Why braking distance so long
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Tesla Model S P100D
Why braking distance so long
This is not really a defect but it seems the 60-0 stopping distance for the W211 is around 125-130 feet. In the W212 the stopping distance is almost identical so Mercedes has not really done anything to improve it. On some reviews I noticed that a whole bunch of other European manufacturers offer stopping diustances of around 110 feet or slightly less. Does anyone know why Mercedes has not really done anything to improve the stopping distances? I'd think in a panic breaking situation that extra 15 feet could meen the difference between an accident and a close call.
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Porsche 991S, Cayenne S, 1972 BMW 3.0CS E9 Coupe
The new BMW F10 5 series does 60-0 in 110 feet and it weighs the same.
The Jaguar XF has a 60-0 distance of 108 feet and weighs 200 pounds more than the Mercedes.
The Audi A6 is 114 feet. It weighs 4,200 lbs.
At 120 feet the Mercedes is pretty bad.
You know, I think Mercedes relies a lot on mythology about the marque. But the numbers usually tell a different story.
The Jaguar XF has a 60-0 distance of 108 feet and weighs 200 pounds more than the Mercedes.
The Audi A6 is 114 feet. It weighs 4,200 lbs.
At 120 feet the Mercedes is pretty bad.
You know, I think Mercedes relies a lot on mythology about the marque. But the numbers usually tell a different story.
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From: Virginia
W212 M276 DELA 30 ; W211 M113k, W126 M117, W126 OM617, W211 OM642 ; R107 M117 X2, Sierra 1500 LZ0
Mercedes typically don't do a single thing exceptionally well, but do most things pretty good. Lets remember that they also pioneer many innovations that are usually found in regular cars twenty years later. The 1999 W220 S class had radar controlled cruise control (slows and accelerates based off of the object in front of you). The 1985 S class (126) had both side and passenger airbags, and antilock brakes as an option on the very first 126s. 4 speed transmissions were common when 3 speeds were still being used decades later. Independent rear suspension, fuel injection, the list goes on and on. In many of these cases, MB didn't invent it, but they properly implemented it on a mass produced, obtainable car.
As a small example, think of the power seat buttons. They've since been copied by just about every carmaker in the world. Ever tried to adjust a 1990's lincoln or an original G35's seats with toggle switches? It makes no sense!
As a small example, think of the power seat buttons. They've since been copied by just about every carmaker in the world. Ever tried to adjust a 1990's lincoln or an original G35's seats with toggle switches? It makes no sense!
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Porsche 991S, Cayenne S, 1972 BMW 3.0CS E9 Coupe
DubVbenz:
Yeah, I definitely agree that they are innovators. Other brands do adopt what MB pioneers. And often they make them more affordable and with better reliability. Acura is just one case in point; lots of identical goodies but with much better reliability.
The camera industry was the same way. Nikon copied the early German Zeiss and Leica rangefinders cameras back in the late 1950s and made them less expensive and more robust. Even though the German camera and optical industry was (and still is) the best out there, the Japanese successfully copied them and now offer equal if not arguably better products (and by far less expensive.)
Yeah, I definitely agree that they are innovators. Other brands do adopt what MB pioneers. And often they make them more affordable and with better reliability. Acura is just one case in point; lots of identical goodies but with much better reliability.
The camera industry was the same way. Nikon copied the early German Zeiss and Leica rangefinders cameras back in the late 1950s and made them less expensive and more robust. Even though the German camera and optical industry was (and still is) the best out there, the Japanese successfully copied them and now offer equal if not arguably better products (and by far less expensive.)
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 1,318
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From: Virginia
W212 M276 DELA 30 ; W211 M113k, W126 M117, W126 OM617, W211 OM642 ; R107 M117 X2, Sierra 1500 LZ0
I honestly didn't know that. I would have assumed the EU would have tires more geared towards fuel savings given the average engine output/size and fuel prices over there.
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MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 1,318
Likes: 251
From: Virginia
W212 M276 DELA 30 ; W211 M113k, W126 M117, W126 OM617, W211 OM642 ; R107 M117 X2, Sierra 1500 LZ0
DubVbenz:
Yeah, I definitely agree that they are innovators. Other brands do adopt what MB pioneers. And often they make them more affordable and with better reliability. Acura is just one case in point; lots of identical goodies but with much better reliability.
The camera industry was the same way. Nikon copied the early German Zeiss and Leica rangefinders cameras back in the late 1950s and made them less expensive and more robust. Even though the German camera and optical industry was (and still is) the best out there, the Japanese successfully copied them and now offer equal if not arguably better products (and by far less expensive.)
Yeah, I definitely agree that they are innovators. Other brands do adopt what MB pioneers. And often they make them more affordable and with better reliability. Acura is just one case in point; lots of identical goodies but with much better reliability.
The camera industry was the same way. Nikon copied the early German Zeiss and Leica rangefinders cameras back in the late 1950s and made them less expensive and more robust. Even though the German camera and optical industry was (and still is) the best out there, the Japanese successfully copied them and now offer equal if not arguably better products (and by far less expensive.)
It's funny to see the Japanese get upset about the Koreans and Chinese copying them in modern times. Intellectual property, as a concept, simply does not exist in Asia.
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
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Tesla Model S P100D
I don't buy that. We are comparing same class of car with similar weight and tires.
The other European cars are in the exact same market segment and weigh about the same or even more. What puzzles me is that with several other manufacturers being able to deliver better stopping distances, why is Mercedes almost in the last place for stopping distance for mid-size luxury sedans?
Thankfully I have never had to do a panic stop in my car at high speed but if I've had to do one, it's a bit disconcerting to know I have to rely on breaking performance that ranks near the bottom as far as performance is concerned.
It seems technology is available for them to shave off a good 15-20 feet of that stopping distance like other European manufacturers have done but even with the W212, the breaking performance is almost identical. As if it is an area they didn't bother to improve in any way.
I kind of think we deserve better
The other European cars are in the exact same market segment and weigh about the same or even more. What puzzles me is that with several other manufacturers being able to deliver better stopping distances, why is Mercedes almost in the last place for stopping distance for mid-size luxury sedans?
Thankfully I have never had to do a panic stop in my car at high speed but if I've had to do one, it's a bit disconcerting to know I have to rely on breaking performance that ranks near the bottom as far as performance is concerned.
It seems technology is available for them to shave off a good 15-20 feet of that stopping distance like other European manufacturers have done but even with the W212, the breaking performance is almost identical. As if it is an area they didn't bother to improve in any way.
I kind of think we deserve better
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 2,139
Likes: 41
Tesla Model S P100D
Mercedes typically don't do a single thing exceptionally well, but do most things pretty good. Lets remember that they also pioneer many innovations that are usually found in regular cars twenty years later. The 1999 W220 S class had radar controlled cruise control (slows and accelerates based off of the object in front of you). The 1985 S class (126) had both side and passenger airbags, and antilock brakes as an option on the very first 126s. 4 speed transmissions were common when 3 speeds were still being used decades later. Independent rear suspension, fuel injection, the list goes on and on. In many of these cases, MB didn't invent it, but they properly implemented it on a mass produced, obtainable car.
As a small example, think of the power seat buttons. They've since been copied by just about every carmaker in the world. Ever tried to adjust a 1990's lincoln or an original G35's seats with toggle switches? It makes no sense!
As a small example, think of the power seat buttons. They've since been copied by just about every carmaker in the world. Ever tried to adjust a 1990's lincoln or an original G35's seats with toggle switches? It makes no sense!
As it is you have Jaguar, BMW, and Audi all around 110 feet and we have our car doing 120-130, depending on which test you consider. On a highway that could be the difference between an accident and a close call.
So what's up with the breaking distance? Seems virtually every other European manufacturer and I think even Cadillac has figured out how to stop the car sooner during a panic stop. Gizmos aside, this is a pretty important safety issue, especially at highway speeds.
I don't give much weight to the silly tests that car reviewers do like 65mph slalom tests -- seriously, who does that with their car?
But I think the 60-0 test is even more important from a safety perspective than the obligatory 0-60 test.
Last edited by WEBSRFR; Jun 9, 2011 at 04:31 PM.
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 2,139
Likes: 41
Tesla Model S P100D
The new BMW F10 5 series does 60-0 in 110 feet and it weighs the same.
The Jaguar XF has a 60-0 distance of 108 feet and weighs 200 pounds more than the Mercedes.
The Audi A6 is 114 feet. It weighs 4,200 lbs.
At 120 feet the Mercedes is pretty bad.
You know, I think Mercedes relies a lot on mythology about the marque. But the numbers usually tell a different story.
The Jaguar XF has a 60-0 distance of 108 feet and weighs 200 pounds more than the Mercedes.
The Audi A6 is 114 feet. It weighs 4,200 lbs.
At 120 feet the Mercedes is pretty bad.
You know, I think Mercedes relies a lot on mythology about the marque. But the numbers usually tell a different story.
You are like a walking car encyclopedia 
