Given the opportunity to purchase a new E350 at an amazing price, and given the likely upward climb of gas prices, should one just say "apres moi l'deluge"? Or should one do the sensible thing and buy a Prius?
You're kidding, right? If not, I can't understand why you would be comparing the two cars. You must be getting one heck of a deal on a new E350 - or the price of the Prius is outrageous. The Prius is about as spartan as a golf cart and while it gets good gas mileage around town, it's far from adequate on the highway. Plus there's the "true cost" of these hybrids to factor in (wasn't there a study that showed the price of gasoline had to be more than double what is is now and stay that way over five years for the "premium" on hybrids to pay off). So if you're concerned about gas mileage, get one of those Toyotas that tout 35+MPG rather than a Prius. The E350 will get decent gas mileage on the highway (my E320 gets almost 30MPG averaging 70MPH) and will be a darn nice car to drive. Of course you could always consider a diesel....
Josh
Updated '07 model E350 gas (and a E320cdi diesel) available 4th qtr '06.
Both will be cosmetically "refreshed" and sold in that form for another three or four years.
Get a E320CDI instead... if the dealer can get you great deal on E350, then try him for the diesel.
Dealers don't give anyone a "great deal" on anything...
Elaboration on the '07 MY diesel. It's a V-6 that's being sold in Europe now; it has about 30% to 35% better fuel economy than the 3.5 L V-6 gas engine (UK figures for E-Class).
The M-B diesels being sold in the USA today (other than Calif. and New England where no M-B diesels are sold) are older, straight sixes that are good motors but have been superceded by the cleaner V-6 cdi which is supposed to be a 50 state engine.
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