classyS

just wondering if u guys made the switch and for what reason?? i do love my smooth silver boat but i want something fast and the time is coming..

thanks gang!!

SFBIGBODY415

I love the E55 w211 I would for sure get one over my car. My buddy has one with euro charged upgrades and runs low 11's all day and uses it as his daily driver

Raygt3

Went from S63 to E550 cab. 550 makes more sense.

Sher Judge

E55K W211 or E63 W211/2

Quadcammer

I wouldn't. the e feels a bit sparse for me at this point.

Sher Judge

True, you can't touch an S-class, its just leaps and bounds ahead in any language.

Fraser

The only way is up, Bentley FS or another 600 next time around for me. The latter being the most likely.

It's like flying business class and then having to slum it in coach. It's not the done thing

cmpcpro

The only way I would take an E is if I won one, or someone gave me one alot newer than my S. I like them because they are a little smaller therefore a little sportier, but I love my yacht.

Quadcammer

100% accurate. I'm considering possible replacements, and I can't come up with much.

The bentley conti is likely my best choice.

xlr8tin

Reading this thread made me laugh a little.

Fact is buy an AMG. An S, E...doesn't matter they are all better then non AMG. Unless you are getting older and need something forgiving on the roads...

Boats aren't that fun

cmpcpro

Someone on here or Benzworld was talking about going from an 06 S500 to an 04 S430 after buying a brand new car and changing his mind.. I would be very unhappy if I sold my car only to end up with someone older and lesser.

xlr8tin

Yea forget that....that's too much. And going to an E after having an S, I would think is not the direction to go.

Fraser

For me having an AMG isn't all that important. More showy, more expensive parts, higher depriciation and higher servicing costs. The thing that's great about the TT 600s are that you've got a lot of that AMG raw power there if you decide you want it. I'm not one to roar off every light and blasting on every on ramp so knowing I've got 500bhp is fantastic and I do enjoy it quite regularly but an AMG is wasted on me. I came to that conclusion having test driven a '09 CL65 a few weeks back...

Sgt. Schultz

Funny, I hadn't laughed until I got to ^this^ reply.

That's a pretty broad (and ignorant, sorry) statement. Everyone owns cars for different reasons, none are better than another - just better suited toward suiting folks' goals.

I've come out of ///M's and //S's and lions and tigers and bears - oh my! But I'm in a non-AMG now - BFD.

Back to point, I somewhat agree that it IS hard to step down a class... coming out of a Flagship and into a smaller model does present notable observations - size, for starters - you really do get accustomed to the space. Materials, design, and execution jump to mind next.

However, I'd argue that an '01 W220 compared to an '05+ W211 isn't too much of a step "down". All the mfg's continue to undergo paradigm shift w/ their models. The A's are now the size of the B's, B's C's, C's D's, and so on. And, as you go up in model-year, the materials used are improve as well.

I was all but sent to write the check for an E55 Estate - same year and 15k more miles than I ended up with... but in the last moments it WAS hard to stomach coming from an //S8 (aka "D body" car) and into the next size down - even tho the 211 is pretty much the same size as the D2 Audi.

The fact that the Estate was going to be a few grand more than what I ended up with simply sealed the deal heh heh. Nutty how that shakes out huh???

Something about the panache, stigma, etc. was hard to wrestle with.

Agreed w/ the sentiment "now what" (aka where to go from HERE). Totally.

When I use up my 4-5yrs in this bish, "then what"!?!?!? Bentley? Maybach? Sososososo hard to step 'back'. I'm pretty sure it'll likely be a Quattroporte or a D3 //S8 (V10) tho.

It's really a matter of your objective / priority / perspective. Go w/ what suits your current needs, which, are likely different than what they were when you bought your W220.

HTH, good luck.

xlr8tin

Damn relax

Sgt. Schultz

I'm pretty relaxed - thanks!

classyS

yeah my eyes on a 600 and spare set of coil packs when the time comes, hell i dont even care about the sport trim with exception of a nice interior color combo and definitely wood wheel.. i passionately hate my thin wheel and as of right now i cant seem to justify $500 for another wheel when that money could go towards the purchase of a 600.

i do love my 2001 though, i find myself driving windows up totally silent just to hear how smooth it drives, i then wonder:

if this is 300lb ft/lbs torque... what does 700+ feel like??

SFBIGBODY415

W220 must have sport pac just looks very old without it




QUOTE=classyS;5017454]yeah my eyes on a 600 and spare set of coil packs when the time comes, hell i dont even care about the sport trim with exception of a nice interior color combo and definitely wood wheel.. i passionately hate my thin wheel and as of right now i cant seem to justify $500 for another wheel when that money could go towards the purchase of a 600.

i do love my 2001 though, i find myself driving windows up totally silent just to hear how smooth it drives, i then wonder:

if this is 300lb ft/lbs torque... what does 700+ feel like??[/QUOTE]

haoz129

+1 with SFBIGBODY415, Better get an W220 with Sport pkg, otherwise looked a bit dated. Or update later but very expensive.

Like I commented on other thread, with 5 people and a fully loaded trunk, my 2003 S600 still makes me feel like a jumbo jet taking off. Yes, still silent. That's 493 hp and 590 ft-lbs.
TTV12 Very impressive indeed.

I may not always need the power but feel confident to have it.

If you leave S-Class, you will miss lots of it's characteristics for sure.

Thanks.

Howard

ChapelHillMBFan

Right off, I'll apologize for being a d*ck, but I can't help it. Even before reading this thread, I thought I had an idea of what was coming...a good amount of irrational S-class leg-h*mping. Hard to find a replacement for a 220 S-class. Really? A Bentley is the only step-up? Really? Now, I'll cut the 600 kids some slack (I'm sure the twin-turbo 12 is an amazing motor), but I can't cut the 430 (no offense, the 430's gotta be a dog, since I can't say my 500 is anywhere near fast) and 500 kids any slack. And, I'm sure there are many cars more well-rounded now than even the 220 600.

Heck, I'll throw some options out there: an S550 (new or used), a 212 E550 (new or used, especially the new twin-turbo model, but I think a case could be made for the 211 E550 as well), a 218 CLS550 (but I think a case could be made for the 219 CLS550 as well), the new A6 with supercharged six (my old man just got one, and I am anxious to sample it), the new A7, the new A8, and the new Jag XJ (even with the goofy c-pillars) (I can't stand BMWs for non-quantifiable reasons, so I won't include the 550i or 750i or 750iL, and the Panamera is too ugly to mention, brilliant to drive, though it may be). I'm sure I'm overlooking some good options too (like the Maser Quattroporte). All the aforementioned cars are likely better than a 220 430 or 500 in every quantifiable aspect except for space (and the S550, A8, and Jag XJ have that covered as well). And, all the aforementioned cars' dynamic superiority likely make up for their power deficits relative to the 220 600, IMO.

Anyway, now that I've convinced all that I really am a d*ck, I do think that I have some constructive thoughts on the subject, since I currently have an '06 S500 (with AMG sports package, for whatever that's worth) and an '07 CLS550, and I had an '08 E350 (with AMG sports package) before the S500 and CLS550. Also, I like to think that I look at my cars pretty objectively since I've owned a bunch of different cars and will own a bunch more different cars, so I can conclusively say that my S500 will not be the end-all, be-all of cars for me. I'll give my thoughts on each below.

'06 S500 - It really is a nice car. But, it's also an old car, designed for the 2000 model-year and at a time when MB was perhaps cutting more corners than it should've been, chasing increased sales and profits. It has tons of room. It's smooth, quiet, and comfortable. It handles respectably. My 500 has adequate power. It looks great and timeless inside and out. It's leather and wood are far and away the best of the 3 MBs I've had (and much better than my wife's Toyota, er, Lexus). But, its plastics...not so much. It's really not that fast, and it's not an enthusiastic handler. I know many would like to cut its handling some slack, given it's a barge, but, truth is, it's not that heavy. It's only 150lbs heavier than my CLS550 (4170lbs vs. 4020lbs). And, by modern standards, it's features are down right quaint. With all that said, I really do like my S500. I think it's a great car for what I paid for it, and it suits my needs (getting me around town comfortably and safely with plenty of room in back for my monstrous, rear-facing child seat) very well.

'07 CLS550 - It really is a better car than the S500 in every aspect except for size and quality of leather and wood, though the other inside materials are better. The biggest difference is in the motor. The step up to the 5.5 V8 is huge. Massive. It's not just a ton faster, but it's also a ton more responsive. And, it makes better noises. The handling and steering are also a good bit more responsive (though not up to proper sport-sedan standards), and it only weighs 150lbs less than the S500. The brakes on both are comparable (for all I know, they may even be the same system). What is surprising though, is that it's every bit as comfortable as the S500 (except for space, though it has plenty for front-seat folks). It's definitely as quiet (my CLS550 is probably quieter than my S500, though I attribute that to the less agressive Michelins on the CLS vs. the more aggressive Bridgestones on the S). It even probably rides better. I'll explain. The "convenience" setting on the S500 is too soft and squishy to be worthwhile, IMO, and the "sport 2" setting on the S500 is too harsh to be worthwhile in such a car, IMO. But, on the CLS, all 3 settings are worthwhile, with the "comfort" setting giving decent handling with great ride quality, and the "sport 2" giving good handling with probably better ride quality than the S500's "sport 2" setting. I also think it has an all-around tighter and more solid feel than the S500 (an example of MB's quality back on the rise?).

'08 E350 - It really is a nice car too. It easily had the best handling and steering of the 3. It was actually somewhat tossable. It was a better handler than the supposedly much sportier Pontiac G8 GXP I had before it. It also had an all-around tighter and more solid feel to it than the S500. It too had adequate power. I can't say the S500 is any faster. The 90-degree V6 (which I always thought was a cheapskate move by MB) got a bit harsh at high RPM, but I liked it anyway. The leather was a bit like cardboard (and, yes, my E350 was leather, not vinyl), but, although it was a big rough, I'm sure it would be durable (though the much smoother and softer leather in my S500 has been remarkably durable too). And, the wood wasn't quite as nice as that in the S500, but it was nicer than the wood in the CLS550 (which isn't very lustrous and seems a bit plasticky to me). But, the plastics were every bit as good, and maybe better than, those in the S500. So, in sum, I think the E-class could be a fine move. Better in some ways, and not better in some ways.

Bottom line is, time moves on, and I think the progress in cars over the past ten years has been amazing (with respect to power, handling, braking, interior quality, features, and now efficiency).

Hope I didn't offend anyone too much (though they are just cars, so I would hope I couldn't offend anyone too much, but this is the internet after all).

Cheers.

ChapelHillMBFan

Just saw my post posted. Can't believe I wrote that much. But, then again, only old episodes of Top Gear on tonight...

Fraser

To work through your list:
-S550 - trade down in power, lower quality interior materials
-212 E550 - trade down in size
-218 CLS550 - love the styling but a trade down in power and rear space
-A6 - too small
-A7 - same problem as CLS
-A8 - too clinical in feel, seats too hard, performance versions not available yet. My father moved from a W220 to A8s and is now on his third. Loves them.


I could be tempted by BMWs just never owned one and I don't see myself as a BMW driver type. Can't remember the film but my wife paraphrases it when I hit the gas in the 600, "You drive a BMW, act like it"....The new XJ looks rather good but it's still not my cup of tea.

I'm just someone who likes to trade up in the world...When I was able to fund my own business class flights I yearned for first class, and now I'm blase with that I yearn for private jet travel despite it being out of my league! I think for a while the trading up to a Bentley might fall into the same category. But unless the world falls out from under me I'm not keen in trading down.

jackasswhy

I can't believe I just read all that stuff about the 430s. I own two and am veryyyyy happy. Its not the fastest thing by any means but it does what it is suppose to. Sure I csn get other cars, been debating about a masserati for yrs, but then I remember y I have a porsche and y I have a mercedes

bigigg

I rather have my brand new 12' E350 than any S class older than 09.. Sorry

Quadcammer

congrats?

I'd rather not use cheesy red paint on my engine cover, but hey, everybody's got their preferences