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Mercedes-Benz: Future Models

441 messages,  Last post on Sep 15, 2007 at 9:01 PM

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What is this discussion about? Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class, Mercedes-Benz R-Class


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#158 of 441
Re: Merc1, stroudman, ikramerica [scott1256] by merc1
May 09, 2005 (3:38 pm)
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Replying to: scott1256 (May 09, 2005 5:30 am)

Well you really can't read too much into that survey stuff, while I don't doubt that they show is true, the group that uses them for everything in my experiences with talking with them are pretty much clueless when it comes to other aspects of a car. Of course there are exception, but the clear majority that mention survey in their opening sentence about a car are not about much else. There are so many other things to a car imo.
 
Quality isn't just reliability either, which is what those surveys primarily measure. Any Korean car might be less troublesome as far as reliability, but physically built better than a Mercedes? Nope. Engineered like a Mercedes or any other German and most Japanese cars? Heck no. Safer than a German car? Nope. Just less trouble and this partly due to them being about the most simple cars you can buy. Outdated and underachieving drivetrains and cheapo materials, but hey they are reliable so the uninformed thinks they're great.
 
M
#159 of 441
Re: Merc1, stroudman, ikramerica [merc1] by stroudman
May 10, 2005 (12:13 pm)
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Replying to: merc1 (May 09, 2005 3:38 pm)

I agree. It's like all the cars that get 5-star safety ratings in controlled crash tests have different rates of fatality per accident in the real world.
 
     BTW, merc, we got in our first S350 today. All black with a wood trim pkg. I gave it a spin, and must say it's everything I expected. Plenty of power, and plenty of car for $20k less than an S500. It accelerates about like an S430, IMO. So, they're out there, go see one if you haven't already. I'm glad they brought it over.
#160 of 441
It's the S-Class with the legroom of an E-Class by ikramerica
May 10, 2005 (6:17 pm)
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The S350 has roughly the same legroom as the E-Class doing a quick comparo. So where does the 9 inches of extra wheelbase go? To the engine bay and trunk?
#161 of 441
Re: Merc1, stroudman, ikramerica [stroudman] by merc1
May 10, 2005 (8:28 pm)
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Replying to: stroudman (May 10, 2005 12:13 pm)

I've seen one already believe it or not, in Desert Silver. I spotted it instantly due to the shorter body. Probably only really noticeable to Mercedes fans.
 
M
#162 of 441
Forbes article - wake up, Mercedes!! by scott1256
May 11, 2005 (8:09 am)
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MB needs better communication/PR. I believe a quality turnaround is happening but why is management whispering about it and not shouting proudly?
 
Forbes magazine readers are prime potential Mercedes buyers with an average income of $150,000+ IIRC. Forbes has an article titled 'Almost Great Cars'. Individual vehicles are discussed that are not bad cars but that miss the mark in some way.
 
Here is the shocker - they rate the WHOLE Mercedes model range 'almost great' - not one or two models but the whole line!
 
"We do, however, feel comfortable calling DaimlerChrysler's Mercedes-Benz cars "very good" as opposed to "great." This is because they have a major flaw, pretty much across the board: They are sleek, but unreliable."
 
Forbes is an influential magazine and this is a blow even though it is not accurate IMO.
 
Link is below.
 
http://www.forbes.com/lifestyle/vehicles/2005/05/09/cx_dl_0509feat.html
#163 of 441
Re: Forbes article - wake up, Mercedes!! [scott1256] by merc1
May 11, 2005 (10:16 pm)
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Replying to: scott1256 (May 11, 2005 8:09 am)

Pretty lame article imo. Some of the cars they list have been called great including some Mercedes-Benz models. Forbes isn't an automobile magazine by trade so it pretty much the same as Consumer Reports talking about driving qualities and only naming the cars that they find to be reliable as having driving fun. Pretty good paper for wrapping fish heads imo.
 
M
#164 of 441
Re: Stroudman [stroudman] by merc1
May 11, 2005 (10:18 pm)
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Replying to: stroudman (May 04, 2005 4:34 pm)

Well Edmunds has a test of the E55 wagon on their front page. Very interesting that it isn't on MBUSA.com yet. A stunningly capable car imo.
 
M
#166 of 441
Merc1 - article by scott1256
May 12, 2005 (6:15 am)
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I agree - a lame article. But - Forbes readers are financially able to buy Mercedes cars and this will not dispose them toward doing so.
 
Any quality/reliability issue usually takes a while being addressed and solved. This is not exclusive to Mercedes. The current problems at VW and the Cadillac situation of 10 years have similarities to the MB scenario.
 
An article like this one in Forbes creates a lot of negative ripples. Restoring an image is not the work of a few months.
#167 of 441
Re: Merc1 - article [scott1256] by merc1
May 12, 2005 (10:19 pm)
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Replying to: scott1256 (May 12, 2005 6:15 am)

Yeah they should stick to the money talk. The article reads like a child wrote it.
 
I've always felt that Mercedes had the most to lose when their quality went down hill since they were at the top in image and quality in most people's minds. People love to see how the mighty have fallen. This will take years to fix.
 
M

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