2021 Mercedes S-Class vs The Legendary 90's S-Class

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz S580 ($172,000 CAD, ~$124,100 USD) is a luxury sedan filled to the brim with modern tech and refined passenger comforts. But how does it compare to the 1997 Mercedes-Benz W140 S-Class (~$7,000 CAD, ~$5,545 USD) of yesteryear? The W140 generation of S-Class was known for its innovative new tech and an unmistakably smooth ride. Thomas and James look to see just how much S Class you can get for about 7 grand Canadian, and just how far the platform has come in nearly 25 years. SUBSCRIBE!

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Post-production by Karston Chong and Thomas Holland

A huge thank you to Mercedes-Benz Peterborough for lending us both of these S Classes

#SClass #S580 #W140

[flick]

I cant wait to get the 2021 model in 40 years when it's 5k

[victormwendwa]

It always sounds like James still cannot believe that he is indeed James

[midorithefestivegardevoir]

I always liked how 90s-2000s luxury saloons looked. They are always so modest while still looking lavish.
The new luxury models are like bunched up vanity items on wheels. Perfect for anyone who would rather flex.

[TheBasher-_-]

On long trips as preteens when we would fall asleep in the back. My dad used to love to drop the rear headrests to wake us up when we where there. 😂

[heybro]

"I can be whatever you want me to be 🥰"

James to Thomas, 2021

[abishek]

Old S- Class is just so elegant and classy! It looks so good! Its such a over enginnered marvel!

[danhopper]

I will always prefer the 90s s-class over the modern ones, it just embodies what the s-class is to me. Especially since this car has been a dream of mine to own as I will be gettin a s500 or s600 w140 after college for sure.

[NERGYStudios]

That W140 looks majestic, the pinnacle of a beautiful evolution story.

[devalraval]

W140 is a masterpiece. No generation of S-Klasse can come close to it. Yakuza approved

[razvan]

The old mercedes says just one single thing :
"mafia"

[MattH-wgou]

W140s have always been one of my favorite cars. In around 2001 or 2002 I was 16 or 17 and got to drive a 1995 S600 and I fell in love forever.

[carloluigid]

The head-rest button joke and the throat-clearing "I've got something to say" blooper at the end have cemented my opinion that you guys are the best car show out there. Your presentation style and level of professionalism mixed with the (more tasteful and far less ridiculous) Top Gear silliness moments are just right. Keep it up!

[benmarkovitz]

Why is "and I'm James!" the best line on YouTube?

[NXT_LVL]

James on the old S class: it doesn’t look expensive. Doesn’t have that “boss look”

Me: EVERY film that has a Yakuza boss, got out of the back of one… sooo

[LoicFarris]

I can't agree more with the one comment about the stuck on screens. I can't wait till MB gets back to integrated screens and interiors sculpted around the tools you use to drive the car. I loved seeing the w140 in this video. The very first Mercedes I ever drove was a 1992 600 SEL which left a huge impression on my 16 year old self at the time. That car was revolutionary for its time and I remember loving the instrument cluster with the massive, sculpted hood over the numerous dials. Mercedes's direction with interiors today has driven me to BMW, however I'm sure a new generation of vehicles will lure me back at some point.

[miepmaster]

“I can be whatever you want me to be”
He became James

[capn_shawn]

“No E-active body control or rear steering”
As a 230, 000-mile MB owner, this sounds like a major PLUS to me.

[BimmerGuyFL]

You guys are the BEST at reviewing cars when it comes to ride quality. You nailed it in this video and we appreciate how much detail you go into paying attention to the bump absorption, refinement, wafting, the suspension produces.

[netweed]

11:10 The in-line 6 always sounds gorgeous. It's an Epic engine.

[sjw]

That W140 is a bygone era that could never be replaced. You can feel the over engineered components working together to deliver the s-class experience that we all fell in love with. Tech will never surpass traditional engineering.