Why or why not Mercedes-Benz?

[Astro14]

Well...to resurrect an old thread on "why or why not"...I'll give you a "why"...

A good friend was selling his 2005 S600, garage kept, low mile, excellent condition, for those of you not familiar, it's a long wheelbase luxury car with a twin-turbo V-12 that cranks out 493 HP and 590 lbft...1/4 mile times are in the mid 12s...it has active body control: hydraulics at each corner to keep the car level, adjust for load, increase height for rough pavement, lower it for speed, and it has every luxury feature you can imagine...I admired it for its engineering, capability and luxury when he bought it.

Too good a car to pass up. I bought it.

Two road trips in two weeks; I love the car, my wife loves the car: the ride, the serene cabin, the power, the handling (yes, I reluctantly let her have a turn at the wheel), the comfort, the features...it is truly an incredible car...it does everything well...it is so much better than anything I have ever owned or driven (including a lot of 2012 model luxury cars courtesy of Hertz)...I just can't say enough good things about it.

 

[Quattro Pete]

That's quite a purchase. Congrats, Astro!

 

[Vikas]

I am jealous. Pictures please! I request that you withhold pricing information as some of us would kill ourselves after hearing the kind of deal that you got on this car

 

[OVERKILL]

Originally Posted By: Astro14
Well...to resurrect an old thread on "why or why not"...I'll give you a "why"...

A good friend was selling his 2005 S600, garage kept, low mile, excellent condition, for those of you not familiar, it's a long wheelbase luxury car with a twin-turbo V-12 that cranks out 493 HP and 590 lbft...1/4 mile times are in the mid 12s...it has active body control: hydraulics at each corner to keep the car level, adjust for load, increase height for rough pavement, lower it for speed, and it has every luxury feature you can imagine...I admired it for its engineering, capability and luxury when he bought it.

Too good a car to pass up. I bought it.

Two road trips in two weeks; I love the car, my wife loves the car: the ride, the serene cabin, the power, the handling (yes, I reluctantly let her have a turn at the wheel), the comfort, the features...it is truly an incredible car...it does everything well...it is so much better than anything I have ever owned or driven (including a lot of 2012 model luxury cars courtesy of Hertz)...I just can't say enough good things about it.


Pics please!!!

 

[G-MAN]

Originally Posted By: Astro14
Well...to resurrect an old thread on "why or why not"...I'll give you a "why"...

A good friend was selling his 2005 S600, garage kept, low mile, excellent condition, for those of you not familiar, it's a long wheelbase luxury car with a twin-turbo V-12 that cranks out 493 HP and 590 lbft...1/4 mile times are in the mid 12s...it has active body control: hydraulics at each corner to keep the car level, adjust for load, increase height for rough pavement, lower it for speed, and it has every luxury feature you can imagine...I admired it for its engineering, capability and luxury when he bought it.

Too good a car to pass up. I bought it.

Two road trips in two weeks; I love the car, my wife loves the car: the ride, the serene cabin, the power, the handling (yes, I reluctantly let her have a turn at the wheel), the comfort, the features...it is truly an incredible car...it does everything well...it is so much better than anything I have ever owned or driven (including a lot of 2012 model luxury cars courtesy of Hertz)...I just can't say enough good things about it.


I hope you did your homework before you jumped on the W220 bandwagon.

 

[Astro14]

G-Man - I did do my homework...the W220 has a bad rep for reliability...but I've seen quite a few of these cars, and they're neglected, frankly. Folks that can barely afford the car buy these things...and when neglected, they eat those owners alive (e.g. ABC strut is $1,500...replace a few of those, and the cost gets high).

Folks don't realize that you have to use the right oil (I know, this is BITOG...you guys get it)...and there are lots things that can be done preventively to reduce the problems (e.g. flush the ABC fluid and change the filter). I turn my own wrenches. This car is more complex, and the engine bay is more crowded, but in the end, most of the maintenance and repair is within my ability to complete.

That's why this car was attractive: all it's service records are complete, it was garaged, and it was maintained at the dealer. I know the P.O. and he's no kid that would abuse this one.

Finally, I don't plan on this being a daily driver - it's too nice of a car. I have the truck for the rough stuff, the Volvo to drive to work and leave in an airport parking lot. This car will be like the Packard - driven, maintained and enjoyed...just not every day...

 

[hattaresguy]

And people wonder why I fawn over the LWB S class so much....until they get some wheel time in one.

No better way to cruise than in a LWB V12 powered S class.

As for reliability, you will have some problems, but if you keep up on the maintenance and fix the simple ones yourself it won't be to bad to own. The key with such a car is you have to stay on top of any problems and maintenance or it will eat you alive. These things tend to fall into disrepair because 2nd or 3rd owners who really can't afford them buy them, and just drive them into the ground. They think because they can buy it for the price of an Accord that they should expect Honda upkeep, not $150k exotic car upkeep.

 

[Astro14]

Amen hattaresguy...

 

[Stanley Rockafeller]

Awesome pics Astro! Congrats on the purchase

I also like those wheels! very nice "rotary" look about them

Any interior shots? I also really love these cars. It's all about upkeep with any of the euro cars. moreso the fluids being used, not just doing fluid changes.

 

[01rangerxl]

Originally Posted By: Stanley Rockafeller

I also like those wheels! very nice "rotary" look about them


X2, love the way the wheels look on it. Great car.

 

[Dave Hess]

Going WOT in that Benz probably gives you a flashback to your days flying the Tomcat.

 

[hattaresguy]

Effortless, and drama less speed. 180 is really cranking in some cars, in a big S its a nice quick cruising speed.



Of course if you really want to go...AMG, Brabus, and Renntech can take that V12 north of 800hp and 1k ft pounds of torque... Maybe more...I think their is a 900+hp build running around somewhere in the world...

 

[Astro14]

The S600 is limited to 130 MPH in the US (electronically, according to the OM...), so one appeal of those electronic reprogramming services (tunes), in addition to the boost increase is to remove the speed limiter....not that I would ever go that fast on a public road, of course...

http://www.renntechmercedes.com/www/sites/default/files/articles/content/epcp-111000-proven.pdf

There are a few companies out there doing tunes, Renntech, AMG and Brabus as you mentioned, and Speedriven and Eurocharged. In addition to the tune, the intercooler upgrade is common (better pump, bigger secondary radiator) as the engine heat soaks a bit when at WOT for long...

But I love that V-12 sound...in each video, you can hear the unique exhaust note...it's like no other engine!

 

[Astro14]

Originally Posted By: LT4 Vette
Going WOT in that Benz probably gives you a flashback to your days flying the Tomcat.



As I thought about your comment, I realized that you are right from several perspectives - yes, it clearly has the thrust/weight ratio that shoves you back in the seat.

But it also is a technological marvel; sophisticated in its execution, with exotic materials and complex systems, particularly engine components, computers and hydraulics, to achieve that performance, much like the Tomcat. It has a higher maintenance cost per flight hour than its peers, much like the Tomcat did...

And like the Tomcat...I love it!

 

[Jarlaxle]

Congrats, I guess...i'd never own one, but good luck with it.

 

[Astro14]

Not every car I own meets the test of practical daily transportation...most do...but not all of them...

 

[G-MAN]

Originally Posted By: Astro14
But I love that V-12 sound...in each video, you can hear the unique exhaust note...it's like no other engine!


I've always been struck by how different the exhaust note of BMW and MB V12s are from Ferrari and even Aston Martin. The Germans sound much more like a 60 degree V6 to me.

 

[Volvohead]

Originally Posted By: Astro14
... Too good a car to pass up. I bought it.

Two road trips in two weeks; I love the car, my wife loves the car: the ride, the serene cabin, the power, the handling (yes, I reluctantly let her have a turn at the wheel), the comfort, the features...it is truly an incredible car...it does everything well...it is so much better than anything I have ever owned or driven (including a lot of 2012 model luxury cars courtesy of Hertz)...I just can't say enough good things about it.


A belated congrats to you Astro14.
A wonderful car. All the best with it.

 

[G-MAN]

Originally Posted By: G-MAN
Originally Posted By: Astro14
But I love that V-12 sound...in each video, you can hear the unique exhaust note...it's like no other engine!


I've always been struck by how different the exhaust note of BMW and MB V12s are from Ferrari and even Aston Martin. The Germans sound much more like a 60 degree V6 to me.


By way of follow-up, compare the sounds coming from these Aston Martins (especially after about 45 seconds into the film when they are on the track):

 

[Quattro Pete]

Originally Posted By: G-MAN
I've always been struck by how different the exhaust note of BMW and MB V12s are from Ferrari and even Aston Martin. The Germans sound much more like a 60 degree V6 to me.

Maybe it has something to do with the fact that a car like the S600 is still a luxury sedan, so the exhaust sound is not going to be that a of a race car.

Here is a V10 Audi R8 exhaust in comparison, but the same V10 in an S6 sounds quite different.