Merc E220 or Merc E280

Sahil · 2nd July 2009, 16:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by GTO

The difference is v-a-s-t in the C / 3 and the S / 7. But it's narrower in the E / 5, yet noticeable.

Exactly my point, there must be a difference but its not that vast for the 5. The little bit of ride stiffness is compensated by waayy sharper handling, mind you the handling difference between 5 & E is v-a-s-t too.

scooby05 · 2nd July 2009, 16:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sahil

Exactly my point, there must be a difference but its not that vast for the 5. The little bit of ride stiffness is compensated by waayy sharper handling, mind you the handling difference between 5 & E is v-a-s-t too.

Sahil, I totally agree the handling is far superior with the 5!
No offense to anyone, but, I have been driving my 280cdi reaaally Hard, and she is responding very very well. Maybe we shall meet sometime and you drive around my 280 on an early Sunday morning. Maybe my car is a freak case!!

rrsteer · 2nd July 2009, 16:42

I'd opine, you should wait for the new E Class to trickle in. Lived with it for sometime in UK, it is bloody good. In my opinion the best car in the world if you discount the looks. (I included the mighty 7 & S when I put the new E as the best)

Sahil · 2nd July 2009, 16:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by scooby05

Sahil, I totally agree the handling is far superior with the 5!
No offense to anyone, but, I have been driving my 280cdi reaaally Hard, and she is responding very very well. Maybe we shall meet sometime and you drive around my 280 on an early Sunday morning. Maybe my car is a freak case!!

I am sure your car is not a freak case,the E280 began my love and belief in german diesels. My friend picked one up a year before i got my 525d, I fell in love with the E280 in no time and was convinced on getting it. My horror experience with MB electronics on two of my C-classes were the prime reason for me waiting for the 5 to launch instead.
I give it to BMW for their power, the 520d strints at par with the 6cyl E280, at much less a price tag. At the sametime, the merc diesels are a tad more refined than the BMW, thanks to MB being present for a long time here to adapt the low fuel quality.
And Scooby, you can't settle for a 520d, you need the 530d !

GTO · 2nd July 2009, 18:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sahil

Exactly my point, there must be a difference but its not that vast for the 5.

It is very noticeable. Not as extreme as the between the C & 3, or the S & 7, but it's there and does make a difference. I'm not talking about the difference on super clean concrete city roads, but on a bombay nasik highway where over broken patches, you'd much rather be on the back seat of an E Class. Somehow, India has more than its share of broken roads. BMW India recognises this and is making its cars "softer". The 3 has already been cushioned, wait for updates to the 5.

Quote:

The little bit of ride stiffness is compensated by waayy sharper handling, mind you the handling difference between 5 & E is v-a-s-t too.

Compensated to whom? Of course, to an enthusiast, the 5 is the natural choice. There isn't a doubt on that. I myself would pick a 530D if in the market today. However, in the same breath I'd add, that to the rear bench chauffeur driven type, the E is as natural a choice. My Dad would choose the E-Class. And mind you, it's not like the E has lousy dynamics. The steering feel, communication and overall feedback are way better in the 5, yet you'd have to be a pretty darn good track racer to exploit the absolute difference between the two cars in outright grip levels. Few of us have driving skills of that level. And if you do have to exploit that differential at 90% of the grip levels, you'd need to be in a controlled environment (read = race track). Again, note that I'm speaking in terms of exploiting that difference, not feel or feedback.

Look, it's very simple. The E Class has been tuned for comfort & refinement, while the 5 is handling oriented. So basically, it's between the self-driver and the chauffeur-driven. Doesn't get simpler than that.

Sahil · 2nd July 2009, 21:11

You're right on most part GTO but i'd put the 5 to be a pretty good chauffered car too, it might not be as cushioned as the E but it does even compensate by more interior space.
My dads no enthusiast, although he enjoys cars and has some fun with them once in a while but he too is at peace in the rear seat of the 5. His claim is the E feels too cramped in comparision although it's suspensions softer but he'd pick more space than slightly softer suspension. Which is why we picked the 520d as the chauffer driven option over the E.

Ricky_63 · 2nd July 2009, 21:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sahil

You're right on most part GTO but i'd put the 5 to be a pretty good chauffered car too, it might not be as cushioned as the E but it does even compensate by more interior space.
My dads no enthusiast, although he enjoys cars and has some fun with them once in a while but he too is at peace in the rear seat of the 5. His claim is the E feels too cramped in comparision although it's suspensions softer but he'd pick more space than slightly softer suspension. Which is why we picked the 520d as the chauffer driven option over the E.

@sahil

I do not think anyone can win over you when the discussion is over the BMW's & the MB's

...I absolutley love your spirited defense. I am saying this in a lighter vein, so dont flame me

The BMW is any day a better car to "tame"

Cheers

dipen · 2nd July 2009, 22:52

How much is the rear room difference between the A4, E and 5.

Sahil · 3rd July 2009, 03:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ricky_63

@sahil

I do not think anyone can win over you when the discussion is over the BMW's & the MB's

...I absolutley love your spirited defense. I am saying this in a lighter vein, so dont flame me

The BMW is any day a better car to "tame"

Cheers

To be honest I'm coming out in the wrong way. I love my car but I am not an MB hater, although I was a few years back due to my bad experience but I am beginning to build faith in it. I still probably would pick the facelifted S over the 7 and probably the C over the 3, so if anything I am more of an MB man

The 5 is pitched as a drivers car and yes it is but at the sametime I find it to
be a great chauffeur driven car as it's roomier than the E albeit a stiffer suspension.

ImmortalZ · 3rd July 2009, 08:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by dipen

How much is the rear room difference between the A4, E and 5.

The A4 is one segment lower. The old A4 had near to no rear legroom. The new one is better, but it is no 5/E. The A6 on the other hand, is comparable.

GTO · 3rd July 2009, 10:28

Yup, no doubt on that. The first time I sat in the current (outgoing) E-Class, I was surprised at the relative lack of interior space. It felt only slightly more than my C220! In our feedback reviews, many W210 owners actually felt terrible about upgrading....the older E had way more space at the back.

Let's see what the new E Class has in store for us. Expect a very detailed test report.

Sahil · 3rd July 2009, 10:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by ImmortalZ

The A6 on the other hand, is comparable.

A6 has decent legroom but the head-room was just shocking! And I ain't even all that tall !

Quote:

Originally Posted by GTO

Expect a very detailed test report.

Can we expect another pre-launch TD report from you?

ajmat · 3rd July 2009, 10:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by GTO

! In our feedback reviews, many W210 owners actually felt terrible about upgrading....the older E had way more space at the back.
.

It actually took a lot of sales from the w140 s class which people thought was too big

2nd July 2009, 16:42	#18
rrsteer Senior - BHPian Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: 144022 Posts: 1,235 Thanked: 3,130 Times	I'd opine, you should wait for the new E Class to trickle in. Lived with it for sometime in UK, it is bloody good. In my opinion the best car in the world if you discount the looks. (I included the mighty 7 & S when I put the new E as the best)
	() Thanks

2nd July 2009, 21:11	#21
Sahil Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: May 2004 Location: Bombay Posts: 6,292 Thanked: 7,607 Times	You're right on most part GTO but i'd put the 5 to be a pretty good chauffered car too, it might not be as cushioned as the E but it does even compensate by more interior space. My dads no enthusiast, although he enjoys cars and has some fun with them once in a while but he too is at peace in the rear seat of the 5. His claim is the E feels too cramped in comparision although it's suspensions softer but he'd pick more space than slightly softer suspension. Which is why we picked the 520d as the chauffer driven option over the E.
	() Thanks

2nd July 2009, 22:52	#23
dipen Senior - BHPian Join Date: May 2004 Location: mumbai Posts: 2,234 Thanked: 725 Times	How much is the rear room difference between the A4, E and 5.
	() Thanks

3rd July 2009, 10:28	#26
GTO Team-BHP Support Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Bombay Posts: 70,512 Thanked: 300,697 Times View My Garage	Yup, no doubt on that. The first time I sat in the current (outgoing) E-Class, I was surprised at the relative lack of interior space. It felt only slightly more than my C220! In our feedback reviews, many W210 owners actually felt terrible about upgrading....the older E had way more space at the back. Let's see what the new E Class has in store for us. Expect a very detailed test report.
	() Thanks