Gorilla Beast - 9/30/2005 8:16 PM
Keep in mind I am not the one who recently posted you cancellation of your Rclass order. Who is the one lacking funds?
See my posts tonight on the this forum and the S Class forum...lack of funds is not one of my problems...[:D]
No futher comments on the subject...you made some points and missed some also. Enjoy your stable since I only ride one horse at a time....
__________________ 2008 SL550. Black on Black. AMG Pkg., Parktronic, P1 Pkg.
Lack of funds has nothing to do with design unless the guy they're paying to do the designs and stuff charges them for how good they want the car to look.
I can probably speak to this with at least some insight.
I have had a Pacifica for 3 years and have just placed an order for an E class after testing and closely weighing my options between that and the R class.
I like the idea of a luxurious AWD crossover wagon (obviously)and have been quite pleased overall with the Chrysler. It is roomy, comfortable, quiet in most circumstances and idiosyncratically attractive - though that's obviously subjective.
It's been completely reliable. My complaints are a slight lack of oomph in the midrange, a tendency to get jittery on rough surfaces (although it corners quite admirably for such a large vehicle), a bit more road noise than I'd like, and some slightly low-grade interior bits.
Being a large fellow who likes the practicality of wagons and likes his room, I was naturally predisposed to the R. It was indeed an upgrade (natch) and a nice vehicle indeed. It is smoother and quieter than the Pacifica (natch, again) and has more toys.
I went with the E (3504matic BTW) because it was more enjoyable to drive mostly, but a couple other reasons. A vehicle the size of the R can't help losing a bit of athleticism through the curves and even straight line responsiveness, in either engine. It was also a bit noisier than the E (even as the R500) - mostly wind noise thanks to the sheetmetal shape. I also trust the shorter panels and moldings of the E to rattle and squeak less over time. 5 extra mpg didn't hurt. I think the design of the rear roofline is a bit clumsy. Finally I am just not a fan of the R dash. It's not horrible by any stretch but I think they mnissed the target by a hair - a bit too hard and futuristic. Personally I would have preferred an "MB-fied" upgrade to the less jarring Pacifica look.
While fully aware that mechanically they are completely different (BTW the base AWD may come from MB to Chrys. but it loses the other ETS goodies - trust me I drove back to back in typical MN winter weather and the AWD of the E is light years ahead of the Chrysler), the R is clearly a design cousin of the Pacifica. It's a better vehicle of course - more refined and luxurious as you would expect, and with the option of a more capable engine for such a large vehicle.
Had I NEEDED rather than just liked the room and hauling capabilities of the R I would have been perfectly happy with one. To be honest the Pacifica is far from a horrible comparator as it's definitely an entry-level competitor (and market innovator after all!) in the luxo crossover market, where MB has certainly staked out a notch or two above quite well with the R. Wouldn't be embarrassed at all to acknowledge the relationship if I had bought the R, and I did come fairly close to doing so. Must admit I'll miss the 60"+ shoulder room even with the advantages (for me) of the E!
dmallind - 1/18/2006 2:19 PM
5 extra mpg didn't hurt.
Thanks for the report. Although there may not be much the same between the Pacifica and the R-Class, the trend is to share more in the future, according to recent rumblings by Dieter Zetsche.. [;)]
Regarding the differences in fuel mileage. The feds claim their is about a 2 to 3 MPG difference between the R350 and E350 4Matic according to this info, although that might not reflect real world numbers.
Probably didn't make it clear but because of both cost and power to weight ratio I was comparing E350 to R500 mostly as far as deciding which to buy. For any kind of spirited driving I think 4800lbs is a bit much for the 350.
Coming from an E320 4matic wagon to the R350, I can say that I am pleasantly surprised so far at the mpg of the R. My wagon averaged 23 overall and 25-26 on extended highway trips. Over the first 2k miles, I am averaging 19.5 overall and 22-23 on the highway. This is not bad at all given the size and weight, and from my experience with MB's, I have found that mileage improves as the engine breaks in.
The real mpg test will come in February, when I round trip from NYC to Green Bay.
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