Worried about R Class
#1
Worried about R Class
6/12/06 - NY Times -
Design Quirks Erode '06 Quality Ratings
By CHERYL JENSEN
Published: June 11, 2006
WHEN J. D. Power & Associates announced the results of its 2006 study of new-car initial quality on Wednesday, there were surprises at both the top and the bottom of the list.
Porsche, near the low end of the standings in 2005 — below Kia and barely above Land Rover, a perennial poor finisher — leapfrogged to No. 1.
On the other hand, BMW and Mercedes-Benz, both prestigious German brands that earned high ratings in earlier studies, fell well below the industry average in the study that Power, the market research company, has conducted for 20 years.
While Power's research includes surveys of customer satisfaction and long-term reliability, the Initial Quality Study tallies the number of problems customers experience in the first 90 days of ownership. The ratings were based on responses to a 217-item questionnaire from more than 63,000 people who bought or leased new vehicles.
As in previous studies, changes in the standings sometimes reflect troubled introductions of new models, said Joseph W. Ivers, executive director for quality and customer satisfaction research. For instance, the Mercedes-Benz R-Class, with 190 problems per 100 vehicles, helped drag the nameplate down 20 places from its fifth-place ranking last year (when it tied with Cadillac at 104 problems).
Design Quirks Erode '06 Quality Ratings
By CHERYL JENSEN
Published: June 11, 2006
WHEN J. D. Power & Associates announced the results of its 2006 study of new-car initial quality on Wednesday, there were surprises at both the top and the bottom of the list.
Porsche, near the low end of the standings in 2005 — below Kia and barely above Land Rover, a perennial poor finisher — leapfrogged to No. 1.
On the other hand, BMW and Mercedes-Benz, both prestigious German brands that earned high ratings in earlier studies, fell well below the industry average in the study that Power, the market research company, has conducted for 20 years.
While Power's research includes surveys of customer satisfaction and long-term reliability, the Initial Quality Study tallies the number of problems customers experience in the first 90 days of ownership. The ratings were based on responses to a 217-item questionnaire from more than 63,000 people who bought or leased new vehicles.
As in previous studies, changes in the standings sometimes reflect troubled introductions of new models, said Joseph W. Ivers, executive director for quality and customer satisfaction research. For instance, the Mercedes-Benz R-Class, with 190 problems per 100 vehicles, helped drag the nameplate down 20 places from its fifth-place ranking last year (when it tied with Cadillac at 104 problems).
#2
MBWorld Fanatic!
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: South Orange County, CA
Posts: 5,143
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
4 wheels
Please the R does not have many issues at all. JD Powers is one of the worst companies and organizations out there. There surveys are so skewed and down right worthless IMO. Mercedes has made it clear that they do not care about JD Powers and I am glad they are.
#3
Member
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Chicago, IL
Posts: 161
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
2006 ML350
I agree with MB Fanatic, R, ML & GL all share the same platforms, many components and made at the same factory. If there were these many problems with R, same should be true for new ML & GL, but that is not the case.
I am really enjoying my ML, it has been virtually trouble free for being a 1st year model. R might not be winner in terms of design but it still is a very nice vehicle IMHO.
I am really enjoying my ML, it has been virtually trouble free for being a 1st year model. R might not be winner in terms of design but it still is a very nice vehicle IMHO.
#4
What?!!! Is this the second or third JD Powers worthlessurvey that someone has thrown-up on the forums lately?!!!
JD Powers worthlessurveys are worthless!
Pabulum for the masses -- so did you eat too much pabulum and had to throw-up on our forums with another worthlessurvey?
Take it elsewhere. Take it down to the Ford dealership when you go to buy your new car....
JD Powers worthlessurveys are worthless!
Pabulum for the masses -- so did you eat too much pabulum and had to throw-up on our forums with another worthlessurvey?
Take it elsewhere. Take it down to the Ford dealership when you go to buy your new car....
#5
Super Member
I have owned numerous new Mercedes in the last 15 years and I have yet to receive a J.D.Power survey. My experience have been excellent with Mercedes but I guess I don't count in J.D. Power.
John
John
#6
Member
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Ft Lauderdale
Posts: 104
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes
on
1 Post
CLS55AMG-MKB, R500
Me too john, My R has not one problem with it in the past 6 and a half months ive owned it . Like you John never got a survey, J.D Powers is worthless-too bad everyone in america who doesnt know this thinks that their Kia or Toyota is better than any mercedes
#7
Member
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Ft Lauderdale
Posts: 104
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes
on
1 Post
CLS55AMG-MKB, R500
Me too john, My R has not one problem with it in the past 6 and a half months ive owned it . Like you John never got a survey, J.D Powers is worthless-too bad everyone in america who doesnt know this thinks that their Kia or Toyota is better than any mercedes
Trending Topics
#8
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Toronto, Canada
Posts: 261
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
Mercedes
Originally Posted by ClayJ
What?!!! Is this the second or third JD Powers worthlessurvey that someone has thrown-up on the forums lately?!!!
JD Powers worthlessurveys are worthless!
JD Powers worthlessurveys are worthless!
Yeah man, almost as useless as your copied and pasted threads in the off topic section.
I saw an R350 this morning, it looks really sharp, at first I thought the R-class was a mini-van but its just a smaller SUV. Regardless it looks very nice.
#11
Member
AMG: You can never have enough power, LOL. But for everyday, I find the 350 more than adequate, and I have driven it pretty close to fully loaded. The 500 would be much better IMO, but I was not willing to invest in that engine -- when it is clearly inferior to the new 550 -- just to get the oomph. I may entertain trading up when the new V-8 is available...but this is the family cruiser and there are other toys from which to get my kicks.
#15
Member
Well, it seems others are taking that thrill ride, god bless 'em (or save 'em, or both.) An AMG R seems kind of antithetical to me, but to each his own.
#17
Super Member
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: The Earth
Posts: 627
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
Mercedes all the way!
On the other hand, BMW and Mercedes-Benz, both prestigious German brands that earned high ratings in earlier studies, fell well below the industry average in the study that Power, the market research company, has conducted for 20 years.