acrafton

Hey - as you may know from previous posts we are in the market for another R class. We already have an 06 R350 and obviously we like it. I assumed that we would just get another 350 but I have found several 500s that are off lease, fully loaded and reasonably priced.

Any thoughts on a 500? Do any of the 350 owners wish they had a 500 or vice versa?

Clearly gas is an issue but I am not too hung up on it.

supernsx

"Torque". Gas price is going to down anyway.... go for a R500.

vegeta

I second the R500. would be a great choice. The fuel economy is approximately 2-3 mpg less, if that.

sc_trojan

common, if you don't know the answer already, then you are on the wrong board.....

if you are 16 years old and have never driven a car before, I would understand. If you pay your own car bills then only YOU would know the answer if the marginal difference was worth the extra cost. why don't you drive the r500 since you already own the r350?

For me, I could NOT drive the r350. The r500 was the bare minimum and the airmatic suspension was a deal breaker.

JTReeves

My first benz was a c240. I soon traded for a c320. That car was my first experience with real power. My next was an SL. Going from less than 300 hp to more than 300 hp is similar to your second time with sex! It IS about the torque!
JR

Scotsman

I'd rather have the 500 of course as there are times the 350 doesn't pull as I'd like but couldn't justify another £10,000 or so when I bought it as 99% of the time it's adequate.
UK prices:-
SE* Sport* Edition S*
Diesel
R 280 CDI 5-seats £36,825 £38,325 -
R 320 CDI 5-seats £39,525 £41,025 £39,525
7-seats £40,525 £42,025 £40,525
R 320 L CDI 7-seats £41,775 £43,275 £41,775

Petrol
R 500 L 7-seats £53,775 £53,775 -

Hell, if I'd the money I'd have got the R63.

supernsx

For a used one (since no more new R500), the price between a 2006 R350 and R500 is not much difference. Make the R500 even more appealing is they are mostly well equiped and those options don't worth much in the used market.

It means you can get a $65K new R500 compared to a $50K new R350 for only $5K more in the used market.

MyMercedes012

I will get R500

I got my wife the R350 where she loves the vehicle and it is brand new....and she don't want used....so...

XRX

Before I got my R500, I've try the R350. Is ok but after I try the V8 Torque, you will think this is the way suppose to be for such a heavy car. Now I wish mine is R320, less gas more Torque or go crazy with R63!

ct_r500

The R350 engine is much quieter, every other advantage goes to the R500.

bzliteyear

i've been seeing many 2006 R500's for $25-30k w/ warranty still. the R350's don't seem to be much less - it seems people are not willing to pay up for the V8's, even though the cars used to cost $8K+ more.
i've driven the R350 but haven't driven the R500 yet, but in general they seem to be much better optioned. based on the way i've seen the pricing trends and the slowing economy, my gut feel is that the R500's may drop to low $20k's at the auctions soon?
what do you guys think - or do you think they'll stabilize at $25k-30k because for that money, you can't even get a new Odyssey or Ciena?
Patrick

acrafton

I drove the 500 and liked it but it was not an earth-shattering difference to me (I guess I am a slow driver). The power was there, however, don't know that I would use it that much.

But, as some have posted, it seems that there are plenty of 500s fully loaded avail for a slightly more than the 350s with much less equip. With that in mind, I will probably lean toward the 500.

~CL500~

When I leased my R350, the R500 was discontinued. The economics swayed me towards the lease versus the purchase of a pre-owned R500. Had the R500 still been available for 2008, I assure you it would be in my driveway today.

I love my R, but the 350 engine is a bit under powered for the weight it's lugging around. I have my CL500 to compare to and the 500 engine is an effortless powerplant. It's better suited and IMO more economical in the R-Class versus the 350 by virtue of fuel consumption with the power you get. The gas mileage I get in my CL is the same and at times BETTER than the R. A harder working engine will consume more fuel, especially if you drive aggressive. Try putting a 40Mpg 4-Cyl Toyota engine in an R-class and watch the mileage drop to 6Mpg. Same principle.

Go for the 5 double "O" and enjoy!

lkchris

If it's torque you're looking for, get the diesel. It has equal torque to the 500.

s4play

My wife is cross shopping the used market for a R350 or R500 as well so this thread helps.

What is the EPA MPG for both cars and are those reflective of real world situations?

I read in Wikipedia the R500 has 380+ hp! Is that too much for a family car? We already have a ML320 and sometimes wish for more power. Can the R500 be a good tow vehicle?

Any input from real owners would be great


thanks!

termite

we are on our second R500 and the gas mileage seems to be about the same as our last Honda Odyssey: about 15-16 in town and usually just over 20 on the highway. 360 HP might be quite a bit if we were talking about a golf gti, however the R weighs in at well over two tons. the power is just right for the R's bulk...have never towed, so i can't speak to that...

taranch

Doesn't the 5.0 deliver 302Hp?

s4play

thank you for the insight!

*EDIT: Yes the V8 only has 302hp, I must have made a reading error

bzliteyear

the used R500s seemed to have more options, but most will be out of warranty by now. if you're going for this, ideally the airmatic shocks have all been replaced by now as they'll likely all go out at some point and the car will sag. as for mileage, we're getting 14-15 around town, and around 20 on the highway...not bad for 5k pound V8. surprisingly, our 2012 odyssey with 6 cylinders isn't that much better on the mileage.

as for R350, i'd say the biggest difference is that you can choose a NEWER R350 - 2008+. i've heard from many people that they're much more reliable than the 2006-2007 R's. in addition, it may have the 7-seat option that earlier models do not. lastly, if you want to get the later models, 2012...they look REALLY nice w/ the updated hood/tail. good luck.

PL

s4play

We had our eye on a 2007 White R500 locally with 24k miles but the lady is crazy wanting $25k!

So I'm now thinking 2008+ R350's which have the 7-seat option, thank you again for your post. 2011+ are out of the price range we want to spent.

I'm going back to Autotrader but if anyone has a clean 2008+ R350 for sale please let me know as we are ready to buy anytime.


thank you

supernsx

Make sure your R350 engine doesn't fall within the range:

http://www.benzworld.org/forums/w211...et-engine.html

s4play

thanks, you don't happen to have an NSX as well?


I swear trying to find a nice R-class for sale in the used market is almost reminding me of my search for my NSX many years ago....crazy! I can't find the right car. I've emailed a few people on Autotrader with very little replies? What gives...?

Is it that hard to find a silver/white/black R350 with the basics