Views having driven a new E280.

[Retired]

I recently took my 100k miles 1998 E240 estate to my local dealer to have a replacement exhaust fitted. They let me have the use of a brand new (600miles) E280 Diesel Avantgarde 7 speed while the work was being done. I thought I?d note down my impressions.

Performance excellent, responsive gearbox with almost unnoticeable changes. The 320 version of this engine must be really impressive. The computer was showing better than 30mpg. It was a blustery day and directional stability on the motorway was better than my current car. Engine not as smooth as the E240.

There was some steering wheel vibration, probably due to poor wheel balance. The texture of the steering wheel was awful ( leather twin? aka plastic). The climate control whistled annoyingly on low settings and the power steering groaned when manoeuvring the car at parking speeds. Steering heavier ? not unacceptably ? than current car. Ride and comfort much the same as current car.

I have been pondering replacing my current car and the new E280 / 320 was a strong candidate. Having driven the car I was impressed by the performance, and I guess the interior and exterior styling are more modern and appealing than my E240, but overall it doesn?t seem to be worth some £30k more than my current transport which I still enjoy driving and which, so far, has proved pretty reliable.

 

[jberks]

It is true that its a hard decison to swap in a perfectly good W210 for a new W211 E class. I've just made the move but it was a hard decision and based more on the fact that the cost gap is only going to get wider the longer I leave it, and doing 25k per year, the mileage was going to be higher that i'd like within a few months, than it was that I really needed to change. I must admit that I got used to the styling of my current E over the years but I love the look of my new one and this probably had more influence that it should - in short more of a heart than a head decision.
I have gone for the 270 (predecessor to the 280) as a good compromise - faster than my 240 and 30% better fuel economy plus 30% bigger fuel tank so no more mid-week fill ups which is a real bonus.

I found the steering wheel basically the same and with the speed sensitive steering option, parking is actually lighter but remember, ours have worn in over the years so the overall feel will be different. In terms of smoothness and silence, you can't beat the 240 v6, but I had a new 320 diesel for a week last June and whilst I was disappointed with the noise and refinement initially, I stopped noticing after a couple of days and actually grew to really like it. As you say, there is nothing in the ride.

Thee are certainly foibles around the new model and I'd say that there isn't a strong argument to change (I very nearly didn't) so as you say, why spend the 30k?
Didn't stop me though.