Thanks for the link. Yes, the E-350 is 4th, but if I have to choose a car from the list, I will choose it because a comfortable and confidence inspiring ride is what I value. At least, Car and Driver has written a good verdict about it.
i'd like to see them add a new category when they review these types of cars. I call it the "which car would you most like to be stuck in traffic in?" category. Lets face it, that's where most of our time is spent in our cars anyways, save for the lucky few farmers rolling in a benz. Anyways, add this criteria to the c/d review and im sure we'd find the E at the top.
I traded in a 2005 TL on my E320CDI. I hated the Acura. I never could get used to the transmission although I've driven manual transmissions for 30 years, there were numerous sqeaks and rattles, the paint chipped easily and there were unresolved electronic issues which could not be reproduced at the dealer, but were documented by many owners at Acura websites. The car had a turning circle of a football field and wasn't particularly nimble on the road. A big disappiontment. It had a lot of gadgets and a good stereo but was lacking as a driver's car. As with most Honda engines it had ample horsepower but NO torque and crummy fuel mileage. Consumer Distorts says it was the best car they ever tested-that's why I subscribe, it keeps me laughing.
__________________
Red Line Oil, "Slicker than snot and twice as tasty!"
All are good cars. I personally like the "details" that MB does so well. Things like the door sills, etc. Compare them to the TL's (I've had 3 Acuras and 3 Hondas, and like most Japanese cars they run good and are built to not need little repairs) plain plastic and easily scarred sills and you see what I mean. Audis (I've had 3 Audis) are love-hate cars and used to be a pretty good buy when compared to MB. Price similarly equipped A-6 and E350 and you're not too far away. MB does hold resale better, but you get free maintenance with Audi. Of the 3 I've had, 2 wserre excellent cars. I put 160K on an '89 100 without major repairs. I've also had 2 BMWs and have found them good drivers, but a little underperforming unless you get the larger engine. (Skip the 525 and move up) Also, BMW interiors, even on the 7-series, are very plastic.
On my '05 E320 (just before the change to the 350 when the dealers had about $7500 trunk money), I always like the way it feels to drive, the way it's put together, and all the equipment it has. We even have the drive-dynamic seats, and they're great on a road trip. Plus, this is absolutely the best MB I've had yet in terms of quality issues. It's only been to the dealer for scheduled service and for a tire balance issue in 16K miles.
As stated in a previous reply, think about where you want to be stuck in traffic, but also think about what you want to drive, be seen in, etc. With the cars you'reconsidering, all warrant these considerations.
All are full of delicate, glitch prone, unnecassary high tech crap. Boot wont open, windows go up and down by themselves, and lock anywhere, seats lock flat, 2 flat batteries and you need to go on a flat bed back to reset the sodding computors. Go get a low mileage '89 E and run it trouble free for half a million miles. Comfort, prestige, safety all there. Then you dont have a monkey behind the instrument panel, (computor) pulling 20 strings, (subcomputors). When I open my trunk/boot, after 16 years, by simply pushing the button on the lid, it obediently opens. When I wish to adjust a seat, I yank a few levers, and by some magic, the seat adjusts....A new '07 S first problem, drivers seat locked flat, computor error, into the shop. Thats buls&%§&), thats not a car.
All are full of delicate, glitch prone, unnecassary high tech crap. Boot wont open, windows go up and down by themselves, and lock anywhere, seats lock flat, 2 flat batteries and you need to go on a flat bed back to reset the sodding computors. Go get a low mileage '89 E and run it trouble free for half a million miles. Comfort, prestige, safety all there. Then you dont have a monkey behind the instrument panel, (computor) pulling 20 strings, (subcomputors). When I open my trunk/boot, after 16 years, by simply pushing the button on the lid, it obediently opens. When I wish to adjust a seat, I yank a few levers, and by some magic, the seat adjusts....A new '07 S first problem, drivers seat locked flat, computor error, into the shop. Thats buls&%§&), thats not a car.
^^^That's bullshit. That's only one S-Class so far reported on this forum with that problem.
Linear Mode
