Spartan

I took the new S-class out for about 2 hours today and I to be honest, I am not impressed.

*Yes, it was a bit quieter then the CDI, but then again, it's not a diesel.

*The ride was a bit smoother but on good roads, you can't tell.

*The center control button does not bother me but I think that many people will find it annoying.

*Styling was, well, annoying. I did NOT like the wheel arches. It breaks the concept of what the car should be. On the other hand, the rear end is amazing (above the wheel arches). The new rear lights really look good and the entire rear looks PERFECT. The front end is gutted by those wheel arches. The relationship between the hood, headlights and arches is. in my opinion, pathetic.

What I observed is that the wheel arches make the car look narrower and LONG. It's an optical illusion that comes courtesy of the arches.

*The new style mags are boring.

I wouldn't buy it even if it had a diesel. I hope they are working on a new design otherwise I think that this may be a blunder. I understand how they want to be distinctive but copying Corollas and Escorts is not the answer.

DWP

Oh. I thought that they were copying the Ford Focus.

http://www.autorevue.cz/Obrazky/2005...ocsedan/01.jpg
http://a332.g.akamai.net/f/332/936/1...20031951-E.jpg

Spartan

TOUCHE! LOL!!!

Brilliant! How to make an $80,000 copy of a $12,000 car!

DesiBaba

Then again beauty is in the eye of beholder.

luxury1

It is funny you say this because I always thought I would own the S next but after seeing it in person I decided that I like my E better. The S is very nice but I was expecting it to blow me away and it didn't. Maybe I just need a change and am consequently considering the 7 and LS. But that is a few years away because I am still in love with the E!

c240 kid

the S550 is more or less a smaller version of the Maybach.

if you noticed the difference of comfort between the new S and the old S. i stock in mercedes-benz when they come off of the trucks. i on the other hand am VERY impressed with the way mercedes-benz has built this car. i was expecting different.

i give this car a 5 star rating.

Double Eagle

When I first saw the new S at the LA Auto Show last month I didn't like it and neither did a number of the people near me at the time who saw it. Last week, I saw one on display at my dealer and spent more time sitting in it and looking at in detail from every angle. I still don't like the styling as well as my E because of the Maybach and CLS influence. However, I do like the interior design and instrument panel layout. The higher position of the DVD/COMAND display is especially nice.

I will definitely not but the new S at this time but will wait to see what the W-212 looks like in a few years and then make a decision.

They had many of the new 2007 S class in stock so they don't appear to be "flying off the lot" as yet.

Benz-E-r

I'll have to take another look accounting for the wheel arches, honestly that was not where my eye was drawn when I looked at the first one on my dealer's lot and sat in in right before Xmas. I love the front/back end details and of course the interior. The retro art deco details are outstanding.
I'll take another look at the design features but for myself I liked it.

Nevada Jack

I really disliked the new S fender flares but as someone else said when you see the car, the more they become less obvious. The reason they have them in stock is that many have orders in the chain with many options not on the stock cars. A problem that MB is trying to solve right now. Anyway, what is not to like on this Andorite Grey S550 from the cover of the brochure..

Spartan

I drove a light gray version. I wonder if the darker colors draw away from the fender flares? The flares on the darker gray above look less conspicuous.

Nevada Jack

The Andorite Grey is the lightest grey of the selection available and has a blue/green hue according to MB. The lighting on the pic I posted makes it look darker. What color grey did you drive?

platinumsc

I visited the dealer 2 days just tomake sure my first impression was objective and fair. Still didn't like it. I agree with the guy who said the rear looks great but the front doesn't and the bulging fenders just defy logic. What design study approved this creation? I'm just at a loss and no longer understand DC. Carl Benz must be turning in his grave.

Nevada Jack

Based on the recent Feb sales activity for MB...over 3000 people see it differently than you do. Sales of the S are up over 200% against last years Feb sales. The only disappointing feature is the problem with delivery delays.

I had a problem with the fender flares for some time but the more I saw of the car the more they became less of a problem for me. You have to look at the entire package and this car is a winner. Performance is excellent, the ride and seating unmatched, the interior fit and finish without fault. The styling is modern and yet shows that it's MB lineage. The technology is first class and industy leading. If Carl is turning in his grave he is probably just trying to get a better look....:-)

ClayJ

ROFL

Work 'em Jack! We're converts now, we have seen the light! Amen, Brother! LOL

Gotta love this car - and if you don't...well, that's your choice, certainly.

Jack and I are convinced about how we both feel about it(!).

Kar don

Yeah seriously, the new S is doing great. Phenominal Vehicle.

Spartan

It was a light gray. The picture you posted does indeed make it look like a dark gray.




And another thing.....

They are asking $118,000 Canadian. About $102,000 US. The car in the States is listed for $86,000. We must be the dumb northerners to Mercedes.

Speaking about price, if memory serves me right, the old S-430 was $93,000 (Cdn) list. So they bumped the price by $25,000 but I suppose they are going to argue that it's a "550". Neat trick. NOT! Of course, once the cars demand cools of, in comes the 6 cylinder.

It's also a $43,000 bump on an E-class. The old days, one could be realistic about moving from the E to the S with a $20,000 spread but now it's an enormous jump. I seriously doubt many people walking in to buy an E would convince themselves to pay that spread. Two years ago, when I bought the '05, I would not mind paying the extra $20,000 if the old style S had a diesel, but not now.



.

Nevada Jack

Here is the Andorite Grey from the MBUSA build your own site. Much lighter and more bluish/green. This is a new color exclusive to the S for 2007.