ajm0623

i finally got around to thumbing thru my latest (feb 09) car and driver mag and noted on pp. 112-113 that the authors put out a two-page spread high-fiving various classes of autos: performance compacts, sports sedans, sports cars, smalls suvs, mid-sized suvs, to name a few, yada.

in the 'luxury sedans' category, here is their listing (in order):

1. mb s-class: 'the "base" s-550 is our favorite, combining class-leading presence, spaciousness, driver appeal, and the full gamet of luxury amenities.'
2. jag xf ...
3. infinity m35/m45 ...
4. bmw 5 ...
5. (one to watch) bmw 7: 'more high-tech but more user-friendly, the revamped 750i will give stern opposition to the s550.'

i can quote chapter and verse for nos. 2-4 if you want. but you get the idea.

trumpet1

I used to pick up at least 3 mags a month and drool over cars and study them intensely hoping to get the next best thing down the pike, but since I bought my W221, I have probably only looked at 3 mags total. But you've got my interest in buying a copy of that one. Thanks for the post.

WSH

ajm, thx for pointing that out

Much like trumpet, for many yrs, would avidly read car mags (usually at bookstores b/c too cheap to actually buy 'em)....quickly realized (after finally being able to afford and drive high-end cars on interesting roads) that journalists are laughably clueless drivers and observors; they don't hand those jobs out to just anyone....ever since, I have refused to waste a penny on any car mags (even though I can finally afford subscriptions if I chose)....I'll look at their free websites for amusement on occasion...but I'll save my pennies toward getting new MB/AMGs more often

Interesting is that '10 S-Class will prob launch in 6-8mos, moving the goalposts even further away for these archaic-tech mfrs BMW/VW, which still have such >3yo tech as Parktronic bulletholes on their allegedly "new" cars

MBZFAN55

My "reliable sources" concur with your early launch date of 2010 Mercedes products. The worldwide storage facilities for MB are more than full, particularly in the US. Look for 2009 designated Mercedes to be one of the shortest production runs in recent memory.

WSH

MBZ, interesting stuff

In this historically bleak economy, will be interesting if MB accelerates model revisions to spur sales to most recession-resistant, new tech-oriented buyers

Have advised AMG (at least on AMG PrivateLounge) to intro '10 65s first, for most recession-resistant (and impatient) buyers; have already told my dealer I want first '10 S65 and first '10 CL65 (presumably 4-6mos post-'10 S-Class launch)...sadly perhaps, I live in an economically "unusual" region where I need to compete vs a few pals who buy more new CL AMGs/yr than I, so getting first/early copies is a challenge; we all shop at same dealer/same salesman

Am enough of a tech junkie to want to get newest S/CL tech...but too addicted to 65 tq, etc to ever go back to non-AMG 8/12s, even as a brief stop-gap car while waiting for new AMG V12s to arrive....

trumpet1

That is definitely an interesting way to look at it. Might possibly be very , very accurate. Also WSH has a good point too, they might speed up the refreshes of the next few years. Hmmm?

Germancar1

That is interesting. I would say all the 2010s should be on the ground here in the U.S. by July. Some of them might even be here in the Spring, like the facelift for the GL.

M

drksuh

My wife's car is the Infiniti M35X. She and I both are not fans of the Infiniti. It is like a sporty, slightly luxurious Honda Accord or Nissan Maxima. It is not in the class of the Mercedes S Class. But then again, there is not a car in its class.

I would not give up the driving and safety and total experience of a Mercedes S550 for 3 Infiniti M35's. When our lease is up in a few months, we will be adding a second Mercedes to the garage.

JMHO

Quadcammer

jesus.

$400k worth of MB at one shot.

gyzmo123

I just hope I get to see the pics of WSH's new beasts... Still waiting to see that CL65.

drpasteur

attached