Well, I was hoping that some of you whom are more knowledgeable than I can assist me. I've been looking forward to taking delivery on a new E55 when my current lease runs out in January of '04. However, my wife and I have been disucssing things a bit and we really would like to have a bit more back seat leg room. So, we were thinking about going with the S55 instead.

Now, supposedly, the '04 S will offer a DVD nav system rather than CD (remains to be seen whether it is the same system as will be offered in the E) and Sirius will definitely be an option for all Merc 04 models. The above 2 were important to me so that may make going with the S55 an easier decision.

My question is, what other major differences are there other than price/size/weight/performance (given my casual interest in performance, I probably would never notice the power difference between the 2)?

Thanks in advance.

Jeff

 

If you only have a casual interest in performance I have to wonder why you'd get an AMG car in the first place? We have all four cars within the family (or will as soon as my E55 gets off the boat and shipped in, hopefully next week) and they're all fantastic automobiles. I absolutely love driving my wife's E500. Were the E55 not available, I'd trade my current C32 on it and never look back. The E500/S500 don't give up all that much to their AMG brethren. They aren't quite as fast, but they are still very formidable performers in their own right.

If it's an apperance issue, either can be made to largely look like an AMG model (wheels, body cladding, etc) without the comfort/performance tradeoffs. Also depending on where you live, the S500 with 4matic might be a more servicable year-round option. 4matic all wheel drive is not available on the S55. If you like the power level of the S55 and have the means, the S600 offers the velocity but is more comfort/luxury oriented.

Now in answer to your question; since the W211 redesign, the S and E classes are very similar in cabin comforts. The only major option that I know of that's available on the S class but not the E is Active Body Control, which is an active suspension that provides better response than the standard S class suspension. What is important to you and what are your factors in choosing a car? Knowing those things will help anyone wishing to give you advice.

 

W211 is nicer inside and out as the W220 S sedans seem like a previous generation vehicle to me already. When driving the S55 on the track it was not nearly as fun as the E55. I think the interior on the E55 is actually a little more elegant especially with the alcantra headliner while the S55 has the standard cloth/foam liner.

AMG V8 Kompressor engines with >450 hp and >500 ft-lbs torque are for driving enthusiasts. To own one with minimal interest in such performance is wasting a precious commodity.

Regarding the two models, there is a pretty significant price difference between the two. I think a good compromise between the performance, as Kaneman said, is an E500 sport or S430 or 500 with the sport package. Thes both look sporty and perform admirably on the road. They are not road warriors.


Now the real question, when you compare the similarly priced base E55 with the S430 sport, do you think you get a lot more car for the money with the larger more luxurious S sedan? If so, you clearly should not be driving an E55. If you ask current or future W211 owners, they will tell you that the E55 is twice the car as the S430 sport.

 

IMO i'd stick with the E55, save your $$$ and with the left over u could probably be just short of an entry level S class. but either way S or E your sure to have choosen a winner!

 

If you are looking for a performance/luxury mix, i think i would take the S600- check out treynors posts if you need info about the new S600. fastest 1/4 mile time he's acheived was 11.69 sec I think. Stock ones run about a 12.5.

I actually like the interior of the new E- even though it is a bit smaller. The wood strip that curves through the dash looks so sleek and nice, and i love the center console and the intrument gauge.

 

How can anything weighing 2 tons ever be sporty? The sure winner here is the E55. It has semi-active Air suspension. The S-class with ABC has steel springs that are hydraulically computer controlled. All AMG has done to the S-class is totally spoil the best riding car in the world unless you get a Maybach/RR. It even loses out to the E55 in terms of ride comfort. The fact that thw E-class is lighter even with less power, it has a totally better power to weight ratio.

No questions. E55 for a sporty oriented driver, and the S500 with the smallest rims possible and Air suspension. Awesome combo if you ask me, but since you only are buying one car, and want performance: E55.

Check out E55 and S55.
http://autozine.kyul.net/html/0_index.htm#Mercedes

 

Kaneman-- you say the E Class and S Class have similar cabin comforts? You must be joking! LOL

Dr. Chill--you say the E-55 is twice the car as an S430 Sport? Having owned an E55 (2000) and currently a 2003 S 430 Sport, I would say the E55 has 50% more performance and 50% less comfort.

 

I said the W211 E55 is twice the car as the S430. Yes, it is smaller, but that's it.

 

Have you actually spent wheel/passenger time in the W211 E class AND the S class???

We have four varieties in the family. I've spent lots of time as both a passenger AND a driver of the E500, the S500 and the S55. Haven't driven the E55 yet because it hasn't made it from the VPC to my overanxious hands yet. Yes, the W211 E class has all the significant comforts the S class does EXCEPT the size. If you would actually bother to go back and read the original post, the poster asks for major differences ASIDE FROM size/performance/price/weight issues... and there aren't any significant ones except for the ABC. Ok, so you can get active ventilated rear seats in the S, and the S600 offers power adjustible rear seats. Those are the only options you can get on the S that are unavailable on the E. Am I missing something, Herr Genius?

Your experience was with the W210 E class. We had an '02 E55 so I can speak with some authority to W210/W211 differences as well. You can't compare the two. The W210 feels utterly archaic besides the W211. Yes the S class is LIGHT YEARS beyond the old E class in comfort... but not the new. MB has done a remarkable job of updating the E class, enough so that the S55 wasn't even a consideration for me even though I could've had it much sooner than my E55.

 

By far, the majority of the drivers at the AMG challenge preferred the E55 to the S55 including the professionals. Having owned a W210 E430 and frequently driving a W211 E500 (mom's who lives a block away), I can truly say that they drive and handle like completely unrelated cars. Yes, the luxocruiser S55 is prestigious and a very comfortable road car, it is stll a big heavy car that drives like one (albeit much better than my W140 tank). But there's a $30,000 difference between the E55 and the S55. That's a lot of dough for a little more space and prestige.

Personally, I love the CL55 the most as it drives and handles like a smaller car, has one mean exhaust note, and is a true beauty. Only problem is price and rear seat leg room.

 

Four, full sized adults, will fit comfortably in the E55. The rear seat passengers will not have much leg room to spare though. The big difference will be in the back seat. The W211 is, if anything, a little bit nicer than the S class in the front. If you do not care about performance that much, all the 55's will be a waste for you. Keep in mind, the engine in the 55's always makes it's presence known. It is never intrusive, but you can always hear it. The 500's are always adequately fast.