Mercedes-Benz S350

Drivers of the relaunched S350 said the 2006 model takes some time to master -- and not because of its precise engineering, expert handling and power. The trick, owners say, is figuring out all the gadgets, switches and levers that fill the dash board, as well as the onboard computer systems that give the S350 a owners manual the size of a "small Bible."

The car is available with a V6 or V8 and a seven speed automatic transmission comes standard. With the standard, 3.5 liter V6 engine the car packs 272 horsepower and 350 Nm torque, reaching 62 miles per hour in 7.2 second.

Still, this car may be a little too complex for the average driver. And all those technological gizmos may create more service problems down the road. One driver reported that the onboard computer could not address a transition issue, and even the dealer was stumped by the problem.