Reader Question: Mercedes Replacement?

Here’s the latest reader question, along with my reply!

Sharon asks: Hi Eric. I’m almost 69 years old. I drive a 1999 500 SL Mercedes that I purchased used in 2003. It has 250,000 miles on it. It runs great and I love it, but it’s inevitable that I’ll need a “new” car in the near future. It’s hard to believe, but I’ve owned only four cars since I was 30 years old – 280ZX (bought used), 1984 brand new Jaguar, E 350 Mercedes, and my current 1999 500 SL Mercedes. You can surmise that I like nice cars but I don’t care about the latest, shiniest model. I’m not a car person, so to speak. I don’t even like thinking about the idea of looking at cars and making a decision as to what to purchase. That’s where you come in. What model(s) would you suggest for an older woman who likes a heavy car and doesn’t care about the modern bells and whistles. I certainly don’t care for the internet capability of all the new cars and would much prefer buying a used car  but probably a bit newer than 1999 and not as large. It doesn’t have to have the “prestige” of a Mercedes, etc. – but I would hope that it would last a long time and possibly be the last car that I own (with no guarantees of course). I’m a rather private person, so please don’t use my last name if you happen to print my question. Thank you for all the insight that you share. You have definitely opened my eyes to a lot. Blessings and Happy New Year!

My reply: I have the perfect car for you – I think!

I strongly recommend a Chrysler 300. The current model is largely the same as the ten-years-ago model, so you can go newer (e.g., 2016, 2017, 2018) without getting all the new stuff.

Which means you can get a recent-model car that will last you a long time.

The 300 is the kind of car you’ll like because it is a lot like your Mercedes. It is big and solid and built on a rear-drive layout (AWD is available, if you’d like that). It has big engines – a big V6 and a bigger V8. It is wonderfully smooth/quiet and luxurious. You can outfit one with almost everything you’d find in a Mercedes for a not-Mercedes price. And these cars will cost you not-Mercedes money to service and maintain.

There’s nothing that compares – that isn’t a Mercedes (or BMW or Lexus, etc.).

Go test drive one; I think you will really like this one!

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Got a question about cars, Libertarian politics – or anything else? Click on the “ask Eric” link and send ’em in!