Thought you guys would like these:





Can't wait to see the full comparisons.


M

And you wonder why dealers only stock black white and sometimes silver and grey. My goodness.

M

If I'm being honest? The W223 is my least favorite design there.

Sorry but imho, I would take the MB over the Audi and BMW any day of the week. The MB is very elegant and understated so it'll age better than the Audi and the BMW.

I believe it is self fulfilling: the dealers only order black, white & grey shades, so customers have little choice. Since most folks just buy off the lot and don’t order, they most always end up with black, white or grey. I believe that MB is to blame as well as they really don’t offer much of anything really interesting color wise. Looking forward to seeing what some folks do with the Designo Manufaktur program, but it may end up being way too pricey and take way too long for most customers.

Obviously these things are just subjective, but the W223 just doesn’t appeal to me the way the W222 does, it just doesn’t stand out to me in any way...derivative, almost? Don’t know what it is.

I like both the W222 and the W223. The W222 is the nicest S class since the much loved W126. The W223 is a sleeker, more modern version of the W222 and I like the W223 is way ahead of it's Audi and BMW rivals.

This is true, but it goes back to what I've always said about dealerships needing people who are brand enthusiasts vs just all salesmen. They stock what sells and what sells is what is in stock so yes you're exactly right. If they would stock those colorful combinations, provided they have a stock person with taste, they would sell IMO. I would love to have that position at a dealership, but you'd be out on your *** if those special order cars don't sell lol. Mercedes has so many wonder colors for interiors and exteriors and convertible tops, but oh well.

M

I just don't agree, to me the W223 just doesnt stand out as clearly a Mercedes, and clearly an S Class the way the W222 does.

I don't dislike it, but I don't love it. I think the A8 and the 7 Series are both really attractive cars, and while I think the W222 is the best looking out of the three, looking at the W223 sitting alongside them there I just don't feel the same way.

I think part of the issue is that the W223 is in silver. I think that is looks much better in black and as far as the BMW goes the second slide down is a angle only a mother could love.

YOU AND ME BOTH! I dream about being the person in charge of ordering cars for stock! A few years back, I saw this gorgeous S Class on the dealer’s showroom floor. Unfortunately, by the time I was ready for a new car, the interior color had been dropped, as well as the wood trim option.

To happily own a black car, you have to be a “glass half full” type of guy. Being a “glass half empty” type myself, I can’t deal with a black car. Everything and anything will mark the paint. Take it to the car wash and an hour later, it looks dirty. I do agree that an S Class looks great in black, when perfectly clean and polished, but very few people are willing to maintain their black cars in such a manner, so most end up looking shabby, with swirls and imperfections everywhere.

Yes, but in the luxury sedan pecking order, the S Class sits at the top of the heap. BMW’s and Audi’s are nice, but they are a notch under the S Class, and probably always will be. Rolls-Royce and Bentley have nice sedans, but much of the cost of those makes is all style and bling, the cars themselves are just not in the same league as the MB S Class, IMHO.

The S class far outsells it's BMW and Audi rivals and I don't see that changing with the W223.

Coincidently, the S-Class top color has always been black (all types of black combined) and stands out from other cars which are predominantly white.

Here is a summary from a study by BASF, world's 2nd largest provider of automotive paints (after PPG).

https://www.basf.com/global/en/media.../p-19-106.html

Quite the opposite for me but pictures can only go so far.
I will hold my final opinion until I have seen the car in the flesh, inside and out and have driven it.

It is worth noting that the W223 is larger than the W222. Width increased by a touch over 2 inches (which is sizable) and so has the length and wheelbase by the same amount.

Lets hope some of that extra space ends up in the trunk.

Sorry, you are wrong. As someone who has ordered cars for stock the overwhelming number of buyers are quite unimaginative in their color choices. With flooring costs being what they are and profit margins as thin as they are one cannot tie up hundreds of thousands of dollars in cars that the majority don't want.
I always ask about color preference with my clients and it almost always comes down to Black, White or Gray. For the few that really do go their own way ordering a car is the way to go.

is it possible to order custom designo colors for the new S like you could before?

Nice move. I might end up moving to an Alpina Blue/Tartufo B7 next year when my lease is up. Not doing grey, black or white.

I don't think it can be done at this time, but you will be able to do it.

True, much of the cost is style and bling.
But...
They're in a league of their own, when it comes to effortlessness, waftability and post-opulence.
Check out the new Ghost and its Planar suspension.
You'll be amazed.

Not sure what that has to do with my opinion about the styling. There are definitely people out there who prefer the looks of the Audi and the BMW even to the W222. Those things are subjective, they can't be quantified and they can't be right or wrong.

They may provide a nice ride quality but to Streamliners point both brands are technically inferior. Always have been and continue to be. Neither brand can spend any significant R&D on tech and have to rely on corporate innovations (either BMW or VAG).
At this point its just less apparent as both have been refreshed...

The Planar system appears to be similar to the current 7 series tech plus the upper wishbone dampers. I am sure it offers an amazingly smooth ride...