Audi A8, E550 or E350? 4Matic or no? Please help me decide.
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I have the same issue regarding performance. My lease is up this month and I will most likely get the E350 with the P1 and the 321 AMG package, put my 20" wheels on from my last car and call it a day. I drove the E500 for 4 years and I probably used the V8 only a couple of times.
the E550 is almost $70k when you get done with it and really is idential to the 350 for about $15k difference.
Have you made up your mind ???
the E550 is almost $70k when you get done with it and really is idential to the 350 for about $15k difference.
Have you made up your mind ???
Unfortunately, all the contenders have much to recommend them. A8: Large, quiet, purposeful sophistication with decent power - but huge blind spots and poor visibility out; E350: Smaller, yet still roomy, with nice appointments and great visibility out; E550: Airmatic suspension, ventilated seats, great visibility out and all that tasty twist, but at the cost of any interesting interiors whatsoever.
To those who've mentioned that I'm not comparing apples to oranges, I know that. The only reason the A8 is in this race at all is because by the time you option out an E550, you're right up at the entry price for an A8, as long as you lay off the options - which would be easy to do given its laundry list of standard equipment.
Anyway, I'm waiting to drive an E550 my dealer has coming in next week, but I'll probably pull the trigger on something shortly after that.
The car he has coming is a 4matic, though, and I still don't know that I like the idea of trading the 7 speed, better suspension geometry and extra weight for something I'll only use a few times out of the year here in New England.
We might be moving to Colorado in a year or two, but even so I still have the somewhat old-fashioned mindset that RWD is the best way to motivate a sports sedan.
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A8 hands down would be my choice for a car in that pricerange...as much as I like the E550, the A8 has the well known quattro, is well built and is on the status level closer to that of an S-class or 7-series 
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2013 650i Coupe, 2010 IS250 AWD, 1999 S500
I'm afraid I haven't yet made up my mind.
Unfortunately, all the contenders have much to recommend them. A8: Large, quiet, purposeful sophistication with decent power - but huge blind spots and poor visibility out; E350: Smaller, yet still roomy, with nice appointments and great visibility out; E550: Airmatic suspension, ventilated seats, great visibility out and all that tasty twist, but at the cost of any interesting interiors whatsoever.
To those who've mentioned that I'm not comparing apples to oranges, I know that. The only reason the A8 is in this race at all is because by the time you option out an E550, you're right up at the entry price for an A8, as long as you lay off the options - which would be easy to do given its laundry list of standard equipment.
Anyway, I'm waiting to drive an E550 my dealer has coming in next week, but I'll probably pull the trigger on something shortly after that.
The car he has coming is a 4matic, though, and I still don't know that I like the idea of trading the 7 speed, better suspension geometry and extra weight for something I'll only use a few times out of the year here in New England.
We might be moving to Colorado in a year or two, but even so I still have the somewhat old-fashioned mindset that RWD is the best way to motivate a sports sedan.
Unfortunately, all the contenders have much to recommend them. A8: Large, quiet, purposeful sophistication with decent power - but huge blind spots and poor visibility out; E350: Smaller, yet still roomy, with nice appointments and great visibility out; E550: Airmatic suspension, ventilated seats, great visibility out and all that tasty twist, but at the cost of any interesting interiors whatsoever.
To those who've mentioned that I'm not comparing apples to oranges, I know that. The only reason the A8 is in this race at all is because by the time you option out an E550, you're right up at the entry price for an A8, as long as you lay off the options - which would be easy to do given its laundry list of standard equipment.
Anyway, I'm waiting to drive an E550 my dealer has coming in next week, but I'll probably pull the trigger on something shortly after that.
The car he has coming is a 4matic, though, and I still don't know that I like the idea of trading the 7 speed, better suspension geometry and extra weight for something I'll only use a few times out of the year here in New England.
We might be moving to Colorado in a year or two, but even so I still have the somewhat old-fashioned mindset that RWD is the best way to motivate a sports sedan.
M
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From: Vancouver, BC
2015 E250 BT 4M
Looking for V8 power with 4 cylinder economy ?
As edspider suggested, try driving an E320 Bluetech and you will be blown away by the astounding torque mated to a superb 7 speed transmission. The Bluetec has more torque (400 lb.ft @ 1600 rpm v's 391 lb.ft @ 2800 rpm) than the E550 !!
You can get all of the options you could ever need on the Bluetec and drive it for one half of the annual fuel cost of driving the E350 4Matic or E550. But if you, like so many others, prefer so send even more money to those Middle Eastern oil sheiks, then by all means, go for the E550 !
As for the 4Matic option, for most of the year it is useless. It adds additional weight over the front wheels and additional maintenance costs for the long term. If you live or move to an area where heavy snowfall occurs, a better option than 4Matic would be to invest in 4 proper snow tires.
Finally, if resale is of any concern to you, the Audi will be the absolute worst choice you could make, followed closely by the E550. If you look at current used car pricing in the USA or Canada, you will find that the bigger the V8, the greater the depreciation. Not surprisingly, the MB diesels have the highest resale values of any used MBs.
Last edited by DerekACS; Aug 15, 2007 at 12:31 PM.
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I am in the same boat as you, I am 6'6" and most of it is in my back, so leg room isn't my problem. I bought a 2006 E350 4 matic. Little known fact is 2006 is the last year you could get a mercedes e class without a sunroof at least in the USA. Now I can even wear a hat when I am sitting in my car
<snip>
The 5 series is really good and I fit fine, even with a sunroof. The seats are much better in a BMW then Mercedes. You even get a thigh rester thingy. The seat grows another 6 or 8 inches to support the back of your legs. Really nice for us tall guys. In 2006 the 530x series had awd, but the engine was weak in my opinion when compared to the new E350. Now in 2008 the BMW has the 535x which is turbo charged and that blows the E350 out of the water when it comes to hp and torque 300HP and 300lb, so you might want to take a look at that car.
<snip>
The 5 series is really good and I fit fine, even with a sunroof. The seats are much better in a BMW then Mercedes. You even get a thigh rester thingy. The seat grows another 6 or 8 inches to support the back of your legs. Really nice for us tall guys. In 2006 the 530x series had awd, but the engine was weak in my opinion when compared to the new E350. Now in 2008 the BMW has the 535x which is turbo charged and that blows the E350 out of the water when it comes to hp and torque 300HP and 300lb, so you might want to take a look at that car.
Especially helpful to hear that you fit so comfortably in the 5 series. I fit so poorly in the 7 series that I didn't even bother trying the 5. Figures. I should know better by now than to think exterior dimensions have much to do with interior comfort.
