Some cars require a confident driver. Usually they are difficult-to-drive sportscars. The clutch is harsh and the power enormous. If you are not confident with the car you either stall or scream off, out of control.
The current Mercedes E-Class requires a different kind of confidence. You have to be someone who doesn’t mind being stared at and rarely let out of side turnings. I don’t know if it’s the badge that sits proudly on the bonnet, or the look of this specification. In a cool metallic blue with grey leather interior, it did look expensive. So perhaps that was it, but other Mercedes drivers confirm that sometimes, other drivers seem to resent the quality of their wheels. I certainly found that a problem when the car first arrived, all waxed and sparkling in sunshine. But it was less noticeable once I covered it in salt and dirt from a long, wet motorway run.
It is very easy to drive; the 2.8 litre diesel’s power delivery is almost unbelievably smooth. It progresses along motorways and dual carriageways with a faultless, silky ride. That’s not to say I arrived at the end of a long journey as refreshed as I have from other cars. The seats were not quite supportive enough for me. But for the older buyer, who complains that some BMWs and Mercedes can be ‘bone-shakers,’ I suspect they will be about right.
Another reason that I wasn’t as fresh at the end of a journey, was the strain of worrying about my speed. In theory, you should drive at the right speed for the conditions, regardless of the car you are in. But that is so hard in a car that has seemingly endless and effortless power. It is engineered to suppress any noise or sensation that might suggest you are moving quickly. It is quick though. Every time you glance down at the stark black and white speedo, you think, ‘oops.’ It just never feels quick. I for one, have never been so pleased to find a speed-limiter in a car and made regular use of it in the M4 contra-flows.
It only gave me a sensation of power and guts a couple of times. The most memorable was pulling away from the kerb, to move around some traffic urgently. It sort of leapt from its starting point to the T-junction at the top of the road. I couldn’t believe the manoeuvre was over so quickly.
Moving off the line, over taking, cruising along at the speed limit. It does it all so seamlessly. With five adults aboard, whilst it no longer leapt entire stretches of road, it never felt like it was struggling.
The cabin is luxurious and the details, like soft padding in the door panels make the difference. Every time you close the door or rest your arm, your elbow is embraced by soft leather cushioning. While the four main seats are sumptuous, the middle back seat is more of a ‘space.’ It could be compared to a plank of wood for firmness and no sane person would want to sit on it for more than 15 minutes. So imagine the despair in the back when I explained our journey was going to be about an hour.
The fifth seat was the only practical element that wasn’t right. The boot was enormous and the car’s mpg excellent. With a large tank the range of the car allows you to drive to Mid-Wales from London and a fair way back again.
This car was launched in 2002/3 and it is amazing how far the digital cabin technologies and control designs have come in that time. Even in more standard cars. This E-Class feels a bit old-school with thin metal stalks on the steering column and no touch screen centre console. Which if buying brand new, for this money, might feel a bit disappointing. But the next generation of E-Class will catch up with the latest standards, just as the new C-Class has. It’s certainly not a reason to overlook this executive saloon as a pre-registered or nearly new buy. With someone else paying the first and weightiest bit of the depreciation, this car will feel like a shrewd buy. Especially for anyone who intends to hold onto their car for a few years or who crunches lots of motorway miles.
Summary
A friend of mine is bored with his Lexus. He is careful with his money so has never taken the plunge and bought a Mercedes. He has bought almost everything else and always complains that the car isn’t smooth enough for long journeys, is too cramped in the cabin or doesn’t project the right image for his business. There is just no escaping the fact that what he needs is a Mercedes E-Class. It is still the executive saloon with the most gravitas.
Real Car in the classifieds:
Mercedes-Benz E 220 CDI Avantagarde, 2004, 75,488 miles, £14,699
Call0845 094 7060
Road test car details:
Mercedes-Benz E 280 CDI
OTR: From £36,897
MPG: 39.2
0-60: 7.6 secs
CO2: 191 g/km