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Mercedes-Benz E-Class Sedans

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#3985 of 6709 rayscar-folding rear seats by rayscar Sep 26, 2002 (8:53 am)
tendons1, yes there is a pass through to the trunk. With this option, the front passenger seat also folds flat so MB says you can carry something 9-10 feet long. There may be a ski bag too but I'm not sure about that
#3986 of 6709 mbdriver--New E500 by rayscar Sep 26, 2002 (8:56 am)
I will be paying MSRP. Think it comes to around $60K without taxes tags, etc.
#3987 of 6709 Rayscar by by lex10 Sep 26, 2002 (9:28 am)
Just curious, any reason why you didn't get the E3 (sport package) in the vehicle you ordered; its apx $1375 and does include the items in the E1 package. You also get sharper rims, tires, and interior gauges.
#3988 of 6709 Lex10 by rayscar Sep 26, 2002 (11:38 am)
I don't like the birdseye trim. I like the burl trim better. There is no wood on the shifter with the sports package and the tires are actually a 1/2 inch smaller than the standard tires, albeit the sports tires are higher performance. I didn't like the front apron as much on the sports package either. The suspension is the same on the base 500 and the sports 500. I like the standard rims better than the sports rims. So even though the incremental cost is small between the base 500 with the E1 and the sports 500, I didn't like what you get with the sports package. It's a matter of taste rather of cost for me.
#3989 of 6709 Sports package on E500 by et610 Sep 26, 2002 (1:29 pm)
I did not order the sports package either because of the black birdseye trim on the interior. The price was not the factor just a matter of choice.   Actually I did also get the Navigation system. Would have liked the distonic cruise control but the $3000. was a little much for something I might not use much.   I did get $1000. discount off from msrp (with much shopping) and the price before tags and tax was $64,500. including the gas guzzler and luxury tax. Without the discount it would be about $65,500.
#3990 of 6709 E500 heated steering wheel by lex10 Sep 27, 2002 (9:28 am)
Can anyone advise if adding the heated steering wheel option on the 2003 E500 changes the appearance of the wheel or is that only if you order the wood/leather wheel option. I know on the Bmw 5 series ordering the sport package precludes you from the heated steering because of the M type sport steering wheel.
#3991 of 6709 One dissenter among the flock... by ilxman Sep 28, 2002 (12:55 pm)
As an enthusiastic Audi S4 owner, I suspect my dissenting comments will ignite a firestorm of responses if my experience with BMW owners is any indication. I chose my 2001 S4 after test-driving the BMW 330 Ci and E36 M3 (the new M3 hadn't been released yet). The reason I didn't even bother to drive a C-class is because only the AMG-level MB's are comparable in performance and then cost too much on top of that. But in every case, across the product line, the BMW has always been judged the superior driver's car by that part of the automotive fraternity I trust, so I didn't see any point.   Now, in the particular case of the S4, I found it could do everything the old M3 could do, but Audi chose to give it a more luxurious orientation. Hence, there was more body roll in the S4--though not excessive--and thus it felt less "sporty" than the razor's edge M3. However, the M3 was less comfortable, and felt twitchy (though always in control) on the imperfect streets of the real world. The new E46 chassis on the 330 Ci made it feel no less sporty, but now it felt less like riding on the razor's edge. But the 330 just didn't have the power I craved. The S4 was the perfect all-around, all-weather high-performance luxury machine. I have done some racing with my machine on the track--once in a driving rainstorm, with standing water on the track!--and confirmed that this machine sticks like glue in any weather and without any heroic efforts; basically, point-and-shoot...like a bat out of Hades with those twin turbos.   All of which brings me to the E-class. MB invited me to drive their product at an E-motion event here in Chicago. Yes, I realize that the E320 and E500 sedans I drove are more logically competitors of the base Audi A6 and the A6 4.2. But with marriage on the horizon, I decided it was time to take a look at larger sedans.   My impressions? First note that my driving experiences at closed track time trials involved not just going around an oval, but have instead been F1-style courses with a zillion turns plus cones to make the usable driving lane even narrower--hence the difficulty level has been ridiculously high. While I have driven my S4 through courses like that in standing water(!), so have my fellow A6 owners at various Audi Club events. So I have some basis of comparison, if not an actual A/B comparison.   The 320 was extremely disappointing! The steering was vague; there was little "feel" or "connection" with the road; the supposedly superior braking technology wasn't impressive at all. I wiped out a few cones on the kindergarten-level "slalom" because the handling and steering were so vague. [The monitors of the event anfrily told me to slow down next time--even though I wasn't going all that fast in the first place!] The term "precision hadling" just didn't apply. The 500 was more enjoyable to drive--easily the superior machine. But I still couldn't get past the vague steering and lack of road feel. Yes, both cars were smooth, quiet, comfortable and luxurious (esp. the 500). But after being optioned to death, the 500 would cost something approaching a BMW M5's price--and we all know the M5 (and the new Audi RS6) are the world's greatest sedans, don't we?   OK, it is true I am comparing apples to oranges; the correct comparisons would be the A6 and A6 4.2 models. But as I noted previously, the A6 owners I've observed at Audi Club track events seem to be able to do things with their cars that these MB's can't match. But I must admit that I have not personally driven the A6 models. But I DID drive a 2000 BMW 530i sedan...and my recollection is that it would positively spank either of these models in a serious handling test. I see some posters point to a euro TV show which says the MB's can best the Bimmers. Well, I'll wait to read some in-depth comparisons in the rags. But everything I've read in the past always and everywhere put the Bimmer ahead of the MB in every product category, with the sometimes exception at the S-class level.   What is my point? If there are any prospective MB purchasers out there, you owe it to yourself to drive competing BMW models--and drive both cars HARD, then see which you prefer. [Remember, that's coming from a non-BMW owner.] If you can get over the lack of vanity appeal, you also need to drive Audi models. And add Lexus for that matter, if a more luxurious orientation is your thing. The main problem I have with MB is marketing related. MB has gone down over the years with quality control and has clearly lost the high-performance edge to BMW. Then they still try to price as it they're the superior machine. For example, a head-to-head pitting the new M3 against AMG's best CLK55 yielded a decisive win for the M3 (things like the AMG losing control of the back end in turns much more easily than the M3, etc., contributing to the loss). Yet the M3 costs fully one third less money! My 6-speed 2001 S4 can spank a 2003 CL500, MB's premier GT, yet it costs less than half the money. Again, the M3 will destroy the new SL500 "sports" car...for one third less money. Well, what you MB owners will call "pride of ownership" to justify the price umbrella, I call "rip-off".   Mercedes does have nice interiors and leading-edge technology. But I found the interior to be too confusing, non-inuitive, and more importantly, not focused on the DRIVER. Having 100 cool buttons all over the place to play with is not my idea of a driver's machine. But I admit it sure looks cool. Ultimately, I prefer Audi's sense of the interior environment, and BMW's to a lesser extent. As for technology, I'd still rather have the BMW 5-series' brakes. Or better yet, on a rain/snow-slicked road I'll take Audi's quattro+braking system.   Perhaps I was not able to fully take the measure of the MB's abilities under the controlled driving conditions at the event. But the experience merely left me more convinced that BMW and Audi are the luxury/performance marques to beat, and that Lexus is the way way to go if I go soft and want more luxury. My impression of Mercedes-Benz as an overpriced-for-what-you-get luxury/performance laggard to BMW (and Audi in selected models) was only confirmed today. Perhaps the automotive press will convince me I should have another look...but I doubt it. Have at it gentlemen (and ladies)!
#3992 of 6709 One more thning... by ilxman Sep 28, 2002 (1:01 pm)
Am I the only one who thinks the rear end of the new E-Class looks way too common? I'm thinking Ford Taurus, Infinity Q45, etc.
#3993 of 6709 What was that about???? by mall610 Sep 28, 2002 (5:30 pm)
I find it very difficult that anyone would set the new record for the longest post....all about how much he dislikes the MB. A very long and rambling expression of his personal dislikes and opinions.   I wonder what would cause such an obvious phobia about MB. Maybe his dog got ran over by a Mercedes.   I can't imagine going to the Audi board or the BMW board and explaining to everyone there what idiots they are for buying that vehicle. I guess some people get kicks out of confronting and insulting other people.
#3994 of 6709 ilxman by brightness Sep 28, 2002 (8:19 pm)
The same can be said if Audi S4 were compared to a Subaru WRX STi, if not the stock WRX. A smaller car with shorter wheel base and less weight should have an edge in handling. The $15k Yamaha, Suzuki and Honda motorcycles are probably the best handling and best accelearating things on the road, and off-road, hopping up and down places where the S4 would be high-centered, and between cones that the S4 would not be able to physically fit through, all for one third the price!   C32AMG acquits itself quite well against M3. For street driving, I'd much prever C32AMG because of the massive torque advantage. People buy horsepowers, but drive torques.

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