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I had 4x W140 (S320 to S600) and a W221, the S550.
In my modest opinion, everything after the S600 W140 1991-1994 is a setback. I went to try a S63 W222, and parked my W140 next to it at the dealership in Edmonton. The new $220k S63 AMG 2016 looked small and weak compared to the holy S600 W140. I left without bothering trying it.
Now… the new S-class looks like an Accord or a Sonata. It looks cheap. It looks gimmicky. It is not an S-class. Maybe an E.
The interior… is absolutely atrocious to the eyes.
But the worst of it all is that it lost its essence:
An S-class was the best of the best of the best. Cars to dream about. Cars that declares to the world that you made it. It was presidential - a car made for kings and queens.
An s-class is suppose to NEVER leave you stranded. Ever. It is supposed to be the most reliable ride ever. 1000 kms autonomy, from the arctic to the sahara.
The W223 is a monumental failure. Do not buy it. Find yourself a nice W221 2010-2012 or W140.
The S Class is still the best of the best, just what a car is has changed. I can look at a W140 and appreciate what it was, or a W221, but they are so old I would have no interest in owning or driving one. I just am not an old car person. I also never cared for the W221, tried to get into it both times I bought LS460s but they just didnt do anything for me. So, give me a W222 or W223 any day of the week. Nobody who can buy a W223 new is going to buy a W140 instead LOL
This post is all about you justifying what you have and can have...did you buy any of these S Classes new? Would you have been capable of buying that "small, weak" $220k S63? and trading in your 20+ year old W140? I doubt it.
If the OP would have posted this in the W220 he could have had a point.
But the W222 is better in any way than all prior S-classes. Perhaps if one likes the boxy body looks of older MB designs these newer models may not satisfy.
The W223 has options not everyone cares for but those were deliberate design choices MB made for their flagship sedan.
I liked our S500 W140 but it wasn’t without flaws, it also left me stranded on a road trip in Colorado (failed water pump).
The S320 was woefully underpowered. The S600 was lovely but the engine was complicated and a pricey proposition for maintenance and repairs. We experienced that in the R129 SL600 (friend’s car).
It was the newer V12TT though that set the benchmark for MB V12’s.
If the OP would have posted this in the W220 he could have had a point.
But the W222 is better in any way than all prior S-classes. Perhaps if one likes the boxy body looks of older MB designs these newer models may not satisfy.
The W223 has options not everyone cares for but those were deliberate design choices MB made for their flagship sedan.
I liked our S500 W140 but it wasn’t without flaws, it also left me stranded on a road trip in Colorado (failed water pump).
The S320 was woefully underpowered. The S600 was lovely but the engine was complicated and a pricey proposition for maintenance and repairs. We experienced that in the R129 SL600 (friend’s car).
It was the newer V12TT though that set the benchmark for MB V12’s.
agreed. If I was in the market for a s-class, I’d get the last year of the W222.
I had 4x W140 (S320 to S600) and a W221, the S550.
In my modest opinion, everything after the S600 W140 1991-1994 is a setback. I went to try a S63 W222, and parked my W140 next to it at the dealership in Edmonton. The new $220k S63 AMG 2016 looked small and weak compared to the holy S600 W140. I left without bothering trying it.
Now… the new S-class looks like an Accord or a Sonata. It looks cheap. It looks gimmicky. It is not an S-class. Maybe an E.
The interior… is absolutely atrocious to the eyes.
But the worst of it all is that it lost its essence:
Totally disagree. I have the s500 with 6000 kms on it. Zero
An S-class was the best of the best of the best. Cars to dream about. Cars that declares to the world that you made it. It was presidential - a car made for kings and queens.
An s-class is suppose to NEVER leave you stranded. Ever. It is supposed to be the most reliable ride ever. 1000 kms autonomy, from the arctic to the sahara.
The W223 is a monumental failure. Do not buy it. Find yourself a nice W221 2010-2012 or W140.
Totally disagree. I have had my s500 for 4 months with zero issues. Really like driving it and looking at it daily. So quiet and powerful for me. This is my 12th or 13th Benz including e classes m class and c class. This one is the best !!
Totally disagree. I have had my s500 for 4 months with zero issues. Really like driving it and looking at it daily. So quiet and powerful for me. This is my 12th or 13th Benz including e classes m class and c class. This one is the best !!
It is far superior on many levels. W221 is ancient in the tech department.
I love my 2020 S560, bought new, but if I were buying today no way I would get a used 2020 over a W223.
Agree. The W223 is not just better but is much better than the W221.
The only thing that makes a W221 'relevant' today is, perhaps, its exterior look. I admit that I think a W221's outside appearance still looks afresh even today but I cannot say so for a W140.
Generally, I somehow find the exterior design of the S-Class can age gracefully and much better over the years than the car interior.
Honestly, I think all S Classes look great and stay looking great over time. Thats one of the great reasons to get an S Class. The interior of the W221 is really dated though, and I didn't like it when it was new.
For some reason, interior design seems to be the place manufacturers are willing to take more chances. Not always, just in general. I think the S class interior is quite handsome right now and outside a few cheap plastic bits have no quibbles. Although when I imagine how it's going to look to me 10 years from now I do think it's going to look dated.
For some reason, interior design seems to be the place manufacturers are willing to take more chances. Not always, just in general. I think the S class interior is quite handsome right now and outside a few cheap plastic bits have no quibbles. Although when I imagine how it's going to look to me 10 years from now I do think it's going to look dated.
Whether it looks dated or not, I think it largely becomes obvious when there is a comparison.
I recently brought my W223 to have dealer service. When a W221 parked next to it, I had this A-B comparison and, IMO, the W221 can still stand tall and head held up. But when I looked inside, the W221 does not look too bad or dated but definitely shows its age. The exterior and interior do not age at the same rate over time.
To me the 221 is hit or miss on aging. I never cared for the swollen fender flares, I always found them a bit too in your face, and compared to modern fender design they look especially comical now. Another issue I had was with the front end. The 221 (non AMG-Line) looked terrible, and has since not aged well, back in '07 I thought it looked like the front end of the '03 Camry from the headlight shape, to the grill, lower bumper etc., and recently I saw the two cars side by side only to realize I was right!
To me the 221 is hit or miss on aging. I never cared for the swollen fender flares, I always found them a bit too in your face, and compared to modern fender design they look especially comical now. Another issue I had was with the front end. The 221 (non AMG-Line) looked terrible, and has since not aged well, back in '07 I thought it looked like the front end of the '03 Camry from the headlight shape, to the grill, lower bumper etc., and recently I saw the two cars side by side only to realize I was right!
Hey, man, someone just said ''OP lost all credibility when he said the S-Class looked like a Sonata or Accord. ''
Now, you are saying the S-class looked like a Camry!
Do not loose your credibility!
Hey, man, someone just said ''OP lost all credibility when he said the S-Class looked like a Sonata or Accord. ''
Now, you are saying the S-class looked like a Camry!
Do not loose your credibility!
True, but mine has some evidence. From the side and rear the two could not be more different, but their front ends share far too much in design. The grill and headlight shape especially is too similar, even the lower fascia share some cues. Having the two side by side in person didn't help the case. The AMG-Line 221 is much better looking, although I still dislike the swollen fenders.
The W221 is definitely dated looking and has for some time. Literally as soon as the W222 was out. Now that the W223 is out, the W222 looks still great and IMO will age more gracefully. I do like the W223 for its more streamlined, cleaner and more modern look but the AMG line is as essential for it as it was on prior models.
The W140 is just a vintage car. I have no nostalgia for old cars with old tech.
Neither does Mercedes. The S-Class always stood for the latest in automotive technology. They have never looked back and their designs reflect that unlike many other companies that try to create countless retro versions of their prior bestsellers...
Good point. You expect something from a 911, Corvette, etc. Same with this one, there's an expectation of what it is, does. To me the S class says comfort, luxury, latest tech, advanced safety, etc. Other's might point to something else but the concept holds.
I find the current iteration looks better in person than in media; it seems a common perception based on my reading here. Still, that's strictly subjective and I don't much love any of them. Nice enough but they don't get my blood pumping.
The interiors are another matter. You don't have to go too many model years back to see a screen that looks small, dark, lacks contrast, is low res, etc. Diminishing returns will eventually remedy that but it's a problem now. The same kind of thing affects all the tech to one extent or another. It's why I don't think this interior will age well. Right now it all looks cool, not just to old people, kids can dig it. Ten years from now, I think an interior that puts the tech forward like this one does has nowhere to go but down.
I admit that every time when a W116 drives by, my head still turns. If I came across one parked in a lot, I would walk over to peek inside to check out the condition of the interior.
Even the youngest W116 is over 40 years old now, but it still stirs my heart after all these years.
Does this sound weird? lol Anyone else here has this passion?
A W116, W126 or W140 certainly does steal the show when it comes to presence.
The W221 meant business.
The W222 was refined, but lost presence.
The W223 is ugly, from every angle. The W220 might be more beautiful. I have a hard time understanding why so many people defend the W223: it’s more like an e-class than an s-class.
The W223 is NOT in the same lineage than the W140/W221/W222. More with the W220/W223.
I had 4x W140 (S320 to S600) and a W221, the S550.
In my modest opinion, everything after the S600 W140 1991-1994 is a setback. I went to try a S63 W222, and parked my W140 next to it at the dealership in Edmonton. The new $220k S63 AMG 2016 looked small and weak compared to the holy S600 W140. I left without bothering trying it.
Now… the new S-class looks like an Accord or a Sonata. It looks cheap. It looks gimmicky. It is not an S-class. Maybe an E.
The interior… is absolutely atrocious to the eyes.
But the worst of it all is that it lost its essence:
An S-class was the best of the best of the best. Cars to dream about. Cars that declares to the world that you made it. It was presidential - a car made for kings and queens.
An s-class is suppose to NEVER leave you stranded. Ever. It is supposed to be the most reliable ride ever. 1000 kms autonomy, from the arctic to the sahara.
The W223 is a monumental failure. Do not buy it. Find yourself a nice W221 2010-2012 or W140.
I take it you've never actually driven a W223. If you drive one, you will see it's very much still an S class.
