What a motor car - totally brilliant. It is so smooth, it's like riding on air. The engine is lively and responsive - it will pull away from as little as 1000 rpm in fourth gear - and it is so comfortable you just feel like staying behind the wheel for ever.
I have had the pleasure of owning a 523 SE for two years and have found it to be very economical for a car of its class. It returns 32-37 mpg - not bad for a 2.5-litre straight-six. As for build quality, what can I say? The Germans certainly know how to put them together. It's well assembled and the paint finish is second to none.