tmehanna

That's how you guys get it for a little over half price and get option packs for next to nothing. A properly loaded S500 (550) sells for upward of $200K in Germany, and that's before taxes.

Stuttgart-UT

thats my favority pics!


i hate the old taillights... the facelift taillights looks 100% better

K-A

I like how they went back to the double white stripes in the rear lights, it used to be such a nice M-B trademark.

trumpet1

No, it's more of a money factor/dollar vs. Euro factor/predetermined hedging that makes this discrepancy so bad. I remember when I bought a VW Phaeton, Germans had to pay $50K to $60K more for a particular car than the Americans got if for. There is no way that a few extra electronic gizmos is going to cost $100K on a car. IMO, it's a shame Germany is overcharging you for these cars. Even at the prices we pay, it's way too expensive.

A similarly loaded GM car (even trucks), costs only around $50K to $60K. I just checked out a GM Denali truck and it has rear camera, bumper sensors, dual sun roof, heated/cooled seats, very comfy seats, satellite radio, navigation system, heated steering, 400 HP engine, 4 wheel drive, integrated phone system, etc.
Cars in general are just overproduced and over priced.

As far as the BMW versus Mercedes thing, I just wish that MB could come up with better stock wheels than they do. I hated the original S600 wheels and hate those in the picture above, but BMW wheel stylists seem to be on top of their game on every car they issue.

Mandingo

If you think wheel choices are bad on MB you should try to configure a Lexus LS - at least I could specify the AMG wheels on my S, Lexus offer no choices at all and the default wheels are so pathetic it ruins the lines of the vehicle.

BMW do offer the best selection but MB is a lot more style and customization savvy than Lexus.

trumpet1

The picture of the white one has me drooling.

AustinGuy

Wow. That's unbelievable.

To put that in relative terms, a top of the line 2009 Ferrari F1 Spider goes for arond $220k!!!

http://www.edmunds.com/new/2009/ferr...01/prices.html

AustinGuy

Did you notice the new chrome stripe on the sides of the rear bumper?

Nice touch (although I'd like to see it in person first)

AustinGuy

Does anyone have pics of the 2010 AMG sedans.

I'm very curious to see what they look like esp. the tail pipes and fog lights (which are always round on AMG's)

WSH

Arguably world's cheapest cars are in Silicon Valley or Beverly Hills

Can $0-down lease a new, '10 S or CL65 for 3 yrs (for duration until totally new-tech S/CL is launched)

And given weather, topography and culture of Silicon Valley or Beverly Hills, can enjoy driving 65 365d/yr for daily commuting and for wkend mtn twisties driving (and 280 fwy AB-like blitzes)....stuff that billionaires elsewhere in world can't enjoy....more than a few German-origin software billionaire car nuts have chosen to live/work in Silicon Valley, not Munich

Diesel Benz

That must include some Designo stuff or similar, the base tax free price for a LWB S500 is 85 900 Euros, tax in Germany means 19% VAT, making it 102 221 Euros. But the price difference compared to US prices is still quite significant.

trumpet1

What is so hard to believe is that the same car company that brings you the most beautiful car in the world, the W221, also built this:


http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Unimo...QQcmdZViewItem

Chucky300

That's a big turn on!

QuadBenz

WOW! I would never guess that's an MB. To be fair though, that is verrrrrrrry old.

lkirchner

It looks like an afterthought to me.

MBNUT1

Ditto

irieblue

You can configure the 2010 AMG S class on the German Mercedes Web site via:

http://www.mercedes-benz.de/content/...pA%3A13hlkpbga

jbanks

As an owner of one of the GM Denali trucks and a close friend with the Current Escalade. The build quality of these Loaded GM cars is FAR behind the Mercedes. The quality of the materials they way things fit together. The feeling of the buttons/switches/handles just does not compare to the Mercedes. I'm sure the 50% incease in cost of the Mercedes is worth it. Things move in the GM vehicles that you would not expect to(plastic parts). The paint quality and general body fit of the Mercedes is at least 100% better. They have gone to great lenghts(not in a good way) in these latest GM trucks/suv's to remove weight to imprive fuel mileage and I'm still 8-10 highway MPG behind the Mercedes. I could go on but I feel like my Mercedes is (almost) worth every penny.

AMG1

They did it again, looks great! I can't wait to see the official photos of the AMG versions.

IluvS500

The whole facelift is very tasteful, but I just can't help but hate the new mirrors Mercedes is putting on their sedans, I really was hoping that the 2008 C-Class mirrors would make it to the W212, not so much the facelift S-Class, but I just don't care for them. I'm sure once again I will like them once I see it in person. Still waiting for us to get a used W221 at our store either traded or from auction, but I will face the truth, you'd have to be crazy to trade a W221 for an XJ

hannes

Interestingly, a thumbnail on Mercedes' (German) website and the blueprint show the new S-Class with dual-fog lights, as they are standard on the new E-Class. As they do not appear in any other picture, and not in the configurator, either, I assume the daytime running LEDs were made standard relatively late in the process.

JonMBZ

I think it looks a lot nicer

WingFlex

Well said. The cost of ownership, driving culture and conducive driving conditions are definitely something to envy for high performance car enthusiasts from other parts of the world. Oh well, I guess we can't have it all.

BoBcanada

http://www.worldcarfans.com/9090413....lifts-revealed

AustinGuy

Here you go

2010 S63

Dang! I love it! Esp. the rear end. I love that mid section betw. the tail pipes. Awesome redesign. Makes the car look even beefier from behind.




2010 S65

Main cosmetic differnce seems to be the conjoined tail pipes and double-lined grille. Very sexy and classy.