Who buys an S Class based on fuel economy?
Super Member
Joined: Nov 2021
Posts: 893
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From: Hong Kong, China
2021 S450 4Matic
Many are still buying diesel S-Class for fuel economy, particularly many European taxi companies.
As long as we see MB releases a line of diesel engines for the S-Class, you bet the sales numbers are still there and high enough for profit to make.
As long as we see MB releases a line of diesel engines for the S-Class, you bet the sales numbers are still there and high enough for profit to make.
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From: Fort Worth TX
2020 S560, 2014 SLK55 (Prev. 2016 S65, 2013 SLK350, 2008 CLS63, 2006 E350, 2006 CLS500, 2005 C230K)
Fuel economy is very important, otherwise all those dinosours would have died in vain! If it was any higher I would have had to get something else.
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From: NE KY, on the Ohio River
2018 S560; 2022 EQS450+
People who want class and economy. The limo company I have used in London on visits for many years runs diesel S class cars. No interior differences at all. Very nice, and very sensible, it seems.
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From: Maryland
2024 S580
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From: Raleigh, NC
2020 S560 4Matic
I like getting 30 mpg average on a trip to the mountains. My 2004 S500 was more like 18-20 mpg. If I ever buy an electric I want it to have a range of 400-500 miles. I actually drove part way across NC and back on one tank of gas. I only filled up again to be absolutely sure I'd make it home but the fuel indicator said I would.
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2024 S580
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From: Hampshire , UK
2015 S500, 2016 GL63 AMG
Out Of Control!!
Joined: Nov 2018
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From: San Francisco Bay Area
2019 C63CS
A very American thread I suppose. Go to Europe and most S Classes you see there have small petrol engines or diesel engines. The North American market is very skewed. We get a fraction of the engines. I've mentioned this before, the E and S Class are used as taxis in Europe, so they are also not as fancy as many Americans think, although MB recently exited the taxi business trying to rid themselves of the taxi reputation. Ola Källenius thinks he can reposition MB as an Uber luxury brand, but at the moment, in Germany for example they are only selling one engine. The S 350 d, 286 hp. Just came back from Europe and saw a couple in Frankfurt used as limos. One was idling and it does evoke a different feeling walking up to one and then hear the tractor sound of a diesel engine.
I don't generally care about fuel economy, after all I drive a V8 AMG, but I have to say there is something satisfying when I travel in Europe and get a 1000 km on a tank. When I did European Delivery with my AMG I was at a gas station up to 3 times a day while blasting down the German Autobahn, but with a diesel or small petrol engine even driving fast you can do 600 km easily. It's not really about fuel economy, though, but rather about not having to constantly stop at a gas station.
I don't generally care about fuel economy, after all I drive a V8 AMG, but I have to say there is something satisfying when I travel in Europe and get a 1000 km on a tank. When I did European Delivery with my AMG I was at a gas station up to 3 times a day while blasting down the German Autobahn, but with a diesel or small petrol engine even driving fast you can do 600 km easily. It's not really about fuel economy, though, but rather about not having to constantly stop at a gas station.
Last edited by superswiss; Jan 17, 2023 at 05:42 PM.
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From: Half Moon Bay, CA
2016 S550e, 2005 Nissan Xterra 4x4, 1984 300ZX
I have the plug-in hybrid version S550e and get 32 in mixed driving and near 40 when I used to commute to an office that had a charger. I love getting 500 miles to a 15 gallon gas tank and just a hair less horsepower but about the same torque
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From: North Texas
Presently 19 S560 SEDAN, 2014 XK, SOLD GLE 450e
" Not having to stop for gas so often' is the winner imho.
I don't think you can buy a Diesel Mercedes in the USA anymore. Never had one, but did have a BMW 535D that could go 670 miles from Ft Worth, Texas to Arapahoe, Nebraska on one tank. Had a 18.5 gal tank.
I don't think you can buy a Diesel Mercedes in the USA anymore. Never had one, but did have a BMW 535D that could go 670 miles from Ft Worth, Texas to Arapahoe, Nebraska on one tank. Had a 18.5 gal tank.
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2019 S560, 2015 Honda Civic Hybrid
Maybe the point is you can buy an S Class for economy in the sense that it's relatively very efficient for what it offers in size, power and comfort. Take a somewhat similar Bentley Flying Spur for example that's only rated at 20 mpg highway
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From: NE KY, on the Ohio River
2018 S560; 2022 EQS450+
I’m thinking the early premise was that if someone could afford an S class, he didn’t need to worry about the cost of driving it. 😝
Lots of us, though, still turn off the lights when we leave the room. It’s just inculcated in us.
Lots of us, though, still turn off the lights when we leave the room. It’s just inculcated in us.
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From: Maryland
2024 S580
I think buying a car based on fuel economy and turning off the lights when you leave the room are two different things. I never look at FE when I pick a car, because I love cars and other characteristics of cars are way more important to me. But I don't like wasting money for no reason
