Is all the price of a Mercedes Benz about quality reliability and performance?

Question

How much of it is about prestige and other intangibles?

Answer 1

No. It's about prestige and who's got more money.

Look at the ML320. It's been rated a piece of junk by several car magazines as unreliable and problematic. The only reason it's worth anything is because of the MB badge. Now some of the MB's are good, but not the ones we can afford.

Answer 2

Prior to the 1999 models the Mercedes Benz automobiles were by far the "Best Autombiles In the World" (Car and Driver Magizine) But in an effort to contain costs and bring more value to the stockholders, (it is all about money you know) the reliability and subsequently the prestige of the Mercedes Benz autos has taken an awful beating. In 2005 MB senior management realized they were loosing ground to the other medium priced luxo cars and put in place a massive product improvement program to bring the cars back to the level of expectation people who buy MB expect. (During the period 1999 to 2005 MB spent more than $500 million on warranty repairs and that comes right off the bottom line) The results have been favorable but the proof of long term results will be a couple of years from now when we see what the warranty claims produce. During the period mentioned above the single largest complaint was electrical problems. These problems were as a result of MB contracting out all of the electrical systems manufacturing. In 2005 MB bought or in other ways took control of the companies making product for them and instituted a massive quality control program with its vendors. I personally hope that they succeded in acheiving their goals as I am looking at the S420D v8 deisel which us supposed to be available in the states in late 2007 early 2008.

One of the other answers stated that Chrysler bought MB. Not true. MB and Chrysler merged but it was not a merger of equals. MB has taken full control of Chrysler and kept it as a fully owned subsidiary of DamilerChrysler, AG

Answer 3

It used to be. I own one of the last "real" Benzes made- the '95 E320, W124 chassis. This was a hand-assembled car with an inline 6 cylinder engine. The cars made after this one don't smell like a Benz, or look like one, or feel like one. I think this quote sums it up:

"Mercs have this characteristic which is that the engine, chassis and the interior all merge together into one feeling which is transmitted to your hands and which makes you want to drive regardless of the time or destination...makes you want to drive, and drive, and take care of it like a pet (maybe I'm getting a bit too weird by now)."

This does not seem to be true of the ones made after the Chrysler takeover (MB dug Chrysler out of the grave) in 1998. Also from what I've read in the forums and review, their reliability is unpredictable and they are plagued by many electrical problems. The dashboard frequently looks like a Christmas tree with all the warning lights indicating failures. It makes we want to cry when I drive a new Benz and it's just not the same. I would gladly take a restored pre-96 E-Class before ANY new Benz.

IMHO, BMW is the only true German performance/luxury car still being built, though I still love my vintage Benz. BMW is still its own company, and I am on my second one with no major, and very few minor problems.

Answer 4

It's all about the name.

Answer 5

in case you force a Toyota and then a Lexus you straight away see the Lexus is a Toyota with an L at the front. really extremely stupid human beings might want to each pay for a Lexus. also no human being cares about them or thinks they're extreme end. Infinity and Acura are are interior a similar boat. to boot to the front grill on the recent Lexus s fairly the SUV s is amazingly ugly. Mercedes are all masterpieces of flavor and remarkable engineering and status. human beings note once you pull u in a most suitable new Merc - it says something. imagine Ray Donovon rolling aroound in a lexus hahaha. some human beings enroll in this eastern idea that they could take remarkable issues made by Germans and others and do them extra effective - perhaps so yet they lack the contact and sweetness and paintings it truly is in touch. Even utilizing a B type has a experience even as zooming down a usa street - and no Lexus even their perfect lacks this.

Answer 6

I have owned two mercedes. I currently own a 240C. I just found out that Chrysler bought Mercedes. In my opinion, Mercedes Benz used to be about prestige and luxury. Things are changing.
I have had a lot of "quarks" with the car I have now. (Lots of little things going wrong, like with the electrical system in the car).
It is annoying because I have to keep taking it in for repair, abeit I have a warranty but non the less it is a major inconvenience.

IWhy not look at a Consumer Reports magazine. Mercedes didn't fair well at all. Acura and Toyota were better!

If you like the European cars, Volvo is supposed to be really good and I'm thinking of trading in my benz for a Volvo. Good luck.

Answer 7

Mercedes-Benz® makes high performance luxury cars. Note: the key word is luxury. There are cars on the market with comparable performance for a hell of a lot less. So if you need a watch, are you going to buy a Timex® or a Rolex®? It's all about how much you want to spend, my friend.

Answer 8

It's mostly about prestige. Just subtract the price of a Camry (pretty much the most reliable car out there) from the price of a comparably equipped Benz, and you'll see how much it's about the name.

Answer 9

its mostly the badge on the car and the prestige that comes with it. quality now is generally equal accross the board, take a similar size and type vehicle and subtract the price of it (comparably equipped) and whats left is the price of the prestige

Answer 10

It is mostly about the quality, reliability, and performance. The prestige is earned.