Dr. No

Poll added just for fun.

Nurburger

I love the E500E. Truly special cars & NOTHING else feels the same. Yes, the M5 & RS6's are quicker (I driven both many times but never owned either) though lack that 'chiseled from a block of granite' feel.

I also love how understated they are & the fact that the 500e really was the first serious sports sedan.

XR4Tim

My favorite of the bunch is the RS6, however it is one of the most difficult vehicles I've ever worked on. If you plan on doing maintenance yourself, be sure you have a backup car, as things (like the timing belt) can take a lot of time to complete. If you're paying someone to do the maintenance, most everything is expensive due to the amount of time involved. There was a recall on the suspension on both the RS4 and RS6, so that should be sorted out on most of them. Torque converter seals are also a common failure on the RS6, and you guessed it, not cheap to replace. If I had one, I'd love to swap in a 6-speed from an RS4.

Very close behind the RS6 on my list is the 500E. I've wanted one for a long time. They're just so classy and stealth. Interiors are awesome, wear well, and the motors are bulletproof.

I love all the options (aside from the Caprice Classic), so it's obvious you've got good taste!

M. Schneider

Cast my vote for the E500 .... simply stealth and vault solid... like the old days. Owned a MY95 e class diesel DD before the de-content craze had started with MB.
At Le Mans 2001 Audi.de treated myself and a few buddies with the keys to a pre production RS6 wagon as a half dozen examples were floating around. .. So for an hour it was ours... as the fuel gauge noticeably moved.
We returned to the states placing deposits for the RS6 wagon possibility, but only the sedan was offered by Audi USA.

The Porsche AG yard used to have 50 or so at a time e500's in production. Remember,, the screwball production process had the chassis traveling back and forth across Stuttgart more than once.

The 500E Benz/Porsche is a special car... Go for it. (A factory '90s AMG Hammer)

Nurburger

Another benefit of the E500E is that MB Technicians love to see them & work on them....

Always loved this picture of the lot at Zuffenhausen:

Kika

I vote E500, but I really know very little about the other cars.

Quadcammer

how about a w210 E55.

More modern car than the 124 with some extra features, rock solid v8, 722.6 tranny, nice looks/interior, reasonable price.

Van1

I voted for the "Box" as the other 3 wouldn't look good with giant chrome wheels.

nathan1

I currently have a 2003 RS6 for sale. Of the 3 it would be the best daily: all wheel drive for true 4-season use, automatic for stop and go traffic and one hell of a motor! I won't disagree maintenance costs are high, the one I am selling just got a $11k service at Audi: new transmission, torque converter, 90k service with belts, etc. ready to go, a hell of a car for just over $20k!

I have always wanted a 500E however...

Dr. No

QC - Liked the W210 E55 at the time and am liking them more as they age.

Nathan - how much $$$$ for the 90k service - isn't that the every 30k belt service that requires some Audi-only tools?

Van1 - the great thing about the Caprice is when/if lowriders with 13 inch wheels come back into fashion, all you need to do is swap wheels and drop the suspension a bit.

TRAKCAR

Been looking for a very clean 500E for a long time.

993KT

Thanks guys, just wasted an hour browsing for AMG Hammer and 560 SEC.

I'll still vote for the M5 though. Manual + RWD. I can't stand MB automatics in 1st gear.

badabing

I vote M5. I am in the market for one myself.

Best looking of the bunch IMHO plus everything ilko and others have said in support.

I had a 2003 E39 540i "M sport" as a DD for a several years and I was genuinely excited to drive it every day.

Basically same as M5 save for 100hp and auto trans.

But they definitely have tons of little things go wrong with them. I detailed my experiences in another similar thread recently if you care to search my name.

But like I said, I still want one

MartinC2S

I'm waiting for 2017 to bring across a C5 RS6 wagon.

Just blew 10k+ for a new motor in my S4 so how much worse can the RS6 really be? lol

Falcondrivr

My neighbor has his wife's DD 1884 300D turbo deisel for sale. 67,000 original miles, original owner, he's 83. I have to restrIn myself from buying it every payday... I vote E500.