Hi all,

Calling those who have owned both W211 E55's and E500's!

Unfortunately a couple weeks ago, my E55 sedan was totaled. After much debate about what to purchase, I went with an E500 wagon, since at this point I deemed it the "smart" thing to do with the insurance payout (looking at a house purchase in the future). The car I found has 209k miles (yes, insane I know), but it was maintained by a lawyer at the dealership it's whole life, and came back with a very positive inspection. I learned a lot wrenching on my E55 so I'm not too concerned about working on this one.

I loved the effortless cruising speed of the E55 and how stout the drivetrain was. Obviously the power won't be there on the E500, but I guess this is where my question comes into play. How much of a difference is there truly between the E55 and E500 under "normal" conditions? Will the cars "feel" that much different, or will it be similar until you put the hammer down? Is the steering and braking feel much different between the two? Obviously the W211 isn't known for its handling prowess, but hopefully it's not *too* bad.

Any input is appreciated!