2008 Mercedes-Benz S550

There's a lot to love about the 2008 Mercedes-Benz S550.

Sure, most of us will never be able to afford a car such as this, whose base price starts at $86,700 – more than some of us paid for our homes.

But we can dream, can’t we?

After a day in the S550, I called my husband and said, “OK, this is the car I want.” He just groaned, then suggested that perhaps we should wait until my minivan was a bit older than just a year before we consider trading it in on a Mercedes.

What’s so nice about the S550?

Let's start with the stylish, elegant exterior. My test model came in something called “Barolo Red,” which is a deep maroon metallic hue with an almost iridescent quality. The S550’s lines are low and sleek and the trim is minimal, except for the striking headlights, which are somewhat almond-shaped.

I could spend all day just talking about this car’s looks, inside and out. It’s just gorgeous.

But I will try to include something about comfort and safety, too, as both are abundant in this car.

At the price, the S550 would be expected to come with some pretty impressive standard features, and it does.

Mine also came with some very nice optional equipment, which raised the price an additional $24,150. They did add some convenience, safety and comfort not present in the base model. But one could live without the extras, and still have a wonderful car for the $86,700 price.

The Premium Leather interior ($1,310) in my tester was as soft as butter and comfortable as a kid glove. It had a two-tone color scheme – savanna and cashmere, Mercedes calls it. The seat practically whispers “welcome” when you open the door.

This vehicle came with the keyless-go feature (part of the $6,190 Premium III package), which allows the holder to open the door without having to press a button. Just keep the key in your purse/pocket and start the car with a button on the dash. This is becoming a common feature on premium vehicles, and adds a nice level of convenience Among standard features was the COMMAND audio system with AM/FM/weather band/SIRIUS satellite radio and GPS navigation, enhanced by a 14-speaker, 600-watt harmon/kardon LOGIC7 Surround Sound System. Imagine top-of-the-line stereo sound from your living room being replicated in your car.

The only thing I might complain about, audio wise, is the complicated control system, which also seems to be standard on lots of uplevel cars these days. Increasingly, the premium audio systems as well as navigation systems require some study and/or instruction before using, especially if you hope to enjoy all of their features.

The audio system comes with a six-disc, in-dash CD changer, which also includes a memory card slot so you can bring your own music along in very compact form, without having to carry a bunch of compact discs.

One of the nicest features is the ambient lighting under the hand-polished burl walnut wood trim, which encircles the entire passenger compartment just below the windows. This is enough light for convenience without interfering with the driver’s vision at night.

Of course, heated seats are included. Some people may wonder why we would need a heated seat in Texas, but I find it comforting after a hard day at work (my “day job” is very physical).

The S550 has standard 14-way adjustable front seats with memory. The Rear Seat Package ($2,920) added heat and ventilation to the rear bucket seats, along with eight-way power adjustment.

Speaking of a hard day at work (or the gym, tennis court, etc.), the front seats in my test car included a massaging feature, part of the “drive dynamic multicontour” seat upgrade that was part of the Premium III package. This allows the driver or front passenger to adjust the pressure at the lower back and shoulders, as well as the sides, and to enjoy a soothing massage. Maybe decompressing in the car with a feature like this would help cut down on road rage.

Two other nice features, especially for us in Texas, are the power rear window sunblind and the infrared reflective glass, which is also noise insulating.

A feature we may not need often in Texas is the heated washer system on the bi-xenon headlights. Washing is very nice, especially after one of the heavy rains we have been having, but I doubt we will need to remove much ice this winter.

The headlights include active curve illumination and cornering lights, very handy for driving in the country where street lights are few and far between and animals are everywhere.

The night view assist option, part of the Premium III package, is amazing. It operates like a night-vision scope, using ambient light to show more than is visible with just the headlights. The display is on the dash, just below the driver’s line of vision. While lots of new vehicles have cruise control, not many have S550’s “Distronic PLUS” ($2,800) included on my tester. It paces the car to the vehicle in front when the cruise control is active and the vehicle encounters traffic ahead.

“Parktronic,” also part of the Premium III package, uses sensors to assist in parking by monitoring the surroundings of the vehicle and computing the approximate distance between the sensors and an obstacle.

My test vehicle also had the optional Active Body Control ($3,900), a computer-controlled system that hydraulically adjusts the suspension at all four wheels in response to various driving situations. The result is a ride as smooth as silk and quiet as a church.

The standard safety/security features include 24 hour roadside assistance, TeleAid emergency calling and communication system, adaptive dual-stage front air bags, front and rear side air bags, full-length head protection side-curtain air bags, four-wheel ABS disc brakes w/brake assist, occupant classification system (senses the weight/size of the passenger and adjusts the air bag deployment force and speed accordingly), electronic stability control, PRE-SAFE system (the vehicle automatically takes preventive measures to better protect occupants in hazardous situations), and an antitheft alarm with engine immobilizer.

Premium III also included a rear view monitor to enhance safety when backing, and a power trunk closer for convenience when your hands are full.

The optional dual (front and rear) panoramic sunroof ($1,010) fascinated the grandchildren since the covers seemed to disappear like magic into the small space between the two panels. As a matter of fact, they were in awe of all the buttons and gadgets in the rear passenger area. Grandma, however, was distracted by all the exclamations and activity (“Don't make me stop this car!”).

The S550’s power is impressive, of course. It comes with a 382-horsepower, 5.5-liter V-8 engine and seven-speed automatic transmission, and can take the car from zero to 60 mph in 5.4 seconds. I’ll take Mercedes’ word for it – I didn’t try that. The car’s top speed is electronically limited to 130 mph, something else I didn’t attempt.

One option that was wasted on me was the AMG sport package ($5,630), which added 19-inch, five-spoke AMG wheels and AMG body trim. Without this, the car comes with 18-inch, nine-spoke alloy wheels.

The car’s EPA fuel-economy ratings of 14 miles per gallon city/21 highway meant that the S550 was subject to the federal gas-guzzler tax, which added $1,300 to the sticker.

With that plus the options and $775 freight charge, the total sticker was $112,625. Yes, that’s outrageous. But this vehicle feels both classy and safe.

So other than the price, what's not to love? I couldn't find much.

But I will come back down to Earth with a more-affordable vehicle next time, I promise!

Emma Jayne Williams is a Texas-based freelance writer whose automotive columns appear regularly in the Star-Telegram. Contact her at emmajayne1948@yahoo.com.