If I wanted a luxury coupe, I'd only be looking at luxury coupes.

When I bought my MS3 I never thought "Hey I can buy this MS3 new, or that used Corvette Z06! HMMMMM"

or... a prius V !
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Let's get a few things straight. No matter how well you take care of the MB, eventually it will need some regular maintenance and that is going to cost more than the TSX or Mazda3. Oil changes will be slightly higher since it uses more oil. Brake jobs may cost more since brake pads and rotors may cost more for the CLK.
The MB will use more of the higher priced gas than the 4 banger in the other 2 cars.

He will also have to check out the insurance difference as the CLK may be more $$$ to insure compared to the Mazda3 and possibly the TSX.

Then he has to decide where he is going to get the car loan. If Mazda has 0 or 0.9% financing, that is going to save him a few thousand dollars over the term of the loan compared to the other 2 used cars.

Then he needs to take a serious look at himself. Does he need the flash of a CLK550 or would he be happy in a Mazda3? As a car guy, I would pay the extra for the CLK.

Well unfortunately the person of interest isn't me. This was the question he posed to me so I answered it as I saw fit and then I passed on the same question to the general public for opinions on the 3 cars that he finds interest in ... I don't think he had any particular model or specific style he was looking for. He just saw 2 cars that he likes that are within his budget, then he was suddenly offered a 3rd option which is slightly over his budget but he was asking me if it's "worth it"

Personally? Yes as a car guy myself I wouldn't even need to consider it, CLK all the way... but no I am not him, and neither are you. So why you trolling?

My second post wasn't a troll post, it was a direct answer to your question. You asked what I'd do, and I told you.

Well it seems like you did not understand the point of this topic. All I wanted was a more broad opinion because so far it was restricted to only me giving him advice, and I'm a car guy so I basically told him what "I" would do, which is get the CLK, but he was hesitant and I can see why because he's not as "into" cars as me. Granted I am probably asking in the wrong type of forum (REVscene lol) ... but I'm sure there are people in here who would "settle" for a Mazda3 and use that extra $7000 for an epic vacation heh

the only reason i came in this thread was because i saw CLK550 VS tsx and Mazda3 LOL

+1 for clk

TBH, your final choice comes down to money. Your friend needs to sit down and crunch some numbers. The difference between spending 25K out the door on a TSX or 30K+ on a CLK550 is not insignificant. Then you have to ask yourself, how long are your realistically keeping this car. The longer the term, the greater the overall cost on all three choices, with the CLK probably being the most expensive to keep.

If this was my choice, as soon as I start thinking about $30,000 and adding in the extended warranty on the MB, I would look to expand my car choices. I would probably start looking at a CPO 2008 335i coupe.

Haha thanks for all the input guys, I should try asking this in the other forums I frequent. Maybe the Fish Forum ... I'll probably get replies like "Why even bother to get a car? Just walk everywhere and get 50 Monster Fish and build a custom 10000gallon tank in your basement!"

+1 for CLK!

LOL, go and wait for my reply :alonehappy:

Mazda, good on gas... cheap on insurance...

then he has some extra cash to spend on shit or even save up...

CLK period

CLK.. but of course he's gotta know that once you go euro its hard to go back ;)

Is his dad's lease already up? Tell him to borrow his dad's car for a week and see if he feels stretching himself thin over an extra $6000 is worth driving the CLK vs a TSX.

Financially a Mazda 3 would be better. Even after being ripped off at the dealer...

Money / Power / Luxury - you can pick two

Money + Power = Mazda
Money + luxury = TSX
Power+Luxury = MB

you will feel like this:

http://img828.imageshack.us/img828/5...onopolyman.jpg
Mazda 3
http://www.toy-tma.com/wp-content/up...ng-280x260.jpg
Acura TSX
http://epl.theoffside.com/files/2010...nopoly-man.jpg
MB CLK

TSX hands down just because of V-takkkkk =D

The Mazda won't be as good on gas as the Honda. If he wants absolutely trouble-free motoring, the Honda would be the best bet (although why he wouldn't consider a late-model first gen TSX is beyond me since it was the last car that Honda built which was remotely interesting.)

If he can't do minor maintenance himself, he could try to source parts from the States and find a shop who will do the labour. Realistically, he should budget at least 3 grand per year (probably 4-5 if you factor in tires and suspension work) for upkeep on the Merc. Is that something he's willing to do?
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talk about apples to oranges to peaches.

3 completely different class of cars.

Mercedes? - luxury coupe.
TSX? - damn reliable entry level luxury
Maxda3? - economy but not necessarily good fuel economy

Actually that's a good point - I used to drive a Mazda3 and I'd regularly get about 10L/100km, which doesn't seem that great to me. Can someone with a TSX chime in?

I can and you get better fuel economy. I have an automatic tsx and it's not that great on fuel. The manuals get better mileage.
I should have added that I can do about 600km all highway and about 425-450km all city. Sounds like good numbers but the tank is 66liters of premium fuel.
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TSX... just rmb to top up that vtec fluid

My 2005 has 150km and it doesn't burn any oil if that's what you're getting at.
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I think MJ DeMarco said it best, "If you have to think about it, you can't afford it."

I think your friend should pick the cheapest car possible (both in terms of initial cost and in terms of maintenance). Also, I think its stupid to take out loans for cars. If you can't afford you pay cash, you can't afford it. If I was your friend I would take transit (or keep whatever he's driving now) and save up until he can pay in full.

But that's just me and I have an aversion to debt. To me, debt is just another form of slavery. :D