Need Help: 2004 E3*0 vs. E500
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Need Help: 2004 E3*0 vs. E500
My dad has an order for a 2004 E350, hoping that they'd bring it out for MY04, but now he's getting tired of waiting and is debating whether or not to get a 500 instead. If he got the V6, 350 or 320, it would have to come with airmatic dc, but what additional standard equipment does the 500 have over the 3*0?
Does H/K come standard on 500's?
Does H/K come standard on 500's?
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Re: Need Help: 2004 E3*0 vs. E500
Originally posted by MidniteBluBenz
My dad has an order for a 2004 E350, hoping that they'd bring it out for MY04, but now he's getting tired of waiting and is debating whether or not to get a 500 instead. If he got the V6, 350 or 320, it would have to come with airmatic dc, but what additional standard equipment does the 500 have over the 3*0?
Does H/K come standard on 500's?
My dad has an order for a 2004 E350, hoping that they'd bring it out for MY04, but now he's getting tired of waiting and is debating whether or not to get a 500 instead. If he got the V6, 350 or 320, it would have to come with airmatic dc, but what additional standard equipment does the 500 have over the 3*0?
Does H/K come standard on 500's?
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From: Los Angeles
2003 E320
I guess most people don't think about environmental issues, but I think it is important. The E3*0 has plenty of power and is a little bit friendlier to the environment. It's as close to a hybrid car as I can come!lol But at least I'm trying a little bit. Price wasn't the issue. I still was able to order all of the extras that I wanted. I think when I bought my car, full leather was standard on the E500 and maybe also metallic paint. Both were an upgrade on the E320.
Last edited by rickyfanmdr; Aug 13, 2003 at 12:56 AM.
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I had the pleasure of taking the 500 and the 320 in both sport and non-sport package in a rather extensive test drive..and i have to say hands down the 500 wins. But it all depends on your location, how is the traffic in your area? how agressive are you as a driver? how aggressive are others?
In S. California the power of the 500 is a blessing, i could change lanes on the freeway without effort, pass people and even race people without them knowing we were even racing to begin with.
But if you live in a place similar to Portland, Oregon which is where i am right now, the 320 is plenty enough.
Now if you go wtih the 320 please get the sport or the airmatic suspension as an option because it is well worth the price.
In S. California the power of the 500 is a blessing, i could change lanes on the freeway without effort, pass people and even race people without them knowing we were even racing to begin with.
But if you live in a place similar to Portland, Oregon which is where i am right now, the 320 is plenty enough.
Now if you go wtih the 320 please get the sport or the airmatic suspension as an option because it is well worth the price.
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2006 Acura RL
Re: Need Help: 2004 E3*0 vs. E500
Originally posted by MidniteBluBenz
My dad has an order for a 2004 E350, hoping that they'd bring it out for MY04, but now he's getting tired of waiting and is debating whether or not to get a 500 instead. If he got the V6, 350 or 320, it would have to come with airmatic dc, but what additional standard equipment does the 500 have over the 3*0?
My dad has an order for a 2004 E350, hoping that they'd bring it out for MY04, but now he's getting tired of waiting and is debating whether or not to get a 500 instead. If he got the V6, 350 or 320, it would have to come with airmatic dc, but what additional standard equipment does the 500 have over the 3*0?
However, I will admit that the punch the 500 delivers is very satisfying. It does feel good to hit the gas in a 500. However, as satisfying as that extra 80 hp is, its not very practical. You may
use it once and a while, but for everyday drving, the 320 (or 350) is more than enough.
I would agree, that no matter what you do, get the sport version with the Airmatic DC. its worth the $3000 for that.
I'm very happy with my 320 and have no regrets whatsoever. However, I can't say that a 500 will be bad. Either way, you will be satisfied.
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The 350, when it does come (probably 2005), will be a new 4 v/c motor. The more I think about it, the more I would want the 320, the motor is bullet proof. That new motor will have bugs, and so will that new 7G tranny in my opinion.
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E-500
Re: Re: Need Help: 2004 E3*0 vs. E500
Originally posted by aplato
I too have had the pleasure of driving a 320 and a 500. I personally prefer the 320. I felt that the 500 did not handle as well as the 320. The 320 is lighter up front and seems to have better weight distribution. The 320 just seems tighter and more efficient over all.
However, I will admit that the punch the 500 delivers is very satisfying. It does feel good to hit the gas in a 500. However, as satisfying as that extra 80 hp is, its not very practical. You may
use it once and a while, but for everyday drving, the 320 (or 350) is more than enough.
I would agree, that no matter what you do, get the sport version with the Airmatic DC. its worth the $3000 for that.
I'm very happy with my 320 and have no regrets whatsoever. However, I can't say that a 500 will be bad. Either way, you will be satisfied.
I too have had the pleasure of driving a 320 and a 500. I personally prefer the 320. I felt that the 500 did not handle as well as the 320. The 320 is lighter up front and seems to have better weight distribution. The 320 just seems tighter and more efficient over all.
However, I will admit that the punch the 500 delivers is very satisfying. It does feel good to hit the gas in a 500. However, as satisfying as that extra 80 hp is, its not very practical. You may
use it once and a while, but for everyday drving, the 320 (or 350) is more than enough.
I would agree, that no matter what you do, get the sport version with the Airmatic DC. its worth the $3000 for that.
I'm very happy with my 320 and have no regrets whatsoever. However, I can't say that a 500 will be bad. Either way, you will be satisfied.
I drove my pre-nav across the country and back on all conceiveable road conditions. There is no way any car could handle better. The airmatic is beyond belief as I am sure it is on the 320. I just can't imagine what you may have experienced when you test drove the E-500.
Read Texta's post above. I just realized you were in Oregon. The E500 may be a little much with your 55 and 60 MPH highways.
Seriously, I have driven both cars and in my experience the E-500 handles better than the E320...but surely not any less.
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From: Portland, OR
2006 Acura RL
Re: Re: Re: Need Help: 2004 E3*0 vs. E500
Originally posted by etenn
I am surprised that you did not think the E-500 handled well.
I drove my pre-nav across the country and back on all conceiveable road conditions. There is no way any car could handle better. The airmatic is beyond belief as I am sure it is on the 320. I just can't imagine what you may have experienced when you test drove the E-500.
Read Texta's post above. I just realized you were in Oregon. The E500 may be a little much with your 55 and 60 MPH highways.
Seriously, I have driven both cars and in my experience the E-500 handles better than the E320...but surely not any less.
I am surprised that you did not think the E-500 handled well.
I drove my pre-nav across the country and back on all conceiveable road conditions. There is no way any car could handle better. The airmatic is beyond belief as I am sure it is on the 320. I just can't imagine what you may have experienced when you test drove the E-500.
Read Texta's post above. I just realized you were in Oregon. The E500 may be a little much with your 55 and 60 MPH highways.
Seriously, I have driven both cars and in my experience the E-500 handles better than the E320...but surely not any less.
The 500 was, IMHO, more ponderous in those twisty roads. I was not able to go through the same twists at the same speed in the 500. I was easily doing tight corners in a 320 at 45+. The 500 could only manage about 40 through the same turns. And these were very similar packages. Both were sport models with the Airmatic DC. Both had the Continental tires. The only difference was that the 500 had the 4 zone cooling.
Its been my experience that cars with large engines and strong low-end torque tend to appeal to a different kind of driver. Some people prefer massive power, but the sacrifice is almost always handling. I prefer lighter, tighter handling cars. After having an e430 for 3 years, I wanted a change to something that was snappier.
Yet, as I have said many times - I don't think the 500 is bad car. Its different. It has a different character than the 320. If you're a driver who likes a lot of power then the 500 is your car. If you don't want or need all the power and consider handling more important - then the 320 is a better choice.
Either way, I don't think either car is disappointing in anyway.
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Aplato,
I have read various magazines commenting much along the lines as you are here. I didn't put much emphasis on those remarks, because I haven't driven both cars briskly back to back. This is the first time I have seen an actual owner confirm. It does make sense however, because I felt much the same way about the A6 2.7T vs. the 4.2 V-8. It's a shame that a lot of 500 owners look down on those who pick the 320. Conversely, it could be a matter of driver confidence. Maybe the 500 simply takes a little more to extract the handling performance than the 320.
Tezta,
Can you give a reason for why the E500 handles better? I assume both cars are tuned similarly when put into the second sport mode, and both carry the same width tire in the sport package. Given these circumstances the 320 might have the slight edge due to weight, unless throttle steering is an integral part of your driving, in which case the 500 can more readily help. Please give us more detail.
I have read various magazines commenting much along the lines as you are here. I didn't put much emphasis on those remarks, because I haven't driven both cars briskly back to back. This is the first time I have seen an actual owner confirm. It does make sense however, because I felt much the same way about the A6 2.7T vs. the 4.2 V-8. It's a shame that a lot of 500 owners look down on those who pick the 320. Conversely, it could be a matter of driver confidence. Maybe the 500 simply takes a little more to extract the handling performance than the 320.
Tezta,
Can you give a reason for why the E500 handles better? I assume both cars are tuned similarly when put into the second sport mode, and both carry the same width tire in the sport package. Given these circumstances the 320 might have the slight edge due to weight, unless throttle steering is an integral part of your driving, in which case the 500 can more readily help. Please give us more detail.
Last edited by JustinTRW; Aug 16, 2003 at 05:43 PM.
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Originally posted by bmms8
i was just wondering why you guys call it a E3*0, i know...dumb question:p but i dont know, because of the E350?
i was just wondering why you guys call it a E3*0, i know...dumb question:p but i dont know, because of the E350?
When Car & Driver tested a E320 Sport, they found that it stopped shorter and was faster through a slalom than an E500, and a E55 for that matter. They attributed it to the fact that the E320 was the lightest of the 3 cars.
Either way my dad's in real estate and is probably more concerned about fuel economy than outright handling, since he does 24K miles per annum.
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From: Cary, NC
2003 E 500
One thing nobody has mentioned is the QUALITY of the engine performance of the two cars; not just the QUANTITY of power offered by the two.
IMHO, the quality of the E500's engine is much more preferable than that of the E3*0. The E500's engine is incredibly smooth, unstrained, relaxed, quiet, etc. It's just buttery smooth all the time, it sounds awesome (a soft and very expensive-sounding burble), and it has a very refined feel and sound to it. By contrast, the E3*0's engine feels and sounds noticeably coarser- the experience it offers is just no where near as refined. It also feels somewhat strained, and not as quiet. All in all, The E500's engine offers a much more sophisticated "feel" IMHO. Even if they had the exact same amount of power, the E500 would still be a totally different experience.
-RAI
IMHO, the quality of the E500's engine is much more preferable than that of the E3*0. The E500's engine is incredibly smooth, unstrained, relaxed, quiet, etc. It's just buttery smooth all the time, it sounds awesome (a soft and very expensive-sounding burble), and it has a very refined feel and sound to it. By contrast, the E3*0's engine feels and sounds noticeably coarser- the experience it offers is just no where near as refined. It also feels somewhat strained, and not as quiet. All in all, The E500's engine offers a much more sophisticated "feel" IMHO. Even if they had the exact same amount of power, the E500 would still be a totally different experience.
-RAI
