E-Class (W211) 2003-2009

Help Wanted

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Rate Thread
 
Old 12-31-2004, 12:07 PM
  #1  
Newbie
Thread Starter
 
MaxBuck's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Help Wanted

Thought I would get the views of the unbiased denizens of this forum on the choice of my next vehicle. I am currently evaluating the following as possible replacement for my 2002 Acura TL Type-S:

MB E500
Acura RL
BMW 530 or 545
Audi A6


Each has pluses and minuses. Audi rides like a truck. BMW is unavailable with AWD. Acura is a great buy but lacks the excitement factor. Benz a little pricier and has had reliability issues.

Any persuasion from you all for (or against) the E500? Another question I have is what kind of fuel economy I could expect from an E500 4-matic? How much penalty as compared to the RWD version?

Thanks in advance!
Old 12-31-2004, 12:29 PM
  #2  
Senior Member
 
Ormond2004's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Florida
Posts: 371
Received 19 Likes on 19 Posts
Mercedes S550
BMW is showing an AWD 5 series at the Detroit Auto Show. I am in Fl, and have now AWD experience. The Acura seems like the best "value."
Old 12-31-2004, 12:29 PM
  #3  
Member
 
Omegaonne's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: O.C.
Posts: 182
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Mercedes Benz
I liked the Acura RL. My family had 2 bimmers and they had a crap load of problems. I had an audi, and hated it. Other than the benz, I would choose the Acura.
Old 12-31-2004, 12:32 PM
  #4  
Super Member
 
luxury1's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Posts: 583
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Originally Posted by MaxBuck
Thought I would get the views of the unbiased denizens of this forum on the choice of my next vehicle. I am currently evaluating the following as possible replacement for my 2002 Acura TL Type-S:

MB E500
Acura RL
BMW 530 or 545
Audi A6


Each has pluses and minuses. Audi rides like a truck. BMW is unavailable with AWD. Acura is a great buy but lacks the excitement factor. Benz a little pricier and has had reliability issues.

Any persuasion from you all for (or against) the E500? Another question I have is what kind of fuel economy I could expect from an E500 4-matic? How much penalty as compared to the RWD version?

Thanks in advance!
The eternal question... I think most people on this forum would say Mercedes but that is just a guess :p

I looked at the same choices and here are my thoughts:

MB E500 - Love the luxury and sport mix. Highest prestige of the group in my opinion. I don't know if I could have anything but a Mercedes for my car now that I have had one.
Acura RL - New and will turn heads for this reason but it really looks like a grown up honda accord which I hate. Good value.
BMW 530 or 545 - Great sport (and I just owned two) but the inside bores me to death especially when compared to Mercedes. Plus I REALLY dislike i-drive.
Audi A6 - Kind of sleepy but nice. Kind of a practical german luxury car.

Anyway, the good thing is all are great and you won't go wrong with any of them but obviously I am a Benz fan... Good Luck!
Old 12-31-2004, 12:53 PM
  #5  
MBWorld Fanatic!
 
Barry45RPM's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Ft. Lauderdale Area, USA
Posts: 5,017
Likes: 0
Received 15 Likes on 15 Posts
2015 ML 350
I have wondered aloud many times (even at an Audi dealership) "Who buys an Audi?
When comperably equipped, an MB & the corresponding Audi class are about 5 - 9 thousand apart in price.

They offer similar styling, ride, "feel", fit and finish, etc, but the Audi lacks ANY special prestige whatsoever. Its a nice car, nicely excecuted period. Sitting inside of one, you'd think you were in a Benz... Many of the electronics are made by the same people using the same engineering/logic, so its not like you are getting a German Luxury car with rock solid Japanese electronics. Isn't the monetary difference spread out over 4 -5 years worth driving the Benz? Its not like by buying the Audi, you are getting a "more dependable" Benz!!!??? If you are not getting dependability with your German car, arent you better off with a Lexus or Acura level of perfection AND their resale value than with the Audi?
Old 12-31-2004, 01:23 PM
  #6  
Super Member
 
Fastbuck's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Scotland, UK
Posts: 586
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
2019 Mercedes Benz S500L AMG Premium Plus
Thought I would get the views of the unbiased denizens of this forum ....

I'm afraid there is no one here fitting that description.

Last edited by Fastbuck; 12-31-2004 at 01:25 PM.
Old 12-31-2004, 01:45 PM
  #7  
Senior Member
 
Double Eagle's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: San Clemente, CA
Posts: 304
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
2003 E-500
Two years ago I looked at all the cars you are considering and ended up buying the E-500. I also looked at the BMW 745(hated the iDrive system) and the Lexus 430. The Lexus is, in my opinion, the next best car to the E-500 and both my sister and brother have one. However, I found the Lexus a bit stodgy in styling and not as good a performer. I was unimpressed by the Acura and Audi. I was one of the lucky early buyers who had their cars replaced for free since I'd ordered the Nav and they decided in May 2004 to replace our cars instead of retrofitting them with the NAv as they'd hoped to do.
Old 12-31-2004, 01:52 PM
  #8  
Senior Member
 
khaug's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Michigan, USA
Posts: 339
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
'05 E320 CDI, '07 VW Touareg V10 TDI, 2007 Porsche GT3
Could you accept something a bit smaller? The current (E46) three-series BMWs are wonderful cars and have a 4WD option that's been around long enough to work the bugs out. This is the last year for the E46, however, and the next model will be afflicted with the hideous Bangle styling and i-drive, which, IMO, have ruined the 7 and 5 series.

I strongly suspect that any German car these days will be considerably less reliable than comparable Japanese models, alas. The Japanese cars are certainly better values, if one doesn't weigh prestige or sportiness highly.

Good luck.
Old 12-31-2004, 02:10 PM
  #9  
Super Member
 
lorinserbenz's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2004
Posts: 918
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
none
Buy the E500, once you own a Benz NOTHING will be as good. I tried Infiniti, and a luxury american SUV (Denali) and they didnt satisfy me. Yes Acura probably makes a more reliable car, but no matter what its a jacked up Honda. The new 5 series is flat out ugly and Idrive is IGAY. I drove a new 7 series and almost wrecked it trying to set the A/C. The Audi is cool, but no one knows what the heck it is, and if you told them how much it cost they would think you were crazy for not getting a Benz or BMW.
Get the E500, you WONT regret it.

Last edited by lorinserbenz; 12-31-2004 at 02:12 PM.
Old 12-31-2004, 02:15 PM
  #10  
Super Member
 
LIONHEAD's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Chicago Western Burbs
Posts: 820
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
'06 SL65
I was dead set on getting a BMW 545I with SMG when it first came out. Some don't like the Bangle look but it wasn't too hideous to me. After 3 visits to the BMW dealer, I just couldn't warm up to the interior and the materials used was not up to par for a $60K plus vehicle IMO.

I like Audis. After someone I know bought a S4, I have changed my perception on them. With their racebred R8 racecar, their technology is now trickling down to the consumers. I've heard you can upgrade the ECU on the RS6 and boost the turbos to around 800-1,000HP. I haven't seen the redesign A6 but my buddy's 2002 is nice. Overall styling, I still like the E Class inside and out.

The 2005 Acura RL is a great buy. If it came out a year ago, I probably would have purchase it over the E500 and save the additional $$$ for a sports car. The performance is up to par with the E500 and using only a V6. With NAV and AWD standard, you can probably purchase one nicely equipped in the low $50K.
Old 12-31-2004, 02:15 PM
  #11  
Senior Member
 
guru's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: NYC
Posts: 309
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
2004 E320 4matic, 2007 530xiT
Dont know about the new RL but the TL is a terrible car

I test drove the Acura TL before buying an E320 4matic. The Acura drove and handled like crap, the 61/39 weight distrib really shows....Hopefully the new RL is a better car, the old RL had a plastic-feeling interior.....

Last edited by guru; 12-31-2004 at 02:21 PM.
Old 01-01-2005, 03:11 AM
  #12  
Junior Member
 
Vivek's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Mississauga, ON
Posts: 53
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
2010 Mercedes-Benz E350 4Matic
What's the weight distribution for W211 E320 4Matic?
Old 01-01-2005, 06:31 AM
  #13  
Senior Member
 
guru's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: NYC
Posts: 309
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
2004 E320 4matic, 2007 530xiT
almost 50/50

i think
Old 01-02-2005, 03:22 PM
  #14  
Almost a Member!
 
lennylam's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2003
Posts: 29
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I was in the same boat as you 2 years ago. I used to own TL Type S. But the tranmission failed twice, so I decided to check out MB E-class, BMW 5- series. Finally I picked E-class because of the new style. I don't want to put any negative image to MB but I need to say - the car is un-reliable. I have visited the dealer for 7 times (1 time is for service - 1 time for service and repair - 5 times for repair). Based on the calculation, my car needs to be in the dealer every 3 months.

Actually if you can wait for 6 more months, you can check out Infiniti M35 or M45. It is nice car. You can check out M concept in Infiniti web site. I think this car is available in Japan now so I think once the M arrived in US, all the first year glitches should be addressed. I am planning to get rid of my E once the warranty is up.

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 


You have already rated this thread Rating: Thread Rating: 0 votes,  average.

Quick Reply: Help Wanted



All times are GMT -4. The time now is 12:33 AM.