Ouch! More quality troubles at Mercedes Benz..
- Thread starter SilverLexus
- Start date
SergC
wax on...stress off...
TW85 HHI said:So speed and acceleration are the top two priorities?
And it's also a luxury,comfort in daily driving
termigator
New member
TW85 HHI said:So speed and acceleration are the top two priorities?
Sure. If you want to be first in line at the dealership for warranty work.
SergC said:
I enjoy quick acceleration as much as anyone else but I am so frickin' tired of statements along the lines of, "my 'insert car here' is faster than your car." That kind of statement offers nothing to further the thread and proves someone is scraping for something to say.
Corey Bit Spank
Active member
03E55AMG said:
That's very nice of you to be modest and everything...
MongooseGA
New member
03E55AMG said:
Wow, cockiest post on Autopia... ever.
Does Benz use an assembly plant? If so, that was copied as well. From Ford.
I'd be willing to bet the E60 M5 would be excellent competition for your Benz.
Congrads, in your second post you managed to come across as a complete sex organ to me. :xyxthumbs
:wavey
SilverLexus
Super Enthusiast
"It seems the rash of problems Mercedes has had is pretty recent because I know several people with 90s models who just love them and are very happy with how well they hold up."
Actually their reliability was questionable in the 90s also Scott. It's hard to draw conclusions based on local experience simply since there are fewer experiences to draw from.
As far as who is original, lately people have been most trying to copy BMW and Lexus if what I read in the automobile mags is any indication. Both these brands have increased market share at the expense of Mercedes.
Actually their reliability was questionable in the 90s also Scott. It's hard to draw conclusions based on local experience simply since there are fewer experiences to draw from.
As far as who is original, lately people have been most trying to copy BMW and Lexus if what I read in the automobile mags is any indication. Both these brands have increased market share at the expense of Mercedes.
Sveta
New member
03E55AMG said:
It's a Dussie. Now that's an original.
There is more to "motoring" then power to the ground and it's a hollow way to compare vehicles in the real world? Come on, get your MB to smoke my Toyota 4X4 on 60 miles of rocky, twisty, sandy desert road. Right? But I'd rather go New York to San Francisco in your MB. My point is if one pays premium prices for luxury cars one should expect premium reliabilty. Right now the Japanese have the statistical lead and I'll guess in MPGs too.
Personally, I think most German cars have gone down hill big time over the last 3 years.
I don't know if it was mentioned or not but the Euro may have impacted quality control. They are losing huge on these cars, especially the ones produced in Germany. Some of these company's didn't hedge their money and are paying the price.
Solution..............lower the quality of the product in many areas.
As well there have been a lot of labor disputes in Germany over the last 2 years.
We only buy German cars as well, we own a Porsche, BMW, Mercedes, and VW (this one was made in Mexico)
Our Toyota 01 Rav4 has needed "0" repairs and has twice the mileage than all of our German cars which all need some attention from $500 in warranty work up to $3500- Porsche Navigation unit died on us.
Go figure but they are a blast to drive!
I don't know if it was mentioned or not but the Euro may have impacted quality control. They are losing huge on these cars, especially the ones produced in Germany. Some of these company's didn't hedge their money and are paying the price.
Solution..............lower the quality of the product in many areas.
As well there have been a lot of labor disputes in Germany over the last 2 years.
We only buy German cars as well, we own a Porsche, BMW, Mercedes, and VW (this one was made in Mexico)
Our Toyota 01 Rav4 has needed "0" repairs and has twice the mileage than all of our German cars which all need some attention from $500 in warranty work up to $3500- Porsche Navigation unit died on us.
Go figure but they are a blast to drive!
It's clear that the MB problems go back about a decade.
I drive a Lexus and prefer the top of the line Lexus to any MB so I'm biased.
But there was an article about a month ago saying that taxi drivers in Stuttgart -- which used to be 90% Benz are increasingly jumping ship to japanese or to GM/Opel, which says a lot in that market. Further, the used MBs from the ealry 90s are going for good money because they were considered to be the last reliable MBs. When locals with a vested interest in driving MB start jumping ship, the big boys had better realize something is really up.
I also find it funny that MB is now pointing to "style" and "feel" more than reliability. Growing up, MBs were perceived by me as being boring but wonderfully well built, reliable tanks. They were never fashion models like Ferrari or even sport vehicles like BMW. To my mind, Lexus copied the best of MB and did it right, improving on the original all around. Lexus is what MB should have been.
Others will disagree, but if the market keeps going with Lexus share continuing to build, it will be clear which of us has correctly pegged consumer demand. And if MB keeps selling itself as too good to change, it will suffer as GM has suffered for its past sins of hubris.
That would be a shame as all of us benefit from a healthy German car industry. Let's hope someone in Stuttgart realizes this.
I drive a Lexus and prefer the top of the line Lexus to any MB so I'm biased.
But there was an article about a month ago saying that taxi drivers in Stuttgart -- which used to be 90% Benz are increasingly jumping ship to japanese or to GM/Opel, which says a lot in that market. Further, the used MBs from the ealry 90s are going for good money because they were considered to be the last reliable MBs. When locals with a vested interest in driving MB start jumping ship, the big boys had better realize something is really up.
I also find it funny that MB is now pointing to "style" and "feel" more than reliability. Growing up, MBs were perceived by me as being boring but wonderfully well built, reliable tanks. They were never fashion models like Ferrari or even sport vehicles like BMW. To my mind, Lexus copied the best of MB and did it right, improving on the original all around. Lexus is what MB should have been.
Others will disagree, but if the market keeps going with Lexus share continuing to build, it will be clear which of us has correctly pegged consumer demand. And if MB keeps selling itself as too good to change, it will suffer as GM has suffered for its past sins of hubris.
That would be a shame as all of us benefit from a healthy German car industry. Let's hope someone in Stuttgart realizes this.
SilverLexus
Super Enthusiast
To be fair to German brands, Porsche has been scoring very high in reliability and initial quality in the JD Power survey the past few years...
Glossequation
New member
03E55AMG said:
Hi - are you 18? Or just plain retarded? More proof positive that you can be wealthy and still be stupid with statements like this.
I love racing as much as the next guy, but when you drive an '03 E55 AMG (I admit a sick car), you really shouldn't have to make statements like this. Perhaps you have a small winky?
termigator
New member
blackcaraddict said:
I was thinking the same thing when he posted that.:rofl :LOLOL :rofl
LightngSVT
New member
Kind of off topic, but did anyone notice how high Lincoln and Mercury scored? And that Ford was below average? I find this strange since they are basically the same vehicles?
In the end it all comes down to personal choice (bias). Those who love Lexus, etc will take this as an opportunity to bash MB. Those MB fans will use what they have to retaliate. Quality and reliability are two different things. I think MB has definite quality while lacking in reliability somewhat. In terms of fun to drive a MB, or especially some of the Lexus/Acura cars are no match for BMW or Audi. So whats wrong if a buyer chooses feel and fun to drive over a bit of extra reliability? After all its his wallet the payments come out of!
In the end it all comes down to personal choice (bias). Those who love Lexus, etc will take this as an opportunity to bash MB. Those MB fans will use what they have to retaliate. Quality and reliability are two different things. I think MB has definite quality while lacking in reliability somewhat. In terms of fun to drive a MB, or especially some of the Lexus/Acura cars are no match for BMW or Audi. So whats wrong if a buyer chooses feel and fun to drive over a bit of extra reliability? After all its his wallet the payments come out of!
termigator said:
Kind of reminds me of Ruthless People when the guy in the Ferrari jacket was with his arm candy in the stereo store bragging to her that he had the large speakers on display. He then asks the Judge Reinhold character what he thinks of the speakers and Reinhold tells him that they use large speakers and a big cabinet but it really isn't a very good speaker. Reinhold then says the speakers appeal to men who want bigger...then the arm candy breaks in and says "equipment?"
:lol
SilverLexus
Super Enthusiast
"Quality and reliability are two different things. I think MB has definite quality while lacking in reliability somewhat. In terms of fun to drive a MB, or especially some of the Lexus/Acura cars are no match for BMW or Audi. So whats wrong if a buyer chooses feel and fun to drive over a bit of extra reliability?"
When we started the thread, we intended to show that Benz has some real problems, not to make judgments on luxury versus performance drivers. I think you can say the quality of Benz has fallen as well and quality and reliability are tightly integrated.
If a part's quality is high then won't if fail less often?
When we started the thread, we intended to show that Benz has some real problems, not to make judgments on luxury versus performance drivers. I think you can say the quality of Benz has fallen as well and quality and reliability are tightly integrated.
If a part's quality is high then won't if fail less often?
MongooseGA
New member
blackcaraddict said:
Hey now, not all young people are stupid
Glossequation
New member
MongooseGA said:Hey now, not all young people are stupid
Well actually what I meant was that an 18 year old would say something like "I'll smoke your car"...I used to pull up next to cars I knew I could destroy with my '96 cobra, but never said anything. The snake on the fender said it all.
Mochamanz1
Sun Blinded Detailer
termigator said:I couldn't have said it any better.:xyxthumbs
I think the German automakers got too complacent , thinking that the Japanese could never catch them in the luxury segment. When they did and also became more reliable, the Germans started relying on technology to keep them ahead, but, unfortunately, I think they're rushing the technology so they can be first and all the bugs haven't been worked out yet. That's when reliability took a hit. I love German cars because they're made for drivers, but I'm not too keen on using that drivability to get to the dealership for warranty work.
Sounds like the pre-japanese invasion GM to me... I used to wonder why a company (GM) would leave a customer stuck with an engineered in flaw.... it seems to be the beginning of a shift in customer loyalty and public quality awareness when these type of ideas begin to be voiced and widely accepted.:nixweiss
Glossequation
New member
The Japanese (Toyota specifically) I think have really set the bar high as far as quality and reliability. The "Toyota way" works, period. My '98 Tacoma is my 6th Toyota Truck, and not one has ever let me down. Last year, I sold my '91 Xcab 4x4 with 182k and not only was it rattle free, she'd start on the first turn, every time.
No company is perfect I realize that, but there is something to be said when you have a major headgasket recall covering 6 model years and people are still paying top dollar in the market for these trucks (89-94, V6 models) - what's more, they JUST ended that recall campaign which as of November 2004, still covered trucks as old as 1989 with this problem. That's how you take care of and retain customers. Way to go Toyota, I am a lifelong customer :up
.
No company is perfect I realize that, but there is something to be said when you have a major headgasket recall covering 6 model years and people are still paying top dollar in the market for these trucks (89-94, V6 models) - what's more, they JUST ended that recall campaign which as of November 2004, still covered trucks as old as 1989 with this problem. That's how you take care of and retain customers. Way to go Toyota, I am a lifelong customer :up
.