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I have a 2013 S550 I bought back in 2014. It's got like 84k miles now and I'm thinking about upgrading. I never cared too much for the new body types (which is why I bought a 2013 in 2014 when my E350 lease was up), but now I am kind of beginning to appreciate it for what it is. I just don't think it's as commanding a presence as the W221 in its day.
Anyway, if I'm going to upgrade I want to lease (not buy this time) again, and I want it to be an S560. Problem is, I went to the dealership to take a look today and I noticed some things that have changed... and REALLY shouldn't have been changed.
First of all, when I flung open the doors as a test, they didn't stop where they landed. This, to me, is absolutely unacceptable in a $121,000 car. The gliding, soft doors was one of my favorite features of the W221. I examined 4 different S560s and they all did the same thing. It's like my new GLE 350's door; a little smoother than your average car, but is still a slave to like three or four hard positions. On the W221, any of the four doors will glide as smooth as can be, and wherever it stops, it stops! It doesn't snap back and hit your knees or scuff your shoes or cause general discomfort. How has this been allowed to happen to the S-class?
Next issue: The back seat. Where did all the space go? I used to sit in the back of my S550 when no one was even in it -- in my damn driveway by myself! -- just because I felt like royalty when I did it. I still do it once in a while. People remark all the time on how spacious and comfortable the back seat is. In the S560 my knees were practically touching the drivers seat (which was not that far back, and I'm not super tall -- 5'10"). In the W221 I feel like there's an ocean of space before me when I sit back there... but in the new ones I feel like I'm in the back of the damn GLE!! Well, not exactly, but there's nowhere near as much legroom (Btw-- I love my GLE, I am not trying to disparage it in any way.. but we're talking about an S-class here)
So where did all the back seat go? Is the trunk larger? According to the specs the W221 and W222 are the same size, right? Well, I don't see it. The W221 looks way longer from the outside, and it *is* way longer on the inside.
I was looking forward to my nearly $1500/mo S550 finance payments concluding soon, so I could maintain my beloved car forever... but stuff starts to break, and it all becomes a hassle. If I'm going to move into a different car and renew (and probably increase) the monthly outlay, I need to know why Mercedes made such weird choices with the two things I mentioned. It seems like nobody online anywhere wants to discuss it... and Mercedes sure as hell doesn't want to own up to it.
Anyone ever wonder the same things? And what would you do if you were me: accept the flaws and lease the new car -- or -- go into "restoration mode" with my W221? Meaning, bring it to Mercedes proper (not my mechanic) and pay for it to be overhauled and restored to the point that it could be resold. Is that even worth it? I know the engine will last forever, but if I can't count on my own car -- an S550 no less -- then what the hell is the point? I could at least get maybe $20k for it right now. Ugh, I'm so torn. Please weigh in. Thank you... and it's good to be a part of this community.
i appreciate the perspective. Doesn’t anybody ever acknowledge the reduced size back seat and cheap door glide ? It seems like a glaring thing to me, but there’s almost no mention of it online.
After the w222 test yesterday I thought maybe this is partially in my head... so I sat in my own w221 back seat. It was like night and day. Not in my head at all. Back of my car is like a damn limousine. I was also on drivers side where I keep the front seat pretty far back! It looked like an extra 8 inches. If the back seat on w221 is so much smaller and people say the trunk is also smaller... where the hell is the space hiding?? Certainly not the hood
On line specs don't support your perception of the rear leg room comparison assuming that you are comparing LWB to LWB. The specs suggest that the W222 has slightly more rear legroom 43 vs 42.3. Which makes sense since both cars are built on the same chassis and have the same wheelbase.
i appreciate the perspective. Doesn’t anybody ever acknowledge the reduced size back seat and cheap door glide ? It seems like a glaring thing to me, but there’s almost no mention of it online.
After the w222 test yesterday I thought maybe this is partially in my head... so I sat in my own w221 back seat. It was like night and day. Not in my head at all. Back of my car is like a damn limousine. I was also on drivers side where I keep the front seat pretty far back! It looked like an extra 8 inches. If the back seat on w221 is so much smaller and people say the trunk is also smaller... where the hell is the space hiding?? Certainly not the hood
If the back back seat is so small
MB got rid of the locking door stoppers. They were also installed on the 2014's and early 2015's but MB got rid of them. I am sure some tech could explain the exact reason but believe it was slippage. These doors just wouldn't hold consistently on incline. Like ours; the drivers door always creeped towards close while the passenger door was rock solid.
Re. interior space, the W221 and W222 have the same wheel base and the same interior space AFAIK. Most W221 builds were bare bone with just a non-adjustable rear-bench unless you had a Designo. Too me, the W222 is world's better in the rear compared to the W221 but then we had the rear seat package with the chauffeur package in our 2015 with exclusive Nappa. Actual luxury versus the utilitarian feeling W221 (too much plastic and no special seats. Even the 4 seat configuration was lackluster). So I can't follow your sentiment.
The trunk space definitely has shrunk which has been a point of contention to other members here.
On line specs don't support your perception of the rear leg room comparison assuming that you are comparing LWB to LWB. The specs suggest that the W222 has slightly more rear legroom 43 vs 42.3. Which makes sense since both cars are built on the same chassis and have the same wheelbase.
I was looking forward to my nearly $1500/mo S550 finance payments concluding soon
Must be nice to be making a house payment for a car each month.
With the amount of money that you apparently do not have a problem with forking out each month on a car payment I say go and get a new one.
I for myself own an older one (2007) which has been taken care of, and I keep it maintained and in good running condition.
And even though I myself can not even think about getting close to a W222, I still think that the W221 looks much better than the W222 ever will.
Hmm. I don't get the point on monthly payments. If anyone discusses a new S560, they will work in the $1500 to $2000 range. Think around $3k for AMG. Is that a surprise?
I don’t know what you’re talking about regarding the $1500. It was a certified preowned $100,000+ vehicle (all said and done) that I put nothing down on. I ended my E350 lease after two years, then upgraded to an S550. Is that unusual? Seems standard to me. I was paying $750/mo for my E class in 2012-14
regarding the legroom, those stats I’ve seen before , but it sure doesn’t seem like that when you’re inside.
Maybe not unusual. I do not know, as I have NEVER paid these CRAZY amounts for a car.
But hey, if money is no issue and you make enough of it, then this may be a USUAL situation to you. NOT TO ME.
We all know how much cars loose their value in a very short period of time.
I for myself wait and buy an older car, so I do not have to pay these outrages amounts of money.
Last edited by S70Houston; 12-03-2018 at 12:43 AM.
Congrats on your A8! Is the car living up to your expectations so far?
Will not be taking delivery of it for several months as it's a factory order but have had the dealer vehicle here for few weeks as a daily driver (don't ask - it was part of my 'negotiated deal' with my dealer). So far, really happy with it.
I miss that 3 pointed star at the front of the hood as I had that on my MB!
like I said in the original post, I bought this car , I did not lease it. I did so because in summer 2014 I was faced with an option:
Lease a brand new W222 (which had just been released) and put $20k down with a $1500 monthly payment...
or ....
Finance a W221 (~15k miles) with zero down and a $1350/mo pymt plus extra services at closing (dent protection, roadside, key protection, etc). Note: Sticker price was ~$110k, which was on the high end for an S550 back then. It’s pretty heavily loaded.
I did not want to put $20k down on a car (w222) whose body type I didn’t like. That was still a fairly large chunk of money for me to part with in one fell swoop, especially so if my heart wasn’t into it. My intention had always been to get a 2013 S550, as this was the car I’d romanced throughout my two year E350 lease. So I went with the cpo 2013 w221 and never looked back.
In the end — after NYS tax, dealership fees and interest etc. — the final price was right around $100k for the cpo w221 — not far from the sticker price. But, If I’d financed (not leased) a brand new $110k car it surely would’ve been 125-130k before we were through. That’s another reason leasing seems to make more sense , unless money is truly no object (which is not my situation, for the record).
so if anyone here has figured out a way to get a $120k brand new S class with nothing down, full service features and a monthly payment less than $1500 I would absolutely love to hear it. Lol
2020 S560 Sedan, 2019 SL450, 2019 E450 Luxury Trim Wagon
I have been quite outspoken on the W221 vs the W222, but that was back in 2015. I had a 2013 S550 that I absolutely adored, except for the fact that it was black and that a “glass half empty” guy like me can’t deal with a black car, so after a brief stint in a 2014 ML350BT, I ordered a 2015 S550. I had that car 3 years and now have a 2018 S560 that I also ordered. Here are my thoughts, all stated as my opinion:
1. The W221 is way better looking. It has a unique, commanding presence. It is much more stately than the W222. The fact that the W222 has cookie-cutter looks ala the C & E Class cars really hurts the current S. To me, the S Class is the top of the heap and should have a unique look.
2. My current MBC equipped 2018 rides way better than the 2013 or 2015 and with the “Curve” function, it is truly phenomenal.
3. To me, “THE” worst thing about the W222 is the lack of a spare wheel/tire AND the lack of a place to put one, should an owner wish to provide their own.
4. I much preferred the interior color choices in the W221. What I would give to be able to have a full Savannah Beige interior in my S560. With the current interiors, half of the interior is black, no matter what interior color you choose. I believe that this is a cost cutting measure by MB, it cheapens the look of the interiors and I really don’t like it. So, I order a full black interior.
5. On the W221, you could order the Panorama Roof if you wanted it. In the W222, MB shoves the ugly glass roof down your throat, as it is now standard equipment. Real luxury is the ability to have something the way YOU want it, not the way some bean counter in Germany wants it.
6. All that said, warts and all, my 2018 S560 is the best car I have ever owned and at last count, I’ve had almost 65 brand new ones over my many years. If you can afford a new one, get it. I highly recommend ordering it with 18” wheels, swapping out the run flat tires and carrying a TireFit Kit for emergencies.
2020 S560 Sedan, 2019 SL450, 2019 E450 Luxury Trim Wagon
P.S. My 2018 S560 is SO much better—in most every way—than my 2015 S550. Both had the the same options, but the 2018 is smoother, quieter, feels more solid, sounds better, rides better and, to me, feels like a completely different car.
My 2018 is nicer, so much nicer than my 2012 for one reason... no one talks about it much here, but the lighting. It's truly amazing. To be able to have multicolor lighting all around the interior at night, I find it to be exceptionally cool. It feels like I'm in some cool club, maybe a disco one night, maybe jungle green, glacier blue another night. It's endless. Friends LOVE playing around with the lighting. It totally makes the car for me. Also, the features on the steering wheel are way cool once you master them, and that takes a while. To have everything at your finger tips, it's amazing.
I hate certain aspects of my car like the rear trunk room and the stupid dynamica steering wheel which should have been ordered in all leather (and I'm trying to source one in all leather) but so what. It kicks butt compared to my 2012 and that car was one of the best I've ever owned. In the end, they're both amazing. Do what you want. Don't listen to us idiots. Only you can decide this. I could care less how my car door opens, or how the back seat seems smaller than my 2012. The color interior makes all that ... small stuff. I'm not sweating it today.
Question. The awesome feature where the doors stop wherever you want them to and lock on that spot. What is this feature called!? I just tried to google it and can’t find it anywhere.
The awesome feature where the doors stop wherever you want them to and lock on that spot.
Which does not work on my W221. After further research and with konigstigers help, I found out there was a recall for this, as many owners had complaint that their doors will not stop and move/close. It is a little plastic piece which provides friction for the door rod and it fails.
Per service bulletin provided by konigstiger, it looks like a major pain in the a$$ to replace this plastic retainer (@ $7.00 item), by having to remove the interior door liner and other components to get to it.
Question. The awesome feature where the doors stop wherever you want them to and lock on that spot. What is this feature called!? I just tried to google it and can’t find it anywhere.
I had that feature on my 2014 S550 but after a while, it was basically useless. I don't miss it one bit.
11-30-2018, 06:27 PM
