Alotah

Hello everyone,

I am torn in between 2 cars.... E350 sport or luxury?
I am currently driving E350 2011 luxury and I do enjoy a smooth ride.
Now is a time to get an another vehicle and have:
1. E350 luxury white on beige leather, with panoramic roof
2. E350 sport black with an incredible designo interior

I would like to know pros and cons for each car? I currently live in a hot state and wonder if black cars do really get more hot in the summer?

Thanks to everyone!

AkaSigFreak

I say the Sport but I might be biased.

E430_4MATIC

I would rule out the Sport if it has low profile wheels (harsh ride and flat tires!)

My 2015 Luxury wagon has such a smooth ride, we never tire even on long distances.

Kevin Park

I think depends on your preference, sport has younger & sportier look, luxury has more prestiage look.

mellonc

+1. Los Angeles, the city where city politicians squabble over which cronies are going to take the road fixing contract that they have turn federal funds away, roads are terrible. Anything close to 35 or 40 profile is flat tire territory.

jahquan3

I think the similarities are so close that you can't go wrong either way. I'd lean towards the comfortability of the ride since the appearance won't be much of a difference to the common driver. I guess Luxury would be the way to go.

sleeperZ96BT

I have very few complaints about my 2013 E550, but the sport suspension is garbage. It's like sport to MB = ****ty ride. So, if I had the choice, I'd probably go luxury (no choice on the E550, all came with sport).

Alotah

Thanks to everyone!
I think I will go with the luxury one!

blegthbloo

I bet you could talk to some of the other Luxury owners out there and swap springs with them. Although you might have to account for the extra weight of the 550. Did the 550s come in Luxury trim pre-2012? Or were they always Sport

Alotah

Why do u prefer Sport?

mikemargolis

Luxury, because that giant star in the middle of the grill can't hold a candle to the pretty little one sticking up so you can see it.

sleeperZ96BT

I mean it could be the 45k miles showing their age (I bought it with 40k). I'd be more apt to get an aftermarket shock/spring assembly if they need to be replaced at this stage. It rides like *** and the handling just isn't really sporty if you ask me, lol. My GTP with bilsteins rode better.

AkaSigFreak

I prefer the styling of the Sport (Big Star Grill, Body Kit, Rims, and Brakes) and the feeling of the Suspension. No Offense to others, but the Luxury reminds me of my Grandfather's Mercedes-Benz.

sleeperZ96BT

Other than the ride quality - I 100% agree!

davidjohnbamber

The data card on my 2013 E550 shows SA Code 951 Sport Package USA, Code 954 Equipment Package for Avantgarde Vehicles, and Code 677 Avantgarde/Standard Suspension. I traded a 2014 E350 Sport, and the E550 ride isn't quite as harsh. So it seems that there are some 2013 E550's with standard suspension if I'm reading what my car has. YMMV

SEC1939

not sure if what you are looking at has run-flats or not? I have them on mine and these make the ride terrible IMO

cetialpha5

I ended up with the sport on both cars because that's what had the most options. The luxury ones typically didn't have as many options. I would have preferred the luxury for the softer ride. I think with the 17 inch tires, you normally end up with 45 series tires instead of 40 and every little bit helps in terms of ride and resistance to flat tires.

El Cid

I test drove both Sport and Luxury back in 2010. Sport was definitely out because of ride discomfort.
If comfort is important, get the Luxury.
Would recommend finding a rough road and test driving both for about 30 minutes each as a minimum. That's what I did.
Black cars do get hotter in sun. Also, cars with panoramic roofs tend to get hotter in sun when closed. Not as much insulation between the glass and the interior.

DallasMB

Hmm, my Sport rides better than my LS460L did. I get all the comfort minus the horrible sound of the LS engine (they all have the timing chain tapping sound). The E is whisper quiet.

pamiboy

With my ongoing issues with bent wheels on sport model, I'd suggest luxury trim with higher profile tires.

mellonc

hmmmmm........"better than the LS?"

jahquan3

I never realized so many people don't like the ride of the sport model. I guess it's good my older model came with airmatic suspension. Although I always leave it in sport now. I wonder how much harsher if any the Sports model suspension is compared to the airmatic in sports mode?

DallasMB

Yeh, had it for about two years. Had the Vossens installed within a few weeks of purchase. Not sure if that set up was the cause of inferior ride, but I love the E much better.

blegthbloo

I test drove a LS430 UL when I was bored with my E350 and it was an amazing ride... felt like driving a cloud and it had decent power as well. Probably has a lot to do with the wheels, but also the UL had air suspension, so that would make a difference too. Still had (some) more features than 10+ years newer MB's, like the ice chest in the rear seat. Totally useless for me, but was cool nonetheless. And at 25% of the original MSRP, it was a pretty good deal at the time. Should've bought it... oh well.

DallasMB

How ironic, I sold my 04 LS430 to "upgrade" to 460.... the biggest mistake I've ever made since buying a 91 Grand Cherokee.
Just to clarify, The 430 had a timing belt and the smoothest engine on the planet. 460 was Toyota's failed attempt at the timing chain.
I'm glutton for punishment, however, my new Toyota Tundra has the timing chain and the clicking and tapping (diesel like) sounds of the LS460 but it's a truck and I don't mind.
Having owned Lexus since 1994, I can say with a lot of certainty that I prefer Mercedes any day.