~CL500~

Hey Everyone,
Wanted to say hello!

Earlier this month, I joined the "R" club. Had it for about 3 weeks now and I'm really diggin it. I spend most of my MBWorld time on the CL board, but now as an R owner, I'll have to divide my time equally.

With vehicle maintenance, I'm the DIY type. I do this with my CL and the R is no exception. Looking forward to sharing information with everyone here.



Here's the specs on the new chariot:
2008 R350
Iriduim Silver/Charcoal
Premium Package II
Panoramic Roof
iPod Integration Kit
Rear Seat Entertainment
7-Passenger Seating
6-Disc CD Changer
Heated Seats



Regards

chilledbenz

Great to see another convert! I got mine in February and have been loving it, really wish more people would give it a chance. I came from an ML and the R beats it hands down in every thinkable catagory (I never took the ML off road, I'm sure the R would lose that one ha ha).

bigben320e

I too have joined the R Class team. Got a R500 WHOOHOO!

Zax63

yeah, they are a little funky looking, but it is a great rig with decent power, decent handling, it's huge, and it's a great highway cruiser. You are probably right about the "taking it offroad comment", but 99% of owners never take there MLs, GLs, or probably even there Gs off-road.

~CL500~

I'd have to agree, it is a great vehicle. It's a shame it lacks in popularity because it does so much so well and defies classification or description. I get it all the time "It's a van or it's an SUV". I usually draw the line and just call it a crossover wagon.

One thing I must say though, I could use a little more muscle under the hood. I'da been all over an R500 if they still made them, but for what it's worth, day-to-day, the 350 does a fine job.

Glad to be part of the club!

Zax63

Actually yesterday I picked up a lease return 06 to replace my wife's 06 that she wrecked...original sticker 71k, it has 18k on it, and purchased it for 35.5 plus cpo. The CPO was expensive, but I figure I now have a 82k mile warrantee for 4.5 years, better than new, for less than 40k. These things depreciate like almost nothing else.

R. Reyes

Welcome to the best people/kid(s) hauler ever made!

I love my '06, I bought mine CPO last year and went out the door for $38k w/ 19k miles on it.

Yesterday actually coming back to Austin from San Antonio I got into a group of MB's that were flying on the highway, so I jumped into the conga line and away we went. There was a CLK55, a AMG C55, a S430, a C32 and an E500 out for a Saturday drive along I-35. Needless to say the driving was fast paced and it was awesome to see the power of the C55 and CLK55 in person. But they were also very impressed with the R, and that it could keep up the pace. We went from San Antonio to Austin in 50 minutes.

We stopped at a grocery store parking lot and they looked over my R and declared it "very nice", and the fact that I had my clubs in the back and could still seat 5 others was a big point to 2-guys who had more than 3 grandkids and was looking to have something to haul them around and still have some get up and go.

So long story short...welcome to the people carriers and a stylish and fast MB as well!

JTReeves

I did a round-trip road trip from Woodbridge, VA (outside DC) to Atlanta this weekend. The one-way distance was around 580 miles. I did each leg in just under 10 hours. There were 4 in the car, including a 4 year old little girl. We stopped as needed for potty, food, and gas. Mileage was around 18+. The car is an R500 with stock tires and suspension. It held 85-90 mph easily and rolled up onto 100 mph when needed for maneuvering through the sleepers in the left lane.

I traded a 2003 SL500 for the R500. The R is easier to drive because of a number of factors: (1) ingress and egress. I'm almost 61 and not as spry as I used to be; (2) ride height. I can see much further ahead on the highway and can plan my line through slow drivers more easily; (3) the 7-speed trannie is much smoother than the 5-spd in the older SL500. Though the engine is essentially the same, the R accelerates more smoothly.

Overall, it is the most enjoyable vehicle I've ever owned.

DonMario2k

congratulations to a great car.

enjoy your R

farouk2000

Congrats on your car..The R has just been launched here in South Africa, and the R500 IS Priced just under An S00 Which is currently hurtin sales,....

stormwind

Its great because for people like me thats looking to get one, it's so heavily discounted I can get a good deal anytime I want.

The one I am interested in (alpine rain R350 2WD) is still sitting on the lot for over a month, despite the sales man trying to get me to bit by saying its a "rare" color and it won't stay on the lot for long. Now I get to nickel and dime him around until he gives in.

transcanadatom

I too have just bought a slightly used 4,500 km for a 2007 CDI. Very excited, are you happy with it!