K-A

The W220 is notoriously known to be one of the worst cars that M-B has ever produced, in terms of quality (W211 and everything else during that period aren't too far off, especially before 2005), and in the pre-facelift version, the styling looked more timid and passive than any Benz before it. The facelifted car was a big improvement in both aspects, but still "lipstick on a pig" in some senses.

The W211/E-Class comes a few years later than the W220/S-Class, and it follows the same design language, yet modernizes and refines that language, which is why the W211 looks like not only a smaller W220, but more refined.

I owned a W220 and W211 (non AMG's), and I probably liked the E more, all in all, but even with a W220, there's "something" about the S driving experience, that makes the E feel a bit plebeian and cramped. Also, I think if a W220 is CHERRY, with an AMG Package, it still looks stunning, very classic, slick and smooth. However, without the right equipment, and especially when abandoned, they show their age and lack of presence very well.

HeissRod

agreed

e500slr

Well I guess asking this question on a W211 forum was a bit biased just wonder what the W220 boys would say.

Lycan

I sat in one of the new S-AMGs, but it felt too damn big. The E was as big as I want to go. The cockpit felt large:-)

Das Geld 2

None of those cars you posted has the sports package.

https://mbworld.org/forums/members/o...=gnr-img-album

Here a stock car.

Blows the E63 away in looks

e500slr

Actually I think the non-Sport front of the W220 S Class is better. The Sports bumper ruined the lines, it's not a sports car, you don't put a carbon lip and all that dress up stuff. It's supposed to be smooth and streamlined. The E63 is different, it has fin looking ducts and a diffuser and a lip spoiler, it's supposed to look sharp. The S Class is more of a laid back car, a car a rich person would be driven around in and when new that's one of the things if was. Now as for the interior, the gauge cluster is outdated but the rest isn't really, the 04 ones have the same looking command system as the W211, the door handles are nice as is the dash and seats. The climate control button cluster is a little old looking though. The gear lever is beautiful with that uneven gate. I'm really shocked at the dislike people have given that car.

The new one is nice but it's lost that "thing" about the S Class, same way as the new E is nice but has lost the Mercedes look. The interior on the new one is SUBLIME though. The thing is I asked based on LOOKS, people started going on about how unreliable it is, I never asked that, I said look from the outside and inside, not performance or feel.

ONLY LOOKS!!!!!!

tbal

IMO W220 didnt age well at all... It was cool few years back.. but since w221 dropped, the w220 looks blah. On the other hand the w211 e63 aged well, and still looks great even with the w212 out...

You want luxury and comfort S550, extra $ to spend S63, S65

Quadcammer

lol, this thread cracks me up.

Zax63

I swapped my w211 E63 for an 06 S65. Exterior, the E looks more sinister, no one really notices the S. Well, no one except for that 2% of the population who knows what they are looking at, and then they recognize the rarity of the car. I personally like the understated look of the S. When I showed up at the dragstrip for the first time, the announcer made the comment "looks like some car service made a wrong turn with a limosine!" until I ran a couple of sub 12 second runs. Then, everyone wants to come over and pay homage to the V12.

Interior...I like my E63's aesthetic a bit more, but the S has a certain class to it...better leather on the dash, seats feel better, and it has a lot more room. Best example, dropped my wallet in passenger foot well...E I can reach over and grab it. S - it feels like it is a mile away. The car is only probably 3 inches wider, but it feels like 8. The Nav is deplorable on the 06 s65, I think about replacing it with a different unit all the time. It feels a generation older than my wifes 06 R for some reason. And why don't they have frickin traffic updates on Benz nav systems?


Maintainence, in my experience, you are both right. I find that when the car is driven, it doesn't break much. But when you leave it sitting around it kinda falls apart. When I bought the car, it had sat for 1.5 years on the dealer lot and then been driven 9k in two years. All sorts of sh*t was wrong with it, I expect from sitting. But I sorted it all out, and now I drive 15k a year. The car has been quite reliable except it eats tires and brakes, like any other AMG. But I'm averaging about 10 mpg around town and 16 on the highway.

speedpeddler

Between the wife and myself, we've owned three S class cars and two E class cars over the past 15 or so years. I like both for different reasons. The S cars are without a doubt, a class above the E's in almost every respect which is reflected in the price. IMO, the only 'real' Mercedes is an S class.

That being said, my E55 is my favorite of them all with maybe my SL55 being a close tie. For whatever reason, I prefer the size, nimbleness and cost of the E over the larger, more expensive S.

I really did enjoy all of them while I owned them as they were all great cars that provided years of safe, luxurious travel but will no doubt replace my current E55 with an E63TT when they are available.

lawguy

Its a nice car, but "blows away" might be a stretch.