USED Mercedes-Benz E-Class Estate (06 - 09)

My car

This has been a fantastic car. A month after delivery I drove from Manchester to Granada, in southern Spain, and it was effortless. The boot is enormous and fits almost anything a family of 5 can throw into it. The service from my local Mercedes dealer has been great. Sadly, I'm changing to a smaller A4 as the fuel consumption and company car tax on the E class isn't great - a minor gripe after 2 years of trouble free driving.

My car

I have just traded my 5-year old pre-facelift E220CDI Elegance for an eight month old facelift Avantgarde model. I know a new model is coming soon but the cost to change now was fair and the new car has a great spec; this includes inteliigent headlights that are just 'brilliant'! The replaced E was never a spot of bother, my local dealer was just fine and the overall running costs were 43.3p/mile. That includes depreciation, fuel, insurance, tyres, servicing and road tax. In my case, total running costs worked out at £4350 a year. Hope this is of help to someone. Mercs are not cheap; it cost me just 25p/mile to run a Xantia - but that was 10 years ago at the then current prices.

My car

I bought this car new in October 2007. Everything to date, from the customer service to driving pleaseure has been excellent. The drive is smooth, effortless and comfortable.

I opted for the extra 2 seats in the boot that can accomodate 2 children or small adults. I opted for a number of other extras (including the easy to use sat nav) but should have also added rear heated seats. I am getting around 22 mpg around town and up to 39 miles on longer journeys.

Great car.

My car

Mercedes, what are you doing? I've just put my S320 in for service, so they lent me a new E280 diesel estate.

Have I missed something? Has the UK car-buying population lost all class and discernment? I hat this thing, and only because it is so uncomfortable.

In its favour, it has a beautiful shape and loads of interior space and headroom. There's lots of nice wood and leather, too. The seats are comfortable and supportive, and it has a brilliant sat-nav system. It also has a fantastic boot.

However, the ride is so hard and unforgiving. As soon as I get in it I want to get out. If you can manage to only drive on glassy smooth roads, then it is bearable, and the rattles should quieten down.

But if you drive down the average town road, dotted with man-hole covers, raised tarmac repairs, cat's eyes, or anything protruding more than a few microns above level, watch out! I felt myself gripping on to the steering wheel, white knuckle style, just to stop myself being bumped up and down and side to side.

If this car was reviewed by the TV drive programmes' young lads, they would love it, and that's the problem. It's they who are driving the specification agenda. I've never been asked by any manufacturer what I think.

This car is more suitable for an 'image' man, your undiscerning city worker who puts status above practicality and comfort. The sort of man who drinks wine but prefers cider.

There is nothing luxury about this car's ride, it's just horrible!