Perfection or excess? One of these words will sum up the Mercedes-Benz S-Class line with sufficient accuracy for most people.Proponents of perfection will no doubt point out Mercedes' reputation for nth-degree engineering, bank-vault safety and zillion-mile reliability.
They will list the dozens - hundreds, for that matter - of amenities offered by the S-Class cars, many of which are exclusive Mercedes-Benz features. They also will describe the bewildering array of models (there are eight, by our count) in the S-Class range as a something-for-everyone lineup. And they will be correct in every respect.
Those who see the S-Class cars through jaundiced eyes - calling them excessive - will point to high curb weights, extravagant prices (anywhere from $62,000 to $133,000), unrelenting thirst (translation: poor fuel efficiency) and the cars' complexity as negatives, and are likely to suggest a host of alternative vehicles for the luxury-minded to consider. These people, too, will be correct.Click here to read more