Do they really suck down that much more gas, or is it just that they inspire you to push the pedal all the way down so often? I have internal MB sales training material for the 2001 E-Class model that rates the E420 at 22/33 city/highway (maybe a bit optomistic for most drivers) and the E55 at 20/30. That doesn't seem too bad a drop to me for the extra horsepower. Any besides when you are paying that much for a car (w. insurance) gas probably won't amount to much more than 5-10% of your overall cost, amortizing the purchase price over 10 years anyway.

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Jason Priest
1999 E430
1995 E420 - retired
1986 420SEL - retired