The Mercedes-Benz S-Class
 
There is only one thing that can be said about this car: WOWSA!  Excuse us for using slang, but just being near this baby is a major trip.  But, then again, when you spend $60,000 to $140,000 on a car, what did you expect?  My uncle has an older version of this road-eating monster, and it is truly dripping with luxury.  You can not spend more than an hour in his car without the leather smell becoming too overwhelming for you.  While that may be a bit of an exaggeration, the beauty of this car certainly isn't.  Why anyone would look at this and any other car, and pick the other, I do not know, but some suggested alternatives would be the Jaguar XJ8 and BMW 750, and maybe the Lexus LS400 or Audi A8.  There are currently four versions of the S-Class: the S320, S420, S500, and S600.  The S320 begins with a puny 228hp inline-6 engine, and the S600 starts with a 389hp 6.0 litre V12.  To give you an idea of how giant these cars are, the "entry-level" S320 measures in 4 inches longer, 1 inch wider, and has a wheelbase 3 inches longer than the BMW 740iL.  Some features of this car include a child-seat detection system which turns off the airbag of the seat where there is a child-seat, which is automatically detected.  "Standard" features also include leather upholstery, burl walnut trim, heated mirrors, and heated seats.  Details will be given for all four models, using the long-wheelbase S320.  The S600 also comes as a two-door coupe.  By the way, believe it or not, these models are due for a complete renovation by 2001, so if you really like them, as anyone sane has to, now is the time to buy.
 
This is the S500 coupe.
 This is the S500 sedan.
 
Car S320 LWB S420 S500 S600
Engine 3.2L 228-hp I6 4.2L 275-hp V8 5.0L 315-hp V8 6.0L 389-hp V12
Transmission 5-Speed Automatic
  Overdrive		 5-Speed Automatic
  Overdrive		 5-Speed Automatic
  Overdrive		 5-Speed Automatic
  Overdrive
Horsepower 228 @ 5600 RPM 275 @ 570 RPM 315 @ 5600 RPM 389 @ 5200 RPM
Torque (lb-ft) 232 295 347 420
Acceleration 0-60 mph 8.7 sec 8.6 sec. 7.5 sec. 6.6 sec.
Fuel Economy (city/highway) mpg 17 / 23 15 / 22 15 / 21 13 / 19
Length 205.2 in. 205.2 in. 205.2 in. 205.2 in.
Width 74.3 in.  74.3 in. 74.3 in. 74.3 in.
Wheelbase 123.6 in.  123.6 in. 123.6 in. 123.6 in.
 This is the "entry-level" S320
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