My current 2008 LS600hL will be at 95,000 miles by next summer, close to the end of it's 100,000 warrantee.

While I still really enjoy the car, and have had NO squeaks, rattles, or problems (well, new brakes at 81,000), I want a smaller car, a closer dealer, and it's just time to move on.

Both the new MBE550 4Matic (AWD a must here in Maine) and the Audi S6/7 (or A6/7) have all of the technical gee-gaws I love, and the green-light sprint that I occasionally crave, I'm especially interested in the ride quality. I'll be test driving them when the 2014 E550 is available in the spring.

Specifically, how do these cars compare with:

• Seat comfort.
• Smoothness (smooths out road bumps).
• Quiet (masking road and tire noise).
• I use both the NAV and the radar cruise control a lot. How do these compare?

Also, I noted the following earlier post from 2010. Is this still an issue?

100% correct that the new version of the NAVI for W212 and C207 is inferior.

While it DOES allow precise address entry and it DOES tell you which side of the street your destination is, it does not show many cross streets in the map mode, it has many missing streets and its guidance function is in a bad need of reprogramming.

It is a joke compard to the NAVI in the current S-class
CL-class and even the W211 / C219 (E /CLS).

Futhernore the Linguatronic voice recognition is so precise that if you change your intonation ever so slightly it will not recognise the stored names.

Very frustrating.

Thanks, I appreciate any guidance....

HBH

 

If you enjoy the ride of the LS, you are probably not going to like the ride of any of the vehicles you list. You would probably be well served with another LS, but, consider the short wheelbase version.

 

Thanks for your suggestion, but the new Lexus, both LS and GS, don't appeal to me, as well as the 50+ mile distance to the dealer.

I wasn't comparing the MB to the Lexus, but to the Audi.

I assume from your comment that the E550 isn't as quiet nor smooth as my current LS, but I've already reconciled to that possibility. The question is how much. Perhaps I'll just have to wait and drive them myself, but opinions would be usefull.

HBH

 

I'll give you my $.02 on this...

If ride comfort/smoothness with power as your target the E550 (you'll probably want the airmatic as well) is the way to go. Excluding the S Class and other higher price point cars like say a Bently or a Rolls the E tops the list.

However, you do not have a fair comparison point if you are looking at the S6/7. They are designed specifically to feel the road more so comfort and noise are not what they are designed for. You should drive them all, you'll need to see for yourself. A BMW 550 xdrive is also a competitor that you might want to consider as well.

I drove the BMW 535 and the E350 and the way I saw it was:
using a scale of 1 - 10 (10 being the best) comparing similar price points...
Handling BMW 9.5, E 8
Comfort BMW 6.5, E 9.5
Both of them blew away the infiniti that I replaced.
again, this is my opinion, I am sure there are others out there.

In terms of Nav, sure the one in the E isn't the greatest, but I don't agree with the points you referenced. If it is missing streets, get the updates (sure its overpriced at $250 but its HD based and you can find the disc cheaper) I haven't had any issues with the cross streets, you just need to zoom it in with a simple turn of the command knob. Don't know what they mean by guidance function - UI or turn by turn directions or whatever. The UI isn't the greatest but once you use it a while you get the hang of it. The voice control isn't the greatest either but it does work, you may need to repeat, I find it faster to enter the stuff manually though. The really stupid thing with it is that (at least on my 2010) it has won't take addresses from contacts, and it doesn't give you distances to the next turn unless you are getting close.

 

Thanks for your comments, but I had such a horrible experience with a new 2005 BMW 330xi (5 trips to the dealer because of failures in the first year) that I won't consider one again.

I wonder if the NAV issues you mentioned have been addressed in the current model?

HBH

 

That is the way a LOT of people feel, at least from what I have heard. In fact one of the CPO 535s that I drove had the turbo crap out 30s into my test drive. "engine malfunction, reduced power".. You would think that they would test drive the things before they let someone looking to buy one in em. That sealed the deal for me and I love my E.

Good question, one that I would like to hear about as well.

 

The 2012 W212 Nav is definitely not inferior to a W211 (2009), and the rotary knob definitely makes data entry easier.

 

You can get a lemon from any brand, even Mercedes.

I have a soft spot for Audi but reliability wise my experience with BMW was much better. I think all the data-driven studies will support this anecdotal view.

That sounds like an HPFP failure which was initially common with the N54 (the twin turbo I6 in the *35i cars) but was fixed under a TSB which replaced the pump and updated the software.

 

Ride quality is going to vary a bit based on not just the platform, but which tires and sizes you choose, i.e. 17" vs 18" vs 19"

 

^ Agree especially run-flats are rougher.

 

I'm not sure if the differences are the same in the E550 vs the E350, but the luxury is significantly more comfortable than the sport version of the E350 IMO. I'd check out that option as well.

As far as navi goes, I think the voice input is the only really useable option, and it works quite well. Manual input is hair pulling frustration and I never bother. Pre-loaded POI's is abysmal and having to call Mbrace to load new POI's is a comedy of errors in execution of a system that should be easily accessible and user friendly.

As for E vs A6, the E is definitely quieter inside vs the A6. The A6 has more engine noise, road noise, and you feel more bumps in the road. I have the E350 sport.

 

S7 will be better for parameters you were highlighted. MB navigation is much better than Lexus but Audi has it even better, although many people use smart phones nowadays especially in situation when you need to find route avoiding jams. Note that Audi has smart phone integration.
S7 is smoother and has less road noise especially coming from tires. Radar cruise controls look very similar for both cars. I absolutely love the feature do not need to touch any pedal during all my 26 miles commute. I
I think also S7 is slicker, so go for it.

 

Really? I thought the audi S's were the super sporty versions of their lines sort of like AMG. I have no direct experience with them but i thought they weren't designed with comfort as a priority like the E's. Am i wrong here?

 

Audi's "super sporty versions" are RS series, not S. RS is "sort of like" AMG (including price), but IMHO geared even more toward sport/performance/handling.

Audi's S is very close to MB's 550s (including price, but depending on model some are more) but with better handling which in turn translates into a bit firmer ride.

 

MB discontinued the Luxury trim for the E550, so you get standard 18-in wheels (ugh). If you're really worried about ride comfort, make sure you test drive both on bumpy roads. Consumer Reports noted that their E350 Bluetec (on run flats!) rode significantly better than the E350 Sport they had tested earlier.

You might also find this comparison test helpful (although they're testing the CLS550 vs. the S7):
http://www.caranddriver.com/comparis...omparison-test

FWIW, I have a C250 Sport and have no intention of buying sport-trimmed anything from MB again (would've liked a Luxury but couldn't find one optioned the way I wanted on dealer lots earlier this year; now there's a ton! Argh.).

 

It gives you distance to the next turn from any point if you set the instrument panel to Navi. Still stupid , but the info is there if you need it.

 

Using Cars.Com as a reference, there are 42 new S7's available for sale in the US without ordering, priced at a range of $96K down to $83K. A few more don't have prices referenced. Athough one may not like the overall design, Audi's interiors are very well crafted, and the S6/S7 have the option of the diamond stiched seats, which adds to the tailored look. Of the options considered by the OP, the S7 is less common, yet priced at a premium over thee E550.

 

I just remembered that if you ask COMAND to repeat the directions (press RPT), it will tell you the distance to the next turn. Something like "follow the road for 10 miles." Still, the info should be in the display. It's useful when you are dealing with heavy traffic.

 

Could be true if the Bluetec had 17s and the E350 Sport had 18s.

 

Audi s7 vs e550? You're comparing cars on different price levels. The S7 is going to cost you close to 90K while the e550 is probably going to be at about 68K.

The Lexus will be ancient compared to the 2. I would say that you cannot compare a Lexus to an MB, my opinion. I have the w212 and my wife has a Lexus.

I would say the e550 is a great car and with leather, upgraded seating package, upgraded tech package, air suspension.... you have a killer car.

 

Well OP did state S6/S7. And while I do agree that E550 is not compatible to S7 on price level (S7's direct competitor prisewise and marketwise in MB's lineup is CLS550 4M), S6 certainly is competitor to E550 4M both in (MSRP)price (even though in real world MB's are discounted) and market segment.

 

Base Prices:

• E550 = $60,400
• S6 = $72,795
• S7 = $78,800

 

Thanks for pointing that to uninformed, but S6/S7 are loaded as "base" while E550 is not. Similarly equiped - E550 4M is $68K and S6 is $72K - and as stated above, IMHO similarly priced. Real world transaction price is quite different, but that was pointed above as well and is due to short supply of "S"s and relative availability (and heavy discounting) of e550s.

IMHO, S6 is "comparable" to A6 same is E550 to E350 (which of course is no comparison for those requiring extra dose of adrenaline).

As far as S7, its is actualy price a bit less than similarly equiped CLS550 4M - which is its natural competitor.

 

My comments were based on OPs criteria - ride comfort is top of list and power next (guess here). From this I thought the E would be the best of the competition list that was on the table. This is based on my experience with the E350 and an assumption that the E550 with airmatic would be even better - not sure if this is true though. What are the thoughts on the S's in terms of ride comfort? I thought that they would be more attached to the road/firmer ride, but then again I haven't driven one hence the question.

 

OP- have tou made a decision yeT?