Used 2006 Mercedes-Benz R-Class Consumer Reviews
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Lemon
We leased the car in Feb. We have had nothing but problems. The lifters in the engine had to be replaced because the engine knocked.They didn't fix it and they wanted to replace the blocks. The transmission wouldn't shift right. They had to replace the fuel lines which took forever becuase they came from Germany. They finally are taking the car back. I dont think all Mercedes vehicles are bad but you get lemons in anything. We bought this one because our last Mercedes S400 was totalled in a flood after we owned it for a month. We must be destined not to own a Mercedes . Still liked the styling of the car, the comfort and versitility.
No Buyer's Remorse
I drove a Suburban (or some version of it) for 15 years, and was ready for a smaller, more driver friendly car. This is it. The V8 is great, mileage a surprising 19/22, and I love the handling and responsiveness compared to the suburban. It's so aerodynamic, I can't feel a gust when I meet an 18 wheeler. While storage is not what I was used to (how could it be?) it is still very good. This car had 7000 miles (put in service 1/07). It was CPO and I bought 1 extra year ($1595), gave me 5 1/2 yr, 100,000 warranty. Paid less for it than my last Denali XL, and feel I got a lot more car. It is sure more fun to drive.
- R350 WagonMSRP: $3,900336 mi away
- R350 WagonMSRP: $3,999344 mi away
- R350 WagonMSRP: $12,895394 mi away
Awesome vehicle with superior Quality!!
I traded a C300 for an R350 because of an expanding family. The vehicle has not disappointed on bit. I fit my family of four with ease and without baggage, this vehicle will fit 6 people comfortably. The car lacks a little power but is not noticeable once one the highway. No problems so far with as I've read in some reviews. The vehicle has striking presence and luxury is apparent as you roll down the street. I would definitely keep the R-350 for a long time as comfort is not comparable for this price range.
Gefahr! -Danger, may be addicting!
This is my first MB and I came from a Durango LTD w/ the big V8 hemi. While torque and outright power are not the same I have no problem in this V6 cruising the interstate above the legal limit w/ ease and not putting any stress at all on the vehicle. Storage is not what it was, but is deceptively enough to put a $200 grocery purchase in the car w/ ease. The family fits great, the quality is MB and the safety aspect is more than worth the sticker. The only warning I can give is pay attention to which option package you choose. And everything is optional...MB should pay attention and put phone, NAV, back-up camera and memory seats as standard features on a car of this stature.
R-Class Beauty is only skin deep
We have had our R-Class for about a year and a half and it is a beautiful car that seats 6 like no one else. However we have had to take it into the shop too many times, for things like: 1. Static in the audio system Across CD, Sat radio, regular radio, (MB has made software upgrades to the software numerous times, the issue may be addressed but the issue was very intermittent so we will see. 2. Frayed driver seatbelt. 3. Transmission strange noise 4. Electronic tailgate not operating properly. 5. Cloth being separated at the back opening of the tailgate. 6. Navigation system returning erroneous information frozen random display. 14 service tickets over about 16 months.
A car for all reasons
The day after taking delivery we had 6 inches of wet snow, what snow. The 4 wheel drive was flawless as were the ABS brakes. I also have an S class and the ride of the "R" is at least comparable. What more could you want in a large sedan, SUV, station wagon all wrapped into one vehicle? It may not be the sexiest car on the road, but it is certainly the most functional.
6k miles later and we still like it lots
After 6k miles and hauling around kids and Home Depot runs, groceries, it still is a pleasure to drive around. Heard reliabilty issues but ours must have been built on Wednesday because so far it's been hassle free. The comfort level is Big Benz all the way. Lots of power, great sound system, easy to get in and out of. We're glad we got it.
Good Buy
This is my MB and I am just loving every bit of it. This machine is comfortable and have ample of room inside to fit 6 Adults to sit comfortably. The gas mileage is very good considering the fact that it is V8. The most comfortable part of this vehicle is that it was very minimal engine noise and the drive (specially in the freeway)is very smooth and comfortable.
The doc's car
I believe that this vehicle is a serious machine. Since I previously owned an SL 55 AMG, I was lloking for a change. I sold my SL for a good price, since it did cost me an arm in a leg, and I downgraded to this car. I cannot even tell the difference. The SL was not worth $150,000 but the R 500 was worth every penny. Who knows, the AMG may also be that much better also
The Large MB
I found the auto to be overall very nice, but I think more detail to operating directions would have been better, such as a video tape or a small book like past models had. The explanation of operation needs upgrade.
Great way for 6 to travel in style!
If you're looking for a luxurious way to get around with family and friends, the Mercedes-Benz R500 is a great solution. I've really enjoyed the quality feel and luxury appointments. I also own an S500 and much to my own surprise, I've come to prefer driving the R500. We have lots of guests and family so the R500 is great for us. The car drives very well and gives you the feeling of a powerful SUV. The luxurious interior gives you the feeling of the S500. This car is the best of all worlds.
I love my R350
Safe and luxury rolled into one.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
The Performance is Surprising
I had mixed feeling when I first saw this "thing". At some angles, it looked good and the front looked so-so. We were in the showroom looking for a CLS but it was the introductory party so they had several model available for testing. I couldn't believe how much easier it was to drive around the backroads of MD. It was confidence- inspiring. More so than my CLK430. It turns out that it has AWD which gave it the more neutral handling. The clincher was the legroom in the 3rd row. I've sat in the last row of SUVs and they're only fit for children. I did not feel any claustrophobia whatsoever. The bonus is I can go to Home Depot and haul some stuff with the back seats folded.
R 500 early review
I've had this car for 1 month and have driven 2,000 miles. I love everything about this car. It handles like an E- Class. There is the typical MB/BMV sedan driving feel. I opted for the airdynamic suspesion that is wonderful. On/off exit ramps feel terrific with the sports mode, highway- comfort mode and around town-normal mode. A better rear seating arrangement than an S/ML-class. The command center is reasonable intuitive but you have to spend a little time getting to know it. I integrated the phone system, NAV and ipod system. EZ to use. My only complaint is lack of adequate luggage space for long distances when using all seats. Will need cargo rails with large cargo carrier. Buy!
Unlike any other
Well rounded vehicle, lots of fun to drive, love the option of being able to select a sport mode or comfort mode. Panorama roof is a hit with the family. Trim work is excellent, guages, controls easy to use.
Great Carruck!!
The R-Class is the perfect family vehicle! Great highway car, great features, great ride, great size, great for hauling to our lake house, great for going out with friends, six adults will fit in the car in formal attire! Enjoy the ride!!
Piece of junk!
This car is a disaster! I never owned a Mercedes before and thought I was making an investment in a great luxury vehicle - HUGE DISAPPOINTMENT! From day 1 the car had problems and almost everything had to be fixed - it is an awful car and Mercedes should be ashamed of itself for putting this hunk of junk on the road. Do yourself a favor if you are looking at this car - DON'T!!!!!!!!!
- Technology
- Performance
- Comfort
- Value
Deceptive for hauling
I had leased the R500 and took it home. Only then did we find out that the third row seats did not fold flat or out of the way. When folded, the seat becomes perpendicular to the back and sits 9 inches from the second row. If you are packing for a trip, you lose a tremendous amount of volumetric space. This was never shown and makes it an unrealistic car for trips to the beach. Poor design. Ended up taking the car back and getting SUV.
Not reliable
The interior set up with 6 separate captain's seats fit our family perfectly, so we almost had to get this car. Unfortunately we've been underwhelmed by the performance of this car. The gears downshift suddenly with a "clunk" when coasting downhill. The steering is "gummy". We've had this car in the dealership shop average every other month for mysterious problems like a chirping noise from the engine when idling, a recurring rubbing sensation from the bottom of the car when driving <40mph, a somewhat loud vibrating noise when coasting >50mph on fwy. The auto back hatch is slow. The nav toggle is hard to use. If the economy wasn't so bad we'd get rid of this car in a heartbeat!
WOW! What a ride!
What an awesome machine...went to the dealer and picked one out of the showroom fully loaded. Love everything about it, just wish the fuel economy is a little bit better. Approaching 2000 miles and loving everytime making a trip.
Love this R350 4matic
Bought this R350 with 49k miles, mid-range options. Had 4 MB's before, but stayed away during the bad period of 96-05. Hope it is reasonably durable. My wife is ecstatic with this car! She is 4'11 and can fit behind the wheel in comfort, as can I at 5'10. My 92YOA age father thinks its great. I love how it drives. It is sneaky fast. No car could go down my rough road driving loop as fast, but on freeway it flies with no effort at all. When you want to hurry the 7 speed trans override buttons are great to hold a gear or downshift. Nice touch is the gear stalk...cool. Mileage vg so far, 15-17 city, 23-23.5 freeway at 75, 25-25.5 side roads. Very quiet, per my sound level meter.
Excellent Car
This Is an amazing car and we just love our Mercedes Benz R500. You won't believe how comfy it is.
Great vehicle
Have had the car for a little over a month, can't speak highly enough about it. The build quality is great, it drives great (feels like a much smaller car). The driving position is "commanding" enough. The panaromic sunroof makes the third seat feel unrestricted. Great job MB
Mercedes "gets it"!
Having gone slowly but surely from a loved but boring GMC Suburban, to a loved but unreliable GMC Envoy, to a "too small" and uncomfortable Lexus RX330, the Mercedes R-Class hits our family needs just right. The occaisional need to 6 passenger seating is achieved naturally, without indecent human acts. And is this car a luxury winner. It is simply fabulous...everything the RX330 wasn't: roomy, good in snow, a head turner, and fabulous comfort and luxury.
Tons of Room
We had an ML320 and were really looking to trade for a BMW wagon, but, then we found the R350. From the first time my 6'2" husband sat in the third row and was comfy to the way it handles we were sold. The R350 is a large vehicle but drives like a sedan. We have the Saks Fifth Avenue edition and love the looks inside. For those of us moms who refuse to drive a minivan this is the perfect car.
Family Cruiser
For us this car fits well between the 3 row SUVs and the mini vans. We needed separation for my three boys, 4 wheel drive to get up our driveway in winter, and something that was fun to drive and comfortable for me. I only have 1100 miles so far but I like it better than either my ML320 (with third row) or our Volvo Cross country. Much more comfortable, quieter, and a smoother drive.
Sold On It
Six months ago I traded in my beloved '03 Escalade for an '06 R350. It's a keeper! It has more interior space. Performance? The 268hp v6 lacks take off, but will shoot you to high speed with surprising ease. It corners exceptionally well also. Comfort? It really will fit six 6' footers comfortably (did that) or the wife and 2 kids with plenty room for groceries. Fuel economy? In the city it's about average (if you have a heavy foot), however, highway mileage is excellent. We (3 adults, 2 kids, and travel bags) drove from NY to NC on a full tank (500mi). We cruised at 80mph.
Excellent Sports Tourer
The Mercedes Benz R class is unbelievable. It is reliable, fun to drive and sleek. Comes with great accesories and features as well. Even though sticker says the R500 gets around 18 mpg, it can actually get around 25 - 30 mpg.
The car not enough people know about.
The interior and exterior work well. Seats in the back are awesome for my 2 young children. The ride is as good as any other Mercedes on the market. Could be one of the best all around family automobiles on the road today.
Fun to drive
I love the Mercedes r350. it is fun to drive and perfect for any family who wants to fit more than five without sacrificing performance
Almost perfect
I love this vehicle! Also own an '02 C240 & an '06 ML350. This is an all- out luxury people mover! Comfortable and roomy front and 2nd row seating, 3rd row is great too if you're 6ft and under. Performance is very good, and is great if you learn to use the "finger- shifter" on the steering wheel. Very fun to drive short or long distance. Fuel economy is not bad considering it's weight and very quiet smooth ride. At first sight some say "mini-van." This is truly a cross between an SUV and wagon...haven't meet an R-Class owner yet who deems this a "MV." The more you look, the more you like. Interior appointments are that of the ML than say a sedan. Clearly Mercedes built!
The R-500 (S500 Station wagon)
Just picked the car up this weekend. I LOVE IT! Handles like a dream, the V8 pulls! I am a 740IL owner and I feel the speed on this car. The AWD handling is just great! A lot of people think its a minivan. No, it is not! Its an S500 Station wagon build in the states.
R350
Driven 4500 miles in the first month, great car-wagon-suv, hauls well, excellent highway vehicle. Spend for the roof luxury package, xeon lights, the kids love it. Installed tv's not offered by MB in headrest worked out great. Mileage stays the same with a load or without, amazing! Nav system- great once you use a few times, find a golf course 3 hours ahead on your trip, what other vehicle does that with accuracy? Great vehicle A+!
Great Large Car !
Although this is a true crossover from mini van to suv, it is large, drives great, and is beautiful. Dealer incentives for a 2006 are hard to beat. Best car for the money in its class
Best Yet
Have 5k miles and what a great car. The best Mercedes yet. You can't get into trouble with this all wheel drive car!
Great luxury family car
The interior is one of the most luxurious; the exterior needs to grow on you (my wife loves). The $5000 off invoice unadvertised special makes it the best buy. Handling and noise level are great. Maybe some of the options should be standard. Overall, great family car to drive if you don't want a minivan or the full size SUV.
The wife loves it!
This is our 3rd MB. The wife didn't want a minivan, and our ML was out growing our family. We got a great deal, $12000 off sticker! The R350 was the perfect choice for our family. It's large enough to fit 6 very comfortably and it's very luxurious. It's a large vehicle but it drives like a sedan. I've got a sports sedan and I even enjoy driving the R350. The NAVI is not as user friendly as the Japanese built cars but we are slowly getting used to it. We love the HK stereo and the panoramic roof. The wife appreciates the auto tailgate. The rear doors are a little too big at tight parking spaces. No regrets at all!
First trip
I drove our new R350 1000 miles from the dealer in KY. I now know why the car is called a tourer. Quiet, smooth, comfortable - a great ride. It isn't a quick vehicle but has enough power. Nice surprises - the cruise control with two increments (up and down one mile per hour to tune speed) - intermittent wipers - ipod integration kit (though it would be nicer to be able to select a play list from the radio controls) - better gas mileage than I feared (22.5) Little annoyances - should have checked out the Xenon lights because on low beam, they don't have great illumination - black interior (and carpet) shows dirt, dust. Overall very happy with it and family loves the room!
Design Problem
Excellent ride with better than expected fuel economy. 22Mpg @ 80/85 MPH. Problem is attempting to parallel park. There is no way to see the front end when parking, you just have to guess how close you are to anything that might be in front of you. Difficult to find a vechicle in stock with Parkatronic, unless you want a black interior.
Teutonic Genius
This is my 5th MB and it has been a pleasant surprise. It is a superbly designed, extremely safe, highly functional multi-purpose vehicle. At 28 - 30 mpg on the freeways at 70+ mph, who could complain. Any comparison with the Pacifica is dillusional at best. Recommendation to mfr: make memory seating standard, especially at this price!
Non riot hearse
This vehicle is excellent. A great family vehicle without owning another SUV. Has enough room for a family of 6. Quite comfortable for adults as well. I kind of wish I would have gotten the R500 just because of the zip, but once you get going, it is great. I have nothing bad to say about this vehicle.
My Problems with MB of N.A.
Better than expected ride and handling. Great for road trips. MPG are better than advertised. But lacks nice wheels/rims. I did an upgrade, makes all the difference in making the vehicle look much sportier.
The un-minivan
Coming up on 13k on our R350. My wife and I love it, as do our two kids. We aspire to own only one car at a time, and this is the perfect choice -- great for hauling around the kids and their friends, but dignified enough for adult occasions. Plus it is remarkably fun to drive for such a massive vehicle. We've had it for more than a year now, and I still enjoy getting behind the wheel and going on long drives. Handling and acceleration are very good (considering the length and weight of the vehicle), brakes are excellent, and the ride is smooth. It's a mystery to me why MB hasn't made more of an effort to market this car. Yes, it's expensive, but for families like ours, it's perfect.
Great car- just looks a little different
My husband first saw the car on-line and immediately loved the styling. I wasn't as sold on it as he was but he talked me into taking it for a test drive. I'm glad he did! We love the car and all the room. The kids love it too.
R350 is a great car.
This is our first MB and we are very happy with it. Excellent ride quality, beautiful interior, smooth drivetrain, and extremely comfortable seats. I had difficulty getting my wife interested in a wagon much less a MB. But, after taking her to the dealership she quickly reconized that this is a great family vehicle. The 6 cylinder is adequate and fun to drive but not fast.
Cruiser
Bought it because looks different than anything on the road. Switched from Infiniti FX which I loved and what a difference in Mercedes. Less sporty, but a lot more stable, user and practical. Always correct people from calling it a minivan as I am too young for one. Mercedes had great deals in May on these because of slow sales and I could not refuse when I got a payment of $20 more vs. FX with less down on a vehicle that cost $61K. Memorial Day weekend took it from SF Bay Area to Southern California and enjoyed the whole ride with airmatic. With speeds over 85 it just glides comparing to my FX where every bump was felt. Panoramic roof is outstanding
Recommendable
I had leased it for 2 years. Overall good performance especially for family. Lots of space. Very quiet ride. Would have been happy with some more juice! Good value compared to the very expensive models. Sleek front look, but not so with the rear look. I guess, you can be the judge. Had some minor issues, no big deal.
Good enough
If you want a sports car you do not want to look somewhere else. However, for a family vehicle it meets all the needs: safety, comfort and interior capacity. It is a pain to park, but what large family vehicle is not. The space between the second row of seats and the front is generous and can accomodate the space needs of growing children. It is a solid crossover vehicle.
The quickest family hauler for six.
Our requirements: comfort and room for 5 (3 kids, ages 5, 8, 10) plus dog, power, versatility for different needs; all-wheel drive, useful as commuter and travel vehicle. Went on two 800 mile trips, packed 4 people, their stuff, took the lab to the kennel, and continued the trip to pick up the other two incl. their stuff from camp without a roof carrier: it all fit. The R500 has superb handling, performance, and comfort for a vehicle this size. Even the kids prefer our R over our MDX. Gas mileage is better than advertised. I got 20.3 mpg over 300 miles at avg 64mph, including 40 miles city driving. Normal, passive town driving: 16mpg; aggressive: 13mpg. Love the design inside/out.
R350
This is our first MB and we love this vehicle. It is very roomy, comfortable, and large enough for 6' men to drive and ride. The cargo space is more than adequate with the third row seats folded down. Folding and unfolding the third row is quicky and very easy. The V6 is enough for this heavy vehicle which handles surprising sporty. The nav system is very hard to get used to but once mastered is a must have. Also, must have Parktronic to park as it is very, very long. Have had dash rattle issues that were quickly resolved by the dealership. No mechanical issues whatsoever. A pleasure to own.