The 996 C4S Cab is great, nothing happening there...but the S500 my wife drives most often is due for a change.

We just drove the new '07 S550. Did not love it. Too many unnecessary gadgets, hate the stalk on the steering column, car is a bit long and bulky compared to the current model.

She's been a MB fan for a long time, and their service is killer for the car biz. Just no one comes close to how good they treat us.

She's thinking of going smaller, like an E500 (I suggested the 55). But the E is a bit more plastic-like inside, not a high trim level in my opinion.

She's not a fan of the Bimmers, so we are sort of high and dry looking at options.

Mercedes S550 (no)
Mercedes E500 (possible)
BMW (no)

Drove an Audi A8L today. Damn nice package, she liked it, but not head over heels. Limited rear window visibility, tiny sideview mirrors, otherwise ok. It's a maybe.

ANY other suggestions? And no, she's not going to park her butt in a Porsche, just ain't gonna happen. No SUV's either.

Thanks!

 

i just recently took a look at a RS4 and i have to tell ya, i was drooling all over it! i love that car, i would take it over a E55. It's all carbon and alum interior, and just has a presence about it.... worth taking a look at IMO.... i would find the A8L and S class a bit bulky....

 

Eric you covered whats out there get an E500 or an E55...

 

Got my wife a CLS55 and she loves it. She had a CL600 before that but likes the CLS much better.

 

No way - RS4 is way smaller and way overpriced. The E55 is just about the perfect sedan.

 

I would really lean towards the E500 or E55. I have been hearing about too many issues with customer serice when it comes to VW/Audi. they are just bad. A recent report came out a couple weeks ago and show how the dealers felt about the brand and support and VW/Audi was 4th to the bottom. Let me see if I can find that. the reason I bring that up is you really hit hard on how much you like the customer service, I know in some places is can be really good, but I am looking overall (disclaimer I LOVE VW/audi stuff )

STick with the Benz or how about Lexus? LS430 maybe... i know everyone I know that owns one loves it and never has an issue when it comes to service dept and customer service.

 

Lexus GS430? You sure you dont want SUV? The RR Sport is a nice packagae for the cash....And it drives like a mid size car. Maserati Quattroporte? Thats a SWEEET ride....

 

I put her in a GX, LS, and GS Lexus a month ago, she hated it. Nice ride, but not her style/taste.

Lexus is wonderful here in Charlotte too with Cust Svc. And yes Bruce, the Benz shop has 'given' away under goodwill thousands of dollars for repairs out of warranty (try that at a Porsche store) over the years.

She just isn't sold yet on the E, nor am I....but we'll see. We had an E430 before the S500, and it was a good car for a few years, just a bit small at that time (our 3 kids are teenagers now).

Thanks!

 

Eric, i'm not sure whether or not you've decided that you need an uber-performance sedan like the Audi and Bimmers of the world, but if she wants to go smaller, why not try a Japanese car.

Immediatly comming to mind are the Mazdaspeed 6 and Nissan G35x or the bigger M35.

They're fun cars, not as fast at the S500's or 7series bimmers probably, but they're not slow, they're cheap to maintain, styling is nice but that's a matter of opinion, and you'll get to keep more $$$ in your pocket for 996 mods

 

Went though this with my wife, she liked the big Jag, but I'm not a ford fan, so I sorta pushed her to the Cayenne and now she loves it.

What about a Maserati QP, if you have a dealer near by. The guy next door to me loves his and has had 0 problems. The dealer is expensive but treats him very well. He went from a BMW 750il for comparison. If you are interested in the Maserati I'll ask him if he want to talk to you about it.

 

Thanks Corey....Maserati is local, friend is dealer....will check that out too.

But on the Japanese end, she's not into that size/stature of vehicle, and performance is not in her vocabulary (because it IS in mine, daily)

 

I love the Infiniti recommendation. That new M35 has been very well received and the Japanese just seem to have quality control down pat.

By the way, did you ever specify a price range or is price irrelevant? If it is, then that Maserati is a fun call.

 

Are you guys serious? M35 to compare to a S500 when they feel the E55 is too plasticky? No jap will get there IMO.

Try Bentley Flying Spur.
Masser QP is great.
I'm not crazy about the CLS as it looks like a cockroach but the 55s performance is incredible.