You didn't mention the 22 gallon gas tank, which combined with 30+ highway MPG gives the car a 500+ mile range before it needs refueling. Or the silky V6 that is totally capable of flipping from Dr. Jekyll to Mr. Hyde at the press of a foot. Or the impressively flat stance it maintains in corners. Find a used one. They're cheap. You really want the wagon. I bought a 2013 S212 E350 in 2020, with 37K miles, at a fraction of its cost new. It is a vault, a bahn-burner, and an astonishingly commodious hauler. Plus I don't see myself at every other intersection. Like you I do grumble about some of the missing features, but also like you I'm able to look past them and see the goodness. And the longroof has its own set of clever and very useful additions, such as air suspension in the rear that automatically keeps the car level even with 12 bags of mulch on board, and a cargo cover that raises up out of the way when the rear hatch is open. I might keep this car forever.
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