.Short review of the 2018 S-Class.
It was given as a 'like-for-like' replacement courtesy car. Initial thoughts were damn its a long car but once you drive it, it feels a lot smaller than it is. Everything is electric, it took me a while to find the stalk to adjust the steering wheel
. The gear selector stalk on the right of the steering wheel takes some time to get use to, I kept thinking it was the wipers stalk. As with most modern cars, the dash is a big digital screen, I'm still unsure if I like them, I think prefer old school analog dials but having the option to change the type of display and part of the sat nav on the dash is quite cool and useful.
Once you settle in the new S-Class is a lovely thing to be in, especially when it adjusts your driving position automatically as you start the engine. As expected, it's very comfy, it drives really well for a big limo, the power delivery is effortless from the 3-litre straight six diesel engine and the 9-gear auto is smooth as silk. I drove down from Glasgow to Oxford to visit my wife and it did 50mpg (sticking to the speed limits) which is impressive for a heavy car. The in-laws were impressed while sat in the back when I chauffeured them around town. Parking in multi-storeys was a laugh, the S-Class longer than my father-in-law's Carvelle van:
Couple of things I didn't like. The whole touchpad over the rotating knob on the centre console is awkward to use, not sure why they didn't separate them more effectively or use one or the other as an input method. The sensors around the car had a mind of its own, on several occasions the car thought I hit something but I didn't. Perhaps I'm stoopid but I couldn't find the button to control the blind on the rear windscreen, you can easily control the ones on both rear doors. Wireless charging your phone in the armrest got very hot.
Overall, it's a magnificent thing to be in. Big limo-type cars have never appealed to me but I was reluctant to hand the keys back, perhaps I'm getting old.
. Still being disputed.
