Not so lucky every 3 days when i need to fill it up. First part to fail will be the fuel filler door!

Did you buy that pictured E500 Jake? If you drove the V8 you won't go back to the V6. I considered an E-class wagon but didn't like the feel of it, a bit soggy and non-sporty for my taste. I ended up with my 2002 S8 which has been fantastic. 360 HP V8, Quattro AWD that laughs at snow, Brembo brakes, Recaro seats, all aluminum so it won't rust. It's a thing of beauty inside and out, mine had a MSRP of $76k and it was well under $20k. My three kids easily fit across the back of it (reason why I can't DD a Boxster), even with one child seat and one booster. It's a really good car.

More pics of the car Jake!

Matt, if I weren't building a track car, I'd definitely look at this car:

2002 Audi S8, Very Rare, Great Condition, Runs 100%

though I've heard more horror stories on Audi's than any other car, I do all my own work so wouldn't be too bad.

Thankfully my two 94 E320 Wagons have been reliable to a fault, and with H&R sport springs and Bilstein sports, the current one drives like a modern BMW. Has limited slip and even with summer sport tires goes great in the snow.

I'll post some pics later. Yes, it's a v8, and I am in love. It's the perfect car for me, but unfortunately it's not for me so much as its for Mrs Notfarnow. The plan is she takes this, and the c320 goes to my mommy.

The thing is, I've had it for 12 days now, and I can't give it up. My mom's been driving my 964 and I don't even miss it yet. She's happy, I'm happy but Mrs Notfanow is starting to lean on me to get the e500.

It is a bit soggy, especially where the rear shocks are blown on mine. I have a couple new ones on the way, along with new tires and rear brakes. I got a smokin deal on it, because it needed some stuff.

Once that stuff's taken care of, I want to get some cutouts or remote variable mufflers on it

That's a sweet benz! Basically bulletproof drivetrain. Change the trans fluid and filter now!

My new DD. 2000 E320 with 130k. Love it.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1365990844.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1365990973.jpg

Shaun, that's a great looking car, the Ming Blue is a great color for the S8. No 3-spoke S8 wheel though, which is a little weird.

I did a lot of homework before settling on an S8, and one of the biggest reasons why is the lack of issues. For whatever reason they tend to be very reliable cars, the only real common issue is transmission failures if you don't change your fluid. Even the issues that plague other Audis, like display pixel fade, aren't an issue with the A8/S8. My theory is that they over-engineered the car being that it was their $80k flagship.

Nice car! what did you have to give for it?:)

These stories. It makes me pleased to be a poor person and drive Toyotas. Well, Toyotas and the Porsche.

That's the correct wheel for an '02 or '03. Lots of differences from the '01.

JR

That's interesting, my 2002 has the 3-spoke which I greatly prefer.

You have the early seats, or the Recaros? Yours made early in the model year? I think some of the changes were made during the 2002 model year, in the middle of the production run.

JR

Recaros, those were a requirement for me. I think it was an early 2002 build.

Hi notfarnow -
I am a newbie at this forum thing and I don't know if this thread is considered dead but I have a 2006 E500 4matic wagon so hopefully this will help someone.
I bought mine with 95k miles for less than 15k. It had several of the common problems these cars are known for - some big. All of them happened in the first 2 months of ownership.
The first big one was stalling and stuttering with no warning. It once cut out in an intersection. Not comforting with a family. It was a cheap replacement of the CPS.
The front left strut failed putting the car on the ground. MB struts are high dollar. I replaced with Arnott aftermarket and was able to replace both for less than the price of one MB part. I typically like to stay oem but these had a lifetime warranty and had preformed flawlessly.
The third common failure I had was with the heater control valve. It gave up the ghost on a 20 degree morning driving to daycare. It was another cheap fix.
These are not to scare you. The car has been perfect since and is absolutely a stellar, stable, and surprisingly nimble (for a 4000+lb) car. It drinks premium in the city but can manage 23 mpg highway (my best tank). It is great in the rain and the best "practical" car I have owned. Did I mention that it seats 7 and can hold more than an X5?
People keep mentioning the maintenance cost but hey a top end rebuild on a 3.2 sure isn't cheap.

Sorry for the delayed response as I have not been visiting regularly. $6,800 with a clean PPI

^^^This, we looked at a BMW, Lexus and a MB C class. The Lexus IS350 won out hands down. Great car, we'd buy another in a second.

Edit, I didn't notice that the thread was a little dated! Nice car you picked up!