India's First MasterChef Winner Pankaj Bhadouria Buys Her Dream Car - A Mercedes-Benz S-Class
Owning a Mercedes-Benz or a German luxury sedan is a dream of many people in India. Each year, a number of people do manage to achieve it with their hard work. Of these people, one is MasterChef Pankaj Bhadouria, the season one winner of the reality cooking TV show MasterChef India, who has recently bought herself a Mercedes-Benz S-Class and has shared about it online.
India's first MasterChef buys Mercedes-Benz S-Class
The images showing MasterChef Pankaj Bhadouria with her Mercedes-Benz S-Class luxury sedan have been shared on Instagram by her official handle. In the images, she was seen standing and posing in front of her used Mercedes-Benz S-Class. She also took the vehicle to a temple to perform Hindu rituals and was seen standing next to it with folded hands.
Her post stated, “Welcome Home Beauty! In a family of car buffs, every new car is a new milestone in life! It is like welcoming a new family member who is welcomed and cherished as one would care for family.” She added, “I thank God for blessing me and my family with all that we aspire for.”
Pankaj Bhadouria and her S-Class
From the images, we can note that MasterChef Pankaj Bhadouria has not bought a brand-new latest generation Mercedes-Benz S-Class. Rather, she has opted for a used W222 generation model, which was the predecessor of the current model. This particular generation of the S-Class was sold from 2013 till 2020.
This particular vehicle is finished in the classy shade of Iridium Silver with silver alloy wheels. As for the interior, most S-Class models in India were optioned with black leather upholstery. This generation of the S-Class came with seven LED ambient lights, a high-quality Burmester music system, heated and adjustable rear seats, two 12-inch TFT displays, and many others.
One of the most popular powertrain options of this sedan in India was the 3.0-litre V6 diesel engine, which was capable of producing 260 bhp and 630 Nm of torque. As for the transmission, it came equipped with a 7-speed automatic gearbox. Apart from this, the S500 variant came with a 4.7-litre bi-turbo V8 engine, which made 460 bhp and 700 Nm of torque.
How much does a used W222 S-Class cost today?
Back in 2013, when it was launched in India, it commanded a price tag of Rs 1.37 crore for the S350d variant and Rs 1.50 crore for the S500 variant. Today, a decently used model can be bought for a fraction of the price in the range of Rs 25–45 lakh. This particular generation was known for pioneering the luxury car segment with its latest features and its opulence.
Now, before you get excited to buy yourself a used Mercedes-Benz S-Class, you have to keep in mind that although this luxury sedan is currently available at such low prices, its service and parts are not cheap. Many such old luxury cars are sold for such prices because keeping them running is an expensive affair.
If you end up with a neglected car that has not been properly maintained, your used luxury sedan can quickly become your worst nightmare. So before pulling the trigger on such a luxury car, make sure that the vehicle is in good condition and has been taken care of by the previous owner.