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The 2007 Mercedes Benz S550

Having the privilege of reviewing new vehicles, has been the envy of friends and family for quite a while now, an emotion that hasn’t been lost on me. However, having done this for over 12 years it has become somewhat routine and yes, I am quite spoiled. That said, every now and again I get the opportunity to drive something that absolutely blows me away, and as one would expect, it’s generally a rather expensive automobile. However, I have learned over time that price alone certainly doesn’t mean that a vehicle is exceptional, or particularly exciting to drive. A couple of caveats though; I am not crazy about the styling, and I’m not sure the “Command System” on the console is the best idea Mercedes ever came up with. But other than that, I simply don’t have anything bad to say about this fabulous motor car

I do try to avoid talking too much about technology in vehicles today, but there are so many ground-breaking technological advances in the S550 that I feel the need to spend some time talking about a couple that really got my attention.One of the most surprising, and pleasant features I found was in the seat bolsters. While making turns in the S550, the side bolsters literally reach out and hold you in position much like a giant hand keeping you in place. It’s a very nifty feature, and one that’s a bit freaky at first without a doubt, but very easy to get used to.

Another feature that’s really nice is the Distronic Plus system. Not only does it automatically keeps the big sedan a safe distance from the car ahead during highway driving on cruise control,  it also allows you drive a pre-set distance from a vehicle in stop and go traffic without, crazy as it sounds, using your brake or accelerator. The car will actually slow down, and come to a complete stop if necessary, and then take off and get to speed again with simply a tap of the accelerator or the cruise control stalk. Interestingly Mercedes engineers felt that people would freak out if the car took off after stopping without some driver input and no doubt it is a bit strange.

When it comes to driving the S550, simply stated, it’s a wonderful experience. The 5.5 liter V8 pumps out 382 horsepower and 391 ft-lbs of torque. That’s more than enough muscle to propel the nearly 4300 lb machine from 0-60 in a mere 5.3 seconds. There is great feedback from the precise steering and the braking system is flawless which helps make handling surprisingly agile for such a big car. So, even though the emphasis is on luxury, those of us that love a “drivers” car will not be disappointed at all.

There’s a significant amount of competition in the luxury sedan segment and although there are some really great cars out there, but for me, there’s still something about driving a big Mercedes Benz S-Class that is very special. While some may feel that other brands have ousted the S-Class from the top spot, a position I’m not ready to acquiesce to just yet, there is no doubt that this is the flagship of the line. I loved driving the CLS and probably would buy one but the S-Class is just really hard to beat if you want luxurious style and comfort with fantastic performance and handling and a ride that is second to none for me. There is simply no floating or softness to the ride that some other lines offer that makes me feel like I’m driving a barge. The ride is taut but not even remotely harsh and I don’t know how it can be improved on.

This is truly a magnificent vehicle and while the base price of the S550 is over $86,000 and my tester coming in at just under $104,000, it’s certainly not inexpensive, but I believe the value is there. So if you’ve been waiting for a “different” S-Class, I’d say the time is now to check the all new 2007 S550 out. I’m pretty sure you’ll be glad you did.