Thinking of R-350. Did preliminary test drive a few days ago - just a short, solo drive of about 10 minutes but i liked it.
A relative owns a newer E-class wagon and I felt the interior was right on par with the E-class. I test drove a 2006 ML-350 right afterwards and thought the R-class had a more upmarket interior but it was a big, heavy car.
I guess my questions are:
1. What is like to live with the R-class day to day? Does it have a ponderous feel to it driving it around town if you do that driving? Or does it drive smaller than it really is?
2. What is like living with the rear doors? Many reviews state how large that 2nd door is which makes it easy to access 2nd and 3rd rows, but difficult in normal parking spots.
3. NAV - comparing it to mercedes in the past 2 years, is it improved? Again, my relatives E-class did not really display street names, which to me , isnt much navigation.
3. anything else - pro or con would be great.
I've also read nearly every previous post on the r-class to try to keep my questions to a minimum.
I had a 2006 ML350 for about 3 months and had problems with the Command System. Mercedes bought the car back and offered me a deal on a R500 that I just couldn't pass up. In a nutshell, I really like this car!
1) The car drives smaller than it looks. Handles well and the ride is much better than the ML. Had to get used to parking it in the garage since it is about 14" longer than the ML. Couldn't quite get it pulled in far enough at first.
2) I can't say anything about the rear doors since I never use them.
3)I like the NAV system. I don't know what it was like a couple of years ago since my 2002 ML never had it. It gets me where I want to go and does have street names.
4) Nothing much else to say except I really like this car. I have the power rear hatch option which is really great and highly recommended. The gas mileage isn't that great especially with the R500. Big car, but it'solid and holds the road well.
I have had and R350 since Dec 15. I will give you my opinions.
1. What is like to live with the R-class day to day? Does it have a ponderous feel to it driving it around town if you do that driving? Or does it drive smaller than it really is?
>>> I am moving down from a Ford Excursion, so, I would say is drives about the size it is. It is heavy and it does handle like a big heavy sedan. I am not quite sure where the 'sport' part comes in in 'sport tourer' but I like big heavy sedans anyway.
2. What is like living with the rear doors? Many reviews state how large that 2nd door is which makes it easy to access 2nd and 3rd rows, but difficult in normal parking spots.
>>> 2 kids. the car is a daily driver. it is parked everywhere. rear doors have not been a problem at all.
3. NAV - comparing it to mercedes in the past 2 years, is it improved? Again, my relatives E-class did not really display street names, which to me , isnt much navigation.
>>> no automobile to compare it to, but it is 100X easier to use than any of the chartplotters on my boats.
3. anything else - pro or con would be great.
>>> gas mileage is bad, but if you can afford 60K for minivan who really cares? My excursion got 18mpg on the highway, this car struggles to get 15. And the tank is small so the range is limited. oh well, the price you pay for luxury.
I frequently ride in the back in my vehicles (staff sits in the front). The back seat of this car is finer than any front seat I have sat in in any car. I am a big person and it is roomy. I can stretch out and work back there on long commutes. My only regret is I did not get heated rear seats. The dual zone sound is ok but there are no rear controls.
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