AppleFan1

You're right LovinM! That's exactly what I was stating. If money is no object, then definitely go with the S Class.

Things are getting slow these days. I had totally forgotten about this thread.

hyperion667

might be because this is an incredibly forgettable thread lol

ajm0623

ajm0623

but in all seriousness now - and a chapter from anecdotal tales from the frontline - i had my s550 in the service bay for a few days this week to replce a tyre and rim from hitting a crater the size of a small backyard swimming pool and was given a really nice e350 as a loaner. now this may sound privileged (and it probably is) but when i climbed back into my s after picking it up, it was like i had returned to eden!! there is such a difference in the quality and touch and feel of the interiour of the new s compared to an e (and c for that matter - as i just this week test drove one of those to buy for my 90yr old dad). i know, i know my s cost 2x the e, but it really is a night and day difference. this is not a revelation or anything new to this board but because the topic was resurrected this morning, i thought i would chime in with my latest experience of being in the two vehicles; it was timely. as i said upthread months ago, the new e will look like the new s outside (as does the new c) but the interiour look and quality of materials will depart signifcantly from that of the s), and, of course, the e will ride differently than the s as well.

hyperion667

^ similar to how I feel on Mondays after driving my CLS all weekend

calisnow

My perspective is that if you want a Benz sedan and money isn't a big factor - buy the S. If you want to feel the road you are far better served by BMW. My 2004 E55 is a fabulous vehicle and at 138,000 miles drives like the day it was new (after replacing all four airbag shocks when they failed recently) - with no squeaks or rattles except for some seat plastic (every BMW I've had has been full of squeaks and rattles, even at low mileage).

But its handling and steering feel are far inferior to every BMW I've ever owned - two E39 540i's, one E60 545i, two E36 M3's.

Honestly, purchasing the E55 was a mistake - I was blinded by its torque (and its beauty - it IS a gorgeous vehicle even ten years later) and its interior quality so much during test drives that I neglected to pay attention to how bad the handling and steering were compared to BMW.

I'm no Benz hating troll - my family goes back with Mercedes 40 years - all the way to the very first 350SL sold in California way back in 1972, and a Mercedes 300CE probably saved the life of my teenage sister who rolled it after falling asleep back in 1993.

But Mercedes is at its best with luxo-barges going fast in a straight line - and the S Class is king of that class.

emilner

^You need to drive the current offerings by both BMW and MB. BMW gave up on performance a while ago.

Wolfman

You are dwelling in nostalgic stereotypes. That was true 10 years ago

Germancar1

E vs S, IMO why not wait until spring when the new E arrives and check them out side by side?

M

calisnow

Well I'd love to be wrong on this - maybe I should drive some current AMG offerings. If my E55 had better steering feel, a faster ratio and less body roll I'd be a happy camper.

RJC

I think you'll find today's E63 will make you a very happy camper

Samuel Abraham

I see what you mean. The S class absorbs everything on the road, you can't even feel it. Now, what I recommend, is leasing the 2017 E Class when that comes out. Reason being is that it will have loads of new tech and those features won't be in the other vehicles for a while. Once the 5 years is up, most likely the next S class W223 will have come out. That would be the car to get in the end. Or, you could wait awhile for the facelift W222, but thats up to you. I have a 2015 550, and I love it. Whenever it goes in for servicing and I get a courtesy C, E, or GLK, it just doesn't feel the same. If you like to feel the road, then E63s AMG is the car for you.

Wolfman

The new e-class will only have a couple more relevant features than the S-Class (none of which matter to me) and all those features will be added to the S within a year. Electronic features are added throughout the lifecycle of a model.

Unless I live in Europe, all parking features are as useless of a gimmick as the park assist.
I love tech, but just because you can doesn't mean there is value (beyond marketing)

RJC

http://blog.caranddriver.com/so-much...****-gadgetry/

hyperion667

^ didn't see anything that really blew my mind in that one
how much are they hyping things up in the marketing department haha


I still look forward to seeing the body design; I'm a big fan of the MB headlamp designs......very crafty and curvaceous lines when you look at them closely....I really like the 2012 CLS headlamps, too bad they updated those

Jason B

Yes, I agree. Those are some of the best looking headlights out there. I even read a post where a guy had a new 2014, and retrofitted lights from a 2012! A shame what they did to the refreshed e class headlights also.

hyperion667

despite the fact that there are now several other brands with very similar DRL's, I still really like them......on the 550's or the AMG's......not the lower ones mind you, I mean the ones in the headlamps themselves that wrap around

RJC

It's all about safety these days...I hold 2 US patents related to this stuff and a third currently pending and this is not my daily profession. The autonomously driving cars are setting up for some very real safety challenges.

hyperion667

you guys, 1guitar has had a lot of s classes over the years......now it wants to get a GLK...mainly because of style and comfort......


Jersey

Streamliner

The E and the S are two, completely DIFFERENT animals. We have a 2015 S550 sedan and a 2016 E350 sedan, both sans Sports Packages. The E is a wonderful car, just the right size for my wife who loves it and refuses to drive anything larger. I believe it to be the safest car of its size. The S is a world class car. It is amazingly quiet and has a ride that is not offered by any other maker. I feel it is THE safest car on the planet, but hope I never have to find out for sure. Get the S. It's not even a decision worth thinking about. In 2017, as a 2018 model, trade in and get the updated S, most likely with all of the techno improvements of the upcoming new E. The W222 is the best car on the planet, period.

WEBSRFR

Autonomous driving will not happen overnight but gradually over the course of 5-10 years. As partial autonomous capabilities are introduced, such systems will save many lives.

Distronic, automatic braking systems, Mercedes Active Steering Assist, and side collision avoidance steering will save many lives. I bet whatever autonomous driving capabilities of the E Class will be made available in the S Class in very short order.

I just hope they make the software updateable as the current generation production S Class likely already has all the sensors they would need for a large portion of autonomous driving an and at this point it is more a matter of the software than sensors.

jayagopal50

Although it is not the new E, the W222 model is WAY WAY better than the current E.I doubt the NEW E will come close.
I think other than RR and Bentley, W222 is the best Sedan now available and even the most Jaded Auto Journalist thinks so[CarandDriver].My son drove the new 7 before release as a part of his job,and said hands down my S was better.

Jason B

And the w221 is still better than a new E. I've had several as loaners and it cannot compare.

NVDevPartners

You couldn't pay me enough to drive an E! (Kidding of course)

But seriously, and E class "in touch with the road" that's a joke.

My suggestion? Buy a new S then buy yourself a used boxster or something. Then you have the best of both worlds.

hyperion667

My S class is the most boring, uninvolved car I have ever had. Yes, it's very comfortable and loaded with technology, which I don't even really use. And it's luxurious too......but when it comes to enjoying the drive behind the wheel (like in my CLS) it isn't as exciting......kind of like steering a boat. It does serve my family well though as we all fit in there nicely........3 kids, 2 adults