[CB CruzzR]

Hi everyone.:cheers:

I just joined this forum, and love the breadth of experience and insight here. I was just about to pull the trigger on the 2012 (v6) S5 Cab, and then my wife brought me to the Benz dealer to show me the new 2012 E350 Cab. I'll admit, it's a sweet looking ride. I find myself torn between them. Now for my question(s):

I've been looking through their forum as well, and see an awful lot of complaining of quality and maintenance issues there. With the exception of one thread on the roof wear issue, I don't see a lot of maintenance issues discussed here. Is that because you're just not experiencing any?

For anyone who's owned MB, I'd love to hear from you. If you've compared the two, I'd like to hear your perspective.

I do enjoy driving, but I don't plan on becoming a track junkie, or doing a lot of mods to it. This will be my daily driver, so I'm looking for reliability and a fun drive. It will have to live outside (Mid Atlantic region - Maryland).

Thanks everyone!

Steve

 

[CB CruzzR]

Thanks for the quick reply, Circle...

What are you looking for in a new car?

When it comes down to it, I'm looking for a fun driver that I can count on to get me back and forth to work and around town with a smile. I expect weekend jaunts with my wife (when not on the boat or the Harley). I like the feeling of stepping on the gas and getting shoved back into my seat. I like taking corners and feeling the g forces shoving me sideways into the bolster. I also like to feel like I'm surrounded by excellence... quality.

The E350 is a badly under-powered lux coupe with lots of gadgetry that is going to fail over time.

That's what I hear. The quality seems to have nose-dived in the past decade. That's why I'm leaning toward the S5. I don't want to spend all my time at the dealer getting it fixed.

The S5 is more of a blend of exciting, but not great, performance and a classy interior.

Interesting note. Coming from a Durango 4x4, the performance on the test drive was more than exciting/great enough for me (at least for now...). My wife and I found it most enjoyable. I like the quality of the fit and finish, and the functionality of the pass-through seating.

I'm hoping to get more opinions...

Steve

 

[CB CruzzR]

Thanks, TommyBoy. That's a great point. I could probably swing the E550, so that is a possibility. So you'd recommend that over the S5, eh? It's only on its second model year, and I've got to believe there are bugs that need to be worked out. I'm in their forum as well, trying to get the inside scoop.

There is one 2012 S5 Prestige sitting at my local dealer, with most of the options I'd like. I'm also a fan of the new facelifted style, and it seems from others here that there are other benefits to waiting (MMI improvements, etc).

One differentiator for the Benz is that voice control isn't disabled with the top down. I don't understand why Audi disables theirs. Poor microphone or processor? Does anyone have feedback on the hands-free phone operation with the top down?

Both MMI/Nav systems seem to be far inferior to a simple $150 Garmin Nuvi.

I like your thoughts on value retention, even though I plan on keeping this for quite a while (don't we always, though?)...

~Steve

 

[CB CruzzR]

SandJ - Excellent points in both posts.

I'd say the AWD is an awesome, highly interesting feature, but not essential for me. I have a 4x4 Durango that will be my sloppy weather go-to. We don't really hammered with snow here that often, and when we do, I'd go with the truck.

As for exclusivity and feel... they're very different, for sure. The S5 gives me a bit of an aggressiveness feeling when I sit in it... which I like. A lot. The MB gave me a feeling of 'refinement'. I didn't drive the E550 Cabrio yet, so I don't know how much 'oomph' I'll get with it. At over 400 hp, I've got to believe it'll punch me in the mouth. A good thing.

I'm an executive, with a mechanical engineering and speed freak background, so there are features in each that resonate with me.

I'm really trying to put the emotional tugs aside, and focus on the facts/features/reliability... probably like spitting into the wind. :wall:

If only I could buy one of each...

~Steve

 

[CB CruzzR]

Awesome feedback, TommyBoy... and I completely get your points, and no, no douchiness received. To get it out there, I'm 48, but still very much a kid at heart. I've never been driven by the need for prestige (superficial external validation), so I don't think that's it. Excellent point on the 350, though. For both of these, I love the looks (even though they're so very different), the performance (good enough for me), and what seems to be a great convertible design.

As I was reading your post, I got thinking about some of my past cars...

Fiat X19 (first car)
BMW 320 (stationed in Germany in the 80s)
Camaro (in Germany)
Rabbit GTI

Then the family life took over for a couple decades... sedans, trucks, SUVs. Always had a motorcycle to keep life from getting too mundane. :moped:

Certainly no rockets in that group of cars, but definitely fun things to drive.

It may come down to how much I'm willing to shell out for fun. Maybe it'll come down to which dealer is willing to make their deal more attractive.

Thanks again for putting it all out there.

~S

 

[CB CruzzR]

Yep... there was no mention of the RS5 in my discussion at the dealer.

Gotta say, I've never struggled so much with a decision in my life!

Current '12 S5 Prestige (at the dealer)
Facelift '13 S5 Prestige (in June - maybe)
MB E550 - at $6K more...

At least the E350 seems to be off the table now... one step taken care of.

<Sigh> At least it's an enjoyable process...

~Steve

 

[CB CruzzR]

I'm thinking that's my dominant strategy... unless the dealer wants to throw me a killer deal to get rid of his last remaining '12. I'm sure my leverage goes way down with a 'build to order' car.

Thanks again,

~Steve

 

[CB CruzzR]

The Benz will be softer.
The Audi will be harder.

The Benz leans "feminine" (pipe down...we all know it's true).
The Audi is masculine without saying meathead.

The Benz tries to be your friend a bit too much.
The Audi...really doesn't care what you think.

The Benz might make for a good date occasionally.
The Audi you're proud to put a ring on.

Steve, that might just be the greatest thing I've ever read. :cheers: This belongs on a poster, or on the next advertising campaign. Absolutely priceless. I dragged my wife down from her office to show her this. After laughing... her response was "I figured you would go with the Audi."

The engineer in you will be happy with either car; listen now to that disquieting voice of your emotion. Most of us on this board are halfway dead and have made sensible choices our whole lives. Go seemingly crazy-nuts for a change.

I was leaning heavily the Audi way, and your post put me over the decision edge. The discussion is over... another S5 owner... coming up!:yikes::yikes: Guess I need to go talk to the dealer and start negotiations on the 2013... or see if he'll throw me a great deal on the '12 he's sitting on.

BTW, I too am an Executive, 45, by the name of Steve. .

Nice to meet you! We middle aged, hard-working, Steves have to stick together. It's an ugly world out there!!

 

[CB CruzzR]

Come to KC, we'll share a beer and pat each other on the back.

Deal! With the BBQ out there, I'm in!!

Might be in the Audi... might be on the Harley... but I guarantee it'll be all good!

I'm due for a nice road trip soon!

~Steve

 

[CB CruzzR]

Thanks for all the input, everyone! This has really resulted in a soul-search, and deep introspection into who I really am. It's been quite a week, for sure.

Toronto - You're absolutely right. My journey did start with the S5. It's the first car that got my blood flowing in over a decade. I saw one last summer coming back from Maine, and the design blew me away.

Now it's off to the dealer soon to find out about delivery times for the 13s, and see what kind of negotiator I am...

I'm definitely going to get the VAG software and interface...

With any luck, I'll be cruising the Chesapeake Bay area topless by June/July!

This is gonna be good......:thumbsup:

 

[CB CruzzR]

So, getting an order to release as soon as the dealer can... going with:

Prestige package
Regular seats (not the ventilated)
Sports Rear Differential (I was talked out of this by the dealer - told to use the savings to buy new springs if I wanted)
Adaptive Cruise w/ Active Braking Guard
Carbon Fiber Inlays
Supercharged Badges

So... should I get the Stone Guards or not?

Thanks,

Steve

 

[CB CruzzR]

Thanks, Tommyboy... but now I'm confused. I thought the Stone Guards ran along the bottom edge of the sides, from wheel well to wheel well.

My dealer said he's never sold or seen the Stone Guard on a car here in Maryland.

So which is it?

 

[CB CruzzR]

That makes more sense... I've never heard of clear bra here in Maryland. Then again, I've been driving a truck for the past decade. I guess I'll have to start looking now. Is it the same stuff as this?
http://www.a5oc.com/forums/detailing/19912-phantom-black-audi-tt.html

Maybe I'll just bring my ride up to NJ to get the treatment this TT did. It looks gorgeous!

Stone guards, it is... unless I find that the cab comes with them anyways.

BTW, my 2012 S5 pretty much has the same options as yours. I love it! I am not sure about the Sports Differential. I thought that this option will also give you the Drive Assist buttons in the car (Comfort, Auto, Dynamic, Individual) which I love using. Changing to Dynamic definitely changes the character of the car.

That's great news! I got to drive the '12 my dealer has, but it's not the exact configuration I want. According to my sales guy, he says the Comfort/Auto/Dynamic/Indiv selector is overkill. Auto/Dynamic/Indiv will suit me just fine.
The biggest difference is that the C/A/D/I system lowers the body a little bit, which nobody in the dealership ever noticed. That's why he said to take the $2400 savings and put it toward suspension mods to accomplish that if I wanted. Seemed to make sense.

I talked to the Service Mgr, and talked about the Stasis and other upgrades. He discouraged them... said that if I wanted a 400hp engine, then I should start from the block and build an engine designed to produce 400hp. His opinion is that the engine has not been designed to support that range of HP, and will cause excessive wear on the engine and drive train.

I hear of lots of folks here that do those kinds of mods, and I don't hear of breakdowns, so I'm torn as to that particular kind of upgrade. It would piss me off to know that there are Hyundais out there with more HP than my new S5!