lalithster

Now that our economy has officaly tanked do you think MB will start selling the cheaper s350 or s320 cdi state side? I saw that back in 2006 for a short period MB started with s320 v6? but it didnt last long. Im not sure if the chassi is shorter on the 350s Ive seen some around in Sri Lanka and they look almost the same but with a smaller engine.

Diesel Benz

I doubt MBUSA would start selling those but the S350 has been available in Europe almost since 9/2005 when the W221 sales started. It is available both as a SWB and a LWB version. By the way, why do you think the chassis would be different, except if it was a SWB version. The body on a W211 or W204 etc. is the same for different engines anyway (on the W221 even the suspension options are not engine dependent).

chipps

The salesman I am dealing with says the 2010 update will include a S450 at a lower price than the S550.

WSH

Would choose new-tech, '10 E550, rather than some woefully underpowered S350

Cars and fuel are damn cheap in US....today's new S550 costs less than new S500 costed back in ~'92...another recession, albeit far less severe

Perhaps counterintuitively, at major MB dealers on SF Peninsula, the easiest cars to sell today aren't the S550s, but rather the S65s

My local dealer struggles to sell SL550s but has ?4-6 guys (credible, repeat MB customers) willing to pay over MSRP for SL65Blk

Severe recessions create Darwinian dynamics, in which those left standing and able (and willing) to buy new S/CL/SL want V12s, not some piddling V8 in some plasticky car

FloridaE55

Rich people will always exist - so no need to create a "cheaper" S-Class. Who's supposed to buy that car?

The "health" of an economy can always be evaluated based on the number of people considered to be "middle-class". The more, the better.

Right now, the middle-class is an endangered species....

Untertürkheim

Are you sure he is not talking about the S400 hybrid?

s600ed

I sure hope he is, because that's great news since the hybrid will have a lower MSRP than the S550!

AustinGuy

eeewwwww!

MB going the way of GM, Chrysler and Ford.

Please don't!

If there's any truth to this, I really don't know what MB is trying to do! I mean can't they see the American auto industry crumbling from going cheapo and building low quality cars for every Tom Dick & Harry?

I mean, seriously - a poor man's S Class? What for? Not to denigrate C and E class owners, but what exactly would be the difference then?

I hope not!

lalithster

No no its not true. Im just speculating because the s350 is available in other countries even the UK. The s550 might only be for NA if Im not mistaken. I've only seen the s500 out side of the US.

Germancar1

550 and 500 are same car, just different badges, thy both use the 5.5L V8.

M

chipps

No. An S450 with a smaller engine, and lower price is what I understood. I will inquire further, and report back. When my wife purchased her S550 when they first came out an S450 was supposed to be available at that time. However, the S550 was selling so well they evidently decided to not sell the S450 back then.

ZedStyle

'unfortunately' they have to worry about their bottom line before stroking egos... like someone said, the wealthy don't have issues, if you made a mil last year and now you make 750k, you can still buy whatever, but if you you made 200k and now you make 150k, you might be a little more cautious with your spending... fewer people are buying cars, and fewer people are buying luxury cars. if they want to keep sales going, they have to be able to market to people making 25% less than they did 2 years ago. either that, or send more buyers to lexus.

tuningtechnician

That always made me laugh... the fact that Mercedes knows that people in the US flock to the badge... the car has been called an S500 for god knows how long, and now, to boost sales in the US, they badge it S550 to attract the silly Americans... where the rest of the world is happy with the same 'ol 500 badge.

AustinGuy

It actually IS all about egos, at least for the most part when it comes to the S class. I don't think I need to explain why.

If they want to boost sales, then need to make more C and E classes, not build cheaper S classes.

Your reasoning seems to defy logic.

RedG

Why buy a S350 when you can buy a C63?

tasho3

+1 although i witnessed my cousin in Albania 2 years ago paying 80k euros for a 2007 s320

lalithster

Thanks for enlightning me. I had no idea! I thought they were two totally diffrent engines. I would actually perfer a 500.

Back to the topic

I wonder why MB realeased the v6 version in the US for one year back in 2006 s320. It must have been due to some econmic pressures?

Untertürkheim

Because for most people an S200 would be more than they could use, so the luxury and size are worth more than extra power that would never be used.

ZedStyle

appearances can be deceiving.

by your reasoning, they should not even offer the S550 in the US, and stick with the S600. Anyone who can't afford an S600 should buy a C class. Why on earth did they build a cheaper S class in the S550?!? crazy germans.
It defies logic, yet it's obviously the most bought S class, which allows them to competete effectively against market offerings from Lexus in the LS, and BMW in the 7 series.

The supposed S350/S450 is an extention of that. the huge majority of s class buyers buy the 'cheap' S550. now if those people are making a little less money now, and can't afford one, what happens to that customer? you feel that they should go buy a C or E. However, what will actually happen, is that they want a nice big flagship to satisfy their ego as well, though their pocketbook will not allow them to buy an S550. so mercedes will lose that sale altogether to lexus/audi/bmw/etc. who would offer a cheaper alternative. it's basic supply and demand. the demand has dropped, and so the price will have to fall - hence a cheaper model rather than discounting an S550.

you suggest driving buyers to the C and E to boost sales, where i am telling you the type of people who want to buy an S will not settle for the bottom of the model line-up. they will go elsewhere altogether. it's called 'market segmentation', and the segment of the market that buys cars like the S class are making less money now. either you provide them a cheaper product, or you lose the segment to another manufacturer, that segment will not 'trade down' to a lower segment.
i hope this reasoning is less logic-defying.

lalithster

totally agree with you. Why would go down a segment to a C or E when you could go to another lux brand and have their flag ship for less money. TO be me the flagship is leaps and bounds far superior to the closest class in their brand. Flagship offer considerably more not only when it comes technology but also ego.

AustinGuy

You're still defying logic. The whole "S550 sells more than the 600/65/63 etc" doesn't quite cut it. All those cars share the same platform and have been in the family for a long time.

At what point do you stop making "cheap" S Classes? Why stop at the 350? Huh?

The better question is just how much cheaper is the new 350 and how stripped down is it.

Untertürkheim

Novel idea, just sell the models available everywhere else in the world, although the 450 is pointless since it has nearly no fuel savings over the 550.

The 350 or 320CDI would be a great option for all the people who buy the S class for every reason but speed, just give people the option to equip them as much as they want. I would consider an S with a smaller engine but every feature for use in the US, especially if there is a substantial savings and lower fuel consumption.

Especially S420CDI, I would choose that over any other S, and gladly pay more than for an S550.

Germancar1

Well that may be part of it, but actually MBUSA decided to keep model designations as true as possible and since the car uses a 5.5L V8, it only make sense. But yeah 550 does sound better to Americans than 500, so its win-win I guess for marketing folks and consumers.


M

Polar Bear

Supposedly because of fuel requirements back them. We used to get S-class diesels here too, so who knows. One year we get a diesel wagon (1987), next year we do not. MB is on and off with their US models.

Sometimes you can find a nice 2006 S350 with many options - it seems that some dealers actually ordered them loaded and I have seen a few with Distronic and Keyless-Go. Would be a nice car to have as the 350 is a good strong engine. I would have one.

Untertürkheim

+1, that car would actually drive much better than any other S due to the SWB. Those cars were quite a deal, they could be had with all options for the price of a base 500. Add in Designo and you have the best handling long distance ultra luxury car since the S350 TD of 1995.