jhb

There have been a number of kudos and some gripes expressed on this forum. I was thinking it would be interesting for us and instructive to prospective buyers to hear our overall degree of satisfaction. So, I was thinking of posting a rating poll for owners to express their degree of satisfaction. But, then I thought, there is so much variability in each person's definition of responses like "highly satisfied" or "satisfied" or the like. How would that really help without knowing each owner's definition and prejudices?

What I would have wanted to hear as a prospective buyer was "would you do it over again after having one?" That gives me the bottom line, problems and pleasures aside. So, that is the poll: "If you are already an owner of a new W211, would you get one again knowing what you know now?" I am not providing as a voting option "don't know" or "don't know yet" as that really doesn't help. I think it is better to tell us when you are sure.

BTW, if you have seen my postings, you would already know, I am a "highly satisfied" "yes"!!!

gobenz

I'm anxiously awaiting the delivery of my E500 (arrives tomorrow at port in Jacksonville!), so I am not eligible to vote. BUT, based on the overall comments in this forum (negative and positive) I have no regrets. I know it will be worth the wait. Does a better alternative exist? I think not!

We need to realize how petty some of the comments and gripes really are. Is the PERFECT CAR out there and available? Does it have a horn that suits everyone? How about the 'perfect' glovebox? What about the perfect cupholder?

Let's put all of these MINOR comments into perspective and stop to realize that the E320 & E500 are awesome vehicles!

UNC Nick

In a heartbeat! Amazing car. Traded a 5 Series BMW for it about two weeks ago and couldn't be happier.

AWESOME CAR! I LOVE IT!

Nick

ElDiabloJoe

but I really wished I'd have kept my truck. It ran great! Was only two years old, and had all the features I like. Plus it was completely paid for!!!

I could read the paper in it, eat in it, spill a little coffee in it, no problems, no worries. Great higher vantage point (both for traffic safety and to see some of the honeys in their sunroofed cars ).

Now I have a car with more features than I'll ever even care to use, and a huge car payment. What's more, I have to be careful where I take it or park it, and I sure as hell have to remember not to **** anyone off at work or else I'll find it keyed in no time.

And, I know some of you will laugh, but I *really* hate the thoughtlessness that is Mercedez' complete arrogance by disregarding US-culture by putting in a very, very weak, if any, cup holder(s). So what if they frown on drinking or other distracting actions while driving. If that's so, why the $1,000-plus phone system. Aren't they encouraging that behavior? If they think they're engineering some of the danger out of the cars by those that insist upon using their phones while driving, then why don't they apply that same logic to the F-ing cup holders ?!?! A good set of solid, deep, multi-diametered cup holders would keep people from driving with one hand, or worrying about spilling hot coffee in their laps!!

So, especially thinking about the new huge payment, I don't think I'd do it again.

However, my wife's new C320 was a great move, and I'd do that in a heartbeat!

My .02, since you asked.

EDJ
<ranting over, sorry all>

bmms8

i am sure we would buy it again, it truly is an amazing car, at night when the lights are all on from the radio, and a/c, the car is so nice looking.....and of course the exterior is the best with all the curves on the hood

wow

I would do it again. I have been waiting for a long time for MB to change its design to look a little sporty and this one is it. I have always loved MB. When I was young, my parents had chauffers driving us to & from school in the classic MB (I was born & partly raised in Asia) --> Thus most of the well-to-do folks have maids and chauffers. I love everything about this car. It is very beautiful. The drive is great. I am looking in buying the G class. Not sure at this point, but I thought that the car looks great.

Regards,
Chris

Dema

Actually my next after E500 will be S500, but I think I can answer yes for this poll.

muhri

Yes, definitely.

clembo

The answer is YES. This is a great car! I have owned other Benzes and BMW's and this car has the best balance between styling, size, power (E500), handling, and features of them all.

It has a couple of minor issues that could be improved but overall it is a great choice.

Jim Banville

Did any of you test drive the Infiniti G35 sedan? It has 260hp/280torque, nearly the same interior cubic ft. as the E and costs $20K less. A recent review has it beating BMW. Only thing I don't like about its appearance is the silver center console. Just curious

Benzoid

Some minor adjustments handled quickly by the dealer with a free loaner Benz. Small price to pay for first year prestige on a model that really hasn't been redone for 12 years and is packed with leading edge automotive technology.

I still find the digital brakes slightly annoying but with everything else this car does I still think it can't be beat. Fabulous combination of performance and luxury. At last a Mercedes with the class of a Jag and the performance of a BMW. Plus the bulletproof Benz drivetrain and bodywork.

What a winning combination.

jim256

I would do it again without hesitation, would not even look at anything else.

jwc

I test drove the G35 and it is not in the same class as an E. It feels cheap (especially the interior) and the tail lights are ugly. The ride is very stiff and not that comfortable. The E is a much better car by far!

bmms8

jwc, your compaing a sport sedan that costs 35 grand, and a lux/sport sedan that costs 55 grand.......a C will be the best comparison

Dema

Yes, I test drove this car. It's nice and won some people opinions against 3 series and C class. Anyway, G35 entry level lux sport sedan can't be compared to truly luxury sedan and it loses in performance anyway. If I had less money and thought about a car in price range of G35, then I bought X-type or 330. I could also choose Mustang Cobra for 0-60.

etenn

I think this might be a "no" vote....or it may just be in the wrong thread.:p

Juke-box

definitely yes!! if my parents let me get another car, i'd definitely get another Mercedes...so far, can't think of a better car for me than this although the 540i 6spd came close..

btw, a kid in my school drives a G35, he pulls out of the parking lot like he's king. yesterday when the snow was on the ground, he had trouble moving his car due to the lower ride height and his heavy foot...parking diagonally across him, i simply pushed teh Airmatic option to raise the car and drove on out :p yea! i showed him! wish i could slaughter that car..

Jim Banville

I didn't realize that there was that much difference between a C320 and E320! Minus alot of bells and whistles, isn't the E class a bigger C class? In the Road & Track test the G35 came in no.1 and the C320 Sport came in 7th! And I've seen tests where the BMW 330i came out on top of the C320 sport. The G35 has been chosen over the 300i too! And these reviews weren't just 0-60, etc. They incoporated ride quality, build quality, etc.

etenn

I guess that you could say that the E-series was "just a bigger C-series"......if you said that the LS 430 was just a bigger Lexus GS or that a 7 series BMW was just a bigger 5 series.....or the the Infinity Q-45 was just a bigger G35.

I don't think it really works that way in most peoples minds.

jhb

This is all a matter of taste and opinion. The G35 is probably a very good car. While I do not care for the stacked headlights ala the new small Cadillac, the overall styling is very nice. But, I was willing to pay maybe $25-30,000 more for an E500 for all the refinements and technology as well as the size, V-8, luxury, etc. I rather doubt you will find a car enthusiast magazine doing a comparison between the E and the Infiniti G35, but who knows?

Jim Banville

I'm speaking of a comparison between the V6 E (E320) and the V6 G35. Other than price, there specs (size) are quite similar. The G35 is around 6" shorter than an E (the G35 is also 6" longer than a C), but is has nearly the same internal volume in cubic ft. as the E.
Honestly, what big technological advancement (not including add-on options) does a stock E320 have over a G35 or C320? My wife wants to go from our C240 to an E320 in '04, but for $20K over the price of the review-winning G35, I'm not sure the E may be worth the premium.

bmms8

isn't safety priceless.....what about the only car with a roll over sensor, thats in the world.....how about brakes that actually know you, and how they are smarter than brakes that you can imagine, what about looks, uxury, quality, name, and other awesome things i can explain, but i need to go to schoool..beelieve me though.....e is for THE BEST

Jim Banville

I actually don't like a car to control me. I don't like the idea of my C240's transmission adapting to someone's style of driving. For example, my wife normally drives our C240, but when I jump in it I want it to react immediately to my input. I don't want it to re-learn my style of driving. If the brakes in the E are used to a light foot, for example, and I jump in with a heavy foot, I want them to react as I would expect immediately. These things just get in the way of a driver connecting to the road. They blur the connection. Again, I HATE the rain-sensing wipers in my C240. Sometimes they wipe too little and other times they wipe too much. YES, the area of the sensor on the windshield is claen. Others have complained about this too. MB should give the driver several intermittent selections to choose from like other car makers. I have disconnected my rain-senor. I now get 1 wipe each 5 seconds. I will no longer have to sit there waiting for the car to decide when to wipe the windshield as my visiblity gets worse and worse.
And as far as safety, the MB may be safer, but I'd wait for crash data before proclaiming one car brand safer than another. As far as quality, well JD Power owner surveys show which brands/models have the better quality and relaibility, and MB has never been at the top of that list (unfortunately for you and me). And all other things being eqaul, I'm not rich enough to pay a $20K premium for a name if that were to become the only real-world difference between these two cars (E320 and G35).

jhb

Jim, you have already made your mind up and you are not going to convince us. So just go ahead and buy the G35 and put us all out of our misery.

etenn

Jim Banville:

Have you actually looked and driven
1. G35
2. E-320 or E-500?
3. You own a C240

No one here wants to get into a pointless discussion over comparing the E-320 with a C-240 or a G35.

I have driven both the G35 and the E-series. They are not comparible IMO. The Q45 or the LS430 is the comparible Japanese car to the E-series.

You sound very unhappy with your C240. Maybe you do need a change to a Japanese car. I can't see your reason to knock the E-series (which it sounds like you have never looked at).

If you have a actual complaint about the E-series we all would be happy to listen and discuss.