NE1 know 1st hand of ride/noise difference from E500 to E55? (kind of long)

[DaveS]

I'm looking at the E class for my next car. I have a sports car (SLK32) that I drive in the summer on nice days. (I live in Michigan). So mostly the car would be driven in the fall/winter and on questionable days in the summer, when I'm not driving the SLK32. I like the power of the E55. I like quietness and a nice ride, so I'm concerned that the E55 might be too harsh and noisy. I have the sports car if I want to be active driving and this car I want to be more of a relaxing car. Maybe I'm answering my own question but I have not driven the E55 and I'm looking for some input as to what others experiences are. I imagine that the E55 would be more noisy and hard a ride compared to the E500 but I don't know for sure. If it is then how much more? My local dealers do not have one to drive and they will not be able to get me one for at least 1 year or so. I'd like the 4 matic on the E500 and can't get that on the E55. Practicality says get the E500 with 4matic and my soul says E55. So I guess I have to weigh how much I would be using the power in the seasons that I would drive it.
Anyway, I'm being too long winded.

Thanks for any input.

Dave S.

[R230]

I drive a 2004 E55 but would probably recommend you to get the E500 4Matic. You'll need to put on snow tires on the E55 to make it work in the snow and even then, the E500 should be much more useable in the Michigan winter.

Go with the practical choice, unless you have a 3rd car?

[AA55]

I have a 320 now but had a 55...assuming that the ride between the 500 and 320 (with airmatic, which is what I have) is the same, then the non AMG cars are way more comfortable and has alot less road noise than the 55.

In Sports 2 airmatic mode, the 320 is way MORE comfortable than the Comfort mode in the 55, though expectedly the 320 doesn't corner as well as the 55...but sadly I never felt that the 55 corners that well anyway.

Drivability of my 320 is much better than the 55. The 55 just has A TON of power which requires you to feather the throttle everytime you exit a turn, otherwise ESP will engage -- though I'm sure owners will get used to the power as I did.

The irritating thing with the 55 is the SC clutch and the SC belt slippage. At low rpm's, approx 1500 rpm in 1st gear, the 55 somewhat chokes until you hear a chirp, a confirmation that the SC engaged and then this power surge comes all the way through each gear.

I think I will stick to normally aspirated engines from now on. I didn't like the SC clutch on my SLK230 nor did I like the SC clutch on the E55 -- however much power they produce.