When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
I think it is just the opposite: MB has brought out the A, B and C class. The biggest selling in the US is the GLC.
To compete worldwide MB had to go downscale: the idea is that once a person bus an A Class, they then be a customer the next time for a B Class and so on.
I understand, that was their previous strategy when they announced the W177 A-Class in 2019, they mentioned their customers are 10-15 years younger and they want to keep a customer for life. Now, with everything that went on and I guess dealerships complaining about too many models, they decided to simplify the lineup: https://thedetroitbureau.com/2022/05...vel-ambitions/
I totally agree. The Mercedes A-class and their B-class were cost-effective front-wheel-drive based platforms (with some all-wheel-drive hardware added in for the 4-matic versions), that they had to introduce to compete at the bottom volume sales area. Not sure if BMW introduced their X1 (front-wheel-drive based platform, based on the Mini Cooper) first, or did Mercedes introduce the A/B classes first.
The first MB that starts life as a premium rear-wheel-drive based platform (with AWD hardware added in for the 4Matic versions), is the GLC or the C-class. Similarly, on the BMW side, it is the X3 and the 3-Series.
I think the GLC and the GLE interchangeably compete for the best selling MB title. Within a few 1000 units of each other.
MB did, the first generation A-Class was in 1997, they just never brought it to North America.
I don’t “detest” my current car. Objectively/subjectively, the quality has gone down, for the new generation E-class. But that’s the nature of the terrain. I intend to keep it for the next 10-15 years, regardless.
And yes, it was my mistake that I did not extensively test-drive the car or do a detailed assessment of the features of the car prior to purchasing it, since I already had a near-identical prior version of the car, and assumed (for the most part), that a “next generation” product would never go backward, from a prior generation product. I was aware of many functions being moved onto the screen, but never questioned how user-friendly (or user-unfriendly) it would be, and that I’d just have to get used to doing things differently.
Once I had the car for a few days, and once the new car euphoria died down a bit, I started noticing the details. Bad assumptions on my part, of course, regarding a “next generation” product from Mercedes, being automatically better than a prior generation product.
PS: As I think about it, let’s assume that things had occurred differently, and that I did a truly detailed assessment of the car, and did notice that a significant portion of the natural-wood had disappeared, and that the climate function buttons had gone away and transferred onto the screen, and that the quality of the cameras were severely degraded over the prior version, and that the “digital lights” were a poor quality cousin of the prior generation “Multi-Beam LEDs” and that they skimped on the fuel tank size etc………I would have made excuses for Mercedes Benz, justified these shortcomings in my mind, and still bought the car, since I really like the E-wagons, and the Mercedes brand…..but the decision would have been made with both eyes open
I am hoping the improve in other things like refinement and ride quality and sound insulation, much closer to an S-Class than the past will make up for all what you mentioned.
I believe you have posted that on average you drive between 2,500/3,000 miles per year.
At 10 years you will have less than 30,000 miles and at 15 years less than 40,000 miles.
With such low mileage it would be shocking if you had any major repairs!
Mileage isn't always a factor in wear and tear and/or major repairs especially for paint and upholstery. Many things wear out due to time and exposure to the intense Florida sun where 150° F interior temperatures are not unusual. I've seen MB's with clearcoat and varnish burned away after a few years. I sold a '73 450 SEL after 5 years because it needed paint and a refurbished interior.
The paint on my daughter's car is about 50% burned away (hood, roof, trunk) after 8 years and 35k miles. I'm currently shopping for a new car to give her.
BTW it was 90° F in the metro area yesterday. It's going to be a hot summer.
Mileage isn't always a factor in wear and tear and/or major repairs especially for paint and upholstery. Many things wear out due to time and exposure to the intense Florida sun where 150° F interior temperatures are not unusual. I've seen MB's with clearcoat and varnish burned away after a few years. I sold a '73 450 SEL after 5 years because it needed paint and a refurbished interior.
The paint on my daughter's car is about 50% burned away (hood, roof, trunk) after 8 years and 35k miles. I'm currently shopping for a new car to give her.
BTW it was 90° F in the metro area yesterday. It's going to be a hot summer.
Forgot when MB switched from oil based paint to water based paint but what vehicle is this in question?
2019 E 450, 2016 E350 4matic (retired), 2018 Ford Edge Sport, 2008 Porsche Boxster
Originally Posted by ua549
Mileage isn't always a factor in wear and tear and/or major repairs especially for paint and upholstery. Many things wear out due to time and exposure to the intense Florida sun where 150° F interior temperatures are not unusual. I've seen MB's with clearcoat and varnish burned away after a few years. I sold a '73 450 SEL after 5 years because it needed paint and a refurbished interior.
The paint on my daughter's car is about 50% burned away (hood, roof, trunk) after 8 years and 35k miles. I'm currently shopping for a new car to give her.
BTW it was 90° F in the metro area yesterday. It's going to be a hot summer.
Non of the potential problems you have listed in your post would have or could have been prevented by service.
It would seem to me, a prudent person would not leave their car out in the mid day sun, what is about Englishmen and mad dogs, and if they do, they would crack their window(s) open. That is common sense, but what do I know? Otherwise keep whenever possible your car in a garage or out of the sun and course a light color car like white or silver makes sense.
Non of the potential problems you have listed in your post would have or could have been prevented by service.
It would seem to me, a prudent person would not leave their car out in the mid day sun, what is about Englishmen and mad dogs, and if they do, they would crack their window(s) open. That is common sense, but what do I know? Otherwise keep whenever possible your car in a garage or out of the sun and course a light color car like white or silver makes sense.
It is easier for non-working people to do that. My daughter's car is silver w/black leather. At work she has no choice about parking in a full sun, saltwater environment for 12 hours per day 4 days a week. At her apartment she must also park in full sun and a salt water environment. It is unwise to leave a window partially open in an unattended parked car due to frequent scattered tropical downpours and potential theft/vandalism. Some of her issues could have been prevented by more frequent exterior service such as reapplying a polymer coating every 3 months instead of 6 months. But she doesn't listen to me.
I am hoping the improve in other things like refinement and ride quality and sound insulation, much closer to an S-Class than the past will make up for all what you mentioned.
Make no mistake, considered in isolation, it is a great car. And the chassis has certainly been worked on in the W214, which makes it feel more playful than the W213, from my seat-of-the-pants feel.
After a detailed wash, followed by claying, and followed by 6 different polymer coats spread over 2 weeks, she looks pretty good !
Make no mistake, considered in isolation, it is a great car. And the chassis has certainly been worked on in the W214, which makes it feel more playful than the W213, from my seat-of-the-pants feel.
After a detailed wash, followed by claying, and followed by 6 different polymer coats spread over 2 weeks, she looks pretty good !
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.
