K-A

Also to note, although I've seen surprisingly not all that many on the road so far, I saw one passing me on the Highway a couple weeks back, the front-side "coming at you" angle obviously had a ton of attention put to it by the designers, as IMO it's the cars best angle. It looked really good and sharp.

Enthusiast1

Actually the original post was directed at no particular person at all, actually meant to convey my admiration for the new E-class, with a little joke on the side. That being said, with you accounting for more about 25% of the posts on this forum, of threads greater than 20 replies anyway, I could understand why you may feel singled out, but that alas, is not the case.

Regarding the cohesive versus non-cohesive argument, while I could discuss it, I feel it would be a fruitless conversation as we both feel that we could equally point out or point of view and still feel tied to our original opinion. In any event, you've had great input, and this is just a forum, so people, in general, should lighten up.

K-A

That's what I'm sayin', about the "lighten up" part, it's just some car talk.

Anyway, thanks, and carry on with the positive Thread.

bonboon

I'm in the camp that with 17" rims this car is really not that good looking. With 18"s and a performance package, much improved.

And then with factory 19"s/performance package or AMG package (E63) it might look fantastic.

I really can't opine til I see it again. While the first viewing at the NY auto show was impressive, really need to see one again and or on the road.

MBNUT1

For the record if the Kia Amanti emulated anything it was the W210. The W211 was out only a year before the Amanti came out.

MBNUT1

I find your post most interesting. So if I understand it correctly you are drive a W212 E550 currently and find it comparable to the S63 in what ways? I was hoping this to be the case. From everything that I have heard the W221 chassis is awesome, but for me it is just too big. My dream car would be the smallest most fuel efficient car that drives as well as the current S class.

LETO

It's the interior space & fact that you can have reclining rear seats (with heated & cooled functions) that sets the S apart. Even with taller drivers, you get plenty of room in the back.

Also, i love the fact that the multicontour settings on the S are saved on the memory settings. The front seats are among the best I have ever had.

MBNUT1

Don't need or want the rear space or extra jazz. My W211 seats are great I would assume that the W212 are as good or better. The real question is how does the drive quality compare between a W212 E30 / E550 and S550

LETO

I would expect the W212 to be closer in ride quality to a S without ABC. The LWB on the S i think helps eat up bumps well.

As far as the seats, it looks like the W212 has the same multicontour controls as the W211. The S has it's multicontour controls in command and is more adjustable. eg. you can move the lumbar support up or down the seat to the point where you want to inflate it. Also, since these adjustments are remembered by the seat memory, you dont have to fiddle with all the minute adjustments once you have your perfect seating.

Does the W212 have a similar inteface?

My CLS 550's ride quality IMHO is inferior to that of my S.

220S

fwiw, the W211 E63 has lumbar up and down along with inflate. The seats are also Napa leather with ventilation. However the lumbar controls and the seat bolster adjustments are on a motor interface on the seat and not thru COMAND.

I'm guessing it will be the same with the W212 E63, but not necessarily in the W212 350/550. The W211 E350 had only manual lumbar 'control.' The leather in the E350 (as an option) and the E550 is stiffer and rougher feeling, imho.

gaazmon

Ya, the W211 E550 also had manual lumbar. I have the dynamic multicontour seats with massage and they're just great.

mhh

I started the "Disappointed?" thread. Great to see this one too.

A little debate between friends is fun, isn't it?

(I still haven't mustered the enthusiasm for that first drive....)

Wig

I took an E350 4Matic out for a few hours. Enjoyed the supple ride, and was pleasantly surprised by the handling and cornering. Better than I had expected.

It was very like the current C Class inside, but has more wood and a slightly better quality of trim in places. Overall a nice cabin.

I know many have discussed this before, but the major disappointment was the engine. It felt like it was having to work hard all the time, and was noisier than I was hoping for. I dread to think how the E-Class feels in Europe with the smaller 4-pot engines.

For a car of this size and weight, I think the 268 hp no longer cuts it. It should be effortlessly powerful and smooth, but it did not feel like it.

People will say 'go for the E550', but not everyone wants the higher payments, insurance and gas costs.

I am hoping Benz will bring their rumored new V6 direct injection turbo-charged engine to North America. This 'M276' is supposed to arrive in the calendar year 2010. I hope we get this for the 2011 model year, but I'm not holding my breath.

K-A

Yeah they gotta up the 268. I don't mind it as I rarely push my car, but to stay competetive they gotta give it some more juice.

I'm sure in the next couple of years or so we'll see a 300+ 6'er.

gaazmon

They already have a 3.5L 300hp engine out on the SLK350 since the 2009 model. I think it produces the same amount of torque though. I don't know why this wasn't introduced with the 2010 E. Hopefully the facelifted C class will also get it.

vettdvr

I have driven a E500 2003 almost 100000 miles.

I test drove the 2010 E350.

My assessment.

Nice car. Fit and finish is great.

Quiet.

Shift smooth noticed no issues with up or down shifting.

Did not use paddle shifter

Like the voice operation of gps

New lane warning is nice for those of us with disc problems

Under 300 hp was a downer but for in town the car drove well.

I agree 300+ in the V6 would be great.

No evaluation on fuel mpg as only test drive

Solid feel to the car better than the Lincoln's Caddy's I test drove.

Concerns... The 2003 E500 has what I consider extremely poor reliability.

If the 2010 has this same reliability I would not touch one. IF the reliability is what I would consider normal I would probably buy a new one over the E550. The E550 has the airmatic ride and this is one item I can do without due to the reliability issues with it. I just don't need the headache when the E350 rides exceptionally well.

Would I buy one,, it is on my list of one to consider IF reliability is there.

Is it better than the 2003. I like it better due to the fit and finish/ride. But then that might just be the "new car halo" effect.

skipper

I have a 2004 E-500 and was fortunate not to have any issues and consider this car to be the best Mercedes I have owned to date. To my knowledge most of the issues involved with the 2003 models were electronic.

With that said, I have on order an E-350 which should be delivered by the end of this month. I have to believe (or so I hope) that Mercedes is not going to make the same mistake twice and have quality issues with the 1st year new production models. Keeping my fingers crossed!

For myself I didn't want to spend the extra $7K for the E-550. The 268hp engine in the E-350 is a vast improvment over the old 221hp E-300.

gaazmon

+1. Love my 2004. I wouldn't buy the 550 either due to airmatic (even though I love it) and more gas consumption. I had a GLK350 over the weekend and had a C350 loaner once as well, and the 350 is sssoooooooo much better than the 320. I want to try the 300hp slk350 and see how that feels.

EDIT: 550 coupe doesn't airmatic, so that can be seen as a plus. I think especially with this agility control and damping, the airmatic can kind of be phased out on the E class. Even the 63 will only get air suspension in the rear. I wonder what this course of action would mean for the next gen CLS. The airmatic should probably be reserved for the higher (aka more expensive to maintain) models such as the S and CL.

sunnySD

For my wife and me, if we were shown the 2010 E350 vs the 2009 E350 and they were the same price, we'd buy the 2009 version. My wife likes the exterior looks and the fake leather more. I like the improved safety features of the 2010. Comes down to who wears the pants in my family and it's not me.

We were at the dealer last week and commented that we weren't thrilled with the exterior looks of the 2010. The salesman said we were the 3rd couple who said that to him that weekend.

aeggroup

He certainly had a big problem with calculation in school or may be his memory doesn’t remember everybody’s comments. It’s a lot more than 3 per day

Dartman

This is the "satisfied" thread, boys. Move on, please.

sunnySD

Sorry, I replied to this thread because the question is asking if we're completely satisfied. I didn't know it meant only add to this thread if we only say good stuff, no bad stuff. My last post to this thread.

aeggroup

sorry man..no more ...

MichaelB.

You guys are funny.

wobbles

When the 211 came out, I just KNEW I had to have one - come hell or high water. That's what the rounded oval eyes, sleek, sexy lines did to me - all in one fell swoop.

With the 212, the tail-lights reminded me of a Hyundai, and the nod to the pontoons, well, it looked a little out of place. The front apron didn't do anything for me, it looked too bulky and the 'chin' of the front apron just looked wrong.

HOWEVER, the E63 is a totally different animal - *swoon*. When that hits our shores here in Singapore, I know I'll have to get myself one, even if I have to sell the house or pawn the wifey...