Jason.Bare

Not good. Mercedes-Benz finished very low....

Here it is..

mctwin2kman

Remember this is a survey of three year old vehicles. 2001 was when the W203 was introduced. What I would like to know is production volume as well. Since Porsche has a somewhat more limited volume than say Lexus or Ford......

Jason.Bare

Yes, that's true. I know when it was 2001, MB was not trying to solve any reliability/quality problems. I hope come 2003 and 2004 MB will improve...What do you think? I hope my 2005 will be great!

davezaristo

how did buick get up there?

Guest0001

simple there is no technology or electronics in buicks. If MB does the same we would have no problems.

Hal H

Buick's models (except for the Rendevous) have been around for years with little changes...with GM, if they keep a model around for 7 to 10 years, they eventually get the bugs worked out.

Remember the Century sedan (FWD)? Very outdated by the end of the run, but it was the most problem free model in their lineup.

Isn't the current lineup:

Park Avenue
Regal
Rendevous
CXL (a reworked Pontiac Aztek - still wierd, not quite as ugly)

I predict Buick will go the way of Oldsmobile soon...I can't think of anyone I know that has any of those vehicles.

Buellwinkle

What's funny is that last year, at least Jeep was less reliable than MB, now there is no American brand that is less reliable than MB. And don't blame the 2001 W203, this is brand wide including the S, SLK, CL, CLK, E and ML classes that were not new in 2001. All I can say is that my 2004.5 has been very reliable in it's first 2 weeks. If this keeps up another week I may change my mind about MB reliability. In the meantime, the motto should be "at least we are more reliable than Land Rover!"

amdeutsch

NEWSFLASH

Buellwinkle is going on a diet. No more donuts/beagles/etc for him. His MB let him down once again.

r_liebo

Yeah, but this study also factors in fit and finish, such as how soon squeaks and rattles develop, which has nothing to do with electronics.
Pretty sad that MB can't beat lowly Buick in that area.

HITMAN

Mine is a feb 03 and havent had a problem yet (watch tom. its going to break down lol) .....hasnt even been in for its first service yet lol

At least we are better than volvo vw and lanrover

Buicks really dont have any technology in them lol

CHEVY!!!! we had a 01 tahoe and it was towed 3 TIMES !!!!!!

anal

Blame it on the W210. My '01 E320 4-Matic is a "hanger queen" (aeronautical reference...). I've only had it since December and am already trading it in on an '05 C320 SS. My first "A" service at 30k, they replaced (under wauranty-sp?-thank goodness!) A LOT of very expensive electronics, any of which could fail again at any time. It's a totally pimp ride, but the coverage lapses in 3 1/2 months and then...

oggle

LOL OWNED!!!!

FrankW

as long as the M-class is still in production we're stuck down there.

tommy

We really need Jim Banville to come in here and tell us why this survey is a piece of doo doo. MB could use more of that blind loyalty.

Buellwinkle eats beagles? Damn, times must be tough since he bought the new sedan.

YeeHaw

is this the study on intial quality only? If so, GM is known to have crappy interior lifespan. My folks have a chevy truck by the way and im a chevy guy as well...so nobody get offended. However individual experiences are always different...my 2002 has no rattles/squeaks yet. Our family Jeeps have also lasted forever.

tuscanraider

This topic was posted in the General Forums, so I'll post my same response here:

No surpirse that the US is among the leaders, always will be in everything. You get these ignorant f'ers on this forum who beleive MB is superior to all American made cars, and its just so false. People such as myself will buy the car for the driving experience, or the name; and thats it. Reliability in the past few years has slipped tremendously, and forget about bulid quality, its just not there anymore. I'd get another MB because I'm a fan, but I fully expect all the quirks and frequent dealer trips that will follow. MB has a long way to go to catch the Japanese, or the Americans for that matter. These reports come as no real surprise to any MB owner and will only raise the ire and offend the fool who will blindly defend the MB brand based on their false pretense of elevated stature that arises as a result of ownership

r_liebo

Wow. This post is going to cause a heck of a stir here, I think. You do make some good points, however. There is only so much money you can dump into auto development and stay price competive. MB is dumping it (IMO) in the wrong place -- electronics and technology. Spend all your money there and something else has got to give. In this case MB gave up on build quality so they could create such features as electronically controlled brakes and sunroofs that close in a tunnel. MB used to be a pioneer in this area and still build quality cars (airbags, abs, etc.), but back then they could charge a much heftier sum for their vehicles. Now they are in way over their head with too many unproven electronics, and too many cheap, poor quality suppliers. Riight now they are riding on decades of prior reputation and goodwill, a solid driving experience, and drop-dead gorgeous styling.
Hopefully things are changing. Their is serious simplification and "unteching" going on with the E-Class, and this may trickle down to the next generation C. I think you will see MB creep up the JD Power poll in the coming years, but it will be tough road.

Just my 2 cents.

Jason.Bare

These awards were for cars from 3 years ago (2001). This was before the M, and S-Class recieved their facelift. In 2001, the W203 was just released, also. In 2003 I think Mercedes got the point that they needed to do something for their reliability and quality ratings, so they did. look at all the cars that are ready to come out now, with vastly improved quality and hopefully great reliability (New SLK, CLS, 2005 C-Class, etc.). So I see Mercedes ratings on the 3 year quality survey to continue to be low until around 2006, 2007, where the models that Mercedes adressed on quality and reliability issues are 3 years old. As with the initial quality survey, I see MB rising steadily, because the models that are meausured are new ones (90 days old). Those models should do great because MB adressed the quality and reliability concerns.

wblynch

I want one of them there Land Rovers !!

They had the biggest score, 472 -- woohoo!

Guest0001

Yes thats it. thats why Ford and GM have had terrible reps the past 20 years. american cars rule!

Buellwinkle

Sure, they are better but what's the point, no free car washes. I'm willing to put up with an unreliable car, I'm not sure I can put up with a dirty one.

TNblkc230wz

Well, JD Power didn't ask me. My 03 has been near flawless. As has my 01 Chrysler.

r_liebo

They did ask me (and sent me a crisp $1 bill in the mail for my time!).

vraa

We have a solution for that.. it's called Zaino