srice

Picked up my Launch Edition last Thursday. Everything I wrote after my drive of the demo still stands. A couple of additions:
The exhaust note of the 550 is not what I had hoped. I know I have been spoiled by my AMG, but the 550 Cab is REALLY quiet.
The AirCap, while reducing actual in-cabin wind, does increase wind noise a little.
The trunk holds my golf clubs nicely. No need to take out the driver or put the bag in on an angle, etc. I don't think it will hold two sets without a little work.
The 5.5 engine has plenty of power. No, it's no AMG, but 382hp in this car is more than enough for 99.5% of driving.

Lady Jen

Does anyone know if the 2011 E350 or E550 Cabrio will have red leather seats for the palladium silver exterior?

Didn't see that interior red option color in Benz website.

Pennetta

Please post some photos

Txhurdle

Red Interior is not an available option for the E Cab's in the US.

Pennetta

No red in US, it's a shame really. That's the reason I went with the Launch Edition with the Natural Beige/Black interior.

Lady Jen

Thanks Pennetta & Txhurdle!

Sigh! I love the red leather with palladium silver. Saw that options in the SLK Roadster but find the Roadster too small. My other option would be the palladium silver with black leather interior. I wondered when will they arrive in TX.

Txhurdle

You are much better off ordering a model to your preferences, than waiting for a Palladium model to just show-up as available. Combination of pre-sold & low production does not bode well for availability any time soon. Custom order exactly what you want right now and it'll be here much faster (2.5-3 months-ish).

Lady Jen

I finally got to see the Launch Edition E550 Olivine Grey in Houston today. This color caught my eyes, Pretty sharp car and very attractive interior. That one was sold so I called the other dealership and talked to my R350 salesperson. At the moment there were 2 men trying to get the Launch Edition. He say if I wanted it, I better hurry. So I hung up and talked to my hubby about it. By the time I called my Salesperson back, the car was sold already. $3000 above window sticker ($76450usd) price. The other man offered $2000 over.

Has anyone pay over the window price? Wow, no discount at all and the salesperson say paying the window price was impossible. Don't know if i should believe him or not.

srice

Don't buy the "paying the window price was (is) impossible" bit. Granted, if you don't have an existing relationship with a dealer, they might try to squeeze a buyer, but I got a good deal on my Launch Edition. Of course it's the 8th MB we have bought in 7 years. Work your prior salesperson. You might not get the Launch Edition, but you should be able to get a competitive price on an order or stock car. After all, the more units they sell quickly, the more "unallocated" units they get to sell.

Germancar1

Right, if they wanted too. The problem is that you don't know if they see what you're talking about as being a "shortcoming". The primary engineering focus for a convertible is a body integrity and safety, not golf bags. Making a trunk opening larger on a convertible is not a simple process either.


M

Pennetta

The primary focus of designing, manufacturing, marketing and selling a convertible is to make money. Either through the direct selling of that particular vehicle or through the sale of other MB vehicles that the convertible has enhanced the image and desirability of.
If the targeted demographic for this car plays golf then they should design the trunk with that in mind.
But i think hat's why they went with the rag top and I am sure that you can fit two carry bags in the trunk with the top down.
I get my Launch 550 Cab on Saturday!

Germancar1

You're getting the business case confused the engineering of the vehicle itself. Sure the purpose of every car made is to make money, but other things have to be considered also otherwise you wind up with a product that won't make any money. I'm sure the best balance was achieved here between cargo and structural integrity. They've even added a rear seat pass through slot, a first for a 4-seat Benz convertible. Please post pics when you get your car!


M

Pennetta

I have nothing confused but I do agree with you and I can get two sets in the trunk and that was a deal breaker for me. The rear leg room was also a deal breaker. You can get a BMW M3 Convertible for about $300 less per month but it failed the golf bag and rear seat room test. My current car is a BMW as were my previous three cars.

srice

Yesterday, I actually put four of us in my E550 Cab. While not a real comfortable ride for me, the front passenger and the back seat passenger on that side were relatively happy. Having someone behind me was a bit tougher. I'm just a touch over 6" and I wasn't really comfortable with someone behind me. I could make it for a short ride, but I'm not going to run around for an hour that way. On the other hand, I think three can make it fine for a long drive.

As for the golf clubs, I can tell you that one bag is no problem, as long as it is not a monster "staff" bag. I just throw it in and it fits fine. No thought or extra effort required. It's even a little easier than my wife's SL. Two reasonable bags are certainly doable, but takes a little more maneuvering.

Lady Jen

My hubby wasn't comfortable with someone behind him too.

Can you take pics ext/int of your car? Trying to decide if this color is still for me. I originally was set on palladium silver with the red interior. That's not going to happen at all. TIA!

1908

I have been quoted a price over sticker. I refuse to pay it, though. I would rather wait for increased availability than pay a premium that is based on dealer greed. That is just me, though. To each his own.

Jake94526

My 2010 E550 Coupe has the Black Ash Wood Trim, steering wheel and shift knob, with the black and tan leather interior.

Germancar1

Rear leg room and golf club fitment in a M3 Convertible, yeah you were looking the wrong car. I think the Audi S5 Cabrio has the biggest trunk of the 3.


M

Pennetta

I had four BMW in a row and I just went to M School in Spartanburg, SC so I am a bit BMW biased.

srice

Golf clubs don't fit in trunk of the A5 Cabrio unless you lay down one of the rear seats. It might have a little bigger space than the E Cab - measured in cubic feet - but for golf clubs, it's a loser!

BogeyGolfer

I'm scheduled to take delivery on my E550A tomorrow but have yet to agree a price with my dealer.

What kind of pricing have any of you managed to negotiate relative to sticker?

Any experience would be appreciated.

Thanks.

Pennetta

$3800 off, but he is a friend from my Country Club.

Pennetta

I can get two soft clothes bags and two sets of golf clubs in carry bags in the trunk of my E550 with the roof down, if I move the first aid kit to the donut wheel well.

BogeyGolfer

Traded my MY05 CLK500A for a MY11 E550A Cabrio today.

Nice growl exhast sound. Disappointed that the exit feature that moves the seat back was eliminated but really like the new COMAND.

Pennetta

Mine has the exit seat return function, I think it's set in the command options.