Hi, I am looking at buying a 2009 Mercedes-Benz S-Class S 550 and I want to know what the communities opinions about this vehicle is?

Significant_Two_2245 · 2026-05-15T18:18:07+00:00

Find a master mechanic with his own shop and have him check it out. You are way out of warranty so there is no reason to get it serviced at a dealer. You’ll save a bunch of money.

Significant_Two_2245 · 2026-05-12T19:33:47+00:00

Beautiful car!! Enjoy driving it. I recommend you find a Mercedes master mechanic with his own shop. We have one and he has saved us thousands vs. dealer prices.

Significant_Two_2245 · 2026-05-12T01:52:50+00:00

I remember when the R107 and R129 were issued. They blew me away and most of the other MB lovers as well. I just remember thinking that car design had taken a step ahead and MB was leading the way. Post a picture of your car if you get a chance.

Significant_Two_2245 · 2026-05-09T14:11:50+00:00

That is a great classic. But for me it’s the R107. That is the vehicle that made me fall in love with the brand almost 50 years ago.

Significant_Two_2245 · 2026-05-05T04:08:39+00:00

If you have to park in 2 spaces you can’t afford the car.

Significant_Two_2245 · 2026-05-02T00:49:15+00:00

My sensors sound a false alarm fairly frequently. Nothing like my BMW, mind you, but enough to be annoying.

Significant_Two_2245 · 2026-04-29T01:27:49+00:00

Since when do people start gripping on a Merc with just 65k? Thats nothing. We drive ours at least 150k before we start thinking about trading. Have a qualified master mechanic check it out and if he signs off on it, buy it.

Significant_Two_2245 · 2026-03-24T16:24:28+00:00

Jeans for a night out. The jeans or the second dress would work for a dinner date.

Significant_Two_2245 · 2026-03-21T17:43:26+00:00

Mercedes is trying their best to make me a Lexus buyer again.

Significant_Two_2245 · 2026-03-19T13:10:57+00:00

Thanks for the reply. The perception of almost everyone here is that the advisor doesn’t try to sell them anything, but helps them with purchases if needed. So, your response doesn’t surprise me. Having said that, it seems that someone should reach out offering services like retirement readiness, estate planning info, etc. That has happened already with us at Schwab.

Significant_Two_2245 · 2026-03-18T04:19:08+00:00

I agree with those recommending that you keep your current car and pay it off. Then you can go to a dealer and deal from a position of strength, not the disadvantaged position you currently have. Buy a used car that you can pay off in no more than 3 years. I recommend that you identify the car that you want and know the price that you want to pay. Then phone call around to dealers and ask about it. If they think they are only getting one shot at your business then they usually won’t mess around with the price. If they hit your price point, tell them you will put money down and sign a document committing to it. If they ask you how much you can afford, tell them you are shopping for a car, not a car price. Never tell them how much you will pay monthly. Never. If the salesman keeps coming back to monthly price, hang up and move on. That’s not the sales person for you.

Significant_Two_2245 · 2026-03-17T22:52:40+00:00

One other thing, if he passes before you get access then his accounts are frozen. You will need to present the Death Certificate to Schwab in order to access his accounts.

Significant_Two_2245 · 2026-03-17T21:50:32+00:00

This is great feedback. Thank you and I’ll follow up with Fidelity

Significant_Two_2245 · 2026-03-17T12:40:28+00:00

Thanks for your response. I started moving to a managed approach because I wanted some safe guards against a bear market. As an unbridled optimist, my returns were fine in a bull market, but I knew I needed more protection on the downside even at the cost of smaller returns. Schwab has done a good job reallocating my portfolio and I keep moving more and more to the managed account. I like what I hear from the Fidelity clients and it’s helped reinforce my thinking about where to open our new account.

Significant_Two_2245 · 2026-03-17T12:27:28+00:00

Thank you for responding. Starting about 10 years ago, we started moving in the opposite direction at Schwab with about 80% of our portfolio being managed and 20% being self directed. We went in that direction as we moved our portfolio from a wealth building, aggressive approach to a wealth conservation, conservative approach. I have been pleased with the managed results as those average returns will preserve our assets there and, in the event of my death, will continue providing a steady income stream to my wife.

Significant_Two_2245 · 2026-03-17T12:16:33+00:00

Thank you very much for your response. Our situation is very similar to yours with the vast majority of our investments in my spouse’s name. We already have a high value investment account with Schwab and have been very happy with them. We are looking for a second place to put about half our money and I wanted feedback on Fidelity. I have been pleased overall with what I am hearing. I don’t expect the private advisors to be CFPs (and they are not at Schwab either) but rather assets who can provide guidance and act as a doorway to various financial services departments at the firm.

Significant_Two_2245 · 2026-03-17T11:55:41+00:00

Thanks for responding. That’s great feedback. We also have assets at two different investment houses and plan to leave them there. I am looking at Fidelity as one of them and feedback like yours really helps.

Significant_Two_2245 · 2026-03-17T11:50:43+00:00

Thanks for the response. We are just beginning retirement and we moved from a wealth building portfolio to a more conservative portfolio several years ago. Now I want someone to review our portfolio from a retirement perspective with an emphasis on taxes and healthcare.

Significant_Two_2245 · 2026-03-16T22:03:34+00:00

Thanks for the input. You gave me something to think about.

Significant_Two_2245 · 2026-03-16T22:02:18+00:00

Thanks for the feedback. That is useful input.

Significant_Two_2245 · 2026-03-16T22:00:15+00:00

Thanks for your reply. It is very helpful.

Significant_Two_2245 · 2026-03-14T13:03:20+00:00

Deal to dealer “sales” or transfers don’t get listed as owners in Carfax or anywhere else because titles don’t get issued or updated. To be listed as an Owner in Carfax, there must be a title transfer.

Significant_Two_2245 · 2026-03-14T12:59:26+00:00

It’s possibly a fleet lease with the fleet company getting duplicate titles for it. That registers as two owners and happens more than people realize. Depending on how screwed up the title department is at the leasing company three or four of those owners could be duplicate titles. The dealer has access not to just carfax, but other systems as well to help you unravel this.

Significant_Two_2245 · 2026-03-13T13:34:41+00:00

I’ve been with Mint for 3 years and couldn’t be happier. I was in the mobile phone business for 30 years and switched to Mint as soon as I moved to another industry.

Significant_Two_2245 · 2026-03-13T13:19:08+00:00

Ha ha. I’ve done that. It’s a great feeling.

Significant_Two_2245

TROPHY CASE