Automotive Reviews
Posts tagged Mercedes
2002 Mercedes E320
Apr 23rd
The Mercedes E320 is tremendously frustrating, because it’s almost perfect.
Almost.
On the surface, Mercedes has gotten everything right. The E-Class, Mercedes’ entry into the busy center of the luxury sedan market, has a pleasant blend of sportiness and luxury that walks the middle ground without being boring. The solid structure and expensive materials make it immediately obvious why Mercedes cars cost so much. There’s a specialness about a Mercedes (hinted at in the company’s commercials) that makes it seem like more than a car. Such anthropomorphic feelings are most often reserved for exclusive, unobtainable exotics and equally rare classic cars, but the E320 has that feeling right off the showroom floor. The starting price of over $48,000 may be expensive, but in a Mercedes you rarely wonder why. More >
Healthy Obsession with Perfection: the Mercedes Classic Center
Feb 17th
During a recent trip to Los Angeles, I had the opportunity to visit the Mercedes Classic Center down in Irvine. The Classic Center is tucked away in a small industrial complex, but for Mercedes owners, enthusiasts, and car people of all stripes it’s a must-see. This unassuming building is like Mary Poppins’ bag for Mercedes-Benz vehicles. If you’ve got a Mercedes of any vintage, you can get any factory part you need from the Classic Center–literally. They’ll even restore your old Benz to its original specifications. Since we’ve got a classic Mercedes in storage back in Michigan, this place was of great interest to us.
The Classic Center acts much like a dealer with an unusually extensive service department. They’ll do everything from routine maintenance to ground-up rebuilds.
2010 Mercedes E550
Nov 27th
A lot of people have expressed disappointment to me that a certain science-fiction trope has yet to become reality. “Why don’t we have flying cars?” they moan. “I want a flying car!” Never mind the havoc that bad drivers could wreak given a third dimension in which to operate: there are people out there who are ready for the future to arrive, and they’re sick of waiting.
Sorry, guys, but the 2010 Mercedes E550 doesn’t fly. It does, however, have enough technological tricks up its sleeve that fans of gadgets won’t mind being relegated to terra firma. All-new for 2010, the E-Class is the breadwinner of Mercedes’ North American stable. This mid-size luxury sedan is available in six-cylinder E350 and V8-powered E550 guises and features some of Mercedes’ most innovative driver aids ever.
At a glance, the E550 is handsome, but doesn’t look like the sort of wheels that would make George Jetson jealous. For starters, there’s no bubble top, though the E550 is available with a glass roof. The lines are elegant and feature more personality than has been common in recent Benzes, with muscular side contouring. The E-Class’ familiar four-light front end has been rethought yet again, this time incorporating more angular elements in the headlamps and the signature chrome grille. In spite of the handsome styling, the E550 is extremely aerodynamic, sporting a coefficient of drag approaching that of many dedicated hybrids. The taillights are high-visibility LEDs. The E-Class is one of the most versatile vehicles in the Mercedes lineups as well, with coupe, convertible and station wagon versions available or on the way.
The interior is large enough for four or five passengers, and it’s the very picture of quiet elegance. The multi-toned dash and choice of black ash or burl walnut trim has the studied elegance of a high-end catalog, and indirect amber fiber-optic lighting gives it a custom boardroom look after dark.
It’s the amenities that make the E550, though. The power sunshade, heated and cooled seats and satellite radio are nothing special in the luxury market these days. A rear-seat DVD entertainment system is available. Check the appropriate boxes and you’ll also get a driver’s seat with a massage function and Mercedes’ active seat bolsters that “hug” you in the turns to keep you in place. The available voice-activated navigation system is coupled with Sirius’ satellite radio for real-time traffic updates which proved to be extremely useful on the always-congested Los Angeles freeways. Dual-zone climate control, a reverse-assist camera and active cruise control are available, and the nicely-sized trunk includes a power-operated lid.
Meanwhile, Mercedes’ Distronic Plus active cruise control acts very much like a sci-fi fan’s dream of a car with an autopilot mode. Using a combination of short- and long-range radar the cruise control can maintain a set speed as well as a set distance from the vehicle in front. If traffic comes to a halt, so does the car, and with a touch of the accelerator the Mercedes is off again. Once on the freeway, the E550 took over and all we had to do was steer.
Don’t let the autopilot take over full-time, however; you’ll miss out on the exhilarating rush from the 5.5 liter double overhead cam V8 under the hood. Mercedes V8s are always satisfying companions, offering unbroken waves of performance, and the E550’s powerplant is no exception. This engine produces 382 horsepower and a healthy 391 pound-feet of torque over a rev range so broad it seems like there’s always power available. Even though it’s pushing almost 400 horses, the E550 is a docile beast. A seven-speed automatic transmission helps to improve fuel economy by keeping the big V8 at optimum revs, and it’s controlled by an electronic pushbutton stalk similar to the one found in big BMWs. The E550 isn’t a sports sedan–the throttle response isn’t quick enough for that, though 0-60 does take place in just over five seconds–but the power is more than adequate and high-speed freeway cruising is effortless, as it is in most Mercedes vehicles. All-wheel drive is available as well.
The wheels are firmly attached to terra firma, but the occupants of the E550 are, in fact, riding on air. The standard Airmatic adaptive air shocks can also carry a surprising amount of speed into and through a curve, considering the car’s heft. At lower speeds, the ride is comfortable and compliant, but the E550 firms up at higher speeds and during emergency maneuvers. Electronic aids like ESP stability control and anti-lock brakes don’t hurt, and are unobtrusive enough that there’s no sense of the ESP kicking in to spoil the fun.
This car doesn’t fly, but between the Distronic Plus and the active safety aids, it’s as high-tech as any flying car would be. Mercedes packs an unprecedented amount of equipment into the E550, including a Blind Spot Assist and infrared Night View display borrowed from the S-Class and a new Lane Keeping Assist which vibrates the steering wheel if it detects that the car is drifting out of its lane. The E550 carries both long- and short-range radar systems that provide information to the Distronic Plus as well as Mercedes’ Brake Assist PLUS, which warns the driver of an impending collision and, if action is not taken, will apply emergency braking at the last moment to reduce the severity of impact.
So no, it doesn’t fly and it doesn’t look like a starfighter, but the E550 is just about the most spacecraft-like four-door sedan you’ll find moving in two dimensions. With that in mind, the $56,300 starting price actually seems reasonable. That bottom line is easy to drive up, of course; my test car featured Mercedes’ Parktronic parking-guidance system, the panoramic sunroof, a navigation system with Sirius satellite radio, active headlamps, a rear window sunshade and Distronic Plus, and stickered for $70,555.
Specifications: All specs are for the 2010 Mercedes E550
Length: 191.7 in.
Width: 75.9 in.
Height: 57.7 in.
Wheelbase: 113.1 in.
Curb weight: 4100 lb.
Cargo space: 19.1 cu.ft.
Base price: $56,300
Price as tested: $70,555
Engine: 5.5 liter DOHC V8
Drivetrain: seven-speed automatic transmission, rear-wheel drive
Horsepower: 382 @ 6000
Torque: 391 @ 2800-4800
Fuel capacity: 23.5 gal.
Est. mileage: 18/26