Tom 's Euro Delivery
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2014 S550, 2011 E350 Cabriolet, Asgard Mothership
Tom 's Euro Delivery
Well today was the day. We started at the delivery center to handle some paperwork. Then off to the Center of Excellence to see the car.
We followed at 10:30 with the factory tour in English. This was C class assembly as S class was off limits. The tour guide said they have prototypes in the S class factory so no tours.
We then went back to the Center for lunch followed by 90 minutes reviewing the car.
Here are a few pictures. I will post some in the next few days.
BTW, Good Year Eagle 20 inch run flats.
Tom
We followed at 10:30 with the factory tour in English. This was C class assembly as S class was off limits. The tour guide said they have prototypes in the S class factory so no tours.
We then went back to the Center for lunch followed by 90 minutes reviewing the car.
Here are a few pictures. I will post some in the next few days.
BTW, Good Year Eagle 20 inch run flats.
Tom
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W223 S580, Range Rover LWB, BMW 740i, Porsche 911 Carrera S (997), Maserati QP GTS, W124 250D
Great color combo and wheels.
Exactly 3 months to the day my car was in the exact same spot. I wonder who was your factory specialist guide and which dealership you ordered from?
Hands down best way to buy a new Merc, congrats!
Exactly 3 months to the day my car was in the exact same spot. I wonder who was your factory specialist guide and which dealership you ordered from?
Hands down best way to buy a new Merc, congrats!
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2014 S550, 2011 E350 Cabriolet, Asgard Mothership
While I have a few minutes, on day one we drove from the factory to the Interalpen near Telfts. I took the route through Ulm versus going all the way to Munich.
Once in Austria, we turned towards Innsbrook and started the twisty mountain roads the rest of the way. For a big car, I was very impressed how well it handled hairpin turns. It took them very confidently. I did set the Sport mode once which turned off MBC I believe and it was not as smooth around the curves. It just needed more input from me. It was a really fun ride through the mountains but I would rather drive our E350 ragtop on something like the Silvio pass ( I didn't get there).
I have been most impressed with the electronic controls so far. You really have to go out of you way to make a mistake in the car. Drift a bit right, it tells you gently with two little steering wheel shakes. Go further and the brake pulls you back.
The distronic steering is just too much fun. One of the magazines said it was like a teenage driver going side to side. I felt that a bit. I keep three fingers on my leg and the bottom of the wheel and it's happy to help me steer. Very fun!
It also makes driving easier. 650 miles so far in two days and it was easy driving.
That's it for now. We are in the hill towns of Umbria for two days before we head to Rome.
Tom
PS it's amazing how much attention this car draws. I drove through a rest stop as a bus was loading and every one of the 30 guys had to check it out. I guess we are all car guys. Well I'm assuming it was the car and not my wife but I better stop now
Once in Austria, we turned towards Innsbrook and started the twisty mountain roads the rest of the way. For a big car, I was very impressed how well it handled hairpin turns. It took them very confidently. I did set the Sport mode once which turned off MBC I believe and it was not as smooth around the curves. It just needed more input from me. It was a really fun ride through the mountains but I would rather drive our E350 ragtop on something like the Silvio pass ( I didn't get there).
I have been most impressed with the electronic controls so far. You really have to go out of you way to make a mistake in the car. Drift a bit right, it tells you gently with two little steering wheel shakes. Go further and the brake pulls you back.
The distronic steering is just too much fun. One of the magazines said it was like a teenage driver going side to side. I felt that a bit. I keep three fingers on my leg and the bottom of the wheel and it's happy to help me steer. Very fun!
It also makes driving easier. 650 miles so far in two days and it was easy driving.
That's it for now. We are in the hill towns of Umbria for two days before we head to Rome.
Tom
PS it's amazing how much attention this car draws. I drove through a rest stop as a bus was loading and every one of the 30 guys had to check it out. I guess we are all car guys. Well I'm assuming it was the car and not my wife but I better stop now
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2014 S550, 2011 E350 Cabriolet, Asgard Mothership
I think Ron but I might have that wrong. Herbert in Escondido was the dealer.
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2014 S550
While I have a few minutes, on day one we drove from the factory to the Interalpen near Telfts. I took the route through Ulm versus going all the way to Munich.
Once in Austria, we turned towards Innsbrook and started the twisty mountain roads the rest of the way. For a big car, I was very impressed how well it handled hairpin turns. It took them very confidently. I did set the Sport mode once which turned off MBC I believe and it was not as smooth around the curves. It just needed more input from me. It was a really fun ride through the mountains but I would rather drive our E350 ragtop on something like the Silvio pass ( I didn't get there).
I have been most impressed with the electronic controls so far. You really have to go out of you way to make a mistake in the car. Drift a bit right, it tells you gently with two little steering wheel shakes. Go further and the brake pulls you back.
The distronic steering is just too much fun. One of the magazines said it was like a teenage driver going side to side. I felt that a bit. I keep three fingers on my leg and the bottom of the wheel and it's happy to help me steer. Very fun!
It also makes driving easier. 650 miles so far in two days and it was easy driving.
That's it for now. We are in the hill towns of Umbria for two days before we head to Rome.
Tom
PS it's amazing how much attention this car draws. I drove through a rest stop as a bus was loading and every one of the 30 guys had to check it out. I guess we are all car guys. Well I'm assuming it was the car and not my wife but I better stop now
Once in Austria, we turned towards Innsbrook and started the twisty mountain roads the rest of the way. For a big car, I was very impressed how well it handled hairpin turns. It took them very confidently. I did set the Sport mode once which turned off MBC I believe and it was not as smooth around the curves. It just needed more input from me. It was a really fun ride through the mountains but I would rather drive our E350 ragtop on something like the Silvio pass ( I didn't get there).
I have been most impressed with the electronic controls so far. You really have to go out of you way to make a mistake in the car. Drift a bit right, it tells you gently with two little steering wheel shakes. Go further and the brake pulls you back.
The distronic steering is just too much fun. One of the magazines said it was like a teenage driver going side to side. I felt that a bit. I keep three fingers on my leg and the bottom of the wheel and it's happy to help me steer. Very fun!
It also makes driving easier. 650 miles so far in two days and it was easy driving.
That's it for now. We are in the hill towns of Umbria for two days before we head to Rome.
Tom
PS it's amazing how much attention this car draws. I drove through a rest stop as a bus was loading and every one of the 30 guys had to check it out. I guess we are all car guys. Well I'm assuming it was the car and not my wife but I better stop now
That active steering and lane keeping is just phenom...
How does the MBC work for you? Do you notice bumps you would have had, but did not feel? Speed Bumps?
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2014 S550
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2014 S550, 2011 E350 Cabriolet, Asgard Mothership
I only went over one set of bumps and it was easier than what I expected. But I reserve judgement until I can go over the same set with the system on and off.
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2014 S550, 2011 E350 Cabriolet, Asgard Mothership
More pictures...
Please forgive the water bottles. I crawled in the back seat after climbing all around a hill town in Umbria today (I know, tough life but someone has to do it)...
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'25 S63 AMG E Performance, '26 CLE 53 AMG
Very nice interior colors!
I have the Silk Beige/Espresso Brown nappa leather interior. I really like my interior color combo but the more I see your color combo I really like your interior as well.
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2014 S550, 2011 E350 Cabriolet, Asgard Mothership
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2014 S550, 2011 E350 Cabriolet, Asgard Mothership
Thank you so much. I will keep posting them as I take them. I'm planning on taking a bunch more to hold me over the 10 weeks it will take to get it back. I'm really dreading giving it back in Nice.
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2014 S550, 2011 E350 Cabriolet, Asgard Mothership
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Have a safe trip home and I hope you get your car sooner than 10 weeks.
Last edited by DFW_Neal; Mar 22, 2014 at 04:36 AM.
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2014 S550, 2011 E350 Cabriolet, Asgard Mothership
This was a shot for my brother for his gag gift. I promptly removed the dice
I dropped the car off a day early as quite frankly I wanted to be done with driving over here. This car is just too damn big to navigate the small places in Europe. On the autobahn and autostrada it's a dream to drive. The road from Firenze to Nice was a blast!
But if you get near a city, one has to be concerned about where it will fit. I could not park on many garages due to the length of this beast.
So , next EDP will be a smaller car but my next S550 will be a quick jaunt around the French countryside and then back to drop off in Germany.
I have some more thoughts of the whole process I will write in a few days when I get home.
Bottom line: this was a great experience but it is NOT easy going travel like taking trains and taxis everywhere ( my usual MO).
Tom
I dropped the car off a day early as quite frankly I wanted to be done with driving over here. This car is just too damn big to navigate the small places in Europe. On the autobahn and autostrada it's a dream to drive. The road from Firenze to Nice was a blast!
But if you get near a city, one has to be concerned about where it will fit. I could not park on many garages due to the length of this beast.
So , next EDP will be a smaller car but my next S550 will be a quick jaunt around the French countryside and then back to drop off in Germany.
I have some more thoughts of the whole process I will write in a few days when I get home.
Bottom line: this was a great experience but it is NOT easy going travel like taking trains and taxis everywhere ( my usual MO).
Tom
