jhb

Well, I herniated a disc a year and a half ago. As a result, I haven't played golf since before that time. Even before the disc problem, whenever I played, no matter what stretching I did, I would have a little soreness in my lower back, especially the next day. This week, a friend suggested that we go to a driving range just to try it out. Well, I figured it was about time to give it a try.

I offered to drive and so we went in the E500. First, great trunk room for many golf bags, although we had just our two. Then, I got to thinking about a massage therapist who told me that if I was about to do any exercise of my back, a heating pad would help warm up and stretch the muscles before and after the exercise. As I have active ventilated seats, I decided to turn on the heat on the way to the golf course and returning afterward. I also did some stretching as I usually had when I last was playing.

What a wonderful surprise. Absolutely no back pain afterward or the next day. So, MBUSA, when are you going to get the seal of approval of the AMA? I have found a whole new use for the heat portion of the active ventilated seats. (I don't have the drive dynamic/massage seats but we do on our SL500 and coupled with the heat, they are terrific too!!!)

Jeff

benggolf

Hi Jeff,

We have not taken delivery of our E500, but would you say it is possible to pack 3 regular sized golf bags (with 46" driver) and 3 pull carts in the trunk without folding down any of the rear seats? TIA for your comments.

Nice to hear about how the heated seats helped your back! Glad that ours will come with Drive Dynamic seats.

mco

The three bags will be no problem. I'm not sure you'll be able to get in 3 pull cars. Despite the fold down rear seats I would be concerned about scratching the leather on the seat backs if you aren't careful.

benggolf

Thanks for the feedback mco!

Callaway

I put in the heated seat option for a similiar reason except replace golf with tennis and herniated disc for tender lower back.

Great to here that it works!!

jposhea3

given that the summers can be rather hot in AUS, I'd say that 'active ventilated' (heat and cool) would be a more useful year-round choice than heated-seats-only.

i got the e5 package (heated seats/steering wheel), and the 406 multicontour seats - could have gotten active ventilated with no 406 for less and been just as happy I think

Callaway

Love to, but hard to justify the extra AUS $2,500!!!

jposhea3

that's painful pricing and its clearly *not* just FX related.

heated seats stateside are like USD$900, where AVS are $1,200, a difference of 30%. I can't really imagine that MB can justify paying multiples of the heated-seat-price solely to add cooling.

so in AUS, AVS cost $2500 *more* than heated? (just checking - they are mutually exclusive options you know?)

i don't see heated or AVS on the E320 page on mb-AU under 'pricing', so I gather the website is not comprehensive in your market.

benggolf

Heated seats are standard on both the E320 and E500. AVS is (Climate Control Front Seats, option #401) is CDN$1,780 (US$1,157).

Drive Dynamic Seats is priced CDN$1,250 each so ordering LH/RH (options 433/434) will set you back CDN$2,500 or (US$1,625).

For your information.

Callaway

Our Australian website is pretty basic when it comes to pricing and options,at best it can be described as a guide.

I will talk in terms of Aussie dollars which are approx 1/58th the value of the U.S dollar.

The front electric seats which are an option for BOTH the 320 and 500 (believe it or not!!) are AUS$ 950.00 while the ventilated/heated seats are around the AUS$ 3,000+ mark!

Not only are our cars expensive to begin with the are "fairly" basically equiped in terms of standard options.

COSTLY options on top of the E500 basic price of around AUS$ 150,000 include heated front seats (even more for ventilation), rear blind, parktronic, bi-xenions, remote boot, linguatronic, keyless go, TV tuner, power folding mirrors, wood wheel, heated wheel, folding rear seat and the list goes on......

The E320 is obviously worse.

See how lucky you guys have it.....and the average wait for a new E Class from order can be 6 months, a new CLK nearly a year and a new SL.......18 months!!!!

Having said that though I wouldn't want to live anywhere else!

jposhea3

I've spent time in AUS and NZ. While I really enjoyed my time in AUS, the nice thing about NZ is that everything in the environment isn't trying to kill you, whereas in Sydney there are even sharks in the *bathtub* :-)

Still need to get to dinner in the desert at Uluru - they were booked solid last time I was there.

Ozphotos

NZphotos

Callaway

Wow,now I know why those shots of your car are so good,you must be/should be a professional photographer.

Those shots of Sydney are great.
Were you there for work or holiday?

jposhea3

thanks, the trip(s) were both work and play.

photography is not my job, but it is more a vice than a hobby :-) work is computer security geek stuff.

I used to think Nikon was a fairly harsh mistress - then I started shopping at properautocare.com and reading autopia and the detailing forums, and now its Eimann Fabrik this, microfiber that, and a few hundred dollars out the window.

spent 15 mins last night in subfreezing weather de-birding my paint after the car was parked outside overnight at the dealer (tire caught a nail). So I guess I've found something else to consume a lot of disposable income besides just photography.


My new motto needs to be "we don't own *things* - *things* own **US**"

Leave it to Mercedes-Benz to teach the benefits of Buddhist detachment.