1997 Mercedes-Benz S-Class S320 review from North America
"A lot of car for a small price!"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
Faulty wiring on passenger side rearview mirror motor.
Trunk does not sit flush.
Third brake light bulb went out.
The wiring and trunk were issues that were there when I bought the car and still need to be fixed. Only new prob since I've owned it is the third brake light bulb.
General comments?
Did some research on these cars before purchase. Between the S320, S420, S500, and S600, it seems the S320 is the one with the least amount of trouble and expense.
The car is in immaculate condition and was purchased for only $14k. Drives and looks like new. Absolutely the most comfortable, solid car I have ever owned and this is not my first Benz. On paper the 3.2 litre motor does not look impressive with 238hp considering the weight of the car, but it moves the big Benz very well. In fact, it feels downright fast on the highway. Seems to make good power at 3500 rpm and up. An absolute joy to drive and gets up to 28mpg. The quality of the interior materials is second to none, even the newer S series look cheap by contrast. The double pane windows do a great job of keeping the cabin quiet. Turn the radio off and you cannot hear a whole lot inside the car even at 100mph. This is truly an upscale car.
I am not looking forward to making repairs when they are needed because of the cost, but I have to keep in mind that even though I paid $14k for the car, the repairs are for a $70k car. I believe it worth it. Seriously, what kind of new car could I get with that money? A low end Hyundai? No thanks.
Recommended reviews
| 1999 - S-Class S320 SWB 3.2L inline 6 This is the last year of the best built cars |
|
| A major disappointment |
| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | Yes |
| Model year | 1997 |
| Year of manufacture | 1997 |
| First year of ownership | 2005 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2005 |
| Engine and transmission | 3.2 I-6 Automatic |
| Performance marks | 10 / 10 |
| Reliability marks | 10 / 10 |
| Comfort marks | 10 / 10 |
| Dealer Service marks | |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | |
| Overall marks (average of all marks) | |
| Distance when acquired | 60500 miles |
| Most recent distance | 66800 miles |
| Previous car | Cadillac Brougham |
| Date of Entry | 6th December, 2005 |