RE: New S-Class - hit or miss?

[Maldini35]

gherkins said:

Overstyled and trying too hard - exactly what the S-class shouldn't be. It should be understated and elegant, with a technological tour-de-force hidden underneath.

The back is just a mess.

I agree.

It lacks confidence.

[IATM]

bulldong said:

I think it looks absolutely awesome.

I have to agree - I am surprised so many people don't like it. I do think it will be one of those that will certainly grow on people and will have a great presence on the road like previous generations.

[BlueMR2]

Looks like an e class with those tiny front lights, no where near imposing enough.

Its sad what the governments have done to cars, when a 4cyl hybrid will demolish the sales figure numbers of a v12 in a luxury saloon.

[mikEsprit]

CYMR0 said:

I can't see me ever having one - maybe one of the runout models, if I'm very lucky - but I like it.

It's quite subtle but just bling enough for the Chinese. It's not as flash, or as beautiful, as a Jaguar, but it gives an impression of solidity and dependability and is technologically impeccable as well as refined.

As long as it's seen as a workhorse - transporting the business classes between hotel and conference room - rather than a golf club object of desire (I *like* driving what is essentially a taxi!) then it does the job brilliantly.

(Oh and I'd be quite happy to have the four-cylinder diesel hybrid).

Agree. S Classes have presence. I'd like them more if they had more, but that's not what they are about.

[k-ink]

Bland corporate box on the outside. Dull.

[Mastodon2]

Not as good looking on the outside, or crucially on a car like this, the inside, as the older versions.

[urquattro]

it pops up again, 1984 S Class, V8 and 5 litres for about £2/3K for a really good one - cheap and reliable. Its too good to sell.



I sold the S500 lwb W140, it was huge and complicated, the potential electronic problems made me shudder.

[anglophile]

Maldini35 said:

I agree.

It lacks confidence.

Utterly agree too. These cars once represented understated style and unmatched technological superiority. Now they are caricatures with over the top styling inside and out. More a statement of how much money one is willing to throw away in depreciation than having the sense to buy one secondhand when the glitter has faded some.

[kste]

I saw one in the metal coming towards me on the road in the Black Forest a few months ago wearing only very light disguise. Once I worked out what it was I thought it looked really nice on the road with great lines, proportions and presence. It looked miles different to the E-class and held together well. Merc cannot afford to get this one wrong and while it may be slightly tailored to Asian tastes it is still going to be an object of desire. IMHO!

[skyrover]

great looking car... very elegant

[oldtimer2]

Of course, if the S Class from Stuttgart is over the top for you, then consider this latest product from Germany - now cleared for use on the road - the mini hot rod from Hamburg. Details here:
http://www.spiegel.de/international/zeitgeist/the-...

[Richard A]

oilit said:

looks marginally better without the crappy faux wood (picture courtesy of whatcar) btw is that a child i can see hiding behind that 'a pillar' :-

Probably the next generation S-Class will have a long thin vertical screen mounted on the A pillar and a camera on the outside relaying back what you can't see.

First time I drove a hire B-Class, I nearly failed to see a cyclist coming round a roundabout exactly in sequence with my approaching A pillar. Since then I've always joggled my head around a bit when driving these ghastly modern contraptions.

[Sierra Mike]

Am I the only person to have been struck by the statement that "one of the six seat massage settings now includes Happy Ending Assist"?

The mind boggles.

[AnotherClarkey]

It will be interesting to see if this new model is able to sell more than the Tesla model S in the USA.

[Talented009]

Still 50/50 about the exterior

I just love the interior design but please, no diarrhoea wood veneer.I see people are poking fun out of the steering wheel design,but to me I simply just think it is one of the best modern steering wheel designs.

I think the next gen c class will top this in terms of exterior design and we all know that the next gen 7 series will grace the most offensive looking face of the bunch

[Disco You]

"The best or nothing" and "four cylinder diesel hybrid". Really?

[kambites]

Disco You said:

"The best or nothing" and "four cylinder diesel hybrid". Really?

Why not? Seems perfectly in keeping with the ethos to me. I doubt there's a significantly better drive-train for fuel economy than that and it's not as if there aren't other options if that's not your aim.

[SRi Slim R]

IMO it is a nice looking car, much better than the new E-Class.

But a 2 Spoke steering wheel, seriously? I hate 2 spoke's its all about the 3/4 spoke!

But bCk to the car it looks good, I like it. The colour suits it well.

[va1o]

Its just ok, not particularly special but not bad either and I'm sure it will be very good at what it does. Gets a 7/ 10 from me

[Blown2CV]

Sierra Mike said:

Am I the only person to have been struck by the statement that "one of the six seat massage settings now includes Happy Ending Assist"?

The mind boggles.

well from the perspective of, not really sure why it was written because it's not that funny and possibly a bit off-colour then yea