RBP

Does anyone find the S550 to be too big? Do you live in a big city and find it too difficult to manoeuver and park?

ronw123w124

Dude, if you think the S-class is too big you should have gotten yourself an E or a C-class. PEACE

JRAMGV8

The S-Class are not the big if you ask me. I test drove one before getting the E350. Honestly I feel the E-Class less than a midsize sedan, but that's just me. Driving an S-Class would be my pick just because its superior than the other models and I dont mind the extra space.

cjf_moraga

The S-Class might appear big... but it sure does not feel it when you get used to driving one for a while... It has this amazing feature that shrinks the car around you with familiarity... It will probably feel like a Kia Rio next year...

anmhi

NO

FlavioB

I guess it depends on where you live. While I'm sure it's not big for the States, it's too big for most parking spaces on the streets in Switzerland.
It's actually wider that the lines limiting the space, and so you're always risking a fine.
I love mine (LWS W220), but then again I usually park in parking garages and so it's not a huge deal.

jerseyMLdriver

For me its not big at all..but if we were to get the S-Class in Italy..our town's streets are too small to be able to drive it around..especially when you have to ride up on the sidewalk just to turn onto the street..

Doctodd33

no

Diesel Benz

The correct answer from US members of the forum is "no" for sure but the above is common in many European cities. The cars are in average smaller and the roads accordingly (small roads came first, we had roads before the US really got populated We have smaller cars for other reasons too, and we have a lot more public transport, we don't have the space for all private cars like in the US (we don't need it, be it good or bad).

I'm driving in a small town where traffic isn't bad and the V221 mostly isn't too big really, but for some parking lots etc. it is.

WSH

Depends upon specific US city and one's own home garage parking/office garage parking, parking in front of usual restaurants/shops, etc....

That said, S550 is a common limo in Manhattan, but often bumpers are scuffed from tight parallel, on-street parking (one's Parktronic means little if guy parking adjacent can't park/drive)....

Length can be an issue if trying to find spots far away from other cars; their doors; and their parking maneuvers in tight urban office garages....all depends upon specific config of one's usual garages...and how much willing to pay for rsvd better pkg spots to reduce risk of dings/damage....

Size of car for driving in Manhattan (or any other US city) is a non-issue....actually prefer extra length of S-Class over CL if in collision, esp if rear-ended at speed....

jerseyMLdriver

Most of the streets we have in my town are cobble stone..and the sidewalks are so high up its almost a shame to buy that type of car..because the poor thing will get so scratched up

And in the US..most families have more than one car..with a driveway or even space in the streets to park..

we dont have a drive way in our part of the town in Mola and you are lucky..and i mean lucky to find a spot anywhere near your house..even with the smaller cars and the mopeds..

j_belll

S class isn't big at all. The S63 is actually bigger

trumpet1

What!?!?

JRAMGV8

^^ I think he was joking...

trumpet1

Good, because when I bought my S600 I wanted to make sure I had the biggest.


For a minute there, I thought someone had an S class bigger than mine

S500 Man

the s63 is bigger lol........i find my W220 to be small, it looks little next 2 my friends 7 series, the W221 looks good, i still think they should have made it a inch longer lol

JRAMGV8

Well this is the W221 thread, I'm sure the new W221 is bigger than the previous W220 by over an inch according to the Mercedes Benz website

W211 205

W220 203.5

S500 Man

do you mean w221 or w211

JRAMGV8

I hate it when I do that... I meant the W221

momentos_s

I think in the US it´s not a big deal, but here in Portugal is. The streets are ok, but if you want to park the car proply it's a disaster.

In general, europpen parks and streets are made for mid sized cars, whilst in the US, the are made for big cars.

It's something you must learns how to live with.

carsnob

Yes it's honkin big, but think about it... the steering is the easiest you'll find as one finger will do it. I park in a tight office parking garage and with a couple of mirrors it's completely effortless. Not to mention the parktronic.
Plus when friends sit in the back, they are comfortable. That's the beauty of the car. Plus the safety etc. My kids have driven m S's since they were l6, and it's no big deal size wise.

Enjoy the space inside and the handling and it won't feel big.

RUready

I think the my S550 is times easier and better to drive then my old 7 series

syswei

Do you street-park an S550 in Manhattan? I live in the burbs but am considering the S550 4matic to replace an old Lexus SUV. I park in midtown, on an avenue, on occaision (mostly for monthly weekday night poker games). I'm a little worried about potential minor vandalism (like, jerks key-scratching the length of the car) if I were to streetpark a car as nice as an S550. What do you think?

nantucketsleigh

If you street park in Manhattan you should be reconciled to bumper scuffs, dents, dings and scratches all over the car. The same applies to many of the parking garages. If you are really particular about appearance you should know the parking garage well before using it.

syswei

One of the problems with parking garages (according to a friend of my wife's who had this happen repeatedly with a car) is that the attendands will often bump the bumpers...damaging the parking sensors there.