What is so good about a Mercedes?

Question

I have ridden in Mercedes, but never driven one. Why does anyone buy one. The two I have ridden in both seemed like pieces of junk; one - a "C" class seemed like a $15K compact car. The other - a big, new one (700 series?) actually leaked on me! It was raining out and water came through the ceiling light!

Consumer Reports always ranks them low on quality and reliability and whenever I see one I can't help but think, "There goes a FOOL who paid too much for their car!" - so much for status!

Maybe Mercedes used to say "affluence", but the message these days is "Old Geeser On Board Who Overpaid For An Unreliable Car"

And don't get me started on Mercedes SUVs and Wagons - absolutely laughable that someone would associate status, style, reliability, or performance with these! Ha!

So, Mercedes owners - are you aware that for every person that admires your car, there is another who laughs at you? Why are you willing to pay so much for a car that is passe' and unreliable?

Boy, I think I struck a nerve - especially with "David"! Sounds like he identifies a little to closely with his car. Hey dude, you aren't your car! All you have to do is just leave it on the side of the road the next time it breaks down (tomorrow?) and buy something else!

Answer 1

Bostonian gave a very good, and quite definitive reply.

The quality control issues he alluded too were the unfortunate result of the MB Board being headed for the first time by a 'pen pushing bean counter' rather than an engineer, the latter being the company's traditional CEO.

Fortunately, MB eventually realised their error and re appointed an engineer to lead the company. As a result, the QC problems have been tackled with vigour and seem to have been substantially overcome - though it will take some time for them to be forgotten.

It is a shame that you had not actually driven a Mercedes over a considerable distance _before_ you made your remarks because I think you would have found the experience rewarding. The experience might have made you think twice before making your adverse comment.

Like many people, I can not afford a new MB, but over the past 20 years I have owned, and been very happy with, three Mercedes ( two 190E's and a 200), each of which has been thoroughly reliable, costing only the usual servicing and consumables such as tyres. Incidentally, as far as servicing is concerned, here in the UK we have some excellent independent MB servicing outlets which do the same job as the main (very expensive!) dealerships, but at a much lower labour cost.

In America, Mercedes had its reputation further sullied by the dreadfully poor quality of US assembled ML models. The company also went through a period of using water based instead of cellulose based paint, which led to some embarrassing problems.

But longevity is still expected from MBs - even the 'poor QC period' models. I know two people whose (regularly serviced) MBs have covered 250,000 + miles with no problems. A taxi service I used regularly in Zwolle (The Netherlands) had several older MBs which had covered over 500,000 kms; the engines of these vehicles had had nothing done to them apart from regular servicing.

As far as looks are concerned - well, just like one's taste in anything, it is a personal choice.

Anyway, it is just as well that not every body wants to own an Mercedes since some of the people who have answered your question would have nobody to laugh at... Happy motoring!

Answer 2

Mercedes Benz stands for quality, Cadillac used to mean "American Standard For The World", I have not owned a benz, but have driven one of the older 80s models a C280 which was a very well built car with a lot of quality, I actually nearly went and bought an SEC500 but bought a Cadillac instead. I think both cars/makes are excellent vehicles and I will be buying a nice new CLS Mercedes this coming year! Yes the quality control might be abit adrift right now but so many people are buying the Mercedes Benz, young, old and not so old. It really has taken over from the VW AS the "Peoples Car" in my opinion.Passe, no way!

Answer 3

You have to be kidding me, right?

It is really unbelievable, but, if you think so, be my guest.

I have several MB's, the oldest one is almost 75 years old, my newest one is two years old.

Even the doors sound different from other cars. My 1957 300 SL has mechanical features that American and Japanese cars started to offer as standard features less than 10 years ago.

I used for my everyday car a 1960 220 SEb for twenty years, and I only bought a new car because in my country is much safer to have bulletproof windows, a feature that none American auto maker offers as standard equipment today.

The road handling of this cars is unbeatable, My 1987 560 SEL is far more reliable than a brand new Linconl Town Car. The interior spaces, and .... You know, why I even bother, go on, buy a lexus, what do I care!!!!

Answer 4

Aright, buddy. Your a joke. Like my man said above, you never drove one so how do u kno. The new ones are all new technology so when u read a consumer report they rate it bad because they say there not reliable. No, thats not the case. Because mercedes takes first steps in new technology unlike american piece of **** cars or jap crap. There in the shop to get all the bugs out. Once the dealer gets the bugs out then the american and jap crap put it in there cars so u dont hear anything about them being (unreliable). Yea ur gonna rate mercedes after u been in a C-class, an entry level car for mercedes. Please u have no idea what ur talking about. But, most likely ur just unhappy with the car u drive. Its a big piece of **** so u try to make urself feel better by trying to diss a high class car. YOU DUMB SON OF A BIITCH.

Answer 5

I never liked the Mercedes C-class. Honestly, the C-Class still reminds me of Cadillacs Catera, the predecessor to the CTS that was better than the Cimmaron, but not luxury brand worthy. They're small, the build quality is awful, and the materials are so 90s, I couldn't ever see paying money for one of those in this day in age.

However the E, S, SL, SLK, SLR, etc are all very nice cars. Not particularly reliable, and parts and labor is typically very expensive, but still very nice cars with solid performance.

Answer 6

All cars have problems. It just depends on which ones you want to look at. Sure Benz has had a few bad years, mostly with their electrical systems, but part of that is they set the bar that others then try to reach. When you push that hard sometimes you make mistakes.
What gets me is people who would rather "laugh at some old geeser who over paid" than admit that maybe that cars not for them and move on. No and my guess is it makes you feel better about yourself to laugh at the "poor fool" getting into his MB as you climb out of your Tercel.

Answer 7

If you don't get it, there's no sense trying to explain it to you. And since you haven't even driven one let alone owned one, your opinion is of minimal value.

You are right in that they've had QC issues in recent years. Thankfully, they're working overtime on those and the 06 and 07 models seem to have made it past that problem. On the other hand, an 80s vintage 300SD or 300TD will probably last forever with basic care.

Answer 8

You're right on except you left out how butt ugly they are. They look like a soviet military tank wannabe. I think they were originally intended to be sold to blind people who had wads of money and no toilet to flush it down. Now apparently they're intended to be rolling bedpans for geriatrics on metamucil who feel the need for a wheezing eyesore.

Answer 9

They are junk and overpriced.People just brag on them so they can justify spending that much.It's all about the image.