I honestly didn't feel any safer in that E350 than I would in a Taurus, Chrysler 300, or Chevy Impala. All of those cars are equally as safe in a crash, but offer a better ride, better comfort, more pleasing shapes, better materials, and are better looking over all....at a much lower entry price. Nothing about that E350 shouted "I'm a $70k Mercedes!" I wouldn't even give half that much for that car. Mercedes has a complete dud with this chassis, which has aged very quickly. I certainly hope they do better with the next model and make it look and feel like a $70k mid size luxury car again. I would have rather driven a low mileage 1998 E420 than the car I was put in for the last 3 weeks.

 

We'll, in the end, it's all a matter of opinion. You have your thoughts on this subject and I have mine. My best wishes to everyone: Enjoy whatever you drive and be safe.

 

There is no questioning that a W221 S600 is in a different league than a W212. Sounds like the W212 was cost reduced along the line and I have been surprised to see seat covers split with a couple of years use.

Having said that the W212 is on the top of my list once the new one comes out simply because (in pre facelift Luxury trim at least) it drives like older Mercedes which while the run of the miil cars are terrific values in comparison they don't feel the same to drive and I can't imagine myself being satisfied with one. They just lack the sense of solidity combined with refinement.

I would love to own a W221 for it's beauty, quality of materials, and seat comfort but it feels like way too big of a car to haul my self around in. In fact the W212 is bigger than I would prefer but I am having a hard time warming up to the new C Class and think that it is a poor value proposition.

 

Your old 2006 E350 was a better looking car than the current model...with a much nicer design, better layout, better shapes, and better materials. One of my co-workers has a 2006 E500 4matic and it is a very high quality car for a MB mid-sizer. It's unfortunate that MB took a couple of steps backward with the current model.

 

Fair enough. Given that I may look for a late W211. I think that they look pretty smart with the AMG package.

Mine was vulnerable to intermediate shaft issue and SBC brakes both of which are cured with the later years. Consumers Reports really liked the W211's. What I liked the most about mine is that it was really quiet. It didn't handle all that great though. My girlfriend used to say that it turned like her mothers Tennessee Walker horse. It was smooth but in no particular hurry to change directions. One thing that I preferred about it to the newer ones is that it doesn't feel as big and I've never thought that front end on the W212 looked all that great. My Sister has a 2013 with sport package and I really did like driving it. The other thing they have over the W211 is the power to mileage ratio is way up.

 

That is so true. I've driven a 2007 e350 sport and it feels much more solid and stable when driving and the materials inside are much better looking and feeling. It's crazy that the 2015 E I had as a loaner felt so cheap compared to the older one.

 

Speaking only for myself, whenever I drive a loaner car, it NEVER feels or looks as good as a new one you buy for yourself. I'll even extend this feeling to test drives in brand new cars, they just never seem to be right, untll they become yours.

We have a 2010 E350 sedan that I call my "pick-up truck," due to the folding rear seats that allow for such usable space. Compared to my wife's new 2016 E350 sedan, I see no quality issues. They are both rock solid with high quality materials throughout. Before the 2010, she had a 2004 E500. Again, I see the same level of quality. We love the 2016 and feel it is the perfect car for my wife, who refuses to drive an S, as she feels it is too big for her.

 

Yes. the E350 is the perfect wife car....because most women really don't give a crap what they're driving. As long as they're comfortable in it and it gets them around reliably, they're happy. Most men on the other hand, care how a car drives, feels, looks, and performs. So I would imagine most men who drive an E class are opting for the E550 or E63 with better driving dynamics and interior materials.

 

sobering thread, to say the least... Looking to get my first luxury(?) vehicle and based on what I can afford and am comfortable with trying out as my first, I'm hooked on the 2012 E350... but wow... I HAVE the kia optima, I've tried the 2015 honda accord, and Impala... they (to me) don't seem close to what I get when I tested the E350. Maybe Im just dying to finally get in my first benz. This thread has me 2nd guessing (a little) ... I do agree on the CLA though... but now Im wondering if my beloved 2012 E350 is just a CLA in sheep clothing? I'll keep this thread in mind as I make a decision, but do still like the vehicle a lot.

 

Don't listen to some of these guys
Coming from an S-Class, an E-Class will be disappointing. And it should, given that it is a step down from luxury to premium.

To me, comparing Kia's and Hyundais to an E-Class is idiotic. These cars are nowhere close to an MB. If you like it, get it...

 

If you're going from a newer Optima to the E350, prepare to be disappointed. I'd take a newer Optima in a heartbeat over the E350....especially the 2.0 turbo motor in the Optima. If you have your heart set on a Benz, you might consider a slightly older low mileage S550. Those can now be had in the $20k's. They are many leagues ahead of the E350 or any BMW, Audi, or Lexus. But if you really want an E-class, you'd be better suited in the W211 prior model as it's a better car in many ways...especially the E500/550.

 

I like the 2012 style much better with the double headlights and I think that's the style you should go for.

 

Don't listen to some of these guys
Coming from an S-Class, an E-Class will be disappointing. And it should, given that it is a step down from luxury to premium.

To me, comparing Kia's and Hyundais to an E-Class is idiotic. These cars are nowhere close to an MB. If you like it, get it...[/QUOTE]


Thanks! Im still getting mine... maybe after a few years I'll look at it the same way and look down my nose... but for now? I CANT WAIT to get mine... already looking at a grille upgrade (premature, I know).

 

These new Es are certainly disappointing inside. I recently purchased a 2006 E350 and I have sat in the new car. Completely cheap use of materials and boring interior styling. I like the interior in my W211 much more than the W212.

 

My car is in for service today, so they gave me a 2017 E300 as a loaner. I figured this would be a good time to update about the E class.

This new car just has a much better presence about it. It now actually looks like a mid-size luxury car. The exterior looks so much better than the outgoing model. It looks like a smaller S, but definitely maintains the proportions of the previous E. The headlights look similar to the outgoing model, but they definitely fit the styling of this car much better than the previous car. The tail lights are the new MB feminine looking style, but they do fit the car well. Like the Lexus ES model, the E looks like a car that was built with women's styles in mind. But then again, all new Mercedes cars have a more feminine look to them.

Where the new model really shines is on the inside. While it still has the cheap looking and feeling MBTex seat material, everything else is completely upgraded and looks more fitting of a $50k+ mid-size luxo car. The dash is SO MUCH better than the previous model. The 12 inch central stack screen is absolutely gorgeous and is loaded with high def content. You can tell that this is the brand new interface for MB. It is much different than the previous COMAND that came in all MB models. The new system displays the album cover art of almost any song that runs through it, from radio, to Sirius, to streaming from my phone. And that Burmeister stereo is SO much better than the stereo in my S. The sound is very full and it seems good at replicating all of the instruments in a track, no matter how compressed the format. Even though the interior doesn't have all of the beautiful materials that my S600 has, it is put together in a way that makes you want to be inside the car. I haven't driven it at night, but I understand it has a large palette of interior lighting to choose from. I'm sure it would look beautiful.

The turbo 4 cylinder is meh. Like the previous E350, it felt like it needed more power. This is the model that will likely appeal to more women than men. It is not the car you want to be driving if you need to get around somebody quickly. The performance of the turbo 4 felt very similar to the previous E350. It is very punchy off the line, but quickly loses steam as speed increases. This car really wants the 4.6 bi-turbo V8, which would really complete it. I feel that a loaded E550 (when it arrives) will be a great car for $70k. It likely won't be the right car for me as I prefer the size of the S, but I think most folks will really like it. I think the E550 will draw a lot of buyers away from BMW and Audi when they come out. The interior is just so much better than what both of those companies currently offer.