E550 Rare - Why?
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 6,759
Likes: 96
From: NH
2012 C63 BS & 2014 E63 Estate & 2008 CLK63 BS
Why even think about the price of gas and fuel economy when purchasing a Benz?
The savings are really insignificant...
Consider this:
With 37mpg on the 18 gallon tank car can go ~660miles
With 24mpg (E550 in mixed driving) on the 18 gallon tank car can go ~430 miles
Assuming price of fuel, either diesel or premium @ $3/gallon and 12K miles driven on an annual basis, you get per mile cost of $0.08 and $0.12 respectively with annual fuel spend of $960 and $1440 - that's $480 difference per year
Monthly diff = $40!
So... Would you rather drive slower, less fun car or much faster car with better suspension setup, etc when the difference in the price to operate is that of a single lunch?
The savings are really insignificant...
Consider this:
With 37mpg on the 18 gallon tank car can go ~660miles
With 24mpg (E550 in mixed driving) on the 18 gallon tank car can go ~430 miles
Assuming price of fuel, either diesel or premium @ $3/gallon and 12K miles driven on an annual basis, you get per mile cost of $0.08 and $0.12 respectively with annual fuel spend of $960 and $1440 - that's $480 difference per year
Monthly diff = $40!
So... Would you rather drive slower, less fun car or much faster car with better suspension setup, etc when the difference in the price to operate is that of a single lunch?
Super Member
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 842
Likes: 64
From: Northern NJ
2015 E550 Coupe
Super Member
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 501
Likes: 102
From: Los Angeles
2014 E550, 2015 E63S, 2017 G63 - RIP
MBWorld God!
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 31,277
Likes: 3,916
From: on my way
2012 CLS63
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 1,258
Likes: 56
From: East coast
2010 E550 4M P2 Distronic, CLK550 Cab P2
Hype, checked that Bodom link...that is some hard a$$ rock, reminded me of slayer back in day, but these guys hit it a little harder
Thread jack over
Thread jack over
Out Of Control!!
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 13,799
Likes: 3,229
2014 E63S; AMS 100 octane ECU dyno tune; EDOK TCU tune; BB intakes; sprintbooster
There's plenty of ways to save that $80/month in other areas of life to validate the money spent towards a nicer car
For me, it's reducing the monthly expenditures on hookers and blow...
For me, it's reducing the monthly expenditures on hookers and blow...
MB World Stories
The Best of Mercedes & AMG
6 Mercedes Models That Did NOT Age Well (But Are Somehow Still Cool)
Verdad Gallardo
Manual Mercedes? 6 Times Sindelfingen Let Drivers Have All The Fun
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren
Verdad Gallardo
8 Classic Boxy Mercedes Designs That Have Aged Like Fine Wine
Verdad Gallardo
Flawlessly Restored Mercedes 190E Evo II Heads to Auction
Verdad Gallardo
Electric Mercedes C-Class Unveiled: 11 Things You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes EQS Gets A Major Update: Everything You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
5 Underrated Mercedes-Benz Models That Don't Get the Love They Deserve
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes 300D Has Pushed Well Past 1 Million Miles and It Ain't Stopping
Verdad Gallardo
MBWorld God!
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 31,277
Likes: 3,916
From: on my way
2012 CLS63
Originally Posted by Airmousam;6524Slayer652
Hype, checked that Bodom link...that is some hard a$$ rock, reminded me of slayer back in day, but these guys hit it a little harder
Thread jack over
Thread jack over
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 1,523
Likes: 85
From: New Jersey
2010 E550 P2 w/AMG Sport Package + Pano, 2015 Nissan Pathfinder
Super Member
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 842
Likes: 64
From: Northern NJ
2015 E550 Coupe
Banned
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 30
Likes: 0
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.
Neither of you drives a Bentley, a Ferrari or an Aston Martin (can't afford it?), therefore you are both.. uhm.. cheap?
Senior Member
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 326
Likes: 3
2011 E550
0-100 real quick, real quick
MBWorld God!
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 31,277
Likes: 3,916
From: on my way
2012 CLS63
and I get it......and plus those are 1/4 million dollar cars haha! not the same league as E class Mercedes Benz........but the original question of the thread is why are they so rare........and back before I bought the one I had I wondered too......and it's simply the cost of V8 versus V6........most folks go the cheaper route and buy the V6.....is it a character flaw to be cheap? maybe not......I admit I could have phrased it differently: maybe frugal, or cost effective car shopping........
those very expensive cars are not cheap
these MB's are in comparison though
Super Member
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 842
Likes: 64
From: Northern NJ
2015 E550 Coupe
Oh and by the way, yes I can afford to own a Ferrari and have driven several different models through the years. Beautiful cars, well built and incredibly fast and responsive. That's what I typically rent when I'm over in Europe. However, I chose not to own one here because they make lousy DD cars. Simply put, they are not practical cars to own as a DD. Plus there is no where around here, outside of the track, where you can truly drive them the way they were designed to be driven. From my perspective, I won't buy a car simply to have it sit in a garage most of the time.
By the way, if people are complaining here about MB's Schedule A costing $200 at a dealership, try spending $800 to $1,000 for the exact same service on a Ferrari. Cost of ownership is all relative. For me, the E550 provides a good mix of practical and performance for a DD luxury vehicle.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 1,523
Likes: 85
From: New Jersey
2010 E550 P2 w/AMG Sport Package + Pano, 2015 Nissan Pathfinder
I think many people here understand and expect operational regular maintenance type things to cost more with an MB. I just don't see why it's not acceptable to not want to blow additional money just for the hell of it because we purchased a luxury vehicle. A large part of paying more upfront is for the quality to not pay more during the process of enjoying your vehicle.
Banned
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 4,957
Likes: 1,640
Unfortunately that's not normally how it works. In my experience the more expensive the car, the more it costs to maintain, period. Some people feel great about buying a used MB that retailed for $120K at a bargain price of $50K and complain heavily about the repair bills. Guess what?, it's still a $120K car dummy.
Super Member
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 619
Likes: 34
From: East part of Texas
2017 CLS550
That was well said, Jahquan3. Most of us here can afford to buy anything we want. When I bought my ML it was not because I could not afford an S class or E class, it was because I wanted an SUV simply because it suited me and my needs better at that particular time.
Now I am looking for a nice, comfortable sedan (maybe even a coupe) since only the two of us will be in the car 95% of the time. The days of towing boats, going on off-road adventures, hauling stuff and transporting bunches of people and pets are pretty much over for us now.
The S class is nice but just too busy so the E class should suit us just right. But that does not mean that I want to pay hundreds of dollars for an oil change. If I pay $85,000 for a car I understand I am getting a luxury vehicle and something a little more special for my money than a Chev or Ford. But I don't feel like I should automatically have to pay a luxury price for something that is not a luxury such as oil and filter. I understand that is what I have to do and it goes with the territory but I don't have to like it, even if I can afford it.
Now I am looking for a nice, comfortable sedan (maybe even a coupe) since only the two of us will be in the car 95% of the time. The days of towing boats, going on off-road adventures, hauling stuff and transporting bunches of people and pets are pretty much over for us now.
The S class is nice but just too busy so the E class should suit us just right. But that does not mean that I want to pay hundreds of dollars for an oil change. If I pay $85,000 for a car I understand I am getting a luxury vehicle and something a little more special for my money than a Chev or Ford. But I don't feel like I should automatically have to pay a luxury price for something that is not a luxury such as oil and filter. I understand that is what I have to do and it goes with the territory but I don't have to like it, even if I can afford it.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 1,479
Likes: 76
From: Nyack, NY
C300 Sport 4Matic
Banned
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 30
Likes: 0
As for why most people do not get a E550 around here, in any version, a lot of people have told me the E350 or E400 was all they could afford. They shopped for a MB strictly by what would fit in their budget. Some did not even know MB made a 550 version. They simply wanted a MB for the perceived prestige, but most of these same people said they were constantly concerned with either the price of gas or if they have to pay for regular maintenance.
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 297
Likes: 26
'11 E550 Cpe/'04 GT3
Two thoughts:
1. All this talk about cheap gas takes me back to '69 when I was a high school senior and gas was $ .29/ gal. Sounds great until you consider what the average hourly salary was.
2. I heard that one E550 made, there 10 E350s made. Thus the rarity of the E550. So, if that is the case, how many E350 coupes are out there? How about E50 coupes?
1. All this talk about cheap gas takes me back to '69 when I was a high school senior and gas was $ .29/ gal. Sounds great until you consider what the average hourly salary was.
2. I heard that one E550 made, there 10 E350s made. Thus the rarity of the E550. So, if that is the case, how many E350 coupes are out there? How about E50 coupes?
Super Member
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 842
Likes: 64
From: Northern NJ
2015 E550 Coupe
Unfortunately that's not normally how it works. In my experience the more expensive the car, the more it costs to maintain, period. Some people feel great about buying a used MB that retailed for $120K at a bargain price of $50K and complain heavily about the repair bills. Guess what?, it's still a $120K car dummy.
