Video test drive review: 1995 Mercedes Benz S500.

[Jonas McFeely]

Originally Posted by Jesda

"BUY IT AND FORGET IT!" is the way most American cars are maintained. German cars need attention to adhere to factory specifications. They're like an algebraic formula -- if you change one variable the rest are all out of whack and the whole thing is ruined. But when its right, its SO right.

I <3 POPEIL!

And Chad, those S500s are sick. My favorite Mercedes. I hate German cars, but would drive one of those. Stick with a Caddy though.

[96Fleetwood]

Originally Posted by Playdrv4me

its not the number of cylinders per se.. but i just know the 3.2 to be one of the most reliable engines mb ever produced. i know countless people who swear by that v6. the 5.0 is good too, but the 3.2 is my choice. only other major concern is a/c, evap can only be accessed via dash removal $$$. sorry for the shorthand... on the train again

I totally agree! Very wise words. The S320 also makes better gas mileage and still has that classic beautiful body you love. It also lacks the leveling suspension the 420/500/600 has.

Put a set of AMG monoblock wheels and you will be golden. I wish I had the funds to buy the '98 S600 my parents sold last year .



I agree in getting a '97-99 because the updated tails, headlights, wheels, and body cladding.

As to a S class vs. 7 series vs. 2000 and up Cadillac.. hmmmm The 2000 and up Cadillacs will be fully loaded, just imagine a loaded up DTS with nightvision, nav, and moonroof! So it is a toss up, you can have a newer Cadillac or a older german luxo barge? A very tough call IMO.

[Playdrv4me]

man your pop's s600 was just orgasm in a can... best example of the 600 ive ever seen.

[96Fleetwood]

Originally Posted by Playdrv4me

man your pop's s600 was just orgasm in a can... best example of the 600 ive ever seen.

They sold it for $23 K too At least I know where the car is, it is in Richmond, VA owned by a well known Vascular Surgeon

Funny thing is if you check the values of a '97-99 S500 vs. a S600, they are almost worth the same! The S600 cost $40K more than the S500 new.. but I guess the maintenance costs in the long run make the 600 depreciate even faster...

[77CDV]

Originally Posted by Night Wolf

Yeah, I was thinking the same thing, the black does kinda kill it...

but then in the same note, a black interior on an Ameircan luxury car is really awesome... 90's Fleetwood Brougham or Seville STS/Eldorado ETC/DeVille etc... the black with wood just looks sooo nice.

Its almost like extreme oppisites when comparing such cars.

I have to disagree. Dark interiors do nothing for me on any car UNLESS it's an American luxury car AND a VELOUR interior in dark blue or dark red. Then it's very very. This coming from someone who had a car with a dark blue leather interior. It was OK, but dove grey would have been better and classier with the black sapphire exterior the car had. A black interior is out under any circumstance for me. Just looks cheap IMO.

[Night Wolf]

Originally Posted by 77CDV

I have to disagree. Dark interiors do nothing for me on any car UNLESS it's an American luxury car AND a VELOUR interior in dark blue or dark red. Then it's very very. This coming from someone who had a car with a dark blue leather interior. It was OK, but dove grey would have been better and classier with the black sapphire exterior the car had. A black interior is out under any circumstance for me. Just looks cheap IMO.

Isn't that what I said? black interiors look good on American luxury cars?

I don't like any sort of a blue interior... red is ok, but it has to be a dark red, and I don't like red leather.... both my '79 DeVille and '89 Olds had a red interior... actually wasn't as bad as I thought it was, and I didn't mind it.

I like neutral colors, tans and greys.... and it seems thats ALL cars have now, which kinda stinks, and I hope its not just a fad or something, cause I do like it alot.

My Town Car has the "designer" chrcoal/ivory interior, I like the charcoal a lot, personally tho the ivory is a little too.... cream colored, I would prefer a more tan color, or a lighter grey, I think that would be awesome.... but, it is what it is, so ah well.

I still Town Car's like mine with the light/.dark grey interior combo, and it just pops right out... looks soo nice, I like it alot... but... that is the same color that most all new cars are, so it pops out at you, but it really dosn't stand out from the rest... where as my Town Car interior does stand out... not something you normally see, I like that... but still.

I have thought about switching it over, but then my Isuzu has a grey interior (as they all, and the rest of Japaneese cars from that era had) although very few had an optional red interior (Rodeo and Trooper) which is odd... I don't like it.... but also the Caddy has a grey interior, which I like alot, and ages well... I really don't want 3 cars with a grey interior, so the Lincoln stays the same.

My Coupe had a nice tan/grey (neutral shale) interior... but, I noticed the tan seemed to be changing to a more creamish color too, kinda like what the Lincoln has now, and I didn't like that... for that car, my favorite color was the two-tone... Taupe I think? it just looked really fresh... I liked it alot... also black in those cars looked good too.

[Destroyer]

Originally Posted by Night Wolf

it honestly dosn't look much better then pictures of the '90's GM "rubbermaid" interiors, and all the blocky square buttons for the climate control and stuff.... I know the European drivers love that, and all the mags, which favor all imports love them too.... I just don't get it, it dosn't appeal to me.


Same with the W126 Benz, I really like those cars, outside styling is great... but the interior, IMO is just really lacking, I think thats why I don't have one now.... compared to an 80's Fleetwood Brougham, its just so different, the Caddy is very inviting and warm

I love old Broughams and Town cars are ok but neither should be compared with a W140, especially where the interior is concerned. Just cause it doesn't make you feel warm and fuzzy inside like perhaps a '72 Pinto with a plaid interior would doesn't make it cheap or cheap looking. I and others here have owned these cars and we have owned Cadillacs. I appreciate and like them all but as far as materials; craftsmanship; ergnomics and overall quality feel goes, there is no comparison. The big Benz wins hands down. I loved my Broughams but seriously, can anyone say they feel "high quality". My '91 and '87 Broughams felt no better or worse than any Gbody or big body GM I have ever owned. Yes a Fleetwood Brougham feels no better than an old Caprice, Monte carlo, cutlass or what have you.

[Night Wolf]

Originally Posted by Destroyer

I love old Broughams and Town cars are ok but neither should be compared with a W140, especially where the interior is concerned. Just cause it doesn't make you feel warm and fuzzy inside like perhaps a '72 Pinto with a plaid interior would doesn't make it cheap or cheap looking. I and others here have owned these cars and we have owned Cadillacs. I appreciate and like them all but as far as materials; craftsmanship; ergnomics and overall quality feel goes, there is no comparison. The big Benz wins hands down. I loved my Broughams but seriously, can anyone say they feel "high quality". My '91 and '87 Broughams felt no better or worse than any Gbody or big body GM I have ever owned. Yes a Fleetwood Brougham feels no better than an old Caprice, Monte carlo, cutlass or what have you.

I am not saying the build quality is cheap or the materials are bad... I honestly don't know, never spent much time in one.

But just from looking at pictures of them, thats just how it seems to me.... but I don't like the overall design and layout of those interiors compared with American luxury car interiors of the same era.... thats all.

I'm sure the quality is there, but I just don't like the end result of what you see when you open the door.... I dunno if that makes sense or not.

But, IMO the 90's Cadillac tear-drop dash interior is still, IMO one of the best interiors ever put in a car.... espeically, say, a 1995 ETC... that is almost a near perfect layout and design, IMO.

[Destroyer]

Originally Posted by Night Wolf

I am not saying the build quality is cheap or the materials are bad... I honestly don't know, never spent much time in one.

But just from looking at pictures of them, thats just how it seems to me.... but I don't like the overall design and layout of those interiors compared with American luxury car interiors of the same era.... thats all.

I'm sure the quality is there, but I just don't like the end result of what you see when you open the door.... I dunno if that makes sense or not.

The overall layout and design is classic Benz. Not much different than a W124/126 in design but more modern and nicer feel. I know what you are trying to convey though. I think the word is "austere". German cars feel more "business like" and they take function over warm and fuzzy. To some people that business like feel makes them warm and fuzzy though. My '97 S320LWB had a light tan leather with slightly darker tan (not brown)accents and the wood trim. Actually felt very inviting and very luxurious. I loved my W140. Definately the best car I've owned in terms of luxury and overall drive. The suspension on the highway was a dream, the steering had great input. A luxury barge it was but also a wonderful driver. If a Mercedes has an austere interior then it could be said that a full size Cadillac/Lincoln has an austere feel driving down the road.

[Jonas McFeely]

BMW and Mercedes leather smells like anus.

[Playdrv4me]

Originally Posted by Jonas McFeely

BMW and Mercedes leather smells like anus.

It's an acquired taste...

[I~LUV~Caddys8792]

Originally Posted by Jonas McFeely

BMW and Mercedes leather smells like anus.

I didn't smell anything.

Originally Posted by Destroyer

My '97 S320LWB had a light tan leather with slightly darker tan (not brown)accents and the wood trim. Actually felt very inviting and very luxurious. I loved my W140. Definately the best car I've owned in terms of luxury and overall drive. The suspension on the highway was a dream, the steering had great input. A luxury barge it was but also a wonderful driver.

Ah yes, the S320...probably the most logical S Class for me to buy. Now the power that these make isn't on par with a V8 version, but according to the numbers posted in the brochures, it seems like it'd have decent power. How was it in your opinion?

[Destroyer]

Originally Posted by Jonas McFeely

BMW and Mercedes leather smells like anus.

You sure you wiped good and had deodorant on when you sat in them?. I used to be almost 300lbs years ago and I have to admit now that it was me that smelled like ass most of the time that I thought it was something else that smelled like ass. Not saying you smell like ass cause I never smelled you or anything but, ahh, nevermind.

Originally Posted by I~LUV~Caddys8792

I didn't smell anything.



Ah yes, the S320...probably the most logical S Class for me to buy. Now the power that these make isn't on par with a V8 version, but according to the numbers posted in the brochures, it seems like it'd have decent power. How was it in your opinion?

Off the line it wasn't very exciting but not bad. It could certainly keep up with traffic just fine. On the highway though it felt downright quick. It is the easiest of the W140's to work on and because of that it is one of the cheapest to have fixed. Its a straight 6 so there is plenty of room on each side of it. I have to tell you though that head gaskets are an issue with these otherwise bulletproof motors. That is the bad news, the good news is that its only a $600-$700 repair because its not that difficult to do in this car. Unlike a Northstar Caddy where it could cost well over $3-$4k.

[Jonas McFeely]

Originally Posted by Destroyer

You sure you wiped good and had deodorant on when you sat in them?. I used to be almost 300lbs years ago and I have to admit now that it was me that smelled like ass most of the time that I thought it was something else that smelled like ass. Not saying you smell like ass cause I never smelled you or anything but, ahh, nevermind.

Even after the longest of long days at work in 100+ degree heat and 100% humidity, sweating my ass off in the warehouse, could still not compare to stank ass leather in a Mercedes or BMW. I guess its an acquired smell. But so are your own farts.

And no im not a stinky person. Ass hat.

[Destroyer]

Originally Posted by Jonas McFeely

Even after the longest of long days at work in 100+ degree heat and 100% humidity, sweating my ass off in the warehouse, could still not compare to stank ass leather in a Mercedes or BMW. I guess its an acquired smell. But so are your own farts.

And no im not a stinky person. Ass hat.

Are you trying to tell me that my Benz smelled worse than a 300lb sweaty dude in 100+degree heat and 100% humidity that sweated his ass off in a warehouse after a long day of work?. A person CANNOT aquire that kind of smell and my car certainly didn't smell like that or worse than that!.

Ok lets start over. A stinky person doesn't realize he/she is stinky until they are no longer stinky. After they become non stinky they can think back and realize that they were once stinky. So if said stinky person goes in a hot car and turns on the A/C or something and some of the stinkiness goes around the car and the stinky person smells the stink, he or she may assume its the car and not themselves cause they dont think they are stinky to begin with (even though they are). Know what I mean?