Well guys...(and gals?)...I got home yesterday after having a very nice 2 week trip across this great country in my S550. For those expecting pictures I did not shoot any but of family and friends (sorry) but when I get in a car for a long trip I concentrate on driving. The scenery was beautiful but the car provided the ultimate satisfaction.
I traveled 5111 miles door to door and got an amazing 25.8 mpg including all driving...city highway and traffic delays! One stretch I was getting 28.5 while cruising between 70 and 80 mph and the rpm was just below 1900 or so. I averaged 63 mph on the trip which indicates I opened the car up a few times. Spent a total of 82 hours driving time...that's like two weeks sitting in the car and enjoying every minute of it.
The car was perfect. It tracks like no other car (MB included) and is so quiet even in the 70-100 mph range. Wind noise is all but undetectable at any speed. It corners like it was glued to the road and the Active Body Control welds you to the seat like no other car. The Multi-contour dynamic seats are a absolute must when selecting options. The adjustments are endless and the massage feature really releases the tension and tightness in long periods of driving.
I only had one problem...a tire blew out while doing about 75 mph on Interstate 40, about 40 miles west of Knoxville, Tennessee. The car did not lose it's track but started to vibrate and I knew something was wrong. I pulled over and the left rear tire had a 3" gash in the sidewall. I pushed the TelAide button and within 30 minutes I had assistance and they mounted the spare. I contacted MB of Knoxville and they had a tire replacement waiting for me...they mounted it and I was on my way after they mounted in less than 45 minutes. They would not warranty the tire since inspection showed no defects and the gash was from a sharp object. The roads now days are full of road hazards even though the states try and keep them clear of it.
All in all the best car I have ever owned. The quality is outstanding and the driving experience superb. I there is a better driving luxury car out there, then it has not been built yet or designed in my estimation. The S550 is not the MB top of the line, but the industries top of the line
