TNblkc230wz

I can tell you Honda's and Acura's have there share of problems. My 98 Civic made it to 30K before the tow truck was needed. The 2000 Accord lasted 3000 miles before the transmission died. Umteen trips later, I got tired of it and traded it on my MB. Even the engine in the RSX died. Had to install a new engine. Yes, Honda's have problems too. The only good thing about the Acura is the service department is awesome. Honda service departments haven't been nearly as good.

The Accord is not a car a Woman can auto-X unless she is a weight lifter. The suspension binds and it is all muscle after the first one or two quick steering manuvers.

mctwin2kman

Yes but we also must account for the people who do nto fill out the surveys as well. We should also try to account for opinion as well. Think of it this way if you will, most MB buyers have money and expect perfection, so the steering buttons cracking, the door seals coming loose, the visor light coming on when it should not could all account for certain people saying a Benz is not a good vehicle could also drag the surveys down. Where a person in a honda civic may not complain about these things. Personally I would not fill a survey out for those types of problems as they are not safety related or engine/tranny related. We bought vehicles with some of the most advanced electonics in them, not to mention a whole lot of electronics. Not everything can be perfect in life, hence the reason for a warranty. I have been in the car business for the last 13 years and my family for 75, I have seen every manufacturer of vehicle have a problem or two, so maybe I look at it diferently. I am not saying MB should not get a bad rap, but we must also look at the people complaining as well. Lets face it a guy used to a Dodge Neon is not going to crab to much about his MB needing to go in for service to fix the visor or the steering wheel buttons, and maybe won't take the vehicle in at all for squeaks and rattles. But the average MB buyer according to MBUSA will go in and complain about all this and much more. Your car had problem and I understand the bad taste it left with you. You could buy another MB today and probably never have an issue. It is all the luck of the draw.

tommy

Sh*t, that brand loyalty really is blinding.

At some point, the overwhelming statistics have to be believed, don't they? The large lead that Honda/Toyota/Lexus have (not t o mention an ever-increasing number of other cars)on MB can't be ignored forever, can it? Sometimes, I wonder where the OJ jury went, then I think of this place, and I remember.

oggle

Hehe I totally agree!

Fuzzo

congrats GG...glad you got that all sorted out... i htink you got a good deal on it rather than dragging it out....

so what have you decided on.....

mctwin2kman

I am loyal to no-one. If my Benz has serious issues I will not buy another. But to say that a Benz has more problems than any other vehicle out there is just being blind. Some people crab and ***** on there surveys, others just deal with it. Some people expect the vehicle to not be perfect and accept a few minor problems, some do not acept even needing to get the oil changed. I know both types of people and have seen both types as well as the many in between. My family owned a car dealership for 75 years. Myself, I accept some defects as I know that if a vehicle was perfect we would not need warranties. Also remember that everyone has diferent opinions, as well as the fact that a survey does not go out to every vehicle owner in every country, as well as many do not fill them out. I have recieved three surveys so far from people other than MBUSA and I have yet to fill one out and send it back. Why, because I really do not care what a survey says or what other people say. I make my own decisions after researching and then testing myself. I test drove diferent vehicles, two coupes, and a sedan before deciding on a MB. I was not interested in the sedan, but I drove it as it was the only six speed they has with the engine I was looking at and the short throw. I drove two coupes, a 2002 and a 2003. Not to mention the fact that I drove mine before signing anything. I read three diferent MB forums and also checked reviews on the coupe. I have had no problems with the car I could ***** about. Does that mean no one else will, hell no. Not every car is the same, some just have problems, some could even be cause by the owner instead of the manufacturer. Oh well, I am glad all worked out and am in no way defending MB, I am just stating that MB is not the only one with problems. Buy what you want to as it is your money and your decision.

speedfrk

I hope you got one of the good ones, because if you look at the 5 yr reliability ratings from JDPower, you don't want to own this car after the warranty runs out. My service advisor told me the exact same thing. When I picked up my first loaner car from the Enterprise office (actually in the MB dealership) I said something about "hopefully this is the last time I will need you guys", and the rep laughed and said I'm sure you'll be back many times. He was right. It is wishful thinking to assume that Lexus and Acura owners are significantly more lenient in filling out the surveys. The great thing about statistics, is that they weed out the people on the extremes, and really do give an accurate picture of what to expect from a car. Sounds like you got a good car. Mine was a POS that burned oil, never shifted right, and had constant smaller problems requiring many trips to the dealer. I finally gave up and traded it in on a pick-up.

mctwin2kman

I did get a 2003 though because of several reasons. One was because I figured most problems would be fixed in the second year of production, which it seems they have fixed. I have 8000 miles on mine so far and have had no warning light, oil burning, or any other significant problems. I have had it serviced twice. Once for wheel buttons and the other for a drivers side vanity, bcause the light was on all the time when it was down, even with the mirror cover closed. It was a bad mirron cover switch. So mine has been good, hopefully it will stay that way for a good long time.

C230 Sport Coup

Prior to my 1st oil change I had to add about 6 quarts of oil, in the 1st 13K miles.

After my 1st oil change, they only put in 6 qts instead of 7, and
so I added oil, and since then have not had to add any more oil.
It seems the engine has settled in.
Also my mileage is up from when it was new.
Point being, for those will oil consumption problems, hang in there. Mine cured itself, now at ~21K miles.

Buellwinkle

Renault, Peugeot, American Motors, Fiat, Alfa Romeo all build/built cars with the same reliability issues that MB has. What I want to know is what's keep MB going in the U.S.? Why do people keep coming back for the abuse? I know that I came back on the false assumption that things got better since my last new lemon flavored MB in 1984 but boy was I wrong. I enjoy the car and while I'm covered I'm OK with it but after 4 years and the warranty is over, don't know. Fool me once, shame on MB, fool me twice, shame on me.