your car, including shipping, should still be within market value. No pressure, negotiate and ask questions. Talk to the dealer without being at the dealership in person. This removes the impulse purchase from your buying process.

Have the Dealer Earn your Trust

Always ask the dealer how much reconditioning they've done to the car or how much has been done prior to their purchase. At BobStallingsCars.com we have the ability to tell whether a pre-owned car has been painted. Quite oftenly, there have been touch ups to vehicles that weren't disclosed on the history report. This is important to know, most of all for trade in value.

Shop the Best Finance Rates

Giving the dealer time to shop your loan will ensure your best rate. Not happy with the dealer's rate- find one online through your local bank or credit union.

Don't Settle

Any dealer that sells a Pre-Owned Vehicle without first doing a mechanical checkout or inspection is not only crazy but JIGGY. At BobStallingsCars.com of Carrollton we perform a minimum 25 point inspection on all of our cars PRIOR to being made available for purchase. If the car needs repairs, we've already made them. And, we disclose to our customers all work that we do.




To find out more about BobStallingsCars.com, call us 972.248.2277

Related articles

• Discovering Depreciation (bobstallingscars.blogspot.com)
• How to Buy a Used Car with Help from the Internet (bobstallingscars.blogspot.com)
• How to Visually Inspect a Vehicle Prior to Purchase (bobstallingscars.blogspot.com)
• Non-Commissioned Salesmen | The Future of Car Buying (bobstallingscars.blogspot.com)