A choice of standard or long-wheelbase has been a longstanding tradition, though more recent years have seen just the longer ones imported to the North American market. Even AMG, Mercedes’ in-house tuning division, has imbued the S-Class with its magic, giving this substantial luxury sedan straight-line performance equal to that of a sports car.
Before the 1990s, the S-Class’ chief competition was the BMW 7 Series sedan, which like the Benz could be had with six- or eight-cylinder power and also offered standard and long-wheelbase variants. Buy Mercedes S class now! The big Mercedes faces rivals from Audi, Jaguar and Lexus as well, all of which offer powerful, long-wheelbase flagships stocked with every conceivable luxury feature. In spite of pressure from these worthy opponents, the finely engineered and crafted Mercedes-Benz S-Class still stands as a solid choice in this lofty segment. Buy Mercedes S class. Its current, fifth-generation S-Class debuted in 2007 and has received only minor equipment adjustments since. The S400 Hybrid wasn’t available from 2007-’09.
Mercedes S430 (275 hp)
The Mercedes S500 (302 hp)
Buy Mercedes S class. Its fourth generation of the S-Class ran from 2000-’06 and was lighter and sleeker than the massive version that preceded it, making it more preferable for driving enthusiasts. Two versions were offered initially, both V8s: the S430 (275 hp) and the S500 (302 hp). The V12-powered S600 (362 hp) debuted a year later, as did the AMG version, the S55 (354 hp). Buy Mercedes S class, a midscale refresh in ’03 brought lightly revised light clusters, the availability of all-wheel drive (called 4Matic) and a big boost in power for the S55 and S600 (both rated at 493 hp). A seven-speed automatic came on line in ’04. Hitting both ends of the spectrum for ’06, the S350 brought back six-cylinder power (241 hp) while the S65 AMG offered no less than 604 hp.
This model was quite popular, so this generation represents an ideal choice for a consumer looking to get into an S-Class Benz without having to spend a small fortune. In reviews of the time, our editors were impressed by the car’s spacious interior and state-of-the-art safety features. Buy Mercedes S class downsides to this generation included a complicated control interface (the COMAND system) and some interior materials that seemed too low in quality for Mercedes’ flagship.
Running from 1992-’99, the third generation of the Mercedes-Benz S-Class represented a big step in the ultra-luxury direction. Fitted with dual-pane windows and the availability of V12 power for the first time, this S-Class gained nearly 600 pounds compared to the previous car. Four trims were offered, ranging from the S320 (228-hp inline-6) and S420 (275-hp V8) to the S500 (315-hp V8) and S600 (389-hp V12). If you are considering the purchase of one of these, be forewarned that (as with any complex, high-end luxury vehicle) a clean Carfax report and an impeccable maintenance record are musts.
The Mercedes S class cars of the second generation (1981-’91) were offered in turbo-diesel (300SD, 350SD/SDL), inline-6 (300SE/SEL) and V8 (380 SE/SEL, 420 SEL, 560 SEL) versions. This is the generation that introduced cutting-edge safety technology such as airbags and antilock brakes as standard equipment. Perhaps the least desirable of the lot are the 380 series, which made just 155 hp and were prone to timing chain failures. Buy Mercedes S class; chances are good that if you find a used 380-series, it will have been retrofitted with a double timing chain. Diesel versions are known for their incredible longevity and it’s not unusual to find an example with mileage approaching 300,000 or more on its original power-train.
Mercedes Benz - the never fading symbol
Their lineup offers a few new features for 2010. Rear-wheel-drive S550 and all-wheel-drive S550 models have a 382-horsepower 5.5-liter V8. The high-end S600 reprises a turbocharged 5.5-liter 510-horsepower V12. The S63 and S65 are tuned by Mercedes’ AMG performance division. S63 uses a 518-horsepower 6.2-liter V8 while the S65 has a 604-horsepower 6.0-liter turbocharged V12. S550 and S63 models have a 7-speed automatic transmission while V12 S-Class versions use a 5-speed automatic.
Image Credits: fancytuning.com, calimotors.net, www.duetsblog.com
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