Now, you normally don't see me here in this part of the forum but I, out of all people, is looking for information.
As I mentioned earlier, I am kinda searching for a new car to replace the BMW (selling within the family when it's done being restored.). Now I'm split brained on what car to get. The good old W126 fills many roles and is sufficent but I just like having two cars. Especially when I have the interior and electronics brought back to museum specs in the W126 soon.

Now I've been considering the
BMW 750IL 1998-2001
Jaguar XJ12 (after 1995-up The newer the better before 2002)
Escalade 2002-2005


But one car that caught my eye was the 1995 era E-class. I don't care too much for the frog eye look, but the 1995 looks nice. The E420 even have some of the features as the big ones. And I heard the E500 porsche developed engine is legendary.
I really would lean towards the E500 but the E420 is just as nice and readily available. Gas mileage, maintence prices, and such doesn't matter as I'm still single and you only live once. I figure that if I get married, I doubt the average wife would go for getting some high powered MBZ E-class. (probably end up with some Camry or something. Ah, the smell of marriage life.)
So while I'm still young and single, and doing well, I figured why not a limited edition E500 or even a E420 will do. This is just the young practical side kicking in since if you notice that the cars on the list are V-12s and the only V-8 is an SUV with a nice grill. I love that grill.

Any owners of these two vehicles have any information on these cars. It will be helpful.

 

My sister-in-law has a 1999 Jaguar XJ8R (supercharged version) and loves it. My brother has an XK8. They really wanted Jags and bought cars that suited their needs. The R models are better financially than the 12cyl models and just as fast. FWIW.

 

well..consider this:

e420: 275 bhp, 295 ft lbs torque, 18/24 mpg, very nice chassis (i have an 94 e320)

e500: 315 hp, 347 ft lbs torque, 16/19 mpg....the speed is amazing. <--it weighs less than the current e500 and has more power..the stuff of legends....

personally i would get the e500 or the jaguar xj..........and i would stay away from the escalade.....me and american cars do not get along..


j-mang

 

I did forget to put the XJR on the list. Sorry. In fact for that between the XJ12 and XJR, it's basically depends on whether I find a good XJR or and XJ12 first. I like the overall performance of the XJR but I like the interior of the XJ12 better. That dark wood stuff in the XJR doesn't look too luxurious, not bad, but I prefer the luxurious stuff. I know the XJR is geared towards sports mode, but I can live with it if I came across a good XJR deal before coming across the XJ12 good deal if I decide to go Jaguar way. But both numbers are impressive and I love the lines of them years. I know they are Ford owned, but Ford has did good job in not ruining that car by making it into an obvious Lincoln with a cat on it.

According to what I'm looking for and such, out of the E420 and E500, There is alot of difference in them two. The E420 seem to be more of the highway straight cruiser of the two and that's fine and dandy, but I have a SEL for that job. Now the E500, no one outside Mercedes owners and few will see it coming. I can imagine it now. In a 1995 E500 and some newbie pimple faced rice burner driver challenging me at a red light thinking there's only a regular Mercedes six cyclinder under the hood and the look on his eyes when I smoke em dead in his tracks, oh wait I already do that with the SEL. Oh well, an E500 can fill the role of the "sport car with room for four." spot.

I guess overall what I'm looking for is something that's plush, sports car blazing fast, but got room for the witnesses, and still can drive up to upscale places and blend in, and looks nice next to the 560SEL. You know, something me and my passengers can sit in and talk, drink Italian wine (juice in the driver's case.) while doing 150mph plus without feeling or hearing too much of it.

 

Oh wait, the 560SEL does that too. Darn.
Well that's why I'm not getting rid of it. That would be some BIG shoes to fill.

 

I'm biased, but I say go for the 92-94 500E500. Fast, timeless build quality, Porsche heritage. I love mine more the longer I own it.