By Hosey Cusumano, Guest Automotive Writer
For those who yearn to drive a luxury automobile and just happen to have some spare cash lying around, Mercedes-Benz may be able to help you. The S-Class by Mercedes-Benz has been described as one of the best automobiles available. They range in model levels; from the high-end model, the S600, to the low-end model, the S320. Of course, prices also differ. The price of the S600 tops out around $130,000; the price of a very nice, new home. For review purposes, we were given the S320; a more practical choice. The S320 has the smallest of the S class engines: a 3.2L, 24 valve, 6 cylinder making 228 hp. By no means is it a speed demon but it's not a gas guzzler, either. With ratings of 17mpg city and 24 highway, the gas guzzler tax on this big Benz can be happily cast aside.
Our trip in the S320 took us from Ann Arbor to Chicago in mid February; about a 500 mile round trip venture. The observed gas mileage was around 23 mpg, which is good for an automobile of this girth. The 28 gallon capacity further added to the longevity of the tank. I had an opportunity to sit in all vantage points of this car. In the driver's position, the seat was extremely comfortable--not too soft, yet firm enough to provide support for the long haul and mild cornering. Both front seats have 12 way power with 3 memory settings and power lumbar support in 2 locations. All of the seats in the Mercedes were covered in leather.
The feel of the car is BIG to say the least, mainly because we had the long wheelbase version of the S. This added size greatly contributes to the vast interior dimensions. With my seat comfortably reclined, there was an excess of rear legroom. (Yes folks, I said excess!) While in the rear seats, I experienced it first hand. Never before have I been in such a roomy interior this side of a Suburban.
This S320 had all the normal amenities of a luxury auto: power everything, leather, burled walnut trim (wood is key to any luxury automobile), dual zone climate controls and the magnificent eleven speaker Bose sound system with trunk mounted CD changer. This is definitely not a luxury car for the feeble minded. Steering is loose and easy and some may find looking over the hood a bit challenging. The ride is typical Mercedes, smooth and quiet. There is almost no discernible wind noise at freeway speeds; again typical Mercedes engineering.
I must say that the car seems too big at times. Parallel parking is out of the question but under most conditions in downtown Chicago the Benz provided the driver with confidence under tight circumstances. Aaah, the price you ask? For a mere $67,538 you can acquire one of these fine automobiles and by S class standards that is a real bargain. So get out your check book and move that Jaguar over because the 1996 Mercedes-Benz S320 could be coming to a garage near you.