When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
I visited my local MB dealer this morning and test drove a 2020 E Class wagon that they use as a loaner. Very impressed. Car was a sport model and well equipped with leather ventilated seats, driver assistance and quite a few other options. Stickered over $79K. It will come out of loaner service in about 2 months but unfortunately not a color combination I would accept. Silver with black interior. I asked if the luxury model would have a softer ride. Sales guy said most cannot tell much difference. I didn't notice what size wheels it had. Am I right that all E Class come standard with runflat tires?
Weather was moderate rain so I had a chance to check out the wet weather handling. Again, very impressive especially in comparison to my BMW X5MSport. The lower ride height takes a bit of getting used to but does help the car handle very well. The engine has plenty of power and in sport mode the transmission is very responsive.
Overall, I'm impressed. Now I just have to convince the wife that a wagon is what we need instead of an SUV.
Again, very impressive especially in comparison to my BMW X5MSport. The lower ride height takes a bit of getting used to but does help the car handle very well.
This made me laugh. I guess the US has come to the point where SUV ride heights are the norm .
Yep, the sales guy admitted that if it wasn't for SUVs he couldn't make a living. 80% of his customers buy SUVs. He also said they only sell a handful of wagons each year. He said if the new wagon doesn't sell better Daimler is likely to pull all wagons from the US market.
Yep, the sales guy admitted that if it wasn't for SUVs he couldn't make a living. 80% of his customers buy SUVs. He also said they only sell a handful of wagons each year. He said if the new wagon doesn't sell better Daimler is likely to pull all wagons from the US market.
Its sad because they are really fantastic vehicles. MB does a lousy job marketing the wagon, and has for years has relied on a loyal customer base to keep paying a premium for wagons. If they marketed its advantages over SUVs: classic, sexy European design; bigger cargo capacity, with easier load height; better road handling for a more sporty drive, but full luxury sedan handling available for those that prefer comfort; then maybe they would sell more.
Yep, the sales guy admitted that if it wasn't for SUVs he couldn't make a living. 80% of his customers buy SUVs. He also said they only sell a handful of wagons each year. He said if the new wagon doesn't sell better Daimler is likely to pull all wagons from the US market.
What is really funny is that most of these people think they are buying a SUV but in reality it is a Crossover LOL. Mercedes only makes 3 SUV’s (GLE, GLS & G Wagon) rest are crossovers. A real shame because the W213 wagon is one I would consider.
What is really funny is that most of these people think they are buying a SUV but in reality it is a Crossover LOL. Mercedes only makes 3 SUV’s (GLE, GLS & G Wagon) rest are crossovers. A real shame because the W213 wagon is one I would consider.
To continue with the lettering system, they will have to come up with a GLD after GLA, GLB, GLC in their crossover naming system, LOL!
But in all fairness, car manufacturers are marketing their crossovers and SUVs and consumers are eating them up like candy. In Europe and Asia, it is a totally different market and the wagon is still quite popular in Europe.
E-Wagon is one of the best MB's available, every time I bring my car in I make sure to request the E450 Wagon they have as a loaner. Super practical, spacious, rides well and looks good. Shame they are ruining that with the 21' Outback style E-Wagon (no wagon should have cladding). If looking for a "luxury styled" one good luck, not many dealers stock them, there should be plenty of 2020 leftovers that dealers are likely having trouble selling though.
Also tried to talk wife into a E wagon rather than a GLE but failed. The reason is simply: starting MSRP of GLE is 10K dollars less than E wagon. 10k is big number to my family. Plus, higher sitting position seems matter to ladies.
2023 GLE450, 2021 E350 / Used to drive: 2019 E300, 2021 + 2020 GLE350, 2019 E450 Wagon(s), 2017 E300
Alfa, having gone from a wagon to a GLE - you are right. Big price difference. My wagon was decently equipped - driver assistance, AMG line, pano roof, etc - but for $77K I was still sitting on vinyl and had blank switches where the ventilated seats should be. (I know they didn't offer ventilated seats with MB-Tex, but you guys get the point.) The GLE at $72K sticker had a lot fewer compromises in terms of the option list, but the spread is still substantial. Obviously the engine in the wagon drives a lot of it (E450 vs GLE350).
All things being equal, I wish the wagon worked out (long story) because it was a sportier drive and a more distinctive form factor. That said, the GLE is no penalty box, just perhaps a little less unique.
I've started the conversation with my wife. Her first reaction was "I don't like station wagons", she drives a Lexus RX and loves the higher driving position. I plan to keep working on her as I have a year before the lease is up on the X5. I'm hoping a test drive might change her mind.
To quote a fellow member on Bimmerpost, "Want a woman to close her legs? Suggest a station wagon." Sadly the wagon and minivan have a stigma against them despite both being superior in practicality compared to SUVs, people think of their parents old Buick or something of that sort, same with the column mounted gear selector.
2020 S560 Sedan, 2019 SL450, 2019 E450 Luxury Trim Wagon, '24 BMW I7 on order...
I guess I sort of snuck our wagon up on my wife. I bought the 2019 E450 wagon, just because I wanted it and it sort of fell I to my lap finding it. We then sold her 2016 E350 sedan out from under her, so she is now driving the wagon. One trick: NEVER call it a “Station” wagon, which does harken back to images of a Ford Country Squire with wood on the sides. Call it a “Sport” wagon. It sounds way sexier. Anyway, she does admit that the wagon drives really nice, has WAY more get up and go than the E350 had and is way more luxurious. We may still get her an SUV, if that’s what she really wants, but I’m hoping the Sport Wagon continues to grow on her.
How MBUSA could make the decision to not import the standard edition wagons anymore, only the All Terrain version, is just ridiculous to me. Can’t they offer ANY niche vehicles? Are we ALL supposed to drive white SUV’s? GEEZE!
Saw this lovely photo the other day and copied it. Aren’t they beautiful? How could they let them disappear?
Our baby:
Last edited by Streamliner; 09-05-2020 at 05:54 PM.
2020 S560 Sedan, 2019 SL450, 2019 E450 Luxury Trim Wagon, '24 BMW I7 on order...
If you are speaking of the light blue wagon in the photo showing the two W212 models, that is Quartz Blue Metallic, a truly gorgeous color, so, naturally, MB dropped it.
That figures. Daimler's color selection is as poor as BMW's which is why I keep buying white vehicles. My wife's RX is a beautiful light metallic blue called Breakwater Blue. Like Mercedes Lexus dropped it after I think only one year. It's a 2009 and she won't let go of it. She hates the cowcatcher grilles on the current models and can't find a color she likes.
If you are speaking of the light blue wagon in the photo showing the two W212 models, that is Quartz Blue Metallic, a truly gorgeous color, so, naturally, MB dropped it.
My 2018 E400S is Diamond Silver - another color now dropped from E class line up, but still offered on S class. The Quartz Blue Metallic looks amazing. Both MB and BMW have truly awful color palettes for most models. White does look fantastic, but never again for me, because it needs frequent cleaning to look good, and here in Mid Atlantic US, cars get dirty quickly in the winter.
Last edited by wagonsrock; 09-05-2020 at 07:49 PM.
Reason: sp
I'm not a fan of the Subaru Outback look either. A Subaru Outback is half the cost of an E450 wagon for the same look. I also think MB made a mistake by no longer offering any towing package for the wagon and that's further leading to it's likely demise. Lots of people who bought wagons in the past did so to tow a boat, horse or car trailer, etc. Only the bigger MB SUVs can do this now.
I'm keeping my eyes open for a used 2020 fully loaded e450 wagon something like streamliners. I have a 2019 but I'm missing the the multi contour seats and nappa leather, my sticker on mine was like 78K, the sticker on the one I want is like 85K, I'm thinking I might be able to do it under 10 grand depending on the miles on the 2020, I'm a good wheeler dealer. lol.
I'm keeping my eyes open for a used 2020 fully loaded e450 wagon something like streamliners. I have a 2019 but I'm missing the the multi contour seats and nappa leather, my sticker on mine was like 78K, the sticker on the one I want is like 85K, I'm thinking I might be able to do it under 10 grand depending on the miles on the 2020, I'm a good wheeler dealer. lol.
Make sure that whatever you buy hasn't been in an accident. Some times low mileage cars can have checkered pasts.
My local dealer, Mercedes of Hagerstown, has a 2020 E450 wagon that will be coming out of loaner service soon. It is Silver/ Black. I believe it has the options you are looking for. If you call ask for Barry Lyndon. He's a straight shooter.
Thanks ya don't see it available yet. Ya gotta be careful with cars with accident. My S550 had been hit in the rear before I bought it, of course the salesman didn't tell me about it until the deal was nearly done and he gave me the car fax that showed it. But I figured it was a car I really wanted and had all the right options so I proceeded to buy the car anyhow. I had noted on the test drive that car drove fine so I never really worried about it all that much. I do notice a bubble on the bumper paint on the right side, I guess they didn't paint the bumper properly when they did the repair.
Thanks ya don't see it available yet. Ya gotta be careful with cars with accident. My S550 had been hit in the rear before I bought it, of course the salesman didn't tell me about it until the deal was nearly done and he gave me the car fax that showed it. But I figured it was a car I really wanted and had all the right options so I proceeded to buy the car anyhow. I had noted on the test drive that car drove fine so I never really worried about it all that much. I do notice a bubble on the bumper paint on the right side, I guess they didn't paint the bumper properly when they did the repair.
This is why these cars look like a bargain but they're really not.I suggest you put your car up on a lift and make sure the frame isn't bent. A car with a bent frame is weaker and will always be a bigger risk for worse damage if it's ever involved in another accident.Just my 2 cents of advise.My father was an engineer so I was taught to look for such things.
08-31-2020, 02:18 PM
Plus, higher sitting position seems matter to ladies.
I bought the 2019 E450 wagon, just because I wanted it and it sort of fell I to my lap finding it. We then sold her 2016 E350 sedan out from under her, so she is now driving the wagon. One trick: NEVER call it a “Station” wagon, which does harken back to images of a Ford Country Squire with wood on the sides. Call it a “Sport” wagon. It sounds way sexier. Anyway, she does admit that the wagon drives really nice, has WAY more get up and go than the E350 had and is way more luxurious. We may still get her an SUV, if that’s what she really wants, but I’m hoping the Sport Wagon continues to grow on her. 
