Please help looking for real world experiences 2006/2007 E350
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Joined: Aug 2006
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2007 E350 Sport Alabaster White P1 Package
Please help looking for real world experiences 2006/2007 E350
Hi. New to forum here. Great forum. Over the next 2-3 months I'm going to either purchase or lease a new car. Right now I'm driving a 1992 Stillen modified 1993 300ZX Turbo that put's out approx. 400 HP which I plan on keeping. I know that the E350 does not put out that much HP, but I'm using this as a benchmark. The E350 would be a secondary vehicle. I'm trying to decide between a 2006/2007 E350 and a 2007 A6 3.2 Quattro. I've driven both cars and read professional reviews on both. You can only tell so much after a short test drive. After driving them I see that they are both completely different animals but that is another story. I'd like to hear from E350 owners who drive them on a daily basis. Is the power adequate enough for you? When you really get on it does it go and can you feel it? How does the car perform with 4 full size adults in it and you are going up a hill? How does the engine perform over time? For long time owners do you still like it now that the newness has worn off or do you have a hint of buyers remorse? Sorry for all of the questions but I'm just trying to get feedback from real owners and not from a professional reviewer. I posted the same questions in a Audi A6 forum also. Thanks for any feedback that you can provide.
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2004
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From: Atlanta suburbs
2008 Aspen, 1970 Corvette, 2000 Corvette and 2009 Legacy Limited
Simply "No". The E350 is not a hotrod nor does it pretend to be. I hear ya on the power statement (70 Covette on weekends)...
To me.. as my daily driver... it is good. Nice interior, smooth ride, good response for a V6 (but it is a V6) great looks and lets face it... it IS a Benz. It will smoke the tires, get sideways and generally let you beat it and not complain... too much. But getting serious, the E350 is a luxury car that has a little more than normal power. There is some sport and fun to be had, but it does not excite the speed sensors like say an E55 or 300 TT...
I love it for the styling, comfort and "plush" factor. I often wish I went with the V8 but current lease deals cannot be ignored for the E350.
Don't know much about the Audi...
To me.. as my daily driver... it is good. Nice interior, smooth ride, good response for a V6 (but it is a V6) great looks and lets face it... it IS a Benz. It will smoke the tires, get sideways and generally let you beat it and not complain... too much. But getting serious, the E350 is a luxury car that has a little more than normal power. There is some sport and fun to be had, but it does not excite the speed sensors like say an E55 or 300 TT...
I love it for the styling, comfort and "plush" factor. I often wish I went with the V8 but current lease deals cannot be ignored for the E350.
Don't know much about the Audi...
Member
Joined: Aug 2002
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From: SF Bay Area
'06 E350
My '06 E350 is my daily driver (~20K miles). I have had a mess of little annoying issues with it but I still like it.
The power is just fine for what I need it for. With the 7 speed xmission hills under load are not an issue. Not a sports car...a luxury car that you can drive with a bit of spirit.
The power is just fine for what I need it for. With the 7 speed xmission hills under load are not an issue. Not a sports car...a luxury car that you can drive with a bit of spirit.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Nov 2001
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From: Philadelphia area
2010 ML550, 2010 E350 4M, 1966 Corvette Convt C2
I have an 05 E320 4M and while its not the 350 I find the power very adequate even with 4 people and baggage. Had vitually no major issues at all since I purchased in Feb 05. No buyers remorse at all, in fact every time I get into the E I enjoy driving it.
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From: Arizona
BMW FTW
I think even the old 320 with 215hp is plenty fast for a car, and even then its still faster than most cars on the road. With the new E350 and 268 HP and a very nice flat torque curve along with the 7G transmission its plenty fast. The E350 is not slow and its not sports car fast but it gets the job done with plenty of power to spare. I have not taken the car on any hills since I live in a flat area, but with 4 adults in the car it still has plenty of pick up and go off the line and on the freeway.
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Joined: Jun 2004
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From: Michigan, USA
'05 E320 CDI, '07 VW Touareg V10 TDI, 2007 Porsche GT3
If you haven't done so yet, suggest you at least test drive the E320 CDI or the BlueTec diesel. The torque is mega, and produces a far more pleasant power train than the E350 gas engine, IMHO.
That said, the 4WD on the Audi is going to be hard to beat. I'm a big fan of AWD, and it simply isn't available with the diesel.
That said, the 4WD on the Audi is going to be hard to beat. I'm a big fan of AWD, and it simply isn't available with the diesel.
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MBWorld Fanatic!
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From: Dallas TX
2013 650i Coupe, 2010 IS250 AWD, 1999 S500
Originally Posted by Talbot
It IS available, just not in the US. Which makes it even more disappointing (to me, at least).
M
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Tesla Model S P100D
Also I find it odd that the E63 wagon does not have 4Matic, you know it being a wagon and all. Too bad the E550 wagon is not offered with 4Matic and really too bad the E320 Bluetec isn't offered with 4MATIC. 
Member
Joined: Jun 2006
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From: Birmingham, AL
Originally Posted by Germancar1
No 4Matic on the E320 Bluetec, though I think it has something to do with the pending addition of the Adblue liquid canister and there not being enough room for both it and 4Matic. M
Member
Joined: Apr 2006
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From: St. Louis, MO
C300
Originally Posted by Talbot
I suspect it comes down to dealer issues - the same thing that's driving this P1 and P2 option packages.
Lou
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Joined: Mar 2005
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Originally Posted by jmcar1
Hi. New to forum here. Great forum. Over the next 2-3 months I'm going to either purchase or lease a new car. Right now I'm driving a 1992 Stillen modified 1993 300ZX Turbo that put's out approx. 400 HP which I plan on keeping. I know that the E350 does not put out that much HP, but I'm using this as a benchmark. The E350 would be a secondary vehicle. I'm trying to decide between a 2006/2007 E350 and a 2007 A6 3.2 Quattro. I've driven both cars and read professional reviews on both. You can only tell so much after a short test drive. After driving them I see that they are both completely different animals but that is another story. I'd like to hear from E350 owners who drive them on a daily basis. Is the power adequate enough for you? When you really get on it does it go and can you feel it? How does the car perform with 4 full size adults in it and you are going up a hill? How does the engine perform over time? For long time owners do you still like it now that the newness has worn off or do you have a hint of buyers remorse? Sorry for all of the questions but I'm just trying to get feedback from real owners and not from a professional reviewer. I posted the same questions in a Audi A6 forum also. Thanks for any feedback that you can provide.
While I personally think the E350 will give you a more enjoyable spirited driving experience over the Audi 3.2, I don't think it'll be near enough to satisfy you after driving a TT zx. Why not check out the new E550? At 380hp and sub 5 second 0-60 it sounds like the perfect car for you, and me!
Junior Member
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 27
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From: Chicago
E350W4
Go with the 350
I have a 2006 E350 (4-matic) as my daily driver, and then I have a couple of fun, but not practical, cars for performance. I have 10,000 miles on the car and have not been back to the dealer since the day I got it.
Recently Hertz gave me an A6 3.2 quatro when I was on a business trip. I thought the cabin noise was much higher that the E class. In addition, I hate I-Drive. Although you do get used to it, I don't think it is very user friendly, not to mention that I think it is unsafe, as it has the driver focus inside the car too much. I think a they displays (main Command screen and area in middle of speedo) on the E are easy to read and navigate.
As far as power, I think the power is adedequate. This car has a memory, so if you have done a lot of "old lady" driving, it will start to act that way, however, the reset process is really easy (do a search on this forum). Likewise, I think the E 350 was better powered than the A6 (granted the A6 was in Phoenix in July, so it was under some pressure).
Just my $0.02
Recently Hertz gave me an A6 3.2 quatro when I was on a business trip. I thought the cabin noise was much higher that the E class. In addition, I hate I-Drive. Although you do get used to it, I don't think it is very user friendly, not to mention that I think it is unsafe, as it has the driver focus inside the car too much. I think a they displays (main Command screen and area in middle of speedo) on the E are easy to read and navigate.
As far as power, I think the power is adedequate. This car has a memory, so if you have done a lot of "old lady" driving, it will start to act that way, however, the reset process is really easy (do a search on this forum). Likewise, I think the E 350 was better powered than the A6 (granted the A6 was in Phoenix in July, so it was under some pressure).
Just my $0.02
Member
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 156
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From: Birmingham, AL
Originally Posted by LNL
I can't imagine US dealers asking MBUSA to keep a diesel 4-Matic out of the US, or why MBUSA would believe the dealers wouldn't want a car that would sell well here. Makes no sense to me either.
Lou
Lou
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Joined: Aug 2005
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From: Oregon
Harley-Davidson
Originally Posted by LNL
I can't imagine US dealers asking MBUSA to keep a diesel 4-Matic out of the US . . .
Originally Posted by Talbot
I agree that it doesn't make sense, but what other reason than 'simplification' could cause marketing decisions like this?
Last edited by cyclerider; Aug 18, 2006 at 03:00 PM.
Super Member
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the steering feels more BMW like, and I love the new face look version, my opinion would be 2007 hands down! I drive the 500 liter engine for ML500, I think its just overkill even for my car and it weights a lot more than an e, even though I drive normally.
Member
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 156
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From: Birmingham, AL
Originally Posted by cyclerider
I understand the particulate filter(s) on the US version are located in a position that would interfere with the 4-Matic drivetrain. Significant re-engineering (and significant cost) would be required to make it fit.
Dammit. There's goes our government messing up my options again. First the Intelligent Lighting and blinky-stop tail lights, now this. <sigh>
