Discussion
Hi all,
I'm looking to replace our venerable E320 estate with a company car. The tax on the E350 estate, my natural preference, is considerably higher. But is it worth it? Is the the E250 so much more inferior, or in the real world, would I even notice the difference?
Many thanks,
david
I'm looking to replace our venerable E320 estate with a company car. The tax on the E350 estate, my natural preference, is considerably higher. But is it worth it? Is the the E250 so much more inferior, or in the real world, would I even notice the difference?
Many thanks,
david
I've back-to-back driven an E350 and E300 (uses the 250 engine).
Performance wise there isn't a lot in it. I was expecting the E350 to be a 535d-esque power house, but it wasn't. They'd be almost nothing between an E300 and E350 in a straight line IMO.
However the E350's trump card is smoothness. Whereas I was disappointed by the performance, the refinement was better than I had hoped. It is an extremely smooth unit.
Performance wise there isn't a lot in it. I was expecting the E350 to be a 535d-esque power house, but it wasn't. They'd be almost nothing between an E300 and E350 in a straight line IMO.
However the E350's trump card is smoothness. Whereas I was disappointed by the performance, the refinement was better than I had hoped. It is an extremely smooth unit.
I drive a petrol V8 and I am sometimes accused of bias or "hating diesels".
This is not the case - it's just that to me some diesels are very loud and gruff and dominate my experience of a car in a negative way and others are perfectly fine.
In an E Class I find the 250 very load and intrusive and the 350 very quiet with a nice burble when pressing on a bit. In fact I think all the MB V6 diesels and think they really suit the E Class.
This is not the case - it's just that to me some diesels are very loud and gruff and dominate my experience of a car in a negative way and others are perfectly fine.
In an E Class I find the 250 very load and intrusive and the 350 very quiet with a nice burble when pressing on a bit. In fact I think all the MB V6 diesels and think they really suit the E Class.
T5R+ said:
I have a habit of buying cars without test driving.
Do not make the same mistake.............own a lovely specified 250 but subsequently drove a 350.
The latter would be my choice - torque, smoothness, quieter, pick up quicker, etc.
The 350 everytime more power torque & smoothnessDo not make the same mistake.............own a lovely specified 250 but subsequently drove a 350.
The latter would be my choice - torque, smoothness, quieter, pick up quicker, etc.
I have an E350 estate and it is effortless to drive, in a really good way. It is smooth and comfy with the family
However when I am on my own and want to press on it is great fun. There is so much torque that you find yourself going very quickly in a short space of time with no fuss.
I did try the 4 pot version, but it is not the same.
As you can tell I enjoy mine.
Ed
However when I am on my own and want to press on it is great fun. There is so much torque that you find yourself going very quickly in a short space of time with no fuss.
I did try the 4 pot version, but it is not the same.
As you can tell I enjoy mine.
Ed
Ed Moses said:
I have an E350 estate and it is effortless to drive, in a really good way. It is smooth and comfy with the family
However when I am on my own and want to press on it is great fun. There is so much torque that you find yourself going very quickly in a short space of time with no fuss.
I did try the 4 pot version, but it is not the same.
As you can tell I enjoy mine.
Ed
When and if I replace my current 211 estate I'd happily have a 280/320/350 diesel 211 or 212.However when I am on my own and want to press on it is great fun. There is so much torque that you find yourself going very quickly in a short space of time with no fuss.
I did try the 4 pot version, but it is not the same.
As you can tell I enjoy mine.
Ed
For me, Mercedes came of age with the V6 diesel.
In fact it was Chris Harris writing for Drivers Republic that did it for me - he had a 211 320 estate with Air suspension and a Brabus D4 chip. It converted him to the oily side of the street and I duly took note.
The 212 250 loaner I had last year, however, had stop start and to use the phrase of another poster on here it "sounded like it had broken an engine mount" every time it fired into life. Quite.
Well I've just spend the afternoon in an E250 (my E300 was in for the timing chain tensioner recall).
Refinement was slightly worse than my E300, no doubt due to the elec drive helping to mask the diesel start, however it felt pretty punchy. With my E300 weighing more due to the hybrid gubbins, plus being an estate (the E250 was a saloon), the E250 felt fairly brisk. Seeing as the E350 I had previously driven was also a saloon, I'd be surprised if there was anything at all between them in terms of straight line pace.
Refinement was slightly worse than my E300, no doubt due to the elec drive helping to mask the diesel start, however it felt pretty punchy. With my E300 weighing more due to the hybrid gubbins, plus being an estate (the E250 was a saloon), the E250 felt fairly brisk. Seeing as the E350 I had previously driven was also a saloon, I'd be surprised if there was anything at all between them in terms of straight line pace.
The E350 is a very nice car, the engine in mined is starting to loosen up (2000 miles on the clock) and on a recent 200 mile trip it averaged over 52mpg. No doubt the economy was helped by miles of average speed cameras on the M1 and 50/60 mph traffic on the M62, but 52mpg from a 2 tonne, 260bhp tank?
Not sure if I'd want one as a company car though, at £46k P11d value the tax alone is going to cost more than the £287+vat lease cost (6+23, 10,000 mpa) I'm paying, then there's employers NI on the benefit in kind. I'd try to do a deal and fund it personally.
Not sure if I'd want one as a company car though, at £46k P11d value the tax alone is going to cost more than the £287+vat lease cost (6+23, 10,000 mpa) I'm paying, then there's employers NI on the benefit in kind. I'd try to do a deal and fund it personally.
If you currently drive a six cylinder you will struggle to go to a four pot. I did think the four pot would be ok. After a week I returned the car to the dealership and paid more to drive away in the same spec car with the six pot. More refinement in power delivery and smoothness. If you spend in excess of £35k on a car you want the engine to suit the car.
Have to say I found the 250 engine noisy & that transferred to the cabin too much for me. It is a very sharp & fast car around town and in a straight line. Infact I would say the 250 handles better around the bends and on a spirited drive as opposed to the 350.
I opted for the 350 it is a silky smooth powerhouse & effortless to drive at low or high speed. Refinement is the word and if you're looking for that then the 350 no question.
I opted for the 350 it is a silky smooth powerhouse & effortless to drive at low or high speed. Refinement is the word and if you're looking for that then the 350 no question.
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