ItalianStallion

My mother is looking to get a new S class but the S550 is too expensive. She has an S430 right now, which used to be one notch under the S500. Is there any lower engine models of the S550, such as an S450 or S350? If not, will they be available in the US any time soon? If she can't get the S, its gonna be a BMW 750Li which she thinks is ugly.

Please help, thanks.

clkcadet

my gf's father was interested in it as well, but he just ponied up for the s550.. in flint grey its stunning and what an amazing car!!

heres some info
https://mbworld.org/forums/s-class-w221/151670-s450-debut-us.html

RichReg

Yes, an S450 is coming in the Fall.
Haven't heard about an S350 for the U.S......yet.

ItalianStallion

Thanks guys, and thanks for the link. I think we're gonna wind up leasing a 750Li for 2 years and then go with a S450 4matic when that lease is over. The dealer said theres a good chance that if the S450 comes out in winter, it wont be 4matic. Oh well, our family has enough Benzes.

ORK1

It might come much sooner.
In Russia it is already possible to order S450 4 matic and S500 4 -matic, so i think it will be possible in US pretty soon. This link is in russian, but if you scrool down you will see 4 matics...
http://www.logovaz-belyaevo.ru/conte...42ec4f48373b5b

elbowyeish

they have S320's in asian countries but none for the US (i think i've even heard of a S230). the asian countries don't need much horsepower or big engines and they have very strict laws about smog. i believe MB is making the Bluetec hybrid S-Class due out probably 2008 if you want a S-class. don't know how much they're going to sell it for though.

AsianML

There is an S350 available in other countries. I posted a thread about the S350 vs A8 3.2 vs 730i a couple of threads down.

Germancar1

If there was going to be a S450 here this fall, MB would have shown the car by now. They've already announced all the 07' models and the only S coming is a S550 4Matic. Mercedes isn't going to do a S450 here in the U.S. until they see how the Lexus LS460 prices out. The current rumor has a S450 on tap for the U.S. market for the 2008 model year, i.e. after sales slow down.

M

phonetics

it's 350, not 320

RichReg

Sales always slow down in the Fall for car manufacturers compared to the warmer months. Just because MB doesn't formally announce a model, it doesn't mean its not coming. For example: there is a 300hp version of the BMW 3 Series Sedan being produced starting in September...you can take that to the bank. Where's the announcement from BMW?

I'm sure MB would like nothing more than to sell as many higher priced versions of the S-Class as they can. The sooner they let on about the 450, the more of a chance they have of losing an S550 buyer.

Germancar1

Well for one BMW is BMW, not Mercedes. BMW hasn't issued an official press release about concerning their full 07' lineup like Mercedes has. Secondly the BMW 335i is a given since the Coupe version is coming. Mercedes has for some reason elected not to put the new 4.6L V8 in the ML or R-Class for 2007 either so it isn't always as cut and dry like that. If a S450 shows up this fall I'll eat the 07 S-Class brochure....lol. Now this time next year for 2008 model year I can see a S450 because by this time next year the Lexus LS460 will have eaten into S-Class sales at a lower price point and the S450 will be needed. Supposedly the S450 will pack about 345hp and the S550 goes up to 410hp for 2008, but that is just rumors.

M

blessed

I don't think so If you want a 550 you want a 550 an you will probably get what you want at this price range. I want a 600 and will get a 600 even thought the 550 is probably a better buy for the money I think most people get what they want.

BenzVince

It's ironic, that I read somewhere in Motor Trend a few months back not sure which month when the New S class was coiming, they said the 06 S was suppoose to get a S350 which I never saw it. I thought maybe they meant for the 07 will get the 3.5 engine.

Germancar1

Well the W220 06 S-Class did have a S350, with the old 3.7L V6. The new W221 S350 has the new 3.5L V6 of course, but isn't likely to come here until the end of the production run like the W220 did.

M

Musikmann

Very intelligent analysis here. What some of us seem to forget, is that Daimler is a for-profit business that has a CEO, other various high-level officers, and a board of directors Their primary goal is to see the value of the company, and the price of its' shares increase. Otherwise, eventually, heads will roll.

In an ideal world, every automoble manufacturer would listen carefully to its' customers, and make the requested modifications. Forget it guys - if a certain model adds to the bottom line, they will make as long as it still does. If another model is a commercial flop, it's history.

End of story,
Musikmann

Germancar1

I hear what you're saying, but I'm willing to bet there is no S450 this fall regardless. They're going to wait and see where the LS460 prices out and then launch it next summer or even next spring as a 2008 model. Being smart about adding to the bottom line is what Dr. Z is about also.

I have no doubt we'll get a S450, but releasing it before Lexus releases the pricing of the LS460 would be a mistake and would render the car nearly pointless (on paper from a competitive point of view) so they'll wait. Obviously MB isn't going to keep the price of admission to the S-Class at the current 86-90K. However unlike when the W220 was launched MBUSA has decided to go for the more profitable high-end sales (S550/S600/S65) first and then flush out the bottom of the lineup with a S450 and possibly a S320 Bluetec later one. Remember that with the W220 the S55 and S600 didn't come up until the 2nd model year (2001).

M

1SICKLEX

Because I luv u guys/gals



Lexus LS 460, $67,000
Lexus LS 460 Nav/ML $72,000
Lexus LS 460 Comfort plus $76,500
Lexus LS 460L $86,000
Lexus LS 600h L $94,000 (loaded to the gills, special order)

Germancar1

Where did you get those prices from?

M

AsianML

He's on the ClubLexus forums. I wouldn't be surprised how and where he got those numbers!!!

1SICKLEX

I'm a lil in the Lexus "know".

RichReg

F.Y.I.;

Germancar1, you were totally correct.
I spoke to Princeton Motorsport today and they told me
that the idea of the S450 in the U.S. became a concrete "no-go" a few months ago. Had I spoken to them earlier,
I might have known better.....

I think these Lexus LS prices tell the story.... since Lexus
seems to now be aiming more directly @ MB's S-Class prices, then MB need not aim back with a lower priced model.

Germancar1

Yeah I knew something had changed back in April when the S600 arrived, but the S450 didn't and then the press completely stopped talking about the S450. They'll do a S450, but it won't likely be until the 2008 model year or even beyond that depending on how much damage the LS460 and LS460L does to S-Class sales. I don't blame Mercedes because I for one am tired of seeing the S430 getting whipped in comparison tests by the 7-Series and LS. This time that won't be happening with the "entry-level" model being the 382hp S550. My guess has been all along that MB was taken by surprise by the power and the projected price (you know people in the industry know what other folks in the industry are doing or going to do a lot of times) so they decided to pull the notion of a S450 until the new V8s get direct injection. That should be around 2009. Then the S450 would have like 360hp and the S550 would be in the 410-420 range. Just my guess. Either way a 335hp S450 just isn't going to cut it when Audi, BMW and Lexus are toting 350hp, 360hp and 380hp respectively.

The way I see it MB will lose some sales to the LS460 due to price, but with a S450 they'd lose even more because the S450 is likely to cost the same as the LS460/L and have less power. At least with the S550 MB matches the Lexus on paper, but at a price premium. The S450 would have likely been around 78K and the LS460 would have more power and features for less. That won't work this time around, IMO of course. With the S320 Bluetec/CDI it won't matter because it is a diesel.

M

johnlovescar

I saw a Silver S350 today - LA, California...............