New S Class

[martthefart]

Just wondering, has anyone driven a new 2006 S Class. I test drove a new fully loaded E Class the otherday and the saleman said it's not a patch on the S. He claimed the pre 1996 S was very similar in drive quality as the E ( a bit like driving a sofa!). He also claimed he worked for Bentley before MB and he would always go for the S Class above a Bentley. Is the ride quality, performance soooo good. I'm not thinking of buying one, just wanted give my dreams more substance...

Mart

 

[television]

Just wondering, has anyone driven a new 2006 S Class. I test drove a new fully loaded E Class the otherday and the saleman said it's not a patch on the S. He claimed the pre 1996 S was very similar in drive quality as the E ( a bit like driving a sofa!). He also claimed he worked for Bentley before MB and he would always go for the S Class above a Bentley. Is the ride quality, performance soooo good. I'm not thinking of buying one, just wanted give my dreams more substance...

Mart

You will find it hard to locate one to test drive,more so with the CDI.

Malcolm

 

[hawk20]

Just wondering, has anyone driven a new 2006 S Class. I test drove a new fully loaded E Class the otherday and the saleman said it's not a patch on the S. He claimed the pre 1996 S was very similar in drive quality as the E ( a bit like driving a sofa!). He also claimed he worked for Bentley before MB and he would always go for the S Class above a Bentley. Is the ride quality, performance soooo good. I'm not thinking of buying one, just wanted give my dreams more substance...

Mart

I now own a 2005 December S320cdi and before that have had numerous E's.
Worth going to Autocar website and reading the review on the 220 series S class which they rated best saloon car in the world. So did What Car and Auto Express as well as numerous foreign magazines. The balance is incredible for so large a car; the ride on the air suspension is impeccable -a magic carpet ride. The performance for a car weighing over two tons is remarkable. Autocar got 7.6 seconds 0-62, from the 320cdi, and I think its 150 mph odd topspeed. But believe this: it has a combined fuel economy of over 35 mpg (about 27 round town and 44 extra urban). Awesome.
The comfort of the front seats is beyond anything I've experienced in my long motoring life. The feel of the leather, the walnut -oh God it is just wonderful. Every day I wake and look forward to driving it. And from every angle I look at it, I love the lines. Glorioso.

And that's just the 320cdi (60% of sales) at a mere £56k inc a few modest extras. You can go on up to £90k or more with even better seats, built in massage, bigger engines and more besides but you really don't need to unless the company or the lottery win are paying.

Now the new one has many similar features. Evolution not revolution. Similar performance and ride but quite a few detailed improvements and some new extras like night vision and so on. But oddly few of the extras will appeal to a wide audience, if they are paying for them. We seem to have reached a bit of a plateau. Once you've got electric windows, seats, and mirrors, memories everywhere, radios, cd's, satnav, central locking, alarms, rain sensing wipers, parktronic a teamaker and a dishwasher, who could ask for anything more. I really think we are at the point where they are struggling to come up with new extras worth paying for. And I wouldn't mind betting that most new S's go out with a spec very similar to the one I've got.

Every time you make a car bigger, longer and heavier you increase its ability to soak up bumps and give you a relaxing long distance ride. But usually you forfeit a lot in handling and enjoyment. The great skill of the new S and the older one I have is that you get the ride, the refinement and the silence of the big limo but with amazingly spritely handling and superb balance and roadholding. A real gem.

 

[jberks]

He claimed the pre 1996 S was very similar in drive quality as the E ( a bit like driving a sofa!).

You should try mine - with the factory 'sport' pack, sofa isn't the adjective I'd use! That said, my previous elegance was a tad sofa-ish.

He also claimed he worked for Bentley before MB and he would always go for the S Class above a Bentley.

Salesmen - don't you just love them. I once had a Nissan salesman try to convince me that he had a part time role helping Ferrari with their suspension design (hence he could tell us how great a Micra was!).
I'm sure the new S is absolutely fabulous, the last one was, but better than a Bentley? - mmm

Is the ride quality, performance soooo good. I'm not thinking of buying one, just wanted give my dreams more substance...

To mere mortals like us, it would be fabulous - but you get used to anything. I sometimes niggle at my E. Then occasionally drive a Vectra/corsa etc for a couple of days. It's usually enough to remind me how great the E is compared to 'normal' cars.