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Only the S version is coming (as we all knew). The stripper version is 105k. Though the build portion is not accessible yet it, will have a similar option menu as the 43 with the addition of the exclusive AMG goodies. An E 43 fully loaded with every available option is 90K. The E63 appears that it will comfortably top 130. All of a sudden the E43 is starting to look like a real bargain! Trust me, if I could blow the price of a C class on top of my 43's already steep price, I would do it in a second. The 63 is incredible.
Caught one locally. It was a non-S model. The Mercedes Product Specialist was at the dealer where I got my wagon. It a pre-production model with a special import exception. Once they are done testing it, they're going to junk it!
So is the AMG HUD. I think, unlike the 43, the car is basicly optioned european style. Americans are used to more baked in goodies. The 43 is definitely more americanized, three packages and thats mostly it.If you visit european mb websites there is a menu of almost interminable options. Ive alwas argued that is bad since it means a lot of separate poorly integrated systems which in turn lead to bad reliability.
2019 SL450, 2019 E450 Luxury Trim Wagon, 2024 BMW I7 xDrive60
Originally Posted by c4004matic
So is the AMG HUD. I think, unlike the 43, the car is basicly optioned european style. Americans are used to more baked in goodies. The 43 is definitely more americanized, three packages and thats mostly it.If you visit european mb websites there is a menu of almost interminable options. Ive alwas argued that is bad since it means a lot of separate poorly integrated systems which in turn lead to bad reliability.
Say WHAT????? You can't be serious! Different option packages permeate the entire world where MB's are sold. In Germany everything is offered separately, so the customer can tailor their car exactly as they want it. Other than each option adding a bit of complexity to the vehicle and thus a potential for increased reliability issues (one more thing to go wrong) there is no way that having large packages of options is going to be any better than having them all available separately. Think about it.
Say WHAT????? You can't be serious! Different option packages permeate the entire world where MB's are sold. In Germany everything is offered separately, so the customer can tailor their car exactly as they want it. Other than each option adding a bit of complexity to the vehicle and thus a potential for increased reliability issues (one more thing to go wrong) there is no way that having large packages of options is going to be any better than having them all available separately. Think about it.
Tayloring the car exactly how you want is a horrible manufacturing process. It raises the price and and introduces inevitable variation in quality. That is why MBs reliability gyrates so much. MB is movig away from that anyway, all vehicles will soon have the same transmission, and only 3 engines will power the entire lineup. They are also cutting the model diarrhea. Like any other company Daimler has to become fit, trim and agile. If it wants to compete.
Last edited by c4004matic; Jun 17, 2017 at 10:27 AM.
IIRC German law requires individual options rather than options being available only if bundled in packages. In the US (E43) a power rear sunshade is only available with a premium package 2 purchase. I much prefer the German à la carte method.
2024 AMG EQE SUV , 2021 E63S Wagon - gone, 2018 E63S Sedan - gone
Originally Posted by joshg1001
Of course customers prefer the a la carte method. But it must be hell on Daimler's end...
The options packages are just sales bundles. The manufacturing line works off of individual item dependencies. If you look at a decomposition of any of the packages, you will see number feature/item codes for the assembly. The real issue is predicting the supply chain constraints in order to produce the vehicle. BTW, each vehicle going down the line is a variant of the total parts bundle for that model.
^^ no matter how you spin it, logistically its going to be a lot harder to build a la carte models vs large packaged items. Customization and variation will always require more planning which means added cost. In addition, people who choose much leaner builds affect the profit bottom line vs large bundled packages.
2019 SL450, 2019 E450 Luxury Trim Wagon, 2024 BMW I7 xDrive60
Originally Posted by c4004matic
Tayloring the car exactly how you want is a horrible manufacturing process. It raises the price and and introduces inevitable variation in quality. That is why MBs reliability gyrates so much. MB is movig away from that anyway, all vehicles will soon have the same transmission, and only 3 engines will power the entire lineup. They are also cutting the model diarrhea. Like any other company Daimler has to become fit, trim and agile. If it wants to compete.
Tell Bentley that. Tell Porsche that. They seem to be doing just fine, and like. Burger King, you can have your Bentley or Porsche "your way!"
2019 SL450, 2019 E450 Luxury Trim Wagon, 2024 BMW I7 xDrive60
Originally Posted by BlackjackM
Yeahhhh.. not a great comparison. Porsche delivered 225k cars last year worldwide, Mercedes 2.23M. Completely different operation.
Yeah, you're right. I should buy a Bentley or a Porsche. Why buy off the rack when you can have tailor made? That said, take all MB of E Class or higher, and I'm sure the numbers would be much closer. It's too bad MB decided to get into the people mover business, by bringing out the C Class and now the B, the vans, etc. Very little of what they do today can be called luxury.
Tayloring the car exactly how you want is a horrible manufacturing process. It raises the price and and introduces inevitable variation in quality. That is why MBs reliability gyrates so much. MB is movig away from that anyway, all vehicles will soon have the same transmission, and only 3 engines will power the entire lineup. They are also cutting the model diarrhea. Like any other company Daimler has to become fit, trim and agile. If it wants to compete.
Nah, they're already more than competitive. Sales say they are. If they do what you're saying, then the compliant will be that a Mercedes is just like any other car, no uniqueness. They have to walk a fine line between customization and production efficiency, not just make all of them the same.
Totally clueless about Mercedes in here I see. Mercedes has always built trucks, buses and vans. That isn't new.
Nor does customization drain profits, totally WRONG. Porsche sells nearly everything a la carte and they make more per unit than anyone else in the business and they do that on the back of all those options that allow people to spec their car the way they want.
Mercedes, especially with their Maybach line needs to more further into customization to make the case for buying one, especially when you look at what Bentley and Rolls will do for you if you have the money.
What do you guys want Mercedes to do, make them all the same? Then you'll complain about how Mercedes are no different from any other car.
Nobody is complaining that we want less customization. We are simply saying that more customization adds cost... I don't think anyone can deny this from a supply chain and manufacturing process.
2019 SL450, 2019 E450 Luxury Trim Wagon, 2024 BMW I7 xDrive60
MB already counts many of the "1 percenters" as customers. If MB will sell these folks a nicely optioned S550 sedan for $125K, but the customer is willing to pay $175K to $200K for pretty much the same vehicle, just tweaked the way they want it, it is bad business for MB not to figure out a way to take that customer's money, make the customer happy and really pad their corporate bottom line in the process.
The luxury goods sector is not about efficiency as much as it is about offering (semi) bespoke products with a high margin.
That is the classic definition, and only works when there is little or no competition. That was fine in the 1950's. Today there is cutthroat competition except for the most exclusive brands. People tend to confuse market value with worth, completely different things. At one time Porsche was on the verge of buying VW!!!! That's whats called an idiots market. MB is an enormous company that produces a multitude of products, the car part of the operation is only a part of the huge conglomerate. In that world, BMW is simply a fly on Daimliers rear end.
That is the classic definition, and only works when there is little or no competition. That was fine in the 1950's. Today there is cutthroat competition except for the most exclusive brands. People tend to confuse market value with worth, completely different things. At one time Porsche was on the verge of buying VW!!!! That's whats called an idiots market. MB is an enormous company that produces a multitude of products, the car part of the operation is only a part of the huge conglomerate. In that world, BMW is simply a fly on Daimliers rear end.
MB is but 1 of 5 separate divisions of Daimler AG. The MB division only produces cars. A separate division produces trucks. Each division has a different product mix and focus. In terms of MB revenues, Home Depot is about 5% larger than MB.
BMW automobile division (€ 86,424 million) is nearly the same size as the MB division (€ 89,284 million). Though I agree that Daimler is huge compared to BMW.
Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren
Slideshow: A one-of-one U.S.-spec Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Roadster became even rarer after a factory-backed transformation at McLaren's headquarters.
