In Japan, and the US, the Roman Catholic bishops can freely attend a audience with the Pope in Rome. Families can decide how many kids they want. People have rights under law and there is a system of due process.

In China, there isn't any of that.

I do what I can to avoid "made in China" but sometimes it's impossible.

Also, I want my German car to be made IN Germany... especially when I'm paying for it based on the price of German labor, and not slave Chinese labor.

I see your point and agree to a certain extent. I don't subscribe to it completely though... the last time I was in China it struck me as a 100% capitalistic society rather than a Communitst country. EVERYONE was on the hustle. Of course this was Shanghai so it is clearly a bit different than the rest of China.

liggy - who lives in the U.S. - a country in which one cannot avoid references to God in daily life which IMO directly contravenes the First Amendment.

This discussion is over for me...see ya!

he started it! j/k

I've been telling you for months you've been driving a Chrysler with a MB badge on it.........finally, the truth prevails.

That could be a blessing...Chrysler ranked 14th on the 2005 J.D. Powers Vehicle Dependibility Study...Mercedes-Benz ranked 28th, out of 38 cars studied. Let's just hope that Dieter Zetsche does what he promises, and turns the company around to producing the BEST of the BEST once again. I think we all can agree on that point.

That's like saying all Japanese wear kimonos and those funky wooden sandals on a daily basis.

The note about how many kids you can have is true, but let me be more specific: "In the US, people have rights under law as long you are not being discriminated."

And to add another point: China is more capitalistic than good ol' US of A.

So, would a German E-Class have a better re-sale value than a Chinese E-Class?

Well according to the Europeans it will…
http://www.harrisinteractive.com/new...asp?NewsID=968

Here you and I completely disagree and diverge. Better let sleeping dogs lay.

While we're off topic..

Pure capitalism is not a good thing.. I wouldn't hold that up as a trophy if I were trying to make a positive point about China. Unions and the worker have a place.

The W211 was in the works before MB was Chryslerized... and MB is still a world leader in technology.. Does your Lexus have Nanopaint? Didn't think so..

No but it has a navi that works, a car that isn't recalled every few months, and a smooth ride.

Of course though, this isn't a Lexus vs. Mercedes debate, so let us keep that in the other debates

I love the ride on my E... recalls for my model/year.. None..

I agree completely with you for once.

Happy Friday!

haha, well, i drive a Malaysian made MB, and given that i've had no problem with it for the last 2 years, i'd say quality won't be a problem. heck, almost everything i have is made in China now. it's inescapable. as for China, i'll just say, based on my own experience, that although there is a sense that the government is all-powerful and rights are trampled over whenever they go against the govt, it is no worse than any other Asian country except perhaps the Philippines and (now) Indonesia. i don't have qualms buying Chinese stuff just because the workers are paid lower - the living cost is much lower and the alternative for them is to work all day tending their little farm for the rest of their lives - go choose.

ok, end of my very off-topic rant :Y

i'm glad the Moustache wants to bring MB back to the top rankings. i've been a frequent critic of the JD Powers survey, but the fact is it does affect sales and perceptions. perhaps he'll find and iron out problems in his new company car before it ever gets to consumers