Calling all you Merc experts!

[altedza]

I have a question. I just ventured to www.mbusa.com [Mercedes-Benz's US website] and it appears that for 2006, they are releasing an S350. Can someone please explain this car to me?

I understand that the main reason is probably to sell more cars. Sell off S's because in 2007, the new and amazing W221 is releasing. But honestly... the S430 was supposed to be the "cheap one" and they're keeping it as well! Sure, there $20K gap between low-end E and low-end S has been shortened, but what the hell for? That's what gave the S-Class it's distinction as the elite, executive-class, luxury sedan.

Alright, now on to what really bugs me: S350. 350? You mean like 3.5L V6, right? Like the E350? WRONG. Try 3.7L V6. What's up with this? Where did this engine come from? Why are they using this inferior 3.7L which produces less power (27 peak bhp to be exact! Same peak torque, however) than the 3.5L in the E? The same issue stands with the lower-priced and new for 2006, SLK280! 280? Is that 2.8L? No! It's 3.0L. Just like the new C280. And the C230. 1.8T or 2.5L? Please don't get me started with the 600's and 65's!

[JoeHahn]

You need to make a car for everyone - or thats what Mercedes Benz thinks. This car would be a direct competitor to the A8 3.2 V6.

[Shinigami]

The S350 engine, being a 3.7 liter, is the same one as in the SL350 which is on sale in europe (not sure about the states).

It is badged as a 350, but is larger then that...

Mercedes is rebadging existing cars for numerous reasons, some of which don't necessarily conform to the size of the engine. i.e. the SLK 280 is in fact a 3 liter, and the 200 is a 1.8 with a supercharger. The 350 is a 3.5 liter, whilst the 55 is a 5.4 liter (well, 5.432 or something like that).

I guess they've done their homework, and that there's a reason for all of this. Seems weird, as even MB owners are scratching their heads...

[Evil-ution]

yeah the 5.5 liter engine which is used in many cars and the SLR is one of them is a 5.4 if u look at the engines dicplacment..

[No.1]

There useed to be an S280 on the older model. Maybe the gas-guzzling US market didn't get it, but we have it over in Europe

[altedza]

You need to make a car for everyone - or thats what Mercedes Benz thinks. This car would be a direct competitor to the A8 3.2 V6.

True. But they don't sell the A-Class or the B-Class in America. They also don't sell the 3.2 V6 A8 here in the states.

Words

Why did you just repeat what I already said? :? You could've at least pointed out that BMW is guilty of doing similar things. Examples: E90 325, E39 540i, 5,6,750i's.

yeah the 5.5 liter engine which is used in many cars and the SLR is one of them is a 5.4 if u look at the engines dicplacment..

This always made a little bit of sense to me, since 55 sounds better than 54.


BTW, the S350 has 272hp while the S500 has 306hp... :? The gap is not that big so that's why the 350 engines are so popular here (at least in Spain). :wink:

The US spec is different.

[MercedeSC32/eSCalade]

uhh, its 350, then 500, then 55, then 600 then possibly in the near future the 63...that's how it goes...no more 320, 430

[ae86_16v]

Funny thing, I was just talking to my friend about this. Putting a small (relative) engine is a big saloon in Europe to save gas. Now they are doing it in US as well. I am surprise that they decided that car would sell here though. Maybe because of gas prices as well.

[altedza]

uhh, its 350, then 500, then 55, then 600 then possibly in the near future the 63...that's how it goes...no more 320, 430

What in the crap are you talking about? Are you seriously that stupid? Why even reply to my post with such a retarded answer? Did you even read what I wrote? For fuck's sake, you're an idiot.

Don't you "uh" at me like you've provided some new information. The entire point of the post was my problem with the NUMBERING SYSTEM and the reasons for a LOWER S. You couldn't be more wrong as well. Only NOW in the US is there a 350 for the S-Class and that's what I'm pointing out. Nothing follows that pattern. The 430 is still for sale and the 65 has been out for months.