S-Class (W221) 2007-2013: S 320 CDI, S 350, S 450, S 500, S 550, S 420 CDI, S 600

Why are S Class Mercs so popular in Japan?

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Old 05-25-2019, 03:57 AM
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Why are S Class Mercs so popular in Japan?

Hello everyone,

Visiting Tokyo for work and have noticed an insane amount of Mercedes S Class' in the city. Now I am well aware that Tokyo is a very affluent city but I would have expected still a mix of high end luxury cars but there isn't really it's all S Class no BMW, a openweb.vip/whatsapp-web/ https://19216801.onl/ routerlogin.uno/ few Lexus (not nearly as many as I would have expected) and a very rarely Audi or jaguar. They are honestly more common here than civics and camrys. Does anybody know why this is? It is really bothering me more than it should. Also side not they are all LHD in a left driving county and they are more often than not top of the line variants S600 maybachs, S63's, S65's.

Thank you!

Last edited by daniel77; 01-27-2020 at 11:42 PM.
Old 05-25-2019, 08:31 PM
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2015 E400
Surprised you didn't see many Centurys

https://autoweek.com/article/car-lif...g-tokyo-street

Old 05-26-2019, 05:07 PM
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'15 S550, '10 E350 P1/P2, '02 ML320
Lots of W221s all over the streets of Shanghai as well. On a recent trip there I was surprised to be picked up at the airport in a black W221. It was like being at home! Well ... except for all the cameras on the freeways snapping photos of everyone driving!
Old 05-27-2019, 11:15 PM
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2012 W221 S63, 2016 W166 GLE350d
In Asian culture, Mercedes is seen as the superior option with BMW as a close second but less desirable. Audi is considered second tier and are generally completely disregarded if it's a full size chauffeured sedan.

Asian countries generally have very high taxes for foreign vehicles so it's not surprising to see the msrp to be double or triple of those prices here in North America or Europe. Full size sedans are generally chauffeur driven and less of a need to have higher displacement engines. V8 options are considered as a status symbol for the wealthy (500 models keeping inline of tradition instead of 550) rather than for driving experience; V12s as well but many purchasers would consider a Rolls Royce at that point instead.

Those who have the budget for a 63 or 65 model there will generally consider other more expensive options at that point given culture wise, it's so materialistically driven.

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