I love the most unloved S-class

"sm70- why not Duesenberg?" (sm70-whynotduesenberg)
05/20/2014 at 21:42 • Filed to: None

It seems that a lots of people regard the Mercedes W220, the S-class that served from 1999 to 2005, as the worst car to ever bear the name. Between the fact that people seem to think it looks boring and its nasty reliability record, you won't exactly find people lining up to buy them, even at the insanely low prices which they command. After doing some looking online, it would appear that this is because they are largely sitting on buy-here-pay-here lots in Florida with little American flags clipped to the windows, like !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! . Many of them also have huge, ridiculous DUB wheels, like !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! .

Part of that seems to be the looks, a big part of it seems to be the reliability, but it also appears to be because with most big luxury cars, however old, you can find one-owner examples that were bought by a rich elderly couple, driven to the grocery store on Saturdays, church on Sundays, and to see the grandkids up in Jacksonville once a month. This elderly couple will take the car back to the dealer every time it needs to be filled with gas or have new wipers put on, and it will only ever hit 55mph. W220s, at lest these days, seem to be different. They have usually been owned by at lest one smoker, gangbanger, sleazy lawyer, or spoiled grandkid in their lifetime, and as such, they are usually very rough, no matter the mileage. The aforementioned build quality probably doesn't help.

Yet despite all this, I like the W220. I think it is a good looker. It looks dignified, yet sleek and low and fast. I like the interior, from the few I've seen that are not a) grey or b) cracked and torn to hell. I also like the cool wheels that you can get on the monstrous twin-turbocharged S600 V12, which, buy the way, I would totally pick over an AMG. I wish it didn't have the "10 years divorced former trophy wife" image going for it. Actually, I'm glad it does, because unlike so many other cars of its class, I could actually afford to buy a W220 sometime soon, and the rare few that are low-mileage, one elderly owner examples seem to be a lot of car for the money. And who knows. If I can stomach the maintenance costs, and the slight image issue, maybe I will. Anybody else share this strange love of this unloved Benz? Anybody own one on here? Please tell me I'm not crazy.

DISCUSSION (14)

YSI-what can brown do for you > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
05/20/2014 at 21:47

My dad has had one for 12 years now. He loves it and so do I! It has had a few problems like the rain sensor not working and the AC going out. Other than that, it has been dead reliable. Plus it has a V8 and it is so easy to pick up speed, plus the little noise that comes through is awesome!

heliochrome85 > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
05/20/2014 at 21:49

I love ALL benzes. My only issue with his S-Class is that the airmatic suspension systems, as well as the various electronics are all very sketch, and MONSTEROUSLY EXPENSIVE. That being said, its 95% of the W222's experience, for about 5% of the cost.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > YSI-what can brown do for you
05/20/2014 at 21:50

Does it have air suspension?

YSI-what can brown do for you > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
05/20/2014 at 21:51

Yes sir, it hasn't gone out yet! Hopefully not for another few years.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > YSI-what can brown do for you
05/20/2014 at 21:53

I hope so on your behalf, since I'm guessing it'd be no fun getting DeMuro'd without a CarMax warranty.

Louros > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
05/20/2014 at 21:58

I don't hate these but I'd never pick one over a W140

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > Louros
05/20/2014 at 22:01

I love the W140 too. Truth be told, I love all S-Classes, and pretty much most Mercs in general. Whether I would choose this over a W140 would depend on the individual car.

Vicente Esteve > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
05/20/2014 at 22:13

I have never seen those wheels before. Also, I thick this S-Class is too beat up when it was nominated as Top Gear Car of the year o 2001 or something. Also, it is my only Die-Cast S-Class.

desertdog5051 > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
05/20/2014 at 22:18

Not crazy.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > desertdog5051
05/20/2014 at 22:24

Thank you.

Actually, I may very well be crazy, just not because of that.

Satoshi "Zipang" Katsura > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
05/20/2014 at 22:53

So, anyone need me to punch a W220-hater in the throat?

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
05/21/2014 at 01:54

Iwould own one. over a 140 in fact. Especially with the peanut butter designo interior. Or s65, 10 year old huge heavy luxury sedan that will destroy almost anything in terms of power and speed.

Conan > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
05/21/2014 at 09:28

I would buy it from Carmax. I was going to link the 2004 S500 that was up there but it already sold. Sneaky buyer or Carmax thought better of warrantying it.

Donnie Snyder > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
08/13/2014 at 16:52

Those are factory wheels. They only come on the S600 without the sport package.