Now this is a Mercedes.
T
hroughout my young automobile enthusiast's life, I was smitten with the E-Class Mercedes. My favourite was the W124 (1984-1996) and within this generation, the very special, hand-built by Porsche 500E. Its 322 hp 5.0L V8 made me dream of making it big and making the big bucks. If you cannot picture which E500 I am talking about, rent the movie Taxi (the original version is in Marseillais French and is about bank robbers that use E500s as getaway cars)
In 2003, the present generation of the E-Class was introduced. This time, the car favoured a sleeker more angular design than the previous all the while keeping the signature twin oval headlights. The other part of the E-Class which remains is the car's instantly recognizable front grill and logo. 2007 marks the mid-life upgrade of the E. New models have been added and physically, the front and rear ends have received a lift and there have been some color changes. Inboard, different trim and colors have been added as well as a new sport steering wheel.
E-Class sophistication
Of all the Mercs I have driven this past summer, I find that the E-Class is the best looking and most finely tuned out of the bunch. Even though the CLS is special in its own right, the E-Class is graceful, princely and better tailored to the average luxury sedan buyer. Its subtle elegant proportions convey beauty that is not in the eye of the beholder, it can be appreciated by everyone. There are basically no wrong colors for the E-Class. From black to green or red to blue and through five shades of grey and silver, the car is nearly stunning. As expected, the body panels and paint application were perfectly crafted in Austria.
While we are on the topic of hot cars, I can think of no hotter wagon than the 2006 E55 AMG Wagon. With a whopping 469 supercharged hp, this was by far the fastest estate on the road with a 0-100 km/h of only 4.7 seconds. With the arrival of the E63 (507 hp), a wagon version cannot be too far behind.
The passenger quarters also reflect a great attention to detail as well as a careful selection of materials. If at first, I was not very keen on the layout of the controls located in the center portion of dash, I am now quite satisfied with it. There are still a great number of commands however it appears to only be a question of time before the ergonomics are appreciated. The seats, up front and in the rear, are covered in supple warm leather and are comfortable. My only qualm with the E350's cabin is the limited amount of interior volume. Contentedly installed in my bucket, I noticed that both my knees were up against the sides of the door and center console without stretching much. Rear legroom is also on the tight side. On the other, head and shoulder room are generous.
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| Photo: Philippe Champoux |
In 2003, the present generation of the E-Class was introduced. This time, the car favoured a sleeker more angular design than the previous all the while keeping the signature twin oval headlights. The other part of the E-Class which remains is the car's instantly recognizable front grill and logo. 2007 marks the mid-life upgrade of the E. New models have been added and physically, the front and rear ends have received a lift and there have been some color changes. Inboard, different trim and colors have been added as well as a new sport steering wheel.
E-Class sophistication
 |
| Photo: Philippe Champoux |
Of all the Mercs I have driven this past summer, I find that the E-Class is the best looking and most finely tuned out of the bunch. Even though the CLS is special in its own right, the E-Class is graceful, princely and better tailored to the average luxury sedan buyer. Its subtle elegant proportions convey beauty that is not in the eye of the beholder, it can be appreciated by everyone. There are basically no wrong colors for the E-Class. From black to green or red to blue and through five shades of grey and silver, the car is nearly stunning. As expected, the body panels and paint application were perfectly crafted in Austria.
While we are on the topic of hot cars, I can think of no hotter wagon than the 2006 E55 AMG Wagon. With a whopping 469 supercharged hp, this was by far the fastest estate on the road with a 0-100 km/h of only 4.7 seconds. With the arrival of the E63 (507 hp), a wagon version cannot be too far behind.
 |
| Photo: Philippe Champoux |
The passenger quarters also reflect a great attention to detail as well as a careful selection of materials. If at first, I was not very keen on the layout of the controls located in the center portion of dash, I am now quite satisfied with it. There are still a great number of commands however it appears to only be a question of time before the ergonomics are appreciated. The seats, up front and in the rear, are covered in supple warm leather and are comfortable. My only qualm with the E350's cabin is the limited amount of interior volume. Contentedly installed in my bucket, I noticed that both my knees were up against the sides of the door and center console without stretching much. Rear legroom is also on the tight side. On the other, head and shoulder room are generous.