Consumer Reports......
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From: Chicago Western Burbs
'06 SL65
Consumer Reports......
I was watching the local news last night and they did a segment on Consumer Reports testing 4 European Midsize Luxury Cars. In the segment, they tested the E320 (W211). Consumer Reports did not recommend the W211 and,"....received a poor rating when it came to reader reliability." What I didn't understand was they were testing the E320 in emergency turns and they showed the E320 hitting some cones over and over again eventhough they never mentioned the E320 had any problems with handling. 
If I was an average consumer watching that segment with the E320 hitting the cones during emergency manuevers, I would have thought there were problems with the handling and would have been scared off purchasing the W211. 
Here is the link: http://abclocal.go.com/wls/news/spec...luxurycar.html
If I was an average consumer watching that segment with the E320 hitting the cones during emergency manuevers, I would have thought there were problems with the handling and would have been scared off purchasing the W211. Here is the link: http://abclocal.go.com/wls/news/spec...luxurycar.html
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Joined: Mar 2003
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From: Suburban Chicago
2013 GL550
Keep in mind these are the same people that rate kitchen blenders. Consumer Reports is good for the people looking for a bland, reliable car. I don't think that team of folks has an ounce of auto enthusiast blood in them!
These are the same ones that put that huge outrigger on a small SUV and then marveled at how it rolled over! I saw the preview for the segment but forgot to watch. Good thing, guess.
Bruce
These are the same ones that put that huge outrigger on a small SUV and then marveled at how it rolled over! I saw the preview for the segment but forgot to watch. Good thing, guess.
Bruce
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From: Northern NJ
2014 BMW 550i
Yeah, I don't put too much in to what CU thinks in terms of rating luxury cars. And if you actually look at what they are comparing, they compare the mid and higher end luxury cars in one big ole segment. Not an awfully fair comparison.
Nevertheless, they are good for their other reviews, and for the reliability data (to a point, of course).
Nevertheless, they are good for their other reviews, and for the reliability data (to a point, of course).
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Joined: Feb 2004
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From: Texas
05 E320 CDI
The June issue of Consumer Reports (Magazine and Website) rated the E320 as part of a 13 vehicle luxury sedan roundup. CU basically liked the E320 -- it came ranked 4th overall, behind the Lexus LS430, MB S430, and Acura TL, -- but the E-class reliability was a show-stopper. CU's philosophy is that a car must have at least average reliability and acceptable crash-worthiness, in addition to whatever merits it possesses, for CU to recommend it. CU could not recommend the E320 because of the 2003 E-class's dismal reliability performance in CU's annual member survey.
Assuming MB has addressed the major reliability problems for the 2004 model year and beyond, the next survey should show an improvement (I'm keeping my fingers crossed,) But MB is going to have to live with its black eye until new survey data is available.
The CU roundup did not compare all 13 models head-to-head. The only models newly tested for this review was the E320, BMW 530i, Jaguar S-Type, and Volvo S80. The E320 came out best among these four. All of the other cars in the
roundup was tested previously.
Assuming MB has addressed the major reliability problems for the 2004 model year and beyond, the next survey should show an improvement (I'm keeping my fingers crossed,) But MB is going to have to live with its black eye until new survey data is available.
The CU roundup did not compare all 13 models head-to-head. The only models newly tested for this review was the E320, BMW 530i, Jaguar S-Type, and Volvo S80. The E320 came out best among these four. All of the other cars in the
roundup was tested previously.
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Joined: Jul 2003
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From: Mansfield, TX
11 ML350W2 / 17 GLC300
Most of the people who rate the "luxury" car segment have never driven any car that can handle better than a Buick. The thought of a car that actually sticks to the road is a foreign concept. Any car that transmits a bump or feel into the car is an immediate reason to dislike the car. I find that riding in cars that CU and others recommend require a dose of dramimine because I can get seasick very quickly with their "luxury" ride.
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From: SoCal OC
S, GL, Escalade ESV, my shoes
I don't know, CU is not an expert when it come to car, but they do take survey from user/buyer, and that's as honest as it could be, no influent from manufacture.
I love my 04 E320: look, ride, gadget, and the overall feeling. I would recommend it to anyone, but I would lie to myself if I state that the car is reliable. I've owned it for 30 days, out of which the car spent 18 days at the dealer (they have to replace the entire ECU & gateway module).
I know that mine is a rare case, but I've meet quite a few people at dealer who complain about the same: Benz is not as reliable as it used to be.
Most current Benz owners are also owners of previous models, and when they compare its reliability, it's against the older model, and that explains the drop.
Old Benz (E300, 420/560SEL) built like a tank, and run til, ....well, forever .....
I love my 04 E320: look, ride, gadget, and the overall feeling. I would recommend it to anyone, but I would lie to myself if I state that the car is reliable. I've owned it for 30 days, out of which the car spent 18 days at the dealer (they have to replace the entire ECU & gateway module).
I know that mine is a rare case, but I've meet quite a few people at dealer who complain about the same: Benz is not as reliable as it used to be.
Most current Benz owners are also owners of previous models, and when they compare its reliability, it's against the older model, and that explains the drop.
Old Benz (E300, 420/560SEL) built like a tank, and run til, ....well, forever .....
Originally posted by rbordel
The June issue of Consumer Reports (Magazine and Website) rated the E320 as part of a 13 vehicle luxury sedan roundup. CU basically liked the E320 -- it came ranked 4th overall, behind the Lexus LS430, MB S430, and Acura TL, -- but the E-class reliability was a show-stopper. CU's philosophy is that a car must have at least average reliability and acceptable crash-worthiness, in addition to whatever merits it possesses, for CU to recommend it. CU could not recommend the E320 because of the 2003 E-class's dismal reliability performance in CU's annual member survey.
Assuming MB has addressed the major reliability problems for the 2004 model year and beyond, the next survey should show an improvement (I'm keeping my fingers crossed,) But MB is going to have to live with its black eye until new survey data is available.
The CU roundup did not compare all 13 models head-to-head. The only models newly tested for this review was the E320, BMW 530i, Jaguar S-Type, and Volvo S80. The E320 came out best among these four. All of the other cars in the
roundup was tested previously.
The June issue of Consumer Reports (Magazine and Website) rated the E320 as part of a 13 vehicle luxury sedan roundup. CU basically liked the E320 -- it came ranked 4th overall, behind the Lexus LS430, MB S430, and Acura TL, -- but the E-class reliability was a show-stopper. CU's philosophy is that a car must have at least average reliability and acceptable crash-worthiness, in addition to whatever merits it possesses, for CU to recommend it. CU could not recommend the E320 because of the 2003 E-class's dismal reliability performance in CU's annual member survey.
Assuming MB has addressed the major reliability problems for the 2004 model year and beyond, the next survey should show an improvement (I'm keeping my fingers crossed,) But MB is going to have to live with its black eye until new survey data is available.
The CU roundup did not compare all 13 models head-to-head. The only models newly tested for this review was the E320, BMW 530i, Jaguar S-Type, and Volvo S80. The E320 came out best among these four. All of the other cars in the
roundup was tested previously.
