To shake down the new Mercedes-Benz S-class—which is going on sale as you read this, priced at $72,353 with the 4.3-liter V-8 and $82,052 with the 5.0-liter V-8—we decided to drive it to lunch.

Prices shown are the prices you can expect to pay for a 1997 Mercedes-Benz S500 4 Door Sedan across different levels of condition. Edit options.

A few months ago I visited Mercedes-Benz's simulator in its Berlin R&D centre. Driving an outgoing-model S-class firmly anchored to the floor while the surround-screen fooled me into credible ...

Prices shown are the prices you can expect to pay for a 1998 Mercedes-Benz S500 4 Door Sedan across different levels of condition. Edit options.