MBNUT1

You sir have fine taste in automobiles. I had a 5 speed version of the 190E 2.6. It was a great car. My big aspiration back the was a W124 300E.

SW20S

It will have a similar theme but won't be identical.

A lot of this has to do with most restaurants now in the US being chains or corporate owned vs small, independent restaurants. I can name many restaurants here in the US that I frequent that are still just as you describe, but those are small independently owned restaurants and they are becoming fewer and farther between.

Streamliner

Years ago, I contacted the GM at the dealer I was then using with this: "Bring your $29K CLA in for service and drive away in a $29K CLA loaner. Bring your $130K S560 in for service and drive away in a $29K CLA loaner. What is wrong with this picture?" He called me and said that from now on, I would get an "E Class or better loaner."

I'll beat my dead horse again: MB dealerships should be split up into Daimler-Benz stores where everything below an E Class is sold and Mercedes-Benz stores where E Class and above are sold. I know it will never happen, but it should.

As for restaurants, here in Southern California, we have a company called Hillstone. They operate Houston's, Gulfstream, Bandara, Honor Bar, R&D Kitchen & a few others. This company is, without a doubt, "THE" most conscientious, over-the-top, high quality restaurant business I have ever had the good fortune to find. My wife and I joke about the young employees who are like out of "The Stepford Wives" movie: Each one is impeccably groomed, smiling, polite, clear speaking and utterly knowledgeable of every dish they serve. These are not overly expensive places either. They offer a high quality experience and fabulous food for a price you are never upset about paying because everything was PERFECT!

SW20S

Thats just not economically feasible, makes no business sense for them to have multiple dealers. I also always just ask what loaners they have available and pick the best one, no big deal. Every once and a while I get stick with a CLA or GLA or GLB because thats all they have, but if its going to be there for a few days then I will come back and swap it out. Never been an issue.

Hillstone is really great, very unusual for a chain. They're a nationwide chain.

Streamliner

In 2015, my wife and I spent 15 days in Italy. We went to Rome, Florence and the Tuscan countryside. We spared no expense, stayed at the best places and tried to dine at places recommended by others. The best Italian food I've ever had has been in Southern California. The ONLY bottle of wine I have ever sent back in a restaurant, was in Rome and I just about got in a fight with the manager, as he would not take it back. I'm sure that locals know the best places to dine, but our Italy trip was not a culinary success.

carlosinseattle

Now that's what I'm talking about...I knew you had it in you. Thanks for sharing your perspective. I don't work directly in the AI space, but definitely see it encroaching on my space, just like you were saying. I'm a Behavioral Economist so I get paid to understand and predict why people spend money the way they do. And get paid better to move the needle, which is what I really enjoy doing. If MB were to call me, I would jump for joy and scratch my eyes out at the same time. People are finnicky, super high expectations, super low grace. A manufacturer like MB is appealing to the tip of the spear in that space, and while they've made some mis-calculations, I humbly admit they're doing a better job than I think I could do.

Dima

your idea is not new Stream, they had tried it on a Titanic you're old enough to remember how it worked out?
They kind of attempted something like that in Saint-Tropez, you call for restaurant reservation, they ask you if you'd be spending 10k euroes or more and if not, no reservation. They had to abandon it this year though after the ensured outrage.

carlosinseattle

I'm in SoCal 4-6 times yearly. When in OC my fav is Eddie V's, also like Olea, but less so since they no longer offer a rack of lamb. Still go so I can grab a slice of cake from the shop next door. I'll be sure to look up Hillstone establishments when I'm in the area.

Dima

in my younger days, I used to stay in Eden in Rome where you have rooftop restaurant that is frequented by top celebrities, devine view, food and service. In Italy you have to tip well, often in advance. In Milan, I used to stay in Four Seasons during the Milan fashion show, both women and food were something to admire. But I've never had a bad meal anywhere in Italy.

carlosinseattle

If you think MB is bad, I dare you to go buy a Genesis. Not only will you be pestered about monthly payments before even choosse a car, but you definitely won't get a loaner for service. And most dealerships only have 1 tech trained to work on any of the Genesis systems. I had a G90 and had to wait 3 months to get a tech who could hande an air suspension problem, and this was prior to the pandemic. They might be slightly better now, but they definitely need the separation. Unfortunately it's not going to happen for Genesis or for MB because there's just not enough traffic to warrant a separate facility and staff solely for the premium/ultra premium class of vehicles. That's one of the reasons you never see an Acura or Infinity dealership busy. And yes, Lexus blows that rationale of the water, but Lexus has always been different.

MBNUT1

Where do you recommend in Seattle?

Dima

We use predictive models to manage $billions, but in a lot of ways, it's not even close to a human-like intelligence. But, it's getting there, it's just a matter of computer power that is 3-5 years behind what's required.
Billions are being invested in that now. And into a medical research where AI is making huge progress. The really wealthy (not S class owners) spent tons of money to live forever and not to be sick

Lou B

Thank you for your kind response...
But! Kentucky is NOT in the Midwest!
We, owning the Ohio River, are below the extended Mason-Dixon Line. To us this is significant. Buckeyes (a cognomen created by a man who was born in Maryland, grew up and practiced medicine much of his life in Kentucky, before settling in Cincinnati,), Hoosiers, and Illinoisans live north of the Ohio in the Midwest.
,

crabman

As far as I know, you run into the 1 and done syndrome in every big city/tourist stop. This is where the business is catering to customers who will only come once, and no matter what they do, will never come back. You see these places in every country. Another in general thing is that when traveling overseas, sparing no expense, and staying at the best places, often means you're setting yourself up for a bad experience. A good rule of thumb is the more American it looks, and particularly any place that is obviously catering to Americans, the worse it will be, and the more it will cost.

Take Florence. If you stay in the old city, you're going to pay significantly more than if you stay outside the barriers. More for food, accommodations, everything. All of it will be worse than what you will get just a ten minute walk out of the old city. Instead of paying 60 euros for a couple of mediocre entrées and a poor wine, you'll pay half that outside the old city. Unfortuneagly, while the food and service will be massively better, the wine be much the same. They have a different taste in wine, and at its core, less money gets spent making that wine, and it shows.

But, I did not say Italy was the answer to all questions, I said the dining experience in general is much better than you have in the US, and I believe that to be an objectively true statement. Eat in a tourist trap in the US, the food and wine is going to be somewhere between mediocre and bad, and it's going to be more ching than if you get out of that tourist trap.

@SW, I've had occasion to stay in DC, I usually park in Dupont Circle, like the area. There are many more restaurants there, than we have in Seattle, and the overall quality of them is considerably higher. I was first there quite a while ago, and I'd say it's not getting better there either, more chains and all that, overall things are on the decline.

Keep in mind my comments were in relation to a portion of the statements Carlos made about the decline in service and quality at restaurants in the US. I don't speak for him, he may say that Crab dude has him all wrong, and maybe I do. But outside my own opinion, various polling and consumer satisfaction surveys show this opinion, that dining in the US is getting worse, is widely held. For me, satisfaction is going to come down to what I paid, what showed up for my money, and how it was served. In general, on average, the US is going to give me the worst overall experience I'm aware of, compared to any country I've been to, and that isnt just Italy, France, and the usual EU stops, it includes places like Russia, Viet Nam, etc. I'm sorry if that strikes a nerve, but its how I see it.

carlosinseattle

It really is based on what you like. I LOVE seafood, and I'm spoiled to live in Seattle, fresh and tasty options always available. A Safe bet is always Elliot's Oyster House if near Pike Place Market. Otherwise, if you're on the Eastside there are tons of other options. What type of dining do you prefer??

Lou B

On our last trip to Barbados, where I've been going for over half a century, I was introduced to a new process - "A dinner reservation, sir? Fine. Credit card number? Oh, well, we put a down-payment of US$125 against your final bill. Of course, if you cancel, or don't show up, you will not get a refund. Yes, sir, four at 7:00pm on the 12th. We look forward to seeing you and your party, sir." Extraordinary food, impeccable service. The place stays jam-packed.

Frenetic

I personally think this isn’t about tough times, it’s more about short-term profitability over everything else. Commonality creates huge cost savings in design, logistics and production at the expense of model identity. Maybe this decision is coming back to haunt them based on the sales decline mentioned in the Reddit article.

I sure notice the similarities and would appreciate more differences.

MBNUT1

Thanks for the recommendation. It's actually for my daughter-in-laws birthday. They live in the Central District so that should work.

carlosinseattle

Awesome!!
There's also Blue Water Bistro (Americana and Seaffod) 10 minutes away, and/or That's Amore for Italian. That's Amore used to be my favorite restaurant in all of Seattle, the head chef bought it from the original owners around 5 years ago. Still fantastic food and you'll feel like you've been stransported back to the 60's.

I visited your fair city several times many moons ago; a bunch of my friends attended UC. I would often stop in while driving from home in Cleveland to school in Florida. It was back during the Bob Huggins and Nick Van Exel days with UC basketball...I know, I'm old...LOL