MBUSA introduces the 2006 S350
#26
Member
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Kansas City, MO, USA
Posts: 235
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
1989 560SEL, 1999 S600, 2005 S600, 2008 S550 4Matic
Very true. Looks like MBUSA is confused and doesn't know exactly what they sell and what they don't sell LOL. So maybe the S350 doesn't exist!!
#27
Super Member
Originally Posted by midget fidger
i dunno if they'll do that or not, but the website shows that in 2003, they had the W209 CLKs all except a single W208 CLK430 cab - http://www.mbusa.com/brand/container...ubNav=overview Especially odd because they dont have the 430 engine in any US W209.
#29
Originally Posted by ano0oj
Pretty smart business on the part of MB in my opinion. They want to provide a luxury automobile to those who can't afford higher sticker prices. Though 65k is a bit unreasonable for a 350, some people would just get one because its an S, and a Mercedes. But I'd rather get a 300C for 45k, and 350 hp, hemi .
It's a smart short term business movie, but like the article in MotorTrend (Losing Luster or something like that) (was it motor trend?), the value of the tri-star has been depreciating quicker then a Civic falling off a cliff. These cheaper 'what should be flagship' sedans aren't helping any either. Mercedes needs to cut back on what models they are offering and work on their logistics and sales network. It's not that we need more <50k$ one time buyers, but multiple >50K$ buyers. That's something I think they can accomplish, but this isn't in the right direction.
#32
Member
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Kansas City, MO, USA
Posts: 235
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
1989 560SEL, 1999 S600, 2005 S600, 2008 S550 4Matic
Originally Posted by ricky.agrawal
It's a smart short term business movie, but like the article in MotorTrend (Losing Luster or something like that) (was it motor trend?), the value of the tri-star has been depreciating quicker then a Civic falling off a cliff. These cheaper 'what should be flagship' sedans aren't helping any either. Mercedes needs to cut back on what models they are offering and work on their logistics and sales network. It's not that we need more <50k$ one time buyers, but multiple >50K$ buyers. That's something I think they can accomplish, but this isn't in the right direction.
#33
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Posts: 314
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Sorry, I'm lazy. Did you ever get the S320 in the states before the S350?
I think the S320/S350 make perfect sense, at least here in Aust.
S350 SWB: $A177,900 $US133,425
S430 SWB: $A207,900 $US155,925
S430 LWB: $A226,900 $US170,175
However, even in the USA, i think its still great market segmentation, esp since as pointed out above its a simple engineering exercise.
DISCLAIMER: My parents have an S320 - and as is probably typical of S320 owners, they could not give a sh*t about cars at all. It is just a car to them. They will probably drive it for 20 years or something unless some salesman manages to track down my father independent of my mother...
I think the S320/S350 make perfect sense, at least here in Aust.
S350 SWB: $A177,900 $US133,425
S430 SWB: $A207,900 $US155,925
S430 LWB: $A226,900 $US170,175
However, even in the USA, i think its still great market segmentation, esp since as pointed out above its a simple engineering exercise.
DISCLAIMER: My parents have an S320 - and as is probably typical of S320 owners, they could not give a sh*t about cars at all. It is just a car to them. They will probably drive it for 20 years or something unless some salesman manages to track down my father independent of my mother...
#35
MBWorld Fanatic!
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Santa Clarita/Northridge CA
Posts: 2,992
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
E350
saw an S350 at keyes, its so much smaller, i think its a joke. Id rather have a fully loaded E500 than a S350. Only think you get better are the S-Class seats imo. The Wheels are a joke too, the C-Class has better looking wheels than that.
#36
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Posts: 314
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by DancingBenzos
saw an S350 at keyes, its so much smaller, i think its a joke. Id rather have a fully loaded E500 than a S350. Only think you get better are the S-Class seats imo. The Wheels are a joke too, the C-Class has better looking wheels than that.
If I were to be buying now I'd probably go for the E500, as you say. But the W220 came out before the W211 so I think my folks made the right decision at the time.
#37
Member
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Kansas City, MO, USA
Posts: 235
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
1989 560SEL, 1999 S600, 2005 S600, 2008 S550 4Matic
Unfortunately it depends on what you're looking for. The E-Class is very small for me and if I were in the market for a brand new luxury sedan I'd definitely get the S350 since it is the cheapest means of getting a brand new full size Benz. However, I still think that price is pure robbery.
#38
when you look at it....the S350 made the CLS 500 look relatively cheap..
a new model..a more powerful engine..a reasonable rear space..for $2k more? thats a pretty easy choice right?
a new model..a more powerful engine..a reasonable rear space..for $2k more? thats a pretty easy choice right?
#41
MBWorld Fanatic!
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: NYC
Posts: 3,374
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
2002 ML320
Lol! Today I was looking through the mail and I found this little card from our local dealer (Rallye) about their amazing "exclusive deal" on the "ultimate luxury automobile," with a photo of an S600, with large text underneath saying "Drive a new 2006 S-Class for only $799 a month."
Then I turned the card and read "S350" and then below it, "3.7L 18-valve V6" and was like wtf did they do -- how the heck could they mess up an advertising campaign for an S430 that much? - wrong name, wrong engine...:p
So I decided to pay a visit to the W220 forum, and sure enough, here's this thread .
While I think the 350 might rake in a couple more sales for MB among the less-informed and less-performance-caring buyers in the luxury sedan market (a.k.a. mostly old people), it won't have any impact whatsoever on the rest of the market. Lexus' LS430 is still cheaper, and given a choice between an SWB S350 and an LS430, I'd much rather take the latter...
Then I turned the card and read "S350" and then below it, "3.7L 18-valve V6" and was like wtf did they do -- how the heck could they mess up an advertising campaign for an S430 that much? - wrong name, wrong engine...:p
So I decided to pay a visit to the W220 forum, and sure enough, here's this thread .
While I think the 350 might rake in a couple more sales for MB among the less-informed and less-performance-caring buyers in the luxury sedan market (a.k.a. mostly old people), it won't have any impact whatsoever on the rest of the market. Lexus' LS430 is still cheaper, and given a choice between an SWB S350 and an LS430, I'd much rather take the latter...
#42
Member
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Kansas City, MO, USA
Posts: 235
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
1989 560SEL, 1999 S600, 2005 S600, 2008 S550 4Matic
Originally Posted by mbakshi
While I think the 350 might rake in a couple more sales for MB among the less-informed and less-performance-caring buyers in the luxury sedan market (a.k.a. mostly old people), it won't have any impact whatsoever on the rest of the market. Lexus' LS430 is still cheaper, and given a choice between an SWB S350 and an LS430, I'd much rather take the latter...
#43
MBWorld Fanatic!
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: NYC
Posts: 3,374
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
2002 ML320
Originally Posted by braverichard
But to say the S350 will rake in sales among the less-informed is wrong. There are many people that would do anything to gain admission to the three pointed star owners club.
Originally Posted by braverichard
If I were in the market for a full size car and wanted only a Mercedes-Benz, this S350 would make it even cheaper and easier for me to get one.
#44
Member
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Kansas City, MO, USA
Posts: 235
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
1989 560SEL, 1999 S600, 2005 S600, 2008 S550 4Matic
You're wrong once again. Anyone who knows anything about these W220 should also be aware of the fact that owning one outside the factory warranty is a big risk. But what if you get a used S430 that still has a warranty you may ask? Well, that would be just as effective, except some people really value being the first owners of their cars. To those people, the S350 would have been perfect. Also, some people, like my aunt, find the long wheelbase W220 to be too long and would rather have a short wheelbase one. To those people, the S350, with its lower fuel consumption and lower maintenance costs (a six cylinder engine will always be cheaper to own than an eight cylinder engine) would seem like a good choice.
#45
the question for me is will the s350 go for 10k below sticker near the end of the year to make room for the new models like the s430 and s500 did last year?
then things will definitely get interesting.
then things will definitely get interesting.
#46
Member
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Kansas City, MO, USA
Posts: 235
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
1989 560SEL, 1999 S600, 2005 S600, 2008 S550 4Matic
Maybe yes, maybe no. I read from somewhere online that they aren't planning to sell many anyway. The purpose of that model was to reduce the amount of sales that will be lost as potential S-Class customers just wait for the release of the newly redesigned model. You know, the usual model change over loss.
#47
MBWorld Fanatic!
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: NYC
Posts: 3,374
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
2002 ML320
Originally Posted by braverichard
Anyone who knows anything about these W220 should also be aware of the fact that owning one outside the factory warranty is a big risk.
Originally Posted by braverichard
But what if you get a used S430 that still has a warranty you may ask? Well, that would be just as effective, except some people really value being the first owners of their cars.
This is a bit different for extremely new MB models (e.g. only the W164 ML and maybe the CLS at this point) or for relatively new cars from other companies (e.g. even Toyota), which seem to be able to hold their own in terms of initial value a lot better. When we were looking at getting our Sienna, for example, the similarly-equipped used '04 cars with 0-10k miles were actually the same price or more expensive than the price you could work out (if you negotiate well) on a new '05. On our ML back in '02, though, we bought it with 2k miles - for about $10k less than what it would cost out the door of the stealership.
Originally Posted by braverichard
Also, some people, like my aunt, find the long wheelbase W220 to be too long and would rather have a short wheelbase one. To those people, the S350, with its lower fuel consumption and lower maintenance costs (a six cylinder engine will always be cheaper to own than an eight cylinder engine) would seem like a good choice.
Last edited by amb9800; 04-15-2005 at 11:09 PM.
#48
Member
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Kansas City, MO, USA
Posts: 235
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
1989 560SEL, 1999 S600, 2005 S600, 2008 S550 4Matic
Originally Posted by mbakshi
Lol - not many people on a strict budget line would value being the first owner so much as to pay tens of thousands of dollars more for that privelege.
Originally Posted by mbakshi
In most cases like this, people would likely take something like an E-Class, or now if they're more inclined to, a CLS, for less or the same money, respectively. The 220 is an old car, and even with the old 3.7L V6, it's not at all the epitome of fuel efficiency lol. A mid or upper-range E-Class is a much better choice in this range if you are buying an MB sedan.
Last edited by braverichard; 04-15-2005 at 11:25 PM.
#49
Super Member
braverichard, I'm with you. I've been agitating for SWB S-class options for a while now. If Audi can offer their A6 as a LWB (first mid-size LWB I've ever heard of) option in China, I don't see why MB can't offer SWB S-classes in the US.
#50
Originally Posted by mbakshi
In most cases like this, people would likely take something like an E-Class, or now if they're more inclined to, a CLS, for less or the same money, respectively. The 220 is an old car, and even with the old 3.7L V6, it's not at all the epitome of fuel efficiency lol. A mid or upper-range E-Class is a much better choice in this range if you are buying an MB sedan.
The S offers little things that i find I cannot live without. For one, the seats are truly what one expects in a luxury car (unlike the E stiff seats). The pneumatic assist door closing is indispensable. Remember, these are options that cannot be upgraded with the E (not by dealer or factory anyway).