Well, was dinking around today after lunch with a few friends, and stepped inside the local Mercedes-Benz showroom to find a 2007 S550 sitting on the showroom floor. I had earlier made my judgement on this car as yet another mediocre Daimler-Chrysler product, judging by the many photos I have reviewed in magazines and online. I was pleasantly surprised however after spending some time examining it.

I have to say that this is, genuinely, one of the most incredible vehicles out there (well, without having driven it). I honestly believe Mercedes may be on the road to redemption in that they are actually beginning to start putting passion back into their automobiles. The details that are inside of this car are amazing. The switchgear feels substantial once again, and the little details that make a Mercedes a Mercedes are of high quality once again. Leather is rich and has a nice grain to it, the wood is beautiful, and minor surfaces you come into contact with feel like there's actually some thought behind them. With that said, I did find the rear seat vanity mirrors slightly tinny, but everything else made up for it.

Take the Comand controller. It's cold to the touch and very metallic in feel. It rotates and pushes in a muted, but substantial way. The window and seat controls (and practically all other buttons) feel very much the same way (and look pretty darned cool). The doors give a reassuring thud (and in typical S-class fashion, pull themselves shut so you don't have to slam). And fit and finish was impecable. Leather is found on the center console tunnel, and on top of the instrument binnacles (above the gauges and Comand screen) even in the lowly 550. Doors to various storage bins and the CD changer were dampened and had a heavy feel (with nice grain). And the overall design was great--while polarizing in pictures, it's very nice to look at in person.

Further, the exterior design looked far better in person than it did in pictures. This car has presence, and that's what it's all about when you write the dealer a check for $90k. It's a unique, bold look, and the front has a nice glare to it. The wheel arches aren't nearly as exaggerated in person as they are in pictures. And it has a simple design, overall--not too many hard lines or creases and no un-necessary pieces of chrome.

Anyway, just thought I'd share my experience and see if anyone else has found out the same thing.

 

Where I live, I've seen so many of those damn 07 S-class driving around already. Its been about a month and a half since I've seen one (S550) at Merc dealership. But damn, some rich ppl get their hands on so QUICK!!! There was one lady who came to see a replacement for whatever she was driving(my guess is SL55. Since it was parked outside) and was asking the salesman about the new S-class....which she and her "daughter" will drive.....

BTW, I really like the front end design of the car, but I am very much against the rear design....which just looks like Maybach....ugh. And the interior...it has alot of space but I HATE the dashboard design.....and no shift lever(ofcourse its on the steering wheel with sign that says...."P-R-N-D!!!

 

Having driven the new s-class I can say it is one hell of car. My dad has the an 06 previous body style s500 and this car is a huge improvment over the previous generation. I'm really impressed with it, but I want to see what bmw is going to do to counter it when they introduce the full redesign of the 7 series.

 

I've seen quite a few of the new S-Class' cruising around my town. Everytime I see one, I get it confused with a Maybach. It really is a vast improvement over the previous generation. Unfortunately, this one doesn't excite me as the generation before the last. I loved the boxy style of it and today, it still remains one of my favorite cars.

 

new s-class with amg pkg

 

lowly 550...

I agree 100% - I've only seen a few in person on the road but damn each and every time, I'm like ... this car looks WAY better in person than in pics. I guess it's just not very photogenic.

 

A few weeks ago I went into Ralphs to pick up some groceries. When I came out, low and behold, A black on black S550 with chrome rectangular exhaust (sport package maybe?) was parked right next to me. I was like HOLY SHIT this car is gorgeous! It definately has presence.

Sadly I'll see a zillion of them within the next couple of months, and then it'll be just like the current S class, beautiful but ignored. To me anyway.

 

test drove the 2007 merc car (S550) 5 weeks ago and i'll tell you ...it is easily the FINEST luxury machine on the road PERIOD !!! I've test driven an audi A-8 ,VW Pheaton ,lexus ls-430 , jaguar xj8 , cadillac sts , ect ...It is NOT even close.
Mercedes has finally put some serious attention to their product.