Jason B

Those of you that own a w221.. Do you like your exterior better than the w222?

I prefer things that don't have to "grow" on me. This conversation is about exterior only.

wally AMG

Like the V222 front over v221 but not the rear... like the v221 over V222

Mike5215

Not yet. The proportions on the nose still look odd and foreign to me. I think overall the 222 looks very corporate and business-like. The 221, especially in the AMG trim, looks like it's pissed off and up to no good. The 222 looks like it wants to do your taxes for you, then get to bed at a reasonable hour.

Popo Here

W222 all the way. W221 is now an older looking car. The deletion of those fender flares is a good touch. The front just looks so much better in the new car. Headlights looks like an expensive suit. Doors no longer have to latch for the soft close feature to be triggered. Overall just a well rounded looking car. But, this is MB. The second generation will have another updated look. Its just what the do.

Donnymac

Agree 100%. Perfectly described......221 thug and 222 CEO. I vote 221.

Mike5215

Some of MB's older designs hold up well, and the new versions don't. The prior generation E Class to my eye has better lines and proportions than its replacement. That's just a car that will always look good, even if it doesn't look new. Same with the current SL. The prior generation is so much sexier to me, and I'm not an old dude stuck in nostalgia.

I will say this about the design of the 222 exterior: It's not subtle. Mercedes really went for it with this car. Does anyone think the recent explosion in popularity for Audi in a lot of foreign markets (where in some parts of the world they outsell MB four-to-one) influenced MB to be less conservative in their designs?

malahhaor

I like them both equaly. As long as both are AMG package, 221 w/o AMG is ugly, 222 not as much.
I used to really like my 220 (face lift 220), 221 had to grow on me a little.
Same with 222, at first i wasnt too sure about it, after few more images and seeing it in real life i started to like it.
To me All S class models scream CEO, when they first come out. After facelifts and subsequent models come out, not to mention after you see peole modify them.....they start to look like "221 thug and 222 CEO"
My .02

Mike5215

Yup. When I had my 220's (both AMG appearance package cars) I didn't care much for the 221. About half way through their production run they started catching my eye more. Same will probably hold true for the 222, especially when the mods start happening.

Any S can look either like an old ladies' bingo parlor/grocery getter car, or an incredible baddass by just changing a few key elements.

sakodik

I love the exterior for the W221, especially the face lifted one with the more angular grill. The 222 looks like it got falcon punched and they fixed it up by adding new headlights. The rear of the 222 is just so plain... AMG or not.

hemmissey

It's growing on me... Gonna keep the w221 forever tho. It was my dream car to have.

Jason B

When first saw the 222 in the flesh, it made the search for a 221 commence with no looking back. I think the w221 will age the best. To me it just has that classic unmistakably Mercedes timeless design. You can't seem to ignore it.

Donnymac

AMG trim plus a drop front makes the 221 for me. Without AMG its a nice big cruiser.

I have not seen a 222 with AMG trim though.

Mike5215

Here's an S63. Body and wheel wise I don't see a lot of daylight between it and the base car









Either the base body moved to something more aggressive to begin with, or the AMG kit is less aggressive than we've come to expect. On the 220 and 221 the kits made a night and day difference. On the 222 not so much. When did MB forget how to design cool wheels?

Donnymac

I can't get past the front end. Definitely agree as to wheels, too.

221 AMG sport wheels are my fav.

So far, even with AMG, 221 has the look and 222 has the yawn.

I may go 222 looking this weekend and park side by side.

Hsg08

The 222 looks kinda odd from some of you guys because its lacking some stance and some big body size. Well, just wait for the long wheelbase version though. Im sure it will look like a boss, its a combination of ceo/ gangsta big body sedan. Lol

Donnymac

I hope you're right. It needs something.

So far I think it's helping 221 values.

Mike5215

Headlamp elements should never be square. Cars are supposed to have a "face". Eyes aren't ever square.

MagCL

I would take a 2010 and newer 221 over a 222 any day!! I'm not crazy about these new benz's (and i'm not just talking about the S class). MB is a company that should be making cars that everyone drools over, not putting out cars that "have to grow on you". Thats just my 2 cents.

MBZSW221

W221, but with AMG body kits, and right color in right light. Headlamps look better on W221 than W222. Interior wise, W221.

marthyh

W221 looks timeless to my opinion,especially compared to W220.
W222 is very contemporary so I do not think it shall be 'fresh-looking' in a number of years anymore.
Admitting when I first saw it on the road somewhere in Germany ,still in disguise, it looked promising.But when the first real pictures surfaced I found it too much of a boat.. Now after having seen it quite a few times in the 'flesh' it has grown on me and I think W222 is a great looking car.For me this goes for the standard version as well as the S63.

Jason B

I've done this already and I encourage you to do the same an report back. I parked it next to a new one and it's just bland looking. This was a new s550 with the amg package, which doesn't even look like an amg package. Also, for those than don't know, the 222 comes with a pano roof standard, BUT has a painted/body colored rear half that doesn't stay BLACK. If I had a 222, I'd do glossy black vinyl over it. Makes no sense.

Mike5215

That shot of the rear quarter on the 222:

The wheel, while I really like the design, looks 2" undersized to me relative to the sheet metal. Where the 221 has that flare over the wheel arch that breaks up the panel midpoint and reduces the sense of bulk, the 222 doesn't.

To me, the tail lamps are oversimplified and look unfinished. I'd rather have more detail in the lamp and less of the chrome bits all over the car.

Hard to believe that's an AMG car. It's just really, really understated compared to prior generations.

Jason B

Yep The depth in the taillights is missing... The 2010 have a much deeper look. I'm telling you, wait until 2017 for the refresh. I bet it looks similar to the 221. They purposely stepped it back, so they could bring back the aggressiveness at a later date.

ramos226

Don't mean to offend any of our female members, (If there are any), or hyper sensitive "males" for that matter... but an S-class with no fender flares are like a Victoria Secrets model with no T&A.. Perfectly fine not to have them, but SO much better if they have them.. I drove passed a W222 & completely thought it was a Hyundai.. MB hit a grand slam with the CLS redesign, but their W222...... not for me..

MagCL

Hopefully the guys that are designing the new MB's are reading our posts .