This generation of S-class put Mercedes back on top in the flagship luxury sedan segment. Despite being from the mid-2000s , that interior also looks like it could pass for a 4 or 5 year old car.
Mercedes gathered themselves a bit after being rocked by their revenue stream drying up when the LS400 came out in '89...changed their philosophy FOREVER from over-engineered to a standard to engineered to a price point to survive...like my '97 W140 cost $87k 10 yrs earlier, so even though you may consider this '87k lofty, it was still cost cutter, after the Camry-like W220 cost-cutter era after the LS400...W140 being the last over-engineered Benz of what they always were. This '07, the 2nd gen into the cost-cutting era, Benz had gathered themselves some, and a MUCH BETTER effort that that panicked-rushed to market W220, $10k cheaper than the W140 it replaced trying to save their ass from the onslaught of the LS400, which lofty Benz NEVER saw coming...changed Benz FOREVER...why I'll never go newer than my W140, the last of what they always were. But the W221 WAS a better effort than the over-sized Camry look of the W220, and w/the W221 Benz DID retain the title of king of the hill luxury flagship above others...but became gimmick...no longer a SUPERB chassis, relied on air-suspension, AND THAT'S ALWAYS going to be a MASSIVE EXPENSE AND PROBLEM...you'll have a car slammed on the ground at some point, aside it's just not engineered to do it's own reliable stunningly engineered ride/handling of a w126, w 124, every chassis of what Benz was W140 and prior. The classic delicate/elegant gated shifter gone here, wipers now work in a standard manor like all other cars, gimmicky dash, which is 3 grand when it stats to go out, suspension 6 grand when it goes out...and both here in '24 end of their life, so you're looking at a 10 grand repair, any given day...why these cars are becoming disposable, like all other cars for the masses now, and not built to last a lifetime w/just proper regular maintenance of what Mercedes always was. W140 S/W124 E/W201 190 (then C) were the last in each class of over-engineered Benz, before cost-cutting and nearly bankrupt due to the LS400.
Meanwhile my 2007 S550 is going on 3 years of very satisfying daily driver use. All original air suspension, which, at 17 years, is a perfectly reasonable lifespan. That said, my right front did just go last week (it happened when parked not while driving). But I was able to send it off to RMT in FL and they rebuilt it for under $300. Easy to install, too. These cars are not hard to own/maintain at all.
This generation of S-class put Mercedes back on top in the flagship luxury sedan segment. Despite being from the mid-2000s , that interior also looks like it could pass for a 4 or 5 year old car.
Did you see the handling of this car? It was completely flat!
That's because of the optional ABC suspension (hydropneumatic). The standard Aitmatic (pneumatic) would not have the same effect.
@@cod1mp Wrong this is the standard Airmatic and it does corner flat. I have a 2007 and it's tighter than the next gen W222.
@@erics9754No. When they show the engine you can see the ABC reservoir next to the washerfluid with the green sticker on it.
@@MT-cr1toserving up facts 👍👍
That part! 😮
The MB S-Class Model series W221 came out in 2005 for the European Market and 2007 for the North American market.
Mercedes gathered themselves a bit after being rocked by their revenue stream drying up when the LS400 came out in '89...changed their philosophy FOREVER from over-engineered to a standard to engineered to a price point to survive...like my '97 W140 cost $87k 10 yrs earlier, so even though you may consider this '87k lofty, it was still cost cutter, after the Camry-like W220 cost-cutter era after the LS400...W140 being the last over-engineered Benz of what they always were. This '07, the 2nd gen into the cost-cutting era, Benz had gathered themselves some, and a MUCH BETTER effort that that panicked-rushed to market W220, $10k cheaper than the W140 it replaced trying to save their ass from the onslaught of the LS400, which lofty Benz NEVER saw coming...changed Benz FOREVER...why I'll never go newer than my W140, the last of what they always were. But the W221 WAS a better effort than the over-sized Camry look of the W220, and w/the W221 Benz DID retain the title of king of the hill luxury flagship above others...but became gimmick...no longer a SUPERB chassis, relied on air-suspension, AND THAT'S ALWAYS going to be a MASSIVE EXPENSE AND PROBLEM...you'll have a car slammed on the ground at some point, aside it's just not engineered to do it's own reliable stunningly engineered ride/handling of a w126, w 124, every chassis of what Benz was W140 and prior. The classic delicate/elegant gated shifter gone here, wipers now work in a standard manor like all other cars, gimmicky dash, which is 3 grand when it stats to go out, suspension 6 grand when it goes out...and both here in '24 end of their life, so you're looking at a 10 grand repair, any given day...why these cars are becoming disposable, like all other cars for the masses now, and not built to last a lifetime w/just proper regular maintenance of what Mercedes always was. W140 S/W124 E/W201 190 (then C) were the last in each class of over-engineered Benz, before cost-cutting and nearly bankrupt due to the LS400.
Interesting. Thanks for the info.
Preach! ❤😂
Meanwhile my 2007 S550 is going on 3 years of very satisfying daily driver use. All original air suspension, which, at 17 years, is a perfectly reasonable lifespan. That said, my right front did just go last week (it happened when parked not while driving). But I was able to send it off to RMT in FL and they rebuilt it for under $300. Easy to install, too. These cars are not hard to own/maintain at all.
What about the generation after W221, were they reliable?
@@motormusique Generally yes.
dolly barb was here
Just upgraded to a w222 from a w221. W221 way better built
Less plastic mercedes always uses some type of plastic in there interior but charge more than competition
Interesting. I also feel like the W211 was better built than the W212, having had both....