thoughts on this from the group?

my wife wants a third row and after looking at everything on the planet, it looks like we're going with a 2011 E350S4 (W212). she currently has an ML350. i'm keeping my 997S and E55.... (ok, so the 997 is for sale but unless i get a premium price, i'm keeping it. if it sells, i'm getting a PDK, but enough about me).

see pics here http://www.autoblog.com/gallery/fran...class-wagon/#4

there are 50 units coming to the west coast (100 to the east coast) that are march build. each MB dealer locally has one allocation and i snagged one.

here's the catch - my wife wants red. i'm pretty confident i can talk them into getting me a custom paint order so i'm seeking input:

thoughts on which red to get?
any photoshoppers out there that can gin up a photo for me?
anybody feel the need to talk me down from this purchase?

all thoughts welcome....

brendan.

 

Mars red, is a nice red from Mercedes. It would look sweet on a wagon also.

John

 

Guards red
wonderful car
congrats on your decision
I really like mb wagons

 

I don't quite understand what you mean by 3rd row? 3rd row of seating, or 3rd car? It looks like you already have 3 cars and does the E350 have 3 rows?

 

Third row with 2 seats in the trunk area. They're usually facing backwards in a MB station wagon.

 

yes, sorry - third row of seats. the MB wagons are 7 passenger cars. we have 2 kids and when i bought her the ML, we were getting rid of a volvo cross country because it was always breaking down. killer car in the snow, btw. she insisted that since we were only having 2 kids, that we didn't need more seats.....but....

anyway, it's OTHER PEOPLE'S KIDS that are the issue. with a 6 yr old and a 2 year old, we have the middle row taken up and can't carpool from ballet, school, t ball, birthday parties, etc. and, that middle rown is taken up with car seats so it's also not easy to break down the middle row and put kids in the far back without taking out a carseat, folding down the row, and reinstalling. this stinks especially in the rain.

why does this matter? because my wife calls me at work and i have pick up kids because her vehicle doesn't accommodate carpooling. AND, carpools don't happen AFTER work. they tend to happen right when i have a super important call at work or i want to watch F1 or a football game. call me selfish

 

http://www.bargainbusnews.com/

 

everyone's a smart *** - even the guy who's 2 years away from my situation.

although, $39k asking for a 1975 tour bus is pretty appealing for concerts at the gorge

 

Brendon,

This is pimp. Lambo doors and room for lots of play-dates.

Brian

 

Very nice. The mercedes Barolo Red metallic is nice. I actually prefer the lines on the W212 E-class wagons over the sedan. The W212 E63 wagon looks really good.

 

W212 e63 available in USA?

 

no word yet from my guy on E63 wagon - configurator is up with the dealers but no pricing released and for now it's on the 350

 

Barolo Red is MB's best red offered IMO.

Go with the 320 CDI if you can -- TORQUE MONSTER, smooth, quiet and 600+ miles on a tank.

The pop-up seats in the rear of the wagon are useless. There may be barely enough room to fit a booster-seat with an actual child in it, and when you do there is no room for any of the kids' stuff. Plus, any rear-ender of any seriousness is going to result in dead kids. That could really ruin a nice day. "Horses for courses" applies here. I'd say stay with an ML or GL (if you want to stay with the marque). Our family loves our GL320, plenty of room for all the kids and their stuff, and very safe. The other possibility is the R-class if you can put up with the styling.

 

the problem with the GL is that you have to take out the middle row seats to put kids in the back seats. thats a pain when it's raining sideways!

 

Which is more important? Convenience or safety?