1 Day, 1 S-Class, 500 Miles

[V12]

We need to try and balance out this internet forum with a little positivity of how great our cars are!
There are plenty of threads about how bad, rusty and unreliable the w220 is, so here's my experience.

Yesterday I took a trip to a small village just shy of Cardigan. Boring M4 for most of the trip but it was lovely to get onto some twisty roads and soask up some scenery once we passed Carmarthen.

The trip meter for the day tipped over 400 miles as we cruised back down the M4, I smugly thought to myself : I can't think of a car that I would rather do this journey in.

Yes, there are cars that are better on the twisty stuff, but when you have 5 people on board and a boot and cabin full of luggage, corner speed isn't high on the priority list!

When we finally got home the trip was showing just shy of 500miles and 2/3 tank of diesel used. OBC reading at 42mpg. If we hadn't of been in such a hurry, especially in the morning, I know we would have been around 50mpg.

My wife commented that she would like to keep the car for the foreseeable future as neither of us know what to replace it with.

What a cracking car Mercedes built. Comfort, Speed and Economy in just the right measures for my liking...what a bargain they are now especially.

 

[wemorgan]

Yesterday I took a trip to a small village just shy of Cardigan. Boring M4 for most of the trip but it was lovely to get onto some twisty roads and soask up some scenery once we passed Carmarthen.

I'm off to that area myself on Monday - lovely scenery and roads, even in the rain, which does happen for a few days of the year.

When I had my CLK I remember what a good cruiser it was. For me this is where Mercedes are at, comfort and elegance.

 

[LTD]

I couldn't agree with you more.

I can travel from Glasgow to Manchester and step out as relaxed as I stepped in. I can tip over 30mpg from my 5 litre V8 petrol on the run.

I can forgive the external condition, I have to, but the comfort and grace that the S Class offers is almost unparalleled.

A phenomenal machine. Shame only few experience the pleasure to actually 'get' the S Class experience.

 

[davidjpowell]

I drove 1,400.5 miles over Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday this week in the w210.

From Doncaster to Thurso, via Leyland and Glasgow. Then out to Peterhead, back to Elgin and out to Montrose. These 3 in particular were under severe time constraints and involved fast A roads other than Elgin to Montrose which was very much cross country on single track roads (blame TomTom, I do!).

The car behaved perfectly, under some pressure at times and I came out physically unaffected. Average MPG 39. Given the Elgin to Montrose journey that s very good. Prior to that it was 42 mpg.

Only thing I was unhappy with was the tyres which gave no confidence at all in the wet, but until you just have to drive to their performance.

 

[Mr. B]

I drove 3.5 miles to the Chinese yesterday - does that count ?

 

[Dieselman]

I drove 1,400.5 miles over Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday this week in the w210.

W210 are comfortable old beasts. I did 500 mile return journey in and afternoon and evening once, with only a 30 minute stop.

Having done 850miles and 950 miles in a Peugeot 406 none stop, I can say the W210 is far better, the 406 was murder, though a Citroen XM laps up 600 miles in one hit with no issues.

 

[Charles Morgan]

I recommended a W210 Elegance to a friend who is doing a huge amount of mileage. In the 6 days he's had it he's called me 3 times to say what a fantastic and comfortable car it is. His previous recent cars have all been Volvos, so hardly slouches when it comes to seat comfort.

I have come to the conclusion from mine as well that the estates particularly are one of the out and out bargains of the secondhand car world.

 

[V12]

I do love a 210 (and may yet return for another 320cdi if an estate becomes a necessity) but you gentlemen must try a 220 for some ground covering if you havent yet. Put it on your bucket list.

I didn't set off that early in the morning, got home before 9 and we were up there with family from 11am till 5pm. I reckon 1000 miles is easily doable in one of these in a day no problem.

 

[Charles Morgan]

I'd have an S class in an instant if they did an estate, but a saloon really is no use to me.

 

[trapperjohn]

This looks like a steal at a grand. Leather and ortho seats. Only a 300 though.

Mercedes E300 7 Seater Diesel Auto | eBay

 

[LTD]

but you gentlemen must try a 220 for some ground covering if you havent yet. Put it on your bucket list.

Agreed 100%.

For all it's foibles, it's a magical car.

For me, it was summed up best the day I rolled into work by my boss.

He said "You've done it now - what's next ?"

He drives a Bentley Mulsanne now, and Arnage Red Label before that, a Continental T before that and had an AMG 560 SEC before them ....

 

[Dieselman]

This looks like a steal at a grand. Leather and ortho seats. Only a 300 though.

What's wrong with a 300? More refined than a 320cdi due to being indirect injection, which is why Mercedes stuck with the OM606 so long.

 

[LTD]

This looks like a steal at a grand. Leather and ortho seats. Only a 300 though.

... and you drive ?

Isn't the 300 the one that usually does stellar mileage ?

 

[WOODYTHEWISE]

No problems with the CL, almost as comfortable as the vw Phaeton I had. The CL has the dynamic seats, perhaps that helps. The rear seats are also comfortable. It also has a fair turn of speed and I managed 21.6mpg the other month. The only problems I have had have been the Aircon and a new AbC pump, both fixed via tier 1 warranty. There is no sign of corrosion anywhere.

 

[trapperjohn]

What's wrong with a 300? More refined than a 320cdi due to being indirect injection, which is why Mercedes stuck with the OM606 so long.

More punch & better MPG in the 320. I have driven both but have a 320 itch to be scratched.

 

[Ierton]

I can tip over 30mpg from my 5 litre V8 petrol on the run

Not sure how you managed that. I don't think I ever managed more than 26mpg in mine .

 

[MicB]

Positivity......both my MBs are truly excellent in very different ways......love them both.

Mic

 

[V12]

I'd have an S class in an instant if they did an estate, but a saloon really is no use to me.

You'd be surprised what you can get in a lwb s class...

 

[V12]

No problems with the CL, almost as comfortable as the vw Phaeton I had. The CL has the dynamic seats, perhaps that helps. The rear seats are also comfortable. It also has a fair turn of speed and I managed 21.6mpg the other month. The only problems I have had have been the Aircon and a new AbC pump, both fixed via tier 1 warranty. There is no sign of corrosion anywhere.

My dad took the cl55k on the same trip to the family gathering but left Thursday night instead of Fri morning.
He commented that there isn't much leg room for 4 adults in there. He had to drive the whole way with his seat an inch further forward than he usually would.
He still thought it was a sacrifice worth making for when the cl came into its own on the fast sweeping b roads of west Wales.
I should have braved the rain to get a good shot of the cars lined up outside the farm house overlooking the valley once everyone had arrived. 6 mercs, a Kia, 2 Vauxhalls, a rover and a campervan.

 

[V12]

More punch & better MPG in the 320. I have driven both but have a 320 itch to be scratched.

606 sounds lumpy and noisy on idle compared to the 613. Both of them excellent engines of their generations. Clarkson raved about the turbo 606. (Maybe not the best reference though!)