LNL

R&T has a review of the E350 Sport in the Nov. issue, and I'm curious of the driving difference from the non-sport version. A search of the archives brought little information.

How does the Sport drive compared to the non-Sport car? Is it really any better as far as handling, road feel and braking, does it have a harsher ride, and can you tell the difference in "real world" everyday driving conditions?

Thanks!

Lou

LNL

Anybody?

amdeutsch

Best way to tell is to go to the stealer yourself and drive'em both.

lkchris

A large part of this package ...

http://www.mbusa.com/byo/pop_opt_pac...=p&model=E350W

... is cosmetics.

In the "real world" you'll notice the cosmetics more and maybe you want them.

Always nice to have better brakes.

LNL

Agreed, but no Sports in stock to drive, and none expected for some time.

Although some aspects are cosmetic, and as you noted the brakes are better than in the non-Sport version, the car does have stiffer shocks and springs, is lowered 1/2", and has 18" staggered wheels with all season performance tires. The degree of enhanced performance is my focus. Blue tinted windows won't make it handle better (wish it did!).

Lou

cyclerider

Hey Lou, did you give up on your 2007 diesel? I notice all of a sudden you are interested in the gas-burners. What gives?

LNL

No, I haven't given up. Part of it is curiosity, never having driven a Sport equipped car. Part of it is my concern that ULSD will be hard to find. The local stations don't have it yet, and not all stations are required to have it on hand (only 80% mandate, not 100%). When I look at my driving needs and cost it out, the economics of the diesel make less sense. The diesel has great torque, but unfortunatly no Sport option. Converting the car to 18's and upgrading the suspension gets costly as well. Hence my questions about the handling of the Sport version.

I'm curious why you chose to sell your CDI and order an E550, especially with fuel costs so high.

Lou

cyclerider

I sold my CDI partly because I was a little freaked out by the ULSD mandate looming on the horizon. It was already hard enough to find fuel. I had more than one occasion where I was out of town and unable to locate a gas station that had a diesel pump when the car had about 2 quarts of fuel left in the tank. I am a low mileage driver (<10,000 miles/year), so the economics of the diesel don't make sense to me either. It is fun to get 37 MPG on the freeway, but it will also be fun to go 0-60 in 5 seconds. The real reason I ordered the E550 was when I test drove an S550 and found out what a fabulous drivetrain the V-8 and 7-speed transmission are. Before you buy anything, you should take a test drive in this new V-8. It is absolutely amazing.

lkchris

Don't be confused.

100% of stations will have it and it will be all they have.

cyclerider

That may be true in Albuquerque, but where I live 100% of stations do not offer diesel fuel. I doubt 10% of the stations around here sell diesel. Stations are not mandated by the government to carry diesel. The few stations that DO sell diesel will have ULSD. Is that what you meant?

lkchris

That's what I meant.