WHAT is so GREAT about owning a MERCEDES? | FerrariChat

WHAT is so GREAT about owning a MERCEDES?

Discussion in 'Other German' started by F1Ace, Oct 16, 2005.

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Is owning a Mercedes still special?

  1. No, it doesn't really give you a special feeling.

  2. Yes, when you own one you'll know that feeling.

Multiple votes are allowed.
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  1. F1Ace

    F1Ace F1 Rookie

    Mar 15, 2004
    2,980
    Full Name:
    Wes
    OK, I just don't get it anymore. So many current Mercedes models look pretty bland, and with the quality of so many other cars like Acura and Lexus coming up, what is so great about owning a Mercedes?

    I remember a mechanic telling me they're built better in some ways. Is that it?

    In the 80's they were a pretty unique status symbol and were different enough so you got a special feeling getting one, but what about now?

    I have to admit my time in them is negligible, so I am asking from an outsider's point of view.

    Do they still give you that special feeling when you get in, like a Ferrari? Or, are they too often just another car now?

    Comments? :(

    Wes
     
  2. Goose

    Goose Karting

    Nov 10, 2004
    242
    Kent, Ohio
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    Michael
    I think it is still mostly status symbol. Mercedes also makes darn good GT cars as well.
     
  3. otaku

    otaku Formula 3

    Aug 12, 2005
    1,391
    Boise,Idaho
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    Josh
    My neighor owns one they've had it for a few years and they bought it a year or two used so its about 5+ years old. Its white with tan inside. Its a great car its not particularly fun to drive or anything but it is comfortable and mercedes definetly has a reputation, a history and good quality. Definetly status symbol. I like the SLK convt. myself or the new r class. I'd say they are pretty great cars for sure.
     
  4. Webby

    Webby F1 Veteran

    Sep 12, 2004
    6,821
    I don't own one myself but I think all of their cars are pretty sweet and they do have some really nice ones right now like the SL 65 AMG and SLR. They just look classy.
     
  5. Bimmerista

    Bimmerista Formula 3

    Feb 7, 2004
    1,765
    Carrollton, TX
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    Mike
    I absolutely understand what you mean. Quite possibly, the newest Mercedes-Benz that I would ever own is an '02 SL500 Silver Arrow or a '99 S500 Grand Edition. My father had a few 87, 88, 89 560SL verts & those cars are simply amazing.
     
  6. bdog

    bdog Formula Junior

    Jul 10, 2004
    330
    Nothing for the Same money (as a C-class) you can have a better car from Ford (500 Limted with All-wheel and CVT great car I drive my mom's it much bigger close to an S class) or a 300c(more power better looks) or if you must have a german I would go with a BWM just because the are nto every where
     
  7. Sheldon

    Sheldon Formula 3

    Apr 18, 2005
    1,423
    Calgary, Alberta
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    Sheldon
    I work for Mercedes right now, and some of the cars are something else. The AMG cars are really awesome. We've had a few CL65's and SL65's come in and they sound and look awesome.
     
  8. bdog

    bdog Formula Junior

    Jul 10, 2004
    330
    I agree as a matter of Fact but the Low end one YUCK
     
  9. judge4re

    judge4re F1 World Champ

    Apr 26, 2003
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    Had one of the better ones (before the accountants took over). They were nice, then.

    The new ones do nothing for me. They're destroying the brand with the current model structure. Too cheap on the low end and the AMG models are almost twice the price as the regular version and look 95% the same.
     
  10. Grey_Gull

    Grey_Gull Formula Junior

    Jul 24, 2004
    564
    I lost my passion for the brand after (repeated) horrible customer service from my local dealer and am looking forward more to buying a Subaru Outback when the time has come...
     
  11. bdog

    bdog Formula Junior

    Jul 10, 2004
    330
    Subaru as to be one of the Greatest brands in the world super high not inculed
     
  12. Westworld

    Westworld Three Time F1 World Champ
    Silver Subscribed

    May 18, 2004
    32,217
    A hit I think MB is taking with the downmarketing. Porsche's line expansion could give the top lines a run for its money.
     
  13. Dan Ciezniewzky

    Dan Ciezniewzky Formula 3
    BANNED

    Sep 6, 2004
    1,351
    Indianapolis
    they're just status symbols, that's about it. Acura, Lexis, Infiniti, ect all make better cars for less. it's just people perceived notion of them. Heck, you can get a cheap c class and most people still think you're rich, wonder if they'll ever have the a class here :/
    I think they look nice on the outside, but the inside is nothing special...to me that is. Plus, from what I've herd newer ones suck when it comes to reliablility, and Im sure someone will now pop up with the "i've never had a problem with mine"...so go ahead.
    The sadest part is when you see some mom driving those crappy lil m class "suvs" when you know they "need" a minivan or a Toyota/Honda/Nissan suv much more, but because everyone on the neighborhood has a MB they need one too. The truely secure people buy what they need more in those situations, rather than the status of the badge.
     
  14. Grey_Gull

    Grey_Gull Formula Junior

    Jul 24, 2004
    564
    it is a definite upgrade from my standpoint
     
  15. Supercarlover

    Supercarlover Formula 3

    Sep 30, 2004
    1,760
    Texas
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    Joshua B.
    The '02 Silver Arrow SL is gorgeous. But....I don't think there's much prestige among car enthusiasts now regarding Mercedes. Its mostly wanna-bees and people just wanting a luxury car. The C-class has really taken Merc down-market. Even though BMW is headed the same way, at least they still offer the almost all lines with a manual transmission. Merc lost that war a long time ago.
     
  16. Townshend

    Townshend F1 Veteran
    Owner Rossa Subscribed

    Jul 20, 2005
    6,677
    Chicago
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    Walter
    What about the CLS? Or the upcoming S-Class. Both cars that I think are really helping to boost the brands image once again. The SL is also one of the sexiest cars in the world IMHO.
     
  17. Westworld

    Westworld Three Time F1 World Champ
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    May 18, 2004
    32,217
    What does "need" mean, if you say they don't need a SUV, but instead they should get a SUV from Japan?

    As for MB,
    They new CEO seems like he's got a good mind, hopefully he can pull it around. I just think Mercedes went overboard on model line expansion, and didn't think of the long-term situation. I love the new SLK.
     
  18. Westworld

    Westworld Three Time F1 World Champ
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    May 18, 2004
    32,217
    I saw the CLS the other day. I like that it's somewhat differnet. The more I do look it over, it does grow on me alittle bit at a time. How is the quality of the new models (SLK, CLS, ect.)? I kinda wish MB would ax the C-class, taking the price upmarket alittle bit.
     
  19. judge4re

    judge4re F1 World Champ

    Apr 26, 2003
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    Dr. Dumb Ass
    CLSs are all over Tokyo right now. I'm guessing that this is going to be a car that doesn't age very well. Too trendy, not timeless. Timeless being what most MB owners want.
     
  20. whart

    whart F1 Veteran
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    Dec 5, 2001
    6,554
    Austin, TX
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    William Maxwell Hart
    They were workhorses, built like brick ****houses, and the majority of them were not luxurious. They are still used as cabs in many European countries for that reason. They were, like most 'foreign' cars, not too common in the States (my experience is limited to the post WWII years, really starting in the early 60's, when i first became aware of cars).
    The 300 Gullwing was probably their last serious sportscar; i don't consider the SL, or even the McLarenized SLR to be a sportscar. So, that would be late 50's.
    They last built these tank-like vehicles in the slab-sided version that appeared in the States in the early nineties. Those cars were seriously expensive for what you got, and MB got their ass handed to them by the Japanese, on a dollar/value basis. The redesigns focused on what they could get away with, at a lower price point. To me, it is not just a cheaping of the line by adding some downmarket models- the whole range is 'less' in terms of that bank-vault quality they used to be known for. (The doors used to make a distinctive sound, kinda like a Dupont lighter has a distinctive sound, when opening and closing).
    As the 'lux/hi-end' market expanded in the US, it became a ubiquitous car.
    But, the switch in design and construction emphasis, and the greater reliance on electronics, jeopardized the entire brand's long history for build quality/reliability. They currently rank pretty low in owner satisfaction studies and in empirical studies of reliability/recalls, etc.
    Their 'SUV' is really a disguised mini-van and to me, did more to destroy their credibility than anything that Porsche did with the Cayenne, which when said and done, is still a well-built, comfortable, very driveable and nicely performing vehicle.
    THe AMG branding is also less exclusive than it used to be, and while they make some behemoth HP/torque figures at the top of the line, the cars are still not thoroughbreds, they are more like old-style American musclecars- take a standard production car and stick a big motor in it. The CL 65 I checked out did not have body build/interior fitment quality commensurate with its price.
    Anyway, i don't think much about MB these days, although I've owned a few along the way. The best was a 69 300 SEL 6.3- made when the company was still in its heyday.
    Oh, yeah, and one final thought. Someone else commented that they have little lustre for enthusiasts, but non-car people may still be enchanted by the 3 pointed star. I find this to be true with alot of consumer goods that 'had' a reputation- lost, among the cognescenti, but still holding among those with less knowledge/more interest in the brandname than the reality. (Think: Harley, Lucchese boots, McIntosh hi-fi equipment, etc.)
     
  21. Ricambi America

    Ricambi America F1 World Champ
    Sponsor Owner

    My 97 E420 was a piece. It was early in the W210 production, and was a maintenance nightmare. I'll take my '01 740i any day of the week over the MB.

    Having said that, I've just added a car to the stable that defies all logic. A 1993 Saturn SL with 145K miles on the clock. Manual windows, smells funny on the inside, looks like crap, never gonna be washed -- but runs quite nicely. There's something strangely liberating about it.
     
  22. CMY

    CMY F1 World Champ

    Oct 15, 2004
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    Chris
    ..or used to want.

    The '02 Silver Arrow SL500 was the last of the old MB's. I remember delivering one (that had been leftover after the new model came out) and it still stands out in my mind; the '03 that I drove afterwards wasn't such a big deal (I remember it only because it was a Heather Locklear return.. raawwrrr).

    CLS will not age well and 55/65's will be a nightmare to own once out of warranty.
     
  23. judge4re

    judge4re F1 World Champ

    Apr 26, 2003
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    Point taken. Big B for my next luxury barge, please.
     
  24. CMY

    CMY F1 World Champ

    Oct 15, 2004
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    Chris
    New or old? Might as well be looking at Phaeton's if it's the former. :)
     
  25. judge4re

    judge4re F1 World Champ

    Apr 26, 2003
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    Old. Turbo R. Want a black/black 1989. Pre-electronic suspension.
     

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