E550 Rare - Why?
#26
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99% of the 350's have MBtex, whereas the 550 has leather standard. I know lots of people here just love their plastic seats, but that alone is enough for me to buy the 550. That and at WOT, the V6 sounds like a 6.
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glenwood705 (05-03-2019)
#27
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2012 CLS63
rare because of cost; most people are cheap........
#28
Super Member
Yeah that is sadly the truth. People want to drive a luxury car, but they don't want it to cost anything. For a lot of folks, it's strictly about projecting an image of being well off without actually being well off. Still that's true of all the luxury brands. Look at what the top sellers, by volume anyways, are for a lot of luxury brand car companies.
#29
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Thread Starter
Yeah that is sadly the truth. People want to drive a luxury car, but they don't want it to cost anything. For a lot of folks, it's strictly about projecting an image of being well off without actually being well off. Still that's true of all the luxury brands. Look at what the top sellers, by volume anyways, are for a lot of luxury brand car companies.
#30
MBWorld Fanatic!
I considered an E550 when I was looking, but it didn't offer anything I wanted above what was on the E350. Extra cost was a minor point. The other thing was MB owners were telling me to steer clear of the air suspension and I think it's standard on the 550.
Very happy with my 350 and it has more power than I need or want.
Very happy with my 350 and it has more power than I need or want.
#32
Super Member
Yeah a friend of mine in the car business calls it "badge shopping". Given the fact that at least 90 percent of the public doesn't seem to have a clue about the various models offered by any of the luxury car companies, those looking to simply impress others will look to buy the least expensive model with the right badge affixed to it, that they know will impress others.
#33
Super Member
Same in my area. There was one E550 sedan in upstate Connecticut at the time. I could test drive any one of a couple of dozen different E350's sitting on the lot, but I ended up having to test drive a CLS550 to gauge how a E550 would ride and handle before ordering mine. They are essentially the same car, except for a few interior luxury upgrades and a slightly smaller interior.
#35
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2010 E350 Luxury Sedan, Engine 272 (V6)
correct
Yeah a friend of mine in the car business calls it "badge shopping". Given the fact that at least 90 percent of the public doesn't seem to have a clue about the various models offered by any of the luxury car companies, those looking to simply impress others will look to buy the least expensive model with the right badge affixed to it, that they know will impress others.
That said, 20% of the price of an MB, BMW, Lexus, Porsche, et. al. is for the badge.
I would say 99% of Americans don't know the difference between a CLA and an S or CLS or an SLK and an SL. Heck, I'm not sure I do sometimes.
Not new though, this is what made Cadillac, Buick and Oldsmobile, as well as Chrysler and Lincoln.
#36
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2012 CLS63
when I was originally looking for my first luxury car I knew I wanted a V8.......not many lux cars offer them do they?
if I had a choice between a S350 and a 550, I'd go for the 550 every time.....
if I had a choice between a S350 and a 550, I'd go for the 550 every time.....
#37
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2014 E63S; AMS 100 octane ecu tune; edok tcu tune; BB intakes; dyno tuned
#38
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Had 2014E350 just before switching to 2014E550 (non-airmatic) - cars rode about identical except before mentioned acceleration/passing (which was significant in E550's favor).
However, again in my opinion CLS550 (with standard air-matic) drives nothing like E550 (except acceleration/passing, which is about identical, except the biggest difference here is that there's no throttle delay in E while it is quite significant in CLS) - CLS is much sportier: with less body roll, much heavier steering and flatter cornering.
#40
I have a 2012 E550 and I think the mileage is fantastic for a large V8 engine. I'm in Canada and my mileage indicator shows at 65 mph I'm getting 36 MPG. I get way better mileage than my old Benz E430 V 8.
Those twin turbos really help the mileage.
Toban
Those twin turbos really help the mileage.
Toban
#41
Super Member
Yes I have to agree with you. That is a market segment that unfortunately Lexus doesn't seem to be interested in at this point. For years I kept asking various Lexus sales reps when the company was going to come out with an upgraded, higher performance V8 version of what I had to fill the performance space Lexus used to want to be a part of. If you've ever looked at the Lexus forums, I wasn't alone in that regard. Anyway, all the reps ever told me for the past several years was "That's not the direction the company is primarily interested in anymore. That the new company view is that reliability equals what we consider performance now." Then of course they would try to steer me towards a LS460 simply because it was still a V8.
Between you and me, the LS460 isn't designed to play in the same performance space as either a E550 or CLS550 in terms of power, handling, road feel or even fuel economy. The LS460 is simply a nice, sedate car geared for a person who doesn't necessarily care about any of those things.
Between you and me, the LS460 isn't designed to play in the same performance space as either a E550 or CLS550 in terms of power, handling, road feel or even fuel economy. The LS460 is simply a nice, sedate car geared for a person who doesn't necessarily care about any of those things.
When I realized what the awd biturbo E550 was capable of performance-wise (and depreciation-wise, ha!), I was able to surprsingly throw off my Lexus chains. I still find myself looking longingly at some Lexus cars, but my Merc schwartz (Spaceballs) is growing stronger.
Last edited by Johnny Rad; 07-24-2015 at 12:17 PM.
#42
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#43
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Thread Starter
Wow, I've got a 2010 that gives me 16-17MPG. I do have a short ride to work, most of which is back roads and not highway, but 36MPG is crazy good.
#44
MBWorld Fanatic!
You should be able to easily get 25+mpg on the highway with your 2010
#45
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#46
Super Member
@PaulE550 - We might be brothers from different mothers! With my '02 GS430, I was one of the biggest Lexus homers out there. I kept it for ~10 years in part because I held out hope that Lexus would eventually bring out something like it again. Unfortunately, like you stated, Lexus is no longer interested in offering fast sedans. Their current LS460 F-Sport is a really, really nice car - but, it's a pig. It gulps gas without returning any performance and can't dance one iota. I tried to love one, but just couldn't. The current GS is a nice enough looking car in a boring sense, but it's allegedly a rattle trap and only comes with a modest V6 powerplant. Their new GSF is a step in the right direction assuming you can accept that it's not a M5/E63 fighter, but its severely limited production and goof ball int/ext aesthetics conspire against it.
When I realized what the awd biturbo E550 was capable of performance-wise (and depreciation-wise, ha!), I was able to surprsingly throw off my Lexus chains. I still find myself looking longingly at some Lexus cars, but my Merc schwartz (Spaceballs) is growing stronger.
When I realized what the awd biturbo E550 was capable of performance-wise (and depreciation-wise, ha!), I was able to surprsingly throw off my Lexus chains. I still find myself looking longingly at some Lexus cars, but my Merc schwartz (Spaceballs) is growing stronger.
I keep my GS400 strictly as a backup car or for local hops around town at this point. I've actually had a number of service reps at Lexus offer to buy the car, because THEY don't fine the current GS350 or GS350-F appealing. They also called both current versions boring. That tells you something.
If the upcoming GS-F, which will likely be massively over-priced, is anything like the current RC-F, Lexus is going to have another miss on their hands. The RC-F has fared quite badly in almost every comparative review. So if the new GS-F is just a four-door RC-F, I don't expect they'll meet their sales projections.
#47
Super Member
How long was your trip to get that figure? So far the best I've been able to get is 28.3 mpg after a little over 90 minutes of highway driving. Of course I was doing between 80 and 85 mph most of the time (mostly empty road), so that no doubt would would impact mpg numbers.
#48
Senior Member
" oh it's just a E350"
or just for some special evil fun, rebadge it as a toyota avalon or camry....
#49
My ride was approx. 120 miles going 65 MPH. Didn't want to get a ticket!
I don't have any complaints on the mileage with this car. According to Transport Canada the car was to get 35 MPG on the highway. Now, you are not going 80 MPH!
Toban
I don't have any complaints on the mileage with this car. According to Transport Canada the car was to get 35 MPG on the highway. Now, you are not going 80 MPH!
Toban
#50
Senior Member
I really like my '11 E550 coupe w/ P1, P2, sport, AMG packagethe two tone interior. A real highway cruiser and far more comfortable than the '04 GT3 which my wife says rides like a "Flintstones" car.
A question, does my car have the airmatic system? It's not shown on the option list
A question, does my car have the airmatic system? It's not shown on the option list