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New R-Class Owners - Give Us Your Report

68 messages,  Last post on Nov 18, 2010 at 6:09 PM

You are in the Mercedes-Benz R-Class Forum.

What is this discussion about? Mercedes-Benz R-Class, Car Buying, Wagon

Messages Page 3 of 7

#19 of 68 Re: 1000 mile trip impressions [jabbahop] by merc1

May 22, 2006 (9:14 pm)

Replying to: jabbahop (May 22, 2006 12:49 pm)
Nice report. It seems that anyone who buys the R loves it, but everyone else from the outside looking in doesn't get it.
 
M

#20 of 68 Re: 1000 mile trip impressions [jabbahop] by benzster

May 24, 2006 (7:46 am)

Replying to: jabbahop (May 22, 2006 12:49 pm)
jabbahop I agree with you on every point and drive the same vehicle (color, adds, etc).
The steering wheel is THICK. I find myself staying away from the wood.
 
Try the "lane change" signal. Tap the stalk and you get 4 blinks only.
 
Your mom might not like the leather but you will in 4-5 years when it looks the same as it does now.
 
I hate to say I told you so, but the low beams seem like they are aimed too low.
 
My kids love the "lap top" type DVD player with additional screen. I take it inside and on airplanes etc.
 
I recommend the "sport" suspension setting for heavy cross winds.
 
Hmmm what else.....oH YEAH! Read your Ipod book. You can go to artist, lists, etc. I had to read the little book to figure it out. Use RH buttons as well.
 
How did you feel after the long drive? I am interested in hearing about your mental and physical state after a long drive.
 
BTW it is time for your first service. 1K greet,6K tire rotation, 13k service.

#21 of 68 Impressions by jayhawk90

May 26, 2006 (6:08 pm)

I've had a R500 for a week and have put 800 miles on it already since we've driven from the dealership and we have visitors in town. We have an '04 E320 wagon that was getting a little cramped with two kids and it didn't offer any real room when we have friends in town. The R seemed to fit the bill and when the lease became very attractive we made the move.
 
The car we found was a loaded 500 without the leather seats. I initially wanted the 350 for the gas mileage, but I've enjoyed the bigger engine when the car is loaded with passengers. Speaking of passengers, I've had 4 adults and 2 kids in the car for hours and it's been extremely enjoyable for all. We don't have the 3 zone climate (seems crazy for a 67k MSRP) and it tends to get hot in the 3rd row, but other than that, very comfortable and a LOT of fun to drive.
 
The MB Tex is fine, especially with kids, but I do miss the zenons my E has. Other than that, the car is great - no regrets at all.

#22 of 68 Re: Impressions by mbowers

Jun 08, 2006 (7:31 am)

Replying to: jayhawk90 (May 26, 2006 6:08 pm)
I've had my R350 for three weeks now. I love it!
 
I was driving a 2006 E350 before, but needed more space.
 
The exterior is eye catching. I have the Barolo red.
 
Mine is fully loaded.
 
The drive. My husband has an s class. The first thing we noticed is that it drives like a sedan.
 
We have the monitors on the head rests. My daughter plays her leap pad handheld game on her screen, while my son will usually watch dvd's on his.
 
The only thing I don't care for too much is the small storage in the back. Weekly grocery trips require lowering one of the back seats.
 
Don't even get me started on the stares and comments the car gets. Everyone that has been in ours has headed up to the dealership to check it out.

#23 of 68 My observations by qkslvr

Jun 08, 2006 (9:50 am)

I've owned the R350 for a month now. We are young retirees (51 & 53), with married kids and grandkids. It's an extremely quiet ride, comfortable but responsive. My wife has never had a minivan and was never interested in one. The R suits my wife well. The grandkids fit well in the both the 2nd and 3rd rows, and a plus for us is having latch tethers in the 3rd row.I like that it sits lower than an SUV, which makes for a smoother ride on the freeway in windy conditions. The rear doors are big, but it makes it easy to get in and out. Everyone we have taken in it is amazed at the room and comfort.
 
Only changes I would have liked is to have the seats fold completely into the floor.So far, we have been pleasantly surprised with the vehicle.

#24 of 68 Re: My observations [qkslvr] by irishrogue1

Jun 08, 2006 (12:13 pm)

Replying to: qkslvr (Jun 08, 2006 9:50 am)
LATCH in 2d row is a given these days. but 3rd row....hmm was MB thinking they were marketing this to?? last time i checked the only accessorty that used LATCH was a car seat!!
 
i absolutely agree with your points, but really should we pleasantly surprised by a car that costs $50k+??? I burn through disposable income like its....well disposable, and I expect cars to deliver based on the price category. when i pull the trigger on an R500 I expect it to meet pretty high standards. i was pleasantly surprised at the auto show when i got in the new hyundai azera, the subura tribeca, mazda 3 and volks passat because of styling and value in their respective price categtories. i approach higher prices cars with my arms folded and an expectation that they will deliver. do others feel the same way?

#25 of 68 Picked up the new R350 over the weekend by cary28

Aug 01, 2006 (12:03 am)

Well, I picked up the Desert Silver/Macadamia R350 on Saturday, and here are some first impressions. This is a loaded R350 with the premium package, comfort package, trim package, lighting package, Airmatic suspension, 18" wheels, Parktronics, 3-zone climate control, wood/leather steering wheel, and rear side airbags.
 
It is a true luxury car in the European sense, with a very supple ride, strong engine, tight steering, and quiet interior. It has lots of room, but is a big car, so does take some getting used to in terms of parking. I just love the "Toys" which comes with this car. The Panaromic roof is vast and open, the HID lights which "steers" is just unreal, and the airmatic suspension is tight in the sport mode, while nice with just the right feel in comfort mode. The Parktronic is helpful, although I would prefer a rear camera. I will need to calibrate this system with my senses, as it still leaves plenty of room when all the red LEDs light up(I would prefer 2" rather than 8"+). The stereo is very nice with a full sound. The GPS navigation is not as intuitive or user friendly as my Garmin C320, but I'm sure I can play with it to get from point A to B.
 
I get a lot of interest from other motorist and people just walking up to see what is this R350. There are very few in my neck of the woods, and I may have seen 1 or 2 in the last few months in my neighborhood. The car is not under-powered as some suggested, but is on the heavy side. The engine is strong, particularly at high speed. It has enough "oomph" to start from a standing stop, and the only problem was going uphill from around 35 - 40mph. I didn't know how to use the paddle shifter initially, and finally figured out the inside edge was for downshifting and the outside edge was for upshifting. I didn't read the manual I'm sure I will learn all the functions after reading the manuals, and playing with it while enjoying the drive.
 
Well, thats it for now. I will post another update after living with the car for some time. Oh, another thing, this color interior is really hard to keep clean. Oh well...

#26 of 68 Re: Picked up the new R350 over the weekend [cary28] by templeton3

Aug 01, 2006 (8:18 am)

Replying to: cary28 (Aug 01, 2006 12:03 am)
My wife, who hates the car, says the only benefit it has for her is a right leg workout. Because the car is so sluggish, she has to press down hard on the accelerator to keep up with traffic. I too just press hard on the accelerator to drive it. It's now starting have a rough shift. A R500 would of better choice. Luckly we don't drive it much.

#27 of 68 Re: Picked up the new R350 over the weekend [templeton3] by cary28

Aug 01, 2006 (3:28 pm)

Replying to: templeton3 (Aug 01, 2006 8:18 am)
I'm not sure what your expectations are on a MB R350. I own a BMW, a Porsche, and a Corvette, so I am no stranger to powerful cars with V8s and "kick ass" acceleration. This R350 is strong but not in the league of the cars above. But then I don't expect to race a MB either Its not a quick car, but its power is adequate to haul its weight around, IMHO.

#28 of 68 R is for Rockin' by albell

Dec 18, 2005 (5:46 pm)

I was able to pick my new R 350 up on Friday, in time for our weekly trip upstate. It exceeded my expectations. I put nearly 400 miles on it over the weekend and it performed brilliantly.
 
I was always concerned about the ride -- whether it would be close to the standard of my E Wagon -- and after a weekend of hauling stuff back and forth between a couple of houses, cruising highways and carting a xmas tree home -- I have to say that in several ways I found it superior. It is rock solid, got nearly 22 mpg on the trip home (110 miles) and averaged 18 overall over nearly 400 miles of very mixed driving.
 
The handling (I have the air suspension) is excellent, with a good steering feel and a very stable attidue in turns. It drives and rides like a Benz should. It doesn't feel anything like its size.
 
I know from experience that MB's gain efficiency after 5,000 miles or so, and I am hopeful that the mpg will get even better.
 
In short, a very happy camper.

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