jyeh74

Love the styling. The car is very smooth. My last car was a 2002 Lexus IS 300. I have to admit though, even with 268 hhp, the car feels very slow. It isn't that fun to drive, and not overall responsive. I sometimes feel that perhaps the BMW 535i may have been a better pick. But in the end, I went with the E350 instead of the BMW 535i because of the Mercedes classy look and way better interior feel. But it does feel a little slow (when I am in C mode) Even in S mode, it still feels a bit slow. I hope the next gen will bump up the HP to over 300 like its competitors (referring to BMW 535i and Lexus GS 350) Overall decent for a mid 50k car.

What are your thoughts?

bertman

Surprised your 08 E350 feels slow. Mine feels quite peppy and I love the sound of that V-6 at full song! You appear to be saying that your car feels slower in S mode than in C mode. Strange. Maybe you need to do a "ECU reset" and see if it helps.

E500Newbee

You should have bought the 2008 E55 AMG, it'll be faster...

vantage78

Wait for the engine upgrade to the 3.5 V6 (300 hp)?

MB Fanatic

If you wanted fast you should have been a E63. But the E350 is no slouch man, 268hp and 0-60 times of mid 6 are pretty damn good for a 2 ton sedan

JRAMGV8

I agree, I have done some runs on my E350 and its not slow. 0-60mph around 6.5sec is plenty if you ask me. I did a run with a E350Z just the other day and it passed me only by 1/2 a car length when I reached 100mph which I expected worst but I was satisfied that my car kept up . So you can get an idea this V6 performance is no joke. Now if you're looking lower numbers then E550 would suit you or E63 . I love my E350, its quiet, rides well and I love the HK system which I think its alot superior than the Bose System. I love the AMG package style appearance and its pkg 2 features. I love it every minute of it. Here are a few pictures of my E350

JRAMGV8

I read somewhere from another member that the new V6 DOHC for 09' will have over 300HP and 275TQ but not sure yet.

MB Fanatic

306hp, 275+TQ and Direct Injection.

Cameron Reddy

The E350 4Matic 2008 is VERY powerful and fast. My goodness, folks, just a few years ago anything under 9 seconds in a 0-60 was considered pretty good for a family sedan.

This car drives like a world-class car in every respect. The brakes are the finest I've ever used--powerful, sure, and easy to modulate.

The suspension is the finest balance of comfort and handling I've ever known. Everyone who gets in almost immediately comments on the serene ride.

Drove through some snow and ice covered roads in the mountains of Eastern USA and the car, with Blizzak WS60s, telegraphed everything the car was doing and it made driving a relative dream. It was actually quite fun.

Only the command system is below world class.

3on8

Everything is relative. The E350 is no Z06, and I don't drive our E350 expecting them to behave similarly, but that said, the E350 as an entire package, is one hell of a car.

mpx220

You mean 2008 E63 AMG right?

jagata

Try a sprint booster, it woke up my car.

JRAMGV8

lol

E500Newbee

yeah, that's it...or the new CLK 63 AMG Black addition, damn that's sexy...

JRAMGV8

I 'm sure MB will update or make better Command/NAV systems in the near future. It really is below world class

Davel

Not sure how many miles you have, but the engine loosens up quite abit after you put some miles on it and gives quicker response. Even with drive by wire you have to be deliberate using the accelerator and "mash it" when you want to go. Because of the solidness of the vehicle and sound dampening MBs dont feel fast, i have a BMW too, which feels faster, but when i check the speedo i'm always going faster in the MB than the BMW driving the same road. Speed is very deceptive in these cars and there is a little longer learning curve on driving these cars fast. Remember with the exception of maybe Porshce (which are not sedans) these cars rule the Autobahn in germany especially the AMGs. Enjoy your ride!!

Vik888

Get a Sprintbooster.

Also, as someone else pointed out, in a MB, you might FEEL like you're not going fast because the car feels the same to me at 120mph as at 75mph.

A BMW has a more sportier suspension, so you feel the road more, while MB is more luxury.

The Sprintbooster will make your E350's throttle more responsive.

JurgenH

Relative indeed.

Just replaced an '03 E320 4matic with an '08 E350 4matic (w 'Sport' Package). 4,000 km so it's early days...But I find the car better in every way. Granted, the previous one sat on 16 inch wheels (vs. 18 inchers) but the new car feels tighter, quicker (objectively too, I'm sure). For curiosity, I test drove a 535xi and (subjectively, of course -- not pulling out stopwatches or g-meters) I didn't find it any more powerful nor more secure 'round an on-ramp. I'll hang on a limb and suggest my latest E-class represents the ultimate compromise in the M-B line between elegance, competence and, dare I say, 'value' (though I choke when I read 'mid-50's' in the original post--mine is 'mid-70's', Canuck-bucks!).

It's amazing how the bar changes though: I remember the days of the 450 SEL 6.9...and wondered if I'd ever be able to own a sedan with a 7.0 second 0-60 time -- and now I know!

A single sour note (echoing others): The sat-nav is 2nd rate --not to the level of the rest of the automobile (never mind to the sophistication of the after-market ones).

A Happy Camper! With this car I'm one step from auto Nirvana: If I can just summon the bottle to paint, body-colour [black], those line-disrupting orange side-marker lights

jimm

I am very pleased with the power of my 08 350 Sport.

But, I am VERY DISPLEASED with the outdated electronics,
starting with the 12 year behind, dull, hunt & peck Nav that
only takes you to the “approximate” address!

I guess you don’t miss something until you don’t have it.
The 06 DTS I had before had WAY better electronics, too
many of them to mention.

My lease is up June 09 when the 2010 models will be out.
If MB doesn’t have electronics comparable to ALL other luxury
cars at that time, I will NOT be returning to MB. (Just didn’t
realize how much I value great electronics!)

jimm

==========

‘08 E350 Sport, P2, Black/black, Parktronic,
Voice, Bluetooth, Burl Walnut, Split rear seat,
Wood/leather steering wheel

j_belll

my thoughts is...i love mine


more of looks than performance for me.

vettdvr

E500 25 mph @ 70 cruise. Want pep,, push the pedal.

Vik888

Agreed, BUT when you bought your 2008 W211, as I did as well, one thing to realize is that the car might have received a minor update in 2007, BUT, its still a W211 which came out in 2002. So for car released in 2002, it has pretty advanced electronics.

Davel

The car may not be for everyone, but those things should have been apparent after a thorough test drive(s) of the vehicle i would think