golfster

An interesting take on the E 350. Apologies if this has already been posted.

http://www.legitlifestyle.com/2011-m...tour-de-force/

WGB

Sounds like they really like it.

fromthebeginnin

BTW I've seen a lot of people complain about the navigation system I totally agree with the authors perception.

RNBRAD

I totally agree as well. Good read with accurate assessment. This quote was spot on, I guess the suspension has taken some hits in comparison to the airmatic. "Of course the E350’s suspension can’t touch the Airmatic ride of an E550 but that doesn’t make the E350’s ride bad. It’s kind of like saying that a Rolex watch is crap because it’s not as nice as a Panerai. It’s not crap – it’s just not quite as good as the more expensive option".

Tjdehya

I agree witht this statement 100%. In most cars you know you are going fast even with you eyes closed. But with this car 100mph feels tha same as 50mph.

ngerstman

How come reviewers of e350's don't realize that there is no suspension adjustment feature like there is in the e550? You would think after thy change the e/c setting and feel no difference in the ride that they would look into it! Regards. Ned.

golfster

I think it is nice to see a "real world" review.

cvinfig

On the MB website they now list the following:
AGILITY CONTROL suspension with selective damping


Mine doesn't have suspension settings...

ngerstman

Selective but not selectable. The e/c switch adjusts tranny shift points. The agility control stuff is most likely marketing stuff. Not that the suspension isn't great! It's a Mercedes after all. Aren't all shocks in essence selective damping. Regards Ned.

cvinfig

Ah, you confused me with the e/c switch as mine is e/s for the tranny. Thought you were referring to a different setting...

LegitLifeStyle

Thanks for the kind words on the review gents. I'm glad you enjoyed it. We aim to do car reviews a bit differently than everyone else and its nice to see that people appreciate that. I truly did love this car and was so impressed with almost every aspect of it. Kudos to you all for actually owning them! Cheers!

cvinfig

Thank you for a great write-up, aside from the BlueTEC eco-geek comment...

ngerstman

Sorry, I meant the e/s switch. The only way you currently get an adjustable suspension in Mercedes is with the airmatic shocks which come standard on the e550 and e63, not available on the e350. Regards. Ned.

K-A

Great article! Finally, a REAL Review on the E-Class.

No bullocks by selfish writers who test E350's the exact same way that they do Gallardo's. Because we all need to know how our cars handle hairpin 180º turns/spins around cones at 140 MPH!!!!

I agree that the V6 motor gives you more than necessary power for normal driving, and it actually feels faster than it is. Of course for speed junkies who are used to V8 TQ, or simply have sensitivities to torque/power outputs, they might see it differently. But I feel it is perfectly suited for this type of car, although V8 smoothness, sound, and wafting abilities are quintessential for Luxury Cars.

I like the focus on styling. I feel a lot of articles just go: "It looks cool / It looks weird / It looks great / It looks blah blah..... NOW WATCH US TAKE HAIRPIN TURNS AROUND CONES!!!!"

This is a design that needs to really be studied, and can spawn interesting responses.

I've also said that the interior brings back the 80's Benz traditions.

I will say, suspension wise, I feel that M-B is kind of confused (Sport model). I'm continuously unsatisfied with how this car handles harsh pavement, or potholes. It seems M-B designed a Luxury Car, that rides smooth, has some perfectly-balance body-roll, yet their injection of "Sport" is to simply handle bumps like crap.

On smooth roads, this car rides second to none, absolutely astoundingly smooth, quiet, granite-vault like, and perfect. Highway trips in it are like first-class experiences to me. However, when the roads get bumpy, it starts treating them like a Sports car, and you get lots of harsh intrusion into the cabin. This is another reason why I feel M-B shouldn't keep the Sports package as standard/free equipment.

ngerstman

I originally bought the e350 only to trade it back 3weeks later for a e550. I had no problem with the e350 drivetrain, thought it was great. Just decided that the pay up to get the v8, leather seats and aromatic were well worth the price difference. I had the e350 luxury which I thought could have used a slightly sportier ride. I think the airmatic suspension is great. My guess is that the e350 sport tuned suspension with 17 inch rims might be a great combo. My e550 is a sport. I personally think that the obsession with ever bigger rims is crazy unless you live in a world with near perfect roads. There was a time when 17 inch rims would have been considered large. I would like to have test driven the e550 luxury to feel the difference for myself. Regards. Ned.

BenzE350

Overall not a bad review, however, I have a few nits...

1. There are no suspension changes between econony and sport mode. You lost a lot of credability with this remark.

2. Best nav system available? Have you used many navs before? The iDrive you reference is considerably better.

3. The car got stares left and right as you made your way around town? This is a fairly common car driven by business types and soccer moms alike. Stares? Well, maybe in Nebraska.

K-A

My car's gotten quite a few stares.

For the record, there are different types of "stares". There's the "whoa, I've never seen that before" kind of more common gawk-stare (I got those when I first got the car, i.e when the body style was still almost brands new), and the type of stare that any car that is a nice design, and a cleanly kept example (little mods help) will get.

For example: My W211 still got the "appreciative stare" even after the W212 came out.

But yeah, it's an understated car no doubt, all Benzes are supposed to be. The beauty of a good Benz design is that they're meant to blend in, yet stand out at the same time.

But yeah, Nav sucks, and no Transmission settings. However, I got the impression that they meant that the Nav is easier to use? Maybe so, since it is pretty simple and straightforward.

LegitLifeStyle

Admittedly the suspension remark is a mistake I made... I still prefer the nav to that of the i-drive, and the stares... well its Nebraska as you pointed out... A new E-Class is something different from the sea of beige domestic crap and pickup trucks our roads are littered with I appreciate the feedback! Cheers!

K-A

Oh man, I didn't realize you're in Nebraska. I live in the E-Class capital, and where you are, I'm assuming an E-Class, especially a newer body, will get Ferrari type stares.

ngerstman

Good review. It seems to me that the new e is still fresh enough and not common enough yet to the point where I even still stop to look admiringly at them!! I'm not that jaded yet. Regards. Ned.

220S

Of course everyone here agrees that it's a great review.... because it's positive. If it wasn't positive, then it would be a bad review.

It's so common on all car forums. Everybody drools over good reviews and claims the reviewer is the smartest person since Einstein and then when a negative review comes along, that person is lowered to the status of a mindless chimp. We seem to need pats on the back about our choices of products we buy because those choices reflect on us.

btw, here's a review by a MBWorld member. Had it bookmarked for no real reason. But here it is:

http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/200...s/#more-330496

K-A

A good design is a good design. I personally don't try and let whether it's new or not (or how many I see) determine how I perceive it. For example, I still stop and stare at nice W211's, or W220's, etc.

golfster

Kind of like attractive women...ever seen too many?

RNBRAD

That's right, cause if it was a bad review and we agreed with it, we wouldn't be here chatting about it right now. We'd be on another board.

K-A

I have no problem with bonafide criticism. I just think it's beyond stupid when some rag puts an E60 5-Series over a W212 E-Class because the 5-Series knocks your fillings out better, or maneuvers around cones at 100 MPH better. Who the F cares? Who spends $60+K on this car to get performance out of it? Even the E550 buyers care more-so about smooth and linear/powerful acceleration, but nobody's drag racing the things (in their right minds).

Fine, do a little test and tell us what our Luxo Sedans can do at the limit, but don't focus your whole Review on ridiculous-to-this-car things as how well you can feel the pebbles on the road, or how much understeer/oversteer the car has, etc. etc.

I'd rather listen to them speak about things such as how their a$$ felt after a long drive, things such as breaking down the style and interior materials/construction. I'd love to hear about them giving us stats on SOUND DB'S, and who rides more *Luxuriously*, NOT sportily. I didn't buy this car to live vicariously through what I wish it was (a sports car), and I don't have a family holding me back from getting some 2-Seater. I could have gotten the 2-Seater, but chose this car because I want it for its many perks. I trust that a German brand such as M-B, designs the car to handle competently and safely, and that is has the nannies to keep the car from spinning out. I also got the Sport Package because I DO like a little spirited feel, and I don't want a bouncy Caddy, and I DO enjoy a stiff and tight "Sporty" feel as well to some extents. However, again, I feel that the car does that fine, I don't need a track break down of it, more than I do a break down of how well it coddles, and lowers my heart rate.

If I pick up that new Camaro I've been lusting after for so long to replace my DD Malibu, I'll feed my Muscle Car side again, and I'll read all about performance stats. But not on my E-Class.

Lol, very much the case. Attractive is attractive, and timeless designs are timeless designs.