2000 Mercedes-Benz E Class - Review

HI-RES GALLERY: 2000 Mercedes-Benz E Class

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Money may not be able to buy happiness, but it can buy the Mercedes Benz E55.

And while this car will not make your life eternal bliss, a drive in it is sure to etch a smile on your face, deeply.

And, unlike some sports cars, you won't have to look as if you’re having a mid-life crisis while you’re driving the E55. With only subtle exterior cues to differentiate it from any other Mercedes E-class, the E55 is stealthy. Casual observers will probably dismiss the car as nothing special — the only cues on the outside of the E55, besides badging, are twin chrome exhaust outlets, 18-inch AMG monoblock wheels and subtle changes to the fascias and side sills.

However, the E55 is not just any Mercedes. While it may look quite ordinary, a 349-horsepower 5.5-liter V-8 lurks under its hood. And the AMG wheels conceal larger brakes with 13.2-in diameter vented rotors in front and 11.8-in vented rotors in the rear.

The five-seater four-door can, so equipped, hurtle to 60 mph in less than five seconds. The car's massive brakes can slow it from that speed to a halt in a mere 120 feet. As these numbers suggest, the E55 is anything but ordinary.

While there are faster cars out there, this one is unlike any other. Routed exclusively through a five-speed automatic transmission, the E55’s potency is visceral but easy to use. With the standard Electronic Stability Program left switched on, the whole affair is relatively foolproof — even an amateur driver can safely approach maximum acceleration with this car. Just plant your foot and hang on.

Displays of power

And hang on you should, because this car pulls like a diesel locomotive from a rolling start. Besides the BMW M5, few other cars pile on speed at such an exhilarating rate. So much so, you really can’t fault the E55 for lacking a manual transmission, even if BMW’s M5 offers one.