E class estate (S211) 7 seat practicality

[zed]

Hello all,

I'm considering buying an S211 and wanted to know, from existing owners ideally, how useful the 6th and 7th seats really are.

Do many of you actually use them very often, or rather your children. What age or what height do you think they would be ok upto.

Specifically, I'd be looking for an E320 Avantgarde to replace my BMW 530d otherwise it'll have to be an MPV

TIA

 

[renault12ts]

If you have 5 kids they are very very useful. But then you have no boot space.

 

[zed]

Thanks,

Only have 2 kids aged 5 and 2, the 2 year old would be in the middle row in a car seat though. I often carry 3 or 4 adults in addition and one of my concerns was that in the pictures of cars on autotrader it was difficult to judge how upright the back rest is. Would it be acceptable for a 2 hour journey?

I'm just waiting for one local to me to appear so I can have a look in the flesh.

 

[renault12ts]

The rear most seats are not suitable for adults.

 

[zed]

Oh don't worry, I didn't mean I wanted carry adults, it would only ever be children.

 

[bh13coupe]

R-Class ?

 

[230K]

Hi

My kids have had many many long journeys with no complaint. That is in a 124 & 210 though. Dont know how they compare to 211.
A 124 & 210 rear facing seat is no problem for an adult up to 5' 8"

230K

 

[zed]

R-Class ?

As much as I like the interior layout I just couldn't live with the looks of the R class.

Appreciate the responses so far.

 

[bluevenetian]

Our rear facing (boot) seats -- 124 -- are highly sought after by my 8 and 6 year olds. They really like sitting there. However, given how close they are to the rear bumper, I feel more comfortable when they are in the middle row. Therefore they only get the odd treat of riding in the back on short, local journeys.
I'm about 5' 9" and on occasion have sat in the back, its a bit cramped, but fine for short trips.

 

[tali]

Our rear facing (boot) seats -- 124 -- are highly sought after by my 8 and 6 year olds. They really like sitting there. However, given how close they are to the rear bumper, I feel more comfortable when they are in the middle row. Therefore they only get the odd treat of riding in the back on short, local journeys.
I'm about 5' 9" and on occasion have sat in the back, its a bit cramped, but fine for short trips.

Have to agree - short journeys only and safety aspect is a concern
OP needs to get MPV - get one of those gizmo spec Jap import ones -your kids will love it!(Nissan Largo for me as next car)

 

[renault12ts]

Without wishing to contradict my esteemed friends (but you know I'm going to), the handbook does state that the third row seats (in a 210) is for two persons up to 5 feet tall.

Taller persons are at risk of sustaining injury in the event of an accident...ergo...don't do it, it would be hard to explain in the event of an accident and almost certainly the insurance company would deny responsibility.

 

[PXW]

Agreed. But for people up to 5 feet tall, the rear facing seats in a 211 are fine for safety. I looked into this when the model first came out and got our company car group to talk to MB. I had at some point, but have sadly lost, copies of the structural diagrams for the S211, showing how rear end accident forces are sent around the rear facing seats, which are effectively within the safety cage.

 

[230K]

Hi

To clarify, it is my opinion that the 124 and 210 estates are reasonably comfortable for an adult up to circa 5'8". This is based on experience.

From a safety point of view i couldnt comment.

230k

 

[Biglips]

They are great and one of the main reasons I first bought a Merc. I don't have them on my current 124 but I miss them so much I am retro fitting some next month.

 

[SL300-24]

They are okay if you children are under 12 years old and an average size......

 

[corned]

Had this conversation last week at the Yorkshire Curry Night.

There is never going to be a safer environment for your kids than the 'normal' rear seats. Fact. However, in the back, they are at least rear-facing. Think about it. Their vital organs are over the rear axle. In the event of a bad rear-ender, they may have damaged legs, but that will be it. Plus they would see it coming and be able to warn you of impending impact!!!

Now think about where your kiddies heads and vital organs are in, say, in the back row of a Ford S-Max. Answer - mere inches from the rear window.

Now tell me which is safer!

Anyway - back to the original question. I have a 7-seat S211. The kids love being in the back. There is a power outlet for their DS's/iPods/etc, plus drinks holders. It's almost as if they have their own playroom in the back. The only thing missing is a limousine soundproof glass divider instead of the load cover/dog net. Then it would be perfect!

My kids are 12 and 10, and are still very happy in there.

HTH.

 

[355spiderguy]

hi all.

just sold my E55 with the 7 seats, for the reason being my eldest boys are just starting to get to the max comfortable size for fiiting in them at the age of 10 and 8, and yes, they LOVED being in the back as they were away from us and their sister, and hopefully a 4th kid...

replacement is a GL420cdi which has the full adult size front facing electric fold up and down seats which the boys think is totally awesome!

on a plus side, with the GL being chipped and torque sittin at approx 800kn and bhp approx 380, it feels ridiculously quick, so has satisfied dads loss of his beloved E55 without trying to live with the R-class looks :bannana:

 

[Londonscottish]

My kids are 4 and 6 and love the rear-facing back seats. As do I - sometimes it's nice to have them a little further away.....The backrest is a little bit too upright for long distances IMHO. I tend to only put the kids in them for short journeys.

My car also came with the pop up boosters in the rear seats - also extremely useful.

So now, round town anyway I can have lots of combinations of kids and adults which is great.

As per the other posters I'd imagine the upper age for the rear-facing seats to be 10-ish

Mine's a 211.

 

[corned]

The backrest is a little bit too upright for long distances IMHO. I tend to only put the kids in them for short journeys.

If there's no one in the 'normal' rear seats, did you know that you can sit the rear seat backs up a notch, which allows the kiddie back seats to recline a little? Makes quite a difference.

 

[Londonscottish]

If there's no one in the 'normal' rear seats, did you know that you can sit the rear seat backs up a notch, which allows the kiddie back seats to recline a little? Makes quite a difference.

Thanks for reminding me.. Couldn't have done it today, though. Had seven in it on the way to the pub to watch QPR go five points clear at the top of the Championship.

COME ON YOU R'S!!!