Mercedes S-Class? First class! PH Blog
The ultimate accessory for your new S-Class? Someone to drive it for you!
S-Class looks on as Dan gets his feet muddy
Which probably isn't the kind of glamorous high net worth 'lifestyle' Mercedes marketing wonks have in mind for the new S-Class. But one it fits into rather nicely as it turns out.
Now, we know the new S-Class could - technically - drive itself. But petty matters of legislation and fear of machines taking over mean Barry isn't out of a job yet. Turning up keen as mustard with an immaculate S-Class complete with mood lighting, pillows and Mercedes' active nifty air freshener system he probably wasn't expecting his first driving assignment to be to a muddy field near Bovingdon filled with used cars slowly sinking into the mire and a couple of Polish blokes with fags in the corner of their mouths doing something possibly unspeakable to an old Jag XJ. The Fiesta they dragged out of the clag wasn't quite The One, the old two-tone W114 'stricht acht' in the corner of the field a more appealing prospect even with the moss on the windows.
Sod the Fiesta, THAT's proper Shed motoring
And so to be wafted up the M1 to Northampton for a look at another, the S-Class standing out like a sore thumb and perhaps not providing me with the strongest bargaining chip. Bless him, the chap selling the Ford couldn't quite understand why a scraggy man in a chauffeur driven S-Class would be in the market for his thousand pound snotter but a deal was struck and newly purchased Fiesta followed in the wake of the Merc to soft play.
How to kill your negotiating power in one move
His assignment for the following day was much more on-message, your undeserving editor requiring dropping off at Heathrow for my trip to the LA show. Being chauffeured on your regular commute is a rather bizarre experience but if the western stretch of the M25 could be made pleasant the S-Class made a good fist of it.
And what of the S-Class itself? I've spent a lot of time in them over the years, though usually in Barry's seat. We'll have to await word from young Matt on what it's like there but from the back the traditional luxurious sobriety of Mercedes of old has been replaced by a more glamorous and overtly stylised atmosphere. Much has been made of the ride in the new car but I have to confess it felt a little more pendulous than I'd expected. But I'm nit-picking. It was a lovely place to spend time and an amusing insight into the mindset of the increasing number of buyers in this market who'd never consider sitting up front.
In-built soft play surely for next S-Class?
Dan
Being he of keen driving, when a passenger (as I was in the front on the 'to' journey), I still read the road, watch cars etc. I tend to do the same in the back of friend's cars too. However, in the back of the Ghost I was so far removed that it was a genuinely relaxing drive, and what struck me as a place I could be genuinely productive if I needed to be on a daily basis.
I would assume the S-Class' rear seats, though perhaps not as luxurious, lend the same level of relaxing?
Being he of keen driving, when a passenger (as I was in the front on the 'to' journey), I still read the road, watch cars etc. I tend to do the same in the back of friend's cars too. However, in the back of the Ghost I was so far removed that it was a genuinely relaxing drive, and what struck me as a place I could be genuinely productive if I needed to be on a daily basis.
I would assume the S-Class' rear seats, though perhaps not as luxurious, lend the same level of relaxing?
The other thing I noticed, the diesel 350 is butter smooth and eerily quiet. Even from the outside it has you second guessing whether it is actually a diesel.
), I can say with utter conviction that it's one of the most amazingly comfortable places to be. I was so exhausted walking around the show on the first press day that I actually fell asleep in the back, although I put a large part of that down to the environment as well as my then physical well-being. Dan - as I'm a 'Hemelite', if you haven't tried the little car lot by the car wash on Wood Lane End, I'd steer well clear. I, too, am looking for a runaround for the missus (to ferry our nine-month old around) but I'd rather spend a little more than trust anything in the Hemel area!
It should be "Sonderklasse" - 'special' class, as somebody already said.
Seen loads of these on the streets of Berlin already - they look much better 'in the flesh' than in pics, and the headlamp clusters are just gorgeous when the lights are on.
Cheers,
Matt
The electric rear seats combined with the relaxing music really do make it quite a special drive and something I always look forward to.
I also rather like that the hotel in question leaves a letter on the centre armrest addressed to me!
..it's nice to have a glimpse of how the other half spend their lives!
)Cheers,
Matt
A pleasant steer, forget sitting in the back...
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