Since 1998 I had been trying to end the SUV life. Untill 01 I decided to trade in 98 Landcruiser for 01 E320 wagon 4matic. In less than a month I brought back the car to Cherry Imports, the engine leaked oil for no reason. And I wound up with E430 4 matic in my hands. E430 was problem free car with excellent ride and handling. On the trip to Blue Mountain, Pa Feb. 01, the car got stuck on the heavy snowing road, not enough ground clearance for a skitrip. The MB salesman sugested the ML55 for all the purpose, sporty car ride and handling, higher bottom for the snow.... And I got the worst vehicle , I was just a car fool! I forgot how I got on the AR forum, I became somewhat interest in AR. Now I have been driving the Alroad every day in these past two weeks. I never pay that kind of attention for a car. Here are the things that may be interest to share-
1. the reliablity is as good as any car, no wobblin, shaking or all the problems I heard at this forum.
2. the engine is smooth and powerful. It is not as quiet as E430. It growls to let you know its strengh, and you won't be annoyed. When you shut off it, the engine cools off giving a jet engine sound.
3. the tire presure was set at 36 psi by either dealer or factory. To my suprise on 2nd level set, the ride is as good as Lexus430Ls( I drove one for 5000 miles) at such high psi?
4. the interior layout makes Lexus or MB the over price cars. The easyuse cd changer is as good as Lexus, much better than E-class in trunk magagine. The materials used inside 2nd to none.
5. with 753 miles in odometer avg. mpg is 16.5 ,up from 14.5 at 1st 100 miles.
6. the car is very sporty, yet not compromised the ride. I don't feel lean,sway etc.
7. the brake, not as good as E430, is equally good as Lexus. The only thing I'm concerned is the tiny clocuk sound at slow speed braking, or stop and go brake use. At stop, when brake is released you feel clocuk in the cabinet.

 

maybe there's a chicken in there?

maybe the caliper is sticking? Have the dealer look at it.

careful...you're car might lay an egg

 

Nice review. Most shoppers just don't realize what they're missing...

 

nice review, congrats!

 

may be the two electric radiator cooling fans spinning down.

Can you post an mp3 recording of it?

 

...38psi (rear) and 40 psi (front) would give better handling and tire wear, I believe.

 

Rather put the E-Class vs the Audi A6 (Source:German Auto-Magazine). Do you plan any modifications on the ar in the future?

 

nice review..

 

I notice that sound too when it's hot. On Econ mode, it's not there. It is very cool sounding.

 

but it seems that a vast majority of the problems (almost all of the mechanical) of the A6 (or any Audi) and Allroad are reported by North and South American owners. Elsewhere, it seems that there are a very scarce few owners of the A6 (or any Audi) and Allroad report any problems. This is most likely due to the excessively high sulfur content in all North and South American petroleum and diesel fuels. However, according to what I read on either the A8 or the C5 A6 forum here on AW, as o 12:00AM on Saturday 1-1-05, federal regulations will require that the sulfur content of all North and South American petroleum and diesel fuels will have to be just as low or lower than the all of the petroleum and diesel fuels in the rest of the world.