Johnny Rad

Since the E550 didn't sell well, it wouldn't have pulled their cafe down.

Munich77

In DC the CLS is certainly more common than the E550. I have only seen like 4 of them in the year that I have owned mine, which is surprising since luxury cars are pretty common.

ss3964spd

I can't quite agree with that, in my neck of the DC burbs 211 and 212 E's are everywhere. CLS's, while there are many, are definitely not as common as E's.

As far as CLS's being better handling - are they not built on the E platform?

Munich77

Yes as far as it comes to E classes but how many of them are E550s? Most E-classes in DC are E350 4matics.

ss3964spd

Ah - correct, E350's grow on trees here in Fairfax 4M or otherwise. E550's - pretty rare indeed. But the same was true of the 211 E's; the 500 was pretty rare.

So in that regard I'd say the CLS is probably about equal to the 550 population wise.

alsyli

I'm too lazy to pull out the specs for both car models, but I presume the CLS is slightly bigger? Even if it's not, if they both get the fuel economy numbers and if the CLS's price premium is essentially all pure profit, then maybe it made sense to keep the CLS while getting rid of the E550 b/c any little bit counts? MB pays millions in CAFE fines, so why not cut all the fat you can (as long as it doesn't cut too heavily into profits?)?

squid23

They might also want to upgrade the last of the freeloaders to the CLS instead of weaseling themselves out of the more expensive body.

The E-branded C class coupe can still be had as a 550.

Wolvesq

Take this with a grain of salt, but a MB dealer told me his biggest roadblock to selling 550s was the E63. He said most buyers who wanted a V8 tended to just splurge for the AMG, leaving the 550 caught in no-man's-land between more economical e350 buyers and the E63 enthusiasts.

PeterUbers

That's a huge $30,000+ leap from 550 to 63

I considered the 550 an e63 lite

And for how "gorgeous" the cls is felt to be, I never see them around Chicago burbs as much as s class and e class sedans

squid23

I find that hard to believe. Apart from the price gap there is also a low number of E63s. Maybe the C63 went after the E550.

I think the W212 E550 enemy #1 was the F10 550i, especially around items like a stiffer body and the way that control over the transmission works. V8 buyers care.

Mustangbru8

Anyone get one yet? How is it?

wanderfalke

Is the f10 actually stiffer than the e550,mine does not exhibit any flex on broken pavement ? Is there a source that reports actual body flex?

SnakeDoctor

I was choosing between the CLS and 550 coupe. And both are beautiful cars. The coupe won by a small margin for me. Factors for me were pricing, and a couple of things on the design of the CLS that I just didn't like as much. It is a beautiful car when tastefully modded though (like below). The coupe just has a more sporty appearance, so I went with it. I wish there were an AMG for the E coupe.

equetefue

Im lucky enough to drive both extensively. My dad has a 14' E550 and I have the 14' CLS550. Very similar but very different at the same time.

PeterUbers

I drove a '14 CLS550 for 1.5 months while my '14 E550 was getting all sort of beta testing for this transmission issue I had....

I didn't like the small size of the cabin.. I did feel more confident throwing it into turns and it felt more sporty with a louder exhaust note...

Well put ... very similar, but very different...

Jeffy

The CLS550 with its F: 255 and R: 285 tires (and 4matic if you have) is just a monster in the corners, way more confident and sure footed than the E-sedan. Now the E-coupe feels sportier and responds better to corner transitions but falls behind the CLS in grip and cornering confidence. I also prefer the more luxurious interior of the CLS. I am 6'2" 210 lbs. and the cabin in the CLS still feels huge.

SnakeDoctor

Maybe I missed something, but the CLS interior seemed the same to me when I was in there.

PeterUbers

Roof is lower, windows less tall, frameless windows (not a fan), rotary temp dials, stitched dash and seats... Otherwise about the same to me too

SnakeDoctor

I was comparing it to the 550 coupe I was shopping, so same to me

PeterUbers

I love your coupe... A rare mb gem! Never see those on the road, congrats

K-A

The CLS handles better than the E, but it's far from a great or even good handling car, IMO, at least when accounting for steering and suspension feel (very clinical and cloudy to me). I don't really like the facelift E but I do think that the CLS is one of the most incohesive, flawed and awkward designs that M-B makes.

I tested a new C300 and thought it was underwhelming save for the interior, but relatively speaking and considering the V6 TT in the smaller package I do think that although being "just a C Class", right now, the C400 Sport is the best 4 door M-B pick, if you're not looking at S Classes. I even think the interior is nicer than the E Classes.

petee1997

Oh no! K-A is back with more of his stupidity.

It must make you sick to drive a car that cannot be distinguished from a 3 or 7 without measuring the length. So much for design originality from BMW. It explains why they will soon be number three behind Audi in NA.

equetefue

K-A

Lol. Yeah, good for MB, flood the market with FWD econoboxes and discount brand fire sales in a desperate attempt to match the largest lineup amongst its competitors with regaining highest volume sales. Should make an old fanboy like you proud.

Sure, BMW sucks. Whatever. Not sure what that has to do with anything I said.

PeterUbers

It's a bit hard to distinguish the new benzes from each other these days