MORE than any other marque Mercedes-Benz still seems to be the most favoured for letting people know you’ve made it in life.
Of course lottery winners will always go and splash their cash on a Ferrari, a Bentley or something similarly flash.
But for those who’ve worked hard to get where they are Mercedes seems to be the car of choice.
And before you say ‘what about BMW and Audi’ I shall just have to beg to differ.
I have no scientific research to back this up of course, more of a hunch based on several years of observation but I bet I’m right.
While making family visits to Ireland during my formative years, taking ownership of a car displaying the three-pointed star was a sign you’d arrived. I should add this was in pre Celtic Tiger times - since then a Merc has become a must-have as part of an extensive car collection rather than just a sole means of transport for emerging entrepreneurs.
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And for any self-made man (or woman), spending their hard-earned to become a Mercedes owner, the pick of the bunch has always been an E-Class - or whatever its equivalent was in the days before the company had its current naming convention.
A C-Class might be deemed a little too Joe Bloggs perhaps, while models higher up the range are probably too far out of reach - but the E-Class really does hit the spot.
The current version is as much about evolution as anything else. No outrageous design lines but rather a fairly sensible and sedate saloon that will stand the test of time well. That said it looks sufficiently different from its predecessor to distinguish it.
E-Classes have a reputation for reliability and longevity too – just look at how many taxi drivers across Europe swear by them. And one only has to see just how many old models are still on the road to realise what a good buy they are.
The latest version seems bigger than ever, with the kind of in-car comfort one might expect in an even larger saloon.
Rear seat passengers really are spoiled in terms of space and from a front seat passenger and driver’s point of view it takes some beating too.
Proof of the pudding, if it were required, was on a motorway journey when I looked around to discover my front seat passenger and two rear seat passengers were all fast asleep.
Just as well I didn’t join them, but even if I did one of Mercedes-Benz’s latest gizmos would have saved the day.
A driver drowsiness detector is fitted as standard on all models. It constantly monitors the driver with 70 different safety checks and will sound a warning if you start to nod off.
Thankfully it wasn’t required but it’s nice to know it’s there just in case.
That luxurious trademark Mercedes glide-like ride quality is more noticeable in the latest E-Class and makes it one of the best motorway cruisers around. Every lump and bump encountered was soaked up with ease by its excellent suspension.
It’s also easy to drive for a car of its size and goes round corners pretty well too.
Its driving dynamics might not be quite on a par with some of its more sporty-focused rivals but in truth there’s little to complain about.
A capacious boot completes the picture of a saloon that continues to be excellent in pretty much every respect and manages to be both a family-friendly everyday car while at the same time offering a taste of the VIP world.