Albert Shaw

I live in Singapore and am having a S320 long wheel base (W220) manufactured in 2000. Bought it brand new at US$210,000 in 2000. If I continue to drive for another 5 yr, I need to budget about another US$25,000 for overhaul, servicing, repairs. And at the end of 5 yrs, this car can be sold for about US$40,000.

I am considering to sell off my S320 (I can get US$81,000 when I sell it) and change to either a new S280 (W220) costing US$145,000 or a new E240 (Elegance, W211) costing US$113,000. At the end of 5 yrs, the S280 can be sold off for US$55,000 and the E240 can be sold off for US$40,000.

Considering the prices and residual value and the trade in value of my old car, any advice if it is worth to change to a new S280 or new E240, OR to keep the 5 yr old S320 car?

If choice is to change, Any advice which is a better car to change to - S280 or E240?

Finally, value for money, is E240 at US113,000 or S280 at US145,000 a better buy?

Albert Shaw

DWP

The large majority of the people visiting this forum live in the USA, and neither the S280 nor the E240 is sold in the USA. So, not many people here can respond to your question based upon direct experience with those cars.

You have obviously done your financial homework very carefully, but I wonder about your US$25,000 projected cost for overhaul, servicing, and repairs on your S320 over the next five years. That seems high; if you're limiting your driving to Singapore you shouldn't need that much overhaul over the 10-year span, and while servicing costs can be roughly estimated, repair costs are anyone's guess. You could get lucky.

Are there any reasons other than purely financial calculations why you want to replace your S320 at this point? I assume not, since you are thinking of replacing it with another W220. If the calculation isn't purely financial, then you might want to wait until the new S-Class - the W221 - is available in Singapore, unless you've already decided that you don't like it.

Financial calculations aside, only you can decide whether an S-Class or an E-Class is more suited to you, based upon your needs and driving habits. Obviously, this is the place to come if you want to get votes in favor of the E-Class. For every person here who couldn't afford an S-Class even if they wanted one (like me) there is probably another person who could afford either but chose the E-Class.

CE750

I can't for the life of me understand the prices for those cars!! For the price of an S280 over there, I can get an S600 here! What is the problem with your tax system?

sorry, if that sounds like rant, but I just want to understand the prices.

Eitherway, I agree with DWP... I could have gotten an S class, but chose the E since I just don't want a car that large. The E handles nicely, looks great, and is statistically actually safer than the S class (IIHS Study).

Dvinn

Sounds like the W211 is a better value and a better choice. W220 is about to be replaced by a new model in US and already been replaced in Europe and W211 is not going to be replaced untill 2010 or so, going with E class is probably a better choice if you are not planing on getting the new S Class.

jameson75

The reason why these kind of cars are so expensive has alot to do with duties that are levied on these type of luxury items. I travel quite a bit for work, especially to the Asian countries, and trust me they can afford it and they do buy them. Its usually about 3 to 3.5 times more than what is paid here in the USA. In the Asian countries, if its not a toyota, honda or Hyundai its expensive. It has alot to do with status symbol. Even driving a Chevy or Ford is considered luxury.

cdiken

What a joke. I would rather have a Honda Accord.

speedy888

that's a joke. put a 240 engine in an E and a 280 engine in a S? those cars weigh a ton! i could prob run faster.

jameson75

For you and I and most of the people here in the USA that may sound like a joke. But for people in the Asian countries its normal. It would be overkill to have such a large output engine. First off traffic pretty much in any south east Asian country is horrendous. There is never an opportunity for someone to let it all out on an open road. I guess they figure that since these large horsepower big engines wouldn't be worth the cost of maintenance when they would never get to fully utilize the engines ability. As I mentioned in the early thread, I travel alot to Asia for business. I have never seen a mercedes with the 500 or 600 series engines.

mbman002

America IS a joke

In Europe, the majority of W220 S-classes is sold with the 320 CDI with 197-204pk and 470-500Nm. The E-class with the 500 and the C 320 are very rare over here

What makes me laugh is that in Europe, people can drive (obviously, the reason for that is that in Europe, getting a driver's license, is not that simple as in the States), in opposite to the Americans.

Dvinn

You'll probably get a half car length from 0-15mph but after that you'll be left behind.

ruykava

in answer to Albert: i think it's better to get the E-class, instead of the S. the E240 is considered quite "high-end" in Singapore -- most E's have even smaller engines, being the E200k variety. The S280 on the other hand is rock bottom of the S-class range. also the S is by now a pretty old design whereas the E is still relatively new. residuals would probably hold up better.

not to mention the E handles better, brakes better, and has generally nicer materials inside. so go for the E240 is my advice!

to the americans: the E240 and S280 are more than enough for most roads. and the reason the cars cost so much is because other forms of taxation are lower. the maximum band of income tax is just 22% in singapore i think, and 28% in malaysia. food is cheap, houses are cheap, daily expenses are cheap (5% goods & service tax) -- so it very much balances out. that's why so many ppl can still afford the cars despite the crazy taxes on them! singapore especially is practically over-run with Mercedes, BMW, etc etc :P

stevenW211

I know nothing abt S280 but E240 is a very under-powered car according to my experience. Besides, watch out for the E quality which I've been suffering until now.....

speedy888

you are right about that. i've been in asia recently and the power is unnec.

Andrew88

I live in Thailand and just bought an used 2004 CBU E240 Avantgarde for approx USD110K. It came with 245/45/17 Michilin Primacy tires/ Avantgarde wheels, which may contribute towards the poor ride quality. I also own a 2002 E280 Elegance (W210), which has the same engine as the S280 you mentioned. Comparing the 2 Es, I would actually prefer to drive the old E280, as it is more spacious inside, rides much better (due to the Elegance suspension), and much more powerful. The E240 does look much nicer from the outside I am actually quite dissapointed with the E240 Avantgarde. The ride is very hard and very choppy, and the steering is very heavy. It could be due to the 245 tires and Avantgarde suspensions. The ride is harder than the new BMW 5 series. Not a comfortable car to drive everyday, at least in the Avantgarde trim. But the E240 does come with Keyless Go, Bi Xenon and many cool stuffs.

I have test drove a S280 previously, and I feel the acceleration is about the same as the E240. The ride is much, much better than E240 Avantgarde. What I can recommend is if you are looking for "presence", especially in Singapore, go for the S. If you are looking for a younger, more aggressive look, then go for the E.

I think the depreciation of a new S280 would be definitely more than a new E240, especially with the New S just been launched. But then, money is not the measure of everything

ruykava

rides harder then the 5-series? i think, andrew, there's something strange with your tires :P or perhaps the previous owner had done something to the suspension?

the Avantgarde suspension is only lower by 3mm compared to the Elegance -- and i've one and it rides much, much better than the new 5. although the S definitely rides better -- body lean is much higher on the S, though.

if you're after a relaxed drive the S is fine. i realised one thing after 2 years of ownership: the 240 engine just gets stronger and stronger every month -- nowadays a prod on the accelerator and it revs to 5000rpm without hesitation! almost scary

IluvS500

So which trim of e class is sent here to the united states. Since they dont give us the option of Avantgarde or Elegance I assume there is one standard one sent here that they do not name?