My new car again. 2025 E53

[badali]

I just bought a new car again.  I ordered it in November and today I brought it home.  Just a nice riding fast car.  I need to wait until the break in period to really drive it hard.

[Cees Klumper]

Congratulations Brad! Looks very nice indeed.

[Peter h]

Last week, I went to Sindelfingen with my son to pick up my new car. There was a great factory tour and lots to see.
Peter

[49er]

Hi Peter, So was the Maybach yours?

John

[Peter h]

No. I think the Chinese picked one...
Peter

[badali]

That would have been a nice tour.  I was in Germany at Ramstein Airforce base for 4 years over 20 years ago.  At the time I didn't have the money to buy a Mercedes.  This may be the most expensive car I ever buy since I plan to retire soon...

[mclewis]

I have a 2024 E450 All Terrain.  Similar car and drivetrain, but less boost. The midrange torque is quite strong and the sound system is the best I have heard in a car (Becker Europa notwithstanding). I’m not too keen on the haptic controls and some of the other frippery, but a lovely car. The E53 must be a rocket!

[badali]

I was going to order another E450 but the day I was there to order my salesman friend showed me the E53.  When we took it for a ride I was hooked.  It was about $11k different in price to the one we were building so I just ordered one anyway.  The only thing I'm nervous about is buying tires and brakes.  I got the 577HP version since the other has the expensive composite rotors.  They will still be a lot anyway.

[mclewis]

That is a lot of horsepower, about 200 more than my wagon. Your car must fly!  Enjoy it.

[rwmastel]

This may be the most expensive car I ever buy since I plan to retire soon...

Brad,
Instead of buying the 53, you could have kept the 450 and retired now!    

[badali]

I kept the 450.  It just hit 100000 miles.  Still looks new.  I could retire anyway but I'll only be 60 in July.  I'm going to wait until I'm 62 and have 20 years with the post office.  I'll be all set with military and postal retirements...

[mclewis]

Brad,

How do you like the E53, now that you’ve had it for a while?

Marc

[badali]

The car is great.  It rides smooth and is very powerful.  Being a plug in hybrid I was hesitant at first to buy it.  When you start it defaults to electric.  The range was supposed to be 42 miles but it gets about 53 in electric mode.  The gas mileage is great in comfort mode.  I get about 80-90 mpg on my way to work (26 miles)  I can manipulate the gas mileage by changing modes to maximize it.  I got 169 mpg on the way home from work.  I still had 9 miles electric left on 52 miles round trip.  It doesn't use much gas over all since when you are not driving hard and put it in comfort mode it uses very little gas.

In sport + you get 15-25 mpg if you keep doing hard accelerations.  The car is extremely fast.  The stereo system is 4D and sounds great.  There is little to no road noise unless you are on a rough road.  The car is comfortable enough to be a daily driver.  The only thing I would worry about is how long the tires will last.  The back ones are over $500 each and the front are close to that.  There is no spare and the tires are not run flats.  They give you a pump and a can of sealant.  The back tires are 11.6 inches wide and the front are about 10.6 wide.  Would not be good in snow.

I was originally going to buy an E450 but the difference in price was about $11K from the one I was going to order.

[badali]

Here is the trip data from my ride home from work.  I get stuck in traffic so it stays in electric a lot.

[rwmastel]

I'm going to wait until I'm 62 and have 20 years with the post office.  I'll be all set with military and postal retirements...

Nice!!  Smart way to go.  And, thank you for your service.  My nephew has about 16 years in the Army so far.