Mercedes-Benz E-Class 2001Change

I like two types of cars - Japanese and German stuff. Bought my 2001 E55 AMG as a beater, complete with rust as a high km rebuild from Ontario - cheap, covered in cancerous sores and hiding a dark past. Runs A1 though, no turbos or superchargers to go wrong and so much more fun on dry pavement than pretty much anything with 4 tires could be while moving. I drive an ancient Rav4 in winter.

I had a specific mindset when I bought this car - no worrying about expensive perfection, I'm letting the parts fall off slowly. To me, this car is like driving a shark in traffic, I generally idle it on my 17.8 km commute and get 9.8 litres/100 km in town. I have managed 7.7 litres/100 km on the open road which translates to 37 mpg in a car with 349 hp, yuk yuk!

The 5 speed slapshift transmission in this car is the same as in the much more porky Maybach. It's good to go. I run factory synthetic and enjoy 15,000 km oil changes but flushed the transmission as a precaution when I bought my beater at 230,000 km. I'm at 266K now. Don't think I needed to, it was precautionary just in case.

I've had many cars and like Benzes mainly because of their reputation for durability and safety. My cousin figures the E55 Benz is the car that killed the American muscle car. I simply consider this car a 4 door Corvette.

I would buy another (in better physical condition) one in a heartbeat, despite the occasional European electrical quirks. This car (being the sport model) is at least twice as much fun as a Lexus. If you just want an E class, don't overlook the Lexus on the used market!

This car is benchmark all around: comfort, design, style, prestige, luxury, reliability, etc.
This appreciation comes after 10 years of ownership.

This car is a very smooth ride,
with plenty of power
very well built,
and very safe with airbags all around

This is one "rocket" of a car! A 5-passenger sedan that blows the doors off most other cars on the road...a must own for the MB enthusiast!

Performance
-Average acceleration for a car in this range, does what you expect.
-Maybe the feel of average acceleration is because the car keeps you sheltered from whats going on outside. Its comfortable to the extent that you cant feel that you are pulling up in speed.
-This is not a slow car.

Interiors
-Good, what you would expect in this class, does not disappoint.
-Contemporary, elegant and refined.

Comfort
-Further to note in the performance section, this is smooth ride.
-The handling is good, not stiff neither floaty.

Overall a good car if you don't demand performance. You get everything expected for the commute with comfort standing out (as it should in this type of car). Again this is what you expect from this category of car and this car delivers.
Note: Higher engine configurations are available (and more popular than the 2.4l) should you need better performance.