S Class Who and Why

[350cls]

I think you will also find front and rear headroom reduced in the LWB model

I was referring to rear leg room with my comment above.

 

[tode]

Front headroom is reduced by 4cm+ in the front, but only 6 mm in the rear on the LWB.

 

[350cls]

That is what I posted was it not. It's reduced in the LWB

 

[MikeInWimbledon]

Wimbledon and poor haha you sure?

Wimbledon Village and poor,

not Wimbledon Town, Dear Boy…

No big garages and driveways down in Town.

I don’t watch AMG prices but that it’s 50 to 100% more, for an equivalent 10-12 year old AMG, compared to a 500.

Times is ‘Ard.

(And 25% less fuel consumption from “just 380 bhp” is OK when you can’t drive faster than 20 / 30 / 50 / 70 locally)

.

 

[MikeInWimbledon]

SWMBO has just piped up that an extra 4 inches is no great advantage.

“It’s what you do with it that matters.” She says, referring, of course to the higher quality materials, finishes and tech which go into the S class first and then maybe filter down to the other models.

Not that things like “night vision” or rear screens are any use to anyone, although adjustable suspension, higher quality leather, Harmon Kardon and higher tech music certainly is.

.

 

[W1ghty]

Come on W1ghty, all us MB owners have to keep a few quid aside for our beloved motors

Exactly, a few quid for an E class and a few thousand quid for the S

 

[E55BOF]

If MB had ever made an S class estate, I'd be able to contribute an opinion, because I'd have had several (and no doubt be even poorer than I am). It's not about status; I just like large, fast, comfortable cars, but my dogs come first...

 

[ALFAitalia]

I love them and they are good value....in normal times at least....because Joe Public worries about potential cost when things go wrong so the residual prices as a percentage of new cost are less than for C and E class cars. For me the killer is size....I've had a couple of 5 Series and have driven several E Class recently and in the real world that about as big at is practical when you use one car for everything. I used to have an Audi A8 4.2 V8 ....loved that car but it had to go due to size. In normal car parks with normal size spaces it looked stupid sticking out onto the roadway....assuming you could find a source wide enough to open the doors far enough to actually get out. Some multi storeys (the one in my home town of Bognor is a good example)v are just too tight for an A8/S class size car......lots of different coloured paint traces on the walls by the sharp bends are all the proof you need! Great car that shouts quality and style....just TOO big for my life in the crowed South.

 

[Deleted member 126251]

Even years ago, garages were only built for mini's, cant imagine getting a Ford Granada estate in a standard size garage to easily.

My son purchased a "new build” in 2015. The garage (double with 2 doors) could only just accommodate a Nissan juke and there was no way his X6 could even get through the door. Don’t recall if it was long enough.

 

[Benz17]

I love them and they are good value....in normal times at least....because Joe Public worries about potential cost when things go wrong so the residual prices as a percentage of new cost are less than for C and E class cars. For me the killer is size....I've had a couple of 5 Series and have driven several E Class recently and in the real world that about as big at is practical when you use one car for everything. I used to have an Audi A8 4.2 V8 ....loved that car but it had to go due to size. In normal car parks with normal size spaces it looked stupid sticking out onto the roadway....assuming you could find a source wide enough to open the doors far enough to actually get out. Some multi storeys (the one in my home town of Bognor is a good example)v are just too tight for an A8/S class size car......lots of different coloured paint traces on the walls by the sharp bends are all the proof you need! Great car that shouts quality and style....just TOO big for my life in the crowed South.

Currently this is also my thinking, living in London with no off street parking, my W213 seems perfect size for me, and it’s mostly me in it, or me and the wife. But as i said in my original post, have always admired the S Class.

I’m in the camp of updating to the new model, when it comes to changing cars and such like, so if I would consider one in the future, then it would be the current model used, once someone has taken the hit on depreciation, am still unsure about the interior pad screens, but most manufacturers are going down this route, (prefer the W213 digital widescreen), but could warm to it, but it does look a nice place to be in, I also like the exterior.

 

[Deleted member 126251]

Over the last two decades, I've had 2 S500's (W220 & W221), 4 E500's (211 and 212) and an E55.

My personal favourites, by a country mile were the S500L's for their leading edge tech, comfort, luxury and, power and ride quality.

But....my wife loathes the length of the S500L. She's tiny and loves her Mx5.

But 2....I always run older cars, a decade old. So I'm deliberately avoiding the tear-jerking depreciation of a less than six year old S class.

Reliability? Can't comment. I haven't had any repairs in maybe 150,000 miles, apart from an electric handbrake on the W221 which was jammed off when I bought it.

I can fit an S500L into my garage, which is nice, and I don't have to parallel park on London roads very often.

Have had "difficult situations" when trying to park these things in Paris and Monaco. French multi-storeys aren't made for cars this big. But they're just as bad for big SUV's

On the other hand, I did take a ride in a friend's brand new S500 this Christmas and I hated the Ipaddery of that central console. But then I hate most such displays - from Tesla S to EQS.

The only way to judge it is to just drive one yourself.

But if you're buying 6 - 10 year old cars, you are not getting the “leading edge tech” you talk about. You are buying old tech that has already trickled down to the other models several years earlier.

I’m with you on the current “glass cockpits” & gadgets - I compared my son’s, new at the time, E53 AMG to my then 3 year old 2017 SL400 and there was nothing in the E53 that I’d want in my SL.

 

[MikeInWimbledon]

But if you're buying 6 - 10 year old cars, you are not getting the “leading edge tech” you talk about. You are buying old tech that has already trickled down to the other models several years earlier.

I’m with you on the current “glass cockpits” & gadgets - I compared my son’s, new at the time, E53 AMG to my then 3 year old 2017 SL400 and there was nothing in the E53 that I’d want in my SL.

My thought was that the “leading edge tech” of a £30k 2015 S500L is ahead of its equivalents from 2015, bar the Tesla S (aka Apple IPad Golf cart). (And it’s still slick compared to brand new)

 

[350cls]

We don't all live in small over crowded small roads and street towns. I wouldn't go in to London if you paid me. Don't get satisfaction in doing so. If driving walking or on a push bike. And I'm a born and bread Londoner. Don't do multi storey car parks can't remember the last time I was in one. As for dogs or pets, I've had them two. Not interested in the 4 legged friends no more, even if I was, let them in cockpit for god sake, why keep a man's best friend in the boot. They are afterall meant to be a man's best friend. What ever size car to imagine some Tom, Dic. Or Harry will have an opinion with size some way or another. These cars offer amazing comfort when the world is going on around you at a crazy pace. I think it will serve its purpose just sweetly for me. 100's, 1000's, It's all the same lol. Mercs gobble it up.

 

[ALFAitalia]

I live in a village near a small town rather than a big city...it still too big to park and use day to day.......for me at least.

 

[Darrell]

My son purchased a "new build” in 2015. The garage (double with 2 doors) could only just accommodate a Nissan juke and there was no way his X6 could even get through the door. Don’t recall if it was long enough.

My parents bought a rather large detached house back in 1981. It was built in the 1920’s and the garage was tiny.

Nothing much changes.

 

[ALFAitalia]

I could probably just about squeeze an S Class into mine (late 60s house).....but like most people my garage is packed to the gunnels with everything except cars.....cant even remember what colour the floor is! I parked my car in there for the first week when I moved in back in 2004 as having a garage was a novelty.....but I soon got fed up having to open and close it to use the car and moving my wife's car out of the way if she parked in front of the door........never used it for a car since....just tools, spare parts, house stuff (much of which could be dumped if I'm honest) and the odd motorcycle!!

 

[Slartibartfast]

I always feel good when I'm in my car and still look back at it when parked up. I really like the comfort and quality of the nappa leather heated and ventilated seats. The ride quality is brilliant despite the 20" wheels. Distronic is a revelation. I just wanted a car that was reasonably priced, reasonably reliable and made my feel "special" when I was either driving it or just cleaning it. This W221 fits my requirements very well and averaging just over 40mpg is a bonus.

 

[phobos]

SWB's are usually only diesels or S63's

that is true, but I think I managed to find a S500 SWB once, but yes, they are very rare

 

[E55BOF]

Now THIS is a very rare version...

Mercedes-Benz S500 3.0 ( 435ps ) ( Executive ) ( Premium ) ( s/s ) 9G-Tron L AMG | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Mercedes-Benz S500 3.0 ( 435ps ) ( Executive ) ( Premium ) ( s/s ) 9G-Tron L AMG at the best online prices at eBay! Free delivery for many products.

www.ebay.co.uk

435 bhp from a three-litre engine in 1998! And with a 9G 'box too!! Who knew? Wow!!!

 

[alabbasi]

Now THIS is a very rare version...

Mercedes-Benz S500 3.0 ( 435ps ) ( Executive ) ( Premium ) ( s/s ) 9G-Tron L AMG | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Mercedes-Benz S500 3.0 ( 435ps ) ( Executive ) ( Premium ) ( s/s ) 9G-Tron L AMG at the best online prices at eBay! Free delivery for many products.

www.ebay.co.uk

435 bhp from a three-litre engine in 1998! And with a 9G 'box too!! Who knew? Wow!!!

Extra HP and gears are from the mopeds