abbeyrd

I think you also have to take into account the climate of where you live.
I would think that living in FLA and the hot sun would eventually wear down the fabric top. Of course, I know many in FLA have fabric tops but it would concern me because we all know what a killer the sun is on many things.
That's probably why I would never own an E class MB convertible (besides it's lousy reliability.

scdroptop

iTrader: (1)

Never owned a E/CLK/CE (1995 back) coupe but the folks I know that have owned them have had a ton of maint costs and the cars don't seem to get the same WOW! I drive a Benz impact as a CL Coupe, CLS, SL or even the SLK. To me the SLK is a lot sharper. This model is much larger than the last CLK series...interesting to see if they lose/gain market share from their SLK/SL counterparts. I think they will lose. Not sporty enough. And after reading the articles I've read on the car, they will not offer any AMG models as of yet...that's a big ole' heavy car for the HP it has.

About the only think I like on this are the fog lights!

Give me that cash for the new e-class convertible, and I'd buy these three cars: 2004 Range Rover Westminster, SC430 and a CL500 Benz coupe...all in the $20kish range!!! LOL

Interesting that they went back to e-badging and dropped the CLK. I wonder if the CL will still exist? To me the e-class has never topped that 1996 model that was so sharp and distinguishable from the other cars on the road with the round headlights and the sort of fast back rear decklid. I loved that bodystle...especially the E55 AMG.

When they did that CLK convertible, I thought it was better looking than the really soft looking body from 2002-2008? Not sure of exact years. I had a friend who had a CLK 500 and spent a TON of money on it and looked just like a $40k e-class coupe. No distinguishable characteristics.

My father in law has a 1987 300CE Coupe that is retired (sitting in garage with cover on) and a 1993 300CE convertible and in six years that car was not changed one bit! One of my beefs with MBZ over the years as well as BMW, Porsche and even Audi is that their interiors are already pretty industrial and boring compared to their Japanese counterparts (some exceptions...CLS, S, SL) and they have the nerve to keep them alive for so long!!! Case and point...the 911 996 Porsche in 2001 still had pop out cassette tape holders in the dash AND worse off the 2004 "upgraded" to cd holders while other 04 cars introduced AUX cables! LOL

HVisone

I know a number of people who have owned MB and Lexus cars.....while the lexus, esp. the SC430 is not cheap to fix, and will break down, such as a possible problem with the roof and windshield.......that is nothing compared to the MB. The 2009 MBs have got some problems with bad metal in some of the differentials, and MB has never done a recall.

The thought is that most will not fail within the warranty period,,,,,soooo that is just the
latest i have heard about MB

I have an sc430, and it runs like a charm big time for about the last 14k miles...and the guy I bought it from said he never had one problem beyond tire issues with run flats and one broken rim for 48k miles, and he serviced it at the local lexus dealer, who says the same.

The only thing i like the MB over the SC is the nose-bumper area ....and that is it.

(and i think the wheels are not very stylish on either car)