[W140Gill]

you guys make me laughThere is nothing wrong with the S280, how can you diss it without ...

you guys make me laugh
There is nothing wrong with the S280, how can you diss it without even having ever driven one.

It was never released in N.America because the gas guzzling mentality there is that anything less than 3000cc is underpowered, hence benz thought it would not sell

I really dont understand why you need large engines as you cant even drive over 55mph

 

[W140Gill]

Re: w140Gill

Dear Gill:
I know why you can not understand the North American desire for powerful engines. You live in London; I have been there putting around at 5 mph, in incredible traffic. When you live in a tiny country where the highest mountain is the size of an ant hill, you don't understand the concept of a huge country with huge mountains that requires climbing power.
By the way I am not dissing G.B. my forfathers came from Glen Coe at the base of Ben Nevis.
Barry

Hi Barry,
I think you misunderstood my point. I am by no means personally attacking my buddies in the USA.I understand your point about mountainous country and about pulling power, BHP etc etc. Everyone, myself included, find a larger engined vehicle desirable. The point I was trying to make is that how can those whom have never driven a S280 state that its underpowered?. Indeed, there are those who have never driven an S320 and those same people will say that the S320 is underpowered. As you and I both know this isnt the case. All I am trying to say is that 'dont dismiss that of which you (not you personally of course[]) have no experience'.

The S280 is a formidable vehicle that is only available in SWB so has an immediate weight advantage over a S320 LWB. It uses the same M104 straight six twin cam 24valve benz engine that's in the S320 with a slightly smaller bore on each of the cylinders. Like my buddy ///S320 was saying, it extreme engineering. The fuel consumption is less than that on a M104 S320, it doesnt suffer the notorious gasket oil leaks that S320 does, insurance and service is cheaper and the performance difference is negligable.

One only needs to look at the Audi S3 (small 3dr hatchback) which has a small 1.8 engine, six speed transmission, 4WD yet can hurtle to 60 in less than 7 seconds and is electronically limited to 155mph.
This kind of car wouldnt sell in N.America.

You are right about the UK, Its a small country - Central London like any major city in the world is congested to the point that we sometimes can't travel faster than 5mph during the rush hours or if there are road works. Its acceptable to cruise at less than 100mph on our motorway network which I do on a daily basis to get to the south coast where I work. We can cross the 7 mile stretch of the English Channel and be in mainland Europe in less than an hour and head to the German autobahns where there is no speed limit. I have driven my car at well over 130mph legally.
Regards
Gill

 

[W140Gill]

merouby - 1/21/2004 4:45 AM

you guys make me laugh
There is nothing wrong with the S280, how can you diss it without even having ever driven one.

It was never released in N.America because the gas guzzling mentality there is that anything less than 3000cc is underpowered, hence benz thought it would not sell

I really dont understand why you need large engines as you cant even drive over 55mph

Mate, we in America don't have Federal 55 mph limits anymore. That's been abolished eight years ago. Every state in America decides what highways the speed limit is now. As a matter of fact, until recently Montana had no numerical speed limit! (Safe & Prudent speeds to be judged by the driver & conditions). Now their speed limit is 75 during the day. Where I live in TX some highways are 65mph - others 60. So speed limits can range to 50mph-75mph now in the US. 75mph is 5mph OVER your UK national speed limit!

Secondly as fuel here in the US is cheaper and that MB can only bring only so many MB cars from Germany under a tarriff-based allotment, they choose the best equipped-fully loaded models with bigger engines. Secondly, it costs millions of dollars to certify an engine with the US government to meet smog laws via tests & the like. Hence, we here in the US dont have the same wide-engine ranges that you Europeans tend to enjoy.

Keep in mind though, that a new MB costs us LESS than what u pay in ripoff Britian for a lesser model as well, since the USA is MB's largest market and that our taxes are lower.

Hopefully that'll explain why MB doesn't market the S280 in North America.

Here we go again...another benzworld member who thinks i am attacking the US of A and their liking for BIG engines.

Look, if you had bothered to read the rest of the posts you would have realised the point i was trying to make about the assumptions one has over 'smaller' engined cars without having any personal experience. How can one know that the S280 is underpowered without first hand experience?

Yes you are right, we are ripped off in the UK. especially for fuel. We pay $110 US dollars to fill our W140's up of which $88 US dollars is tax and goes into our governments pocket. Our taxes are high, but our lifestyle and social care system is completely different to yours.

(1)We have no toll roads
(2)We operate a welfare state
(3)Free hospital/health care to our entire population
(4)Free education for our youth
(5)Everyone is entitled to a government pension and care in their old age
(6)Our unemployed and homeless are housed and given an allowance

Mercedes do not sell smaller engined cars in the USA, not because of equipment levels, the S280 can come just as highly specified as the S600, but because smaller engined and smaller cars do not sell in the USA - that is a matter of fact.

You guys dont have the A class mercedes, not because its not a luxury model or lower specified, but it wouldn't sell in your country due to the fact of its size.

You like so many others who dont read or listen to the point I was trying to get across, have taken offence to what was intended to be no more than my observation on how one can dismiss that of which they have no first hand experience. No doubt the fact that I have replied to your post will spark some heated reply.

 

[W140Gill]

she's running sweet as sugar. Needs a good clean though. This foul weather has made the paintwork look really mucky. I had a blow out on my one of my 255x45 18" continentals last week. Luckily my AMG rim wasn't damaged.

I added remote central locking a few days ago. If anyone wants details/a how to, just ask me and i'll post.

My newer type AC control panel arrived today $20 from e-bay. Thats going to be the next transplant i have planned.

I am really sorry to hear about your misfortune, Let me know if i can be of any assistance.