newyorktoLA

Lol the reason I see so many E's in my neighborhood is b/c it's filled with old ladies in their 60's, who need to go out to the jewelry stores, the mall, and to get their hair/makeup done, in a car that obviously appeals to old people as well as young people - but more to old people given the wealth difference between most older people and younger people, easy to use UI, and not that many confusing buttons. Lol all of these women drive black E350's with luxury package (double round fogs/DRL's) w/P1 and beige interior. That's literally all my dealer stocks...My dealer has no E550's or no E350 sedans w/ P2.

K-A

Wait, most of the old ladies in E's (large percentile) have Luxury Packages? I rarely ever see Luxury Packages.

It pi$$es me off that M-B gave everyone the Sport for free. I paid extra to get the AMG Package on my W211 and would HAPPILY pay a premium to do it again on my W212. Fact is, I love the E-Class, always have, but of course, it's a great car, and those "old ladies" also buy the best that they know of with their money. The E appeals to young and old because it's a dynamic choice of car (multiple characters), and of course, older people are generally wealthier.

It bothers me that these people who USED TO buy the Luxury Package, letting us enthusiasts pay up for Sport Packages so we could have the car we desire but not be bunched in with said "old ladies" in their Luxury fleet-cars, now have a Sport option by default. It was never like this with the E-Class, and it's made it less fun to have a Sport Package (I could pick my W211 with AMG Pack out in a row of E's every time, now I have to mod my W212 at every angle to have it stand out.... which I did, and I'm happy, but I wish I didn't *have to*. Of course, I wouldn't take an E without P2.... that's where I draw the line, that's the only true "visual variation mod" that I could get, aside from the AMG Wheel Package (Pano as well, but I don't have it on my new E, did on my 2010).

ImInPA

K-A, With better than 90% of the E's having the sport package, I am pretty sure most of the old ladies are getting the sport package. Go-granny, go-granny, go-granny go.

K-A

That's what I mean. It's reverse from how it's supposed to be (i.e how it used to be)

I was always fully willing to pay a premium for the Sports Package so my car would have a noticeable "enthusiast edge" from the normal "Granny E" . W210's and W211's with AMG Package were always such cool sights for me.

Now, it's like "Fleet Car" style, they make them so all E's look the same, and all of them have the aggressive Sports Package. Sure, they still all look great, but it takes away the "effect".

adrien

Does that mean that with a luxury wagon (no less!) I represent the new "sport" because it is so rare? There was I thinking it was just for a slightly softer ride and lower chance of leaving bodywork on speed bumps...

K-A

Yep. If you have a Luxury Package, especially with the double fogs, you are the new "AMG Package". You're the new "stand out from a Pack of E's".

Terrible how M-B has reversed the logistics of how it should be

threeMBs

That's why you mod. And you start it by putting some performance wheels and tires on (something those "old" foks would never do). Nothing will set your car apart more. Especially since you should have extra $$$ for it as you did not "pay up" for the sports package.