Losing the love for my Benz Already.....

[Myros]

steady on chaps

"New models like the SL make the old one look hopelessly dated."

I would have said make them look classic myself, but then I do own one.

Truth be said, all Mercs look pretty good, and some look pretty, and all look better with age and appreciation.

If not we have all bought ugly cars and have shown a complete lack of taste, have we not?

 

[Retired]

I think what we are talking about is quality. Quality means different things to different people. A car is a quality car if it fulfils the individuals’ requirements. Clearly these vary from person to person.

For me comfort and durability over the years and miles is important. My E240 at 100k miles and about 8years old doesn’t rattle, the seat haven’t sagged and it genuinely drives pretty much the same as the day I collected it. So for me it’s a quality car.

For others a car that has contemporary styling, the latest gadgets and remains reliable and cheap to run over 3 years, at which time its replaced by the new model, is a quality vehicle.

This is one of the issues with surveys such as JD Power, they often emphasise things that you or I might not be much interested in and marginalise things we consider most important.

I suspect that the one component of quality which everyone wants is reliability during their period of ownership. In this respect my MB has been excellent. Sadly this aspect of quality appears to be missing in newer cars.

 

[SLinKyjoe]

i bought an SLK55 AMG for one reason.....only Mercedes make one.

so i guess i am kinda stuffed. people percive you have it coz its a Merc, people attempt to tell me the EVO 1-9's are quicker, have 4 seats and are better put together. what they forget it they dont do folding metal roof, 2 seater auto V8's.

the quality of the latest Mercs is better than the last generation. Mercedes set the bar others had to reach years ago. unfortunatly the others have passed it. but consider this, i was on a vauxhall site specing up a vectra...total cost £29k! for a vauxhall deisel! so would you buy one or pick up its competitor the C Class deisel for around the same money?

Hondas have good engines as thats whay made them famous. they are well put together but they dont have spirit! and they dont have lots of low end torque, so unless you drive on revs, for real world driving they are less easy at driving round town etc.

wont be a bad choice tho. at least it isnt a FORD!

and the C CLass sport coupe is not an old mans car! Its a girls car!:grin:

 

[jberks]

Its true, people buy cars for different reasons. A lot of my elderly relatives love Hondas but I think this is my point.

As Retired says, surveys tend to concentrate on faults per thousand cars. Whilst important, quality isn't just about reliablilty. OK so my car may suffer 7 more faults than a Toyota in its first 3 years. They can be fixed. Quality is also durability, longevity and IMO the intangible quality of the way it makes you feel. Japanses cars have the reliability sewn up, but the rest whilst closer than it was, still isn't to German standards. Fit and finish is there but the materials tend to be lower quality. Plastic instead of wood, thinner, softer fabrics etc. The Japanese are brilliant at giving you EXACTLY what you want, this is why your TV will break at 5yrs 1 month. As my relatives aren't car buffs and just want something that starts and gets them to the shops, the Honda is perfect and a Merc would be a bad idea.

But I sit there and try to imagine the character. Perhaps this would make fun thread,
Who is your car?
If anything, to me, a Honda's name is Norman and he's a chartered accountant. He can compete, but needs to get pretty damn angry first (and he'll turn a bright shade of pink!). Very reliable, always turns up on time, will be there rain or shine but no conversation, and will always agree with whatever you say so there's no point asking his opinion, will never make a suggestion - basically rather dull.

My Merc, as a human, is a little apart from the pack, that mate who's always a little better dressed, supportive and enthusiastic and you trust his advice. He'll tell you if he disagrees with what you're saying. One of those people you want to have around if you're in trouble. Ok, he may fail to turn up for a beer on the odd rare occasion which is irritating at the time, but you always know you'll have a laugh and end the evening smiling.
So who would you rather spend 3 hours a day with?

 

[littlebrooklyn]

Its true, people buy cars for different reasons. A lot of my elderly relatives love Hondas but I think this is my point.

When I think of Hondas I picture old granny's with pink fluffy slippers

 

[Rory]

When I think of Hondas I picture old granny's with pink fluffy slippers

It's quite off-putting going into a Honda showroom 'cos they're full of Granny's changing their Civic's - although they'll be quite shocked when they see the new one that's just been released!

I have to say (and I'm *mega* critical of cars) that I continue to be very impressed by our Jazz. Around where I live there's seem to be an unusual number of Honda dealers, all with good reputations, so there are a lot of Jazz's in the area.
I don't see a lot of Accords though - I gather it really doesn't sell very well at all.

 

[littlebrooklyn]

Well we now have a VW Golf GT TDi, wonder what that says about us

I have noticed since we sold the Mercedes and bought a Golf that it's much younger drivers that seem to look at the car. As my son also seems to love our Golf so much too I am guessing it's a boy racer type of car

 

[SLinKyjoe]

Well we now have a VW Golf GT TDi, wonder what that says about us
:

GET OFF OUR FORUM, YOU, YOU SPAWN OF THE DEVIL YOU!!!:-D :-D

 

[SLinKyjoe]

But I sit there and try to imagine the character. Perhaps this would make fun thread,
Who is your car?
If anything, to me, a Honda's name is Norman and he's a chartered accountant. He can compete, but needs to get pretty damn angry first (and he'll turn a bright shade of pink!). Very reliable, always turns up on time, will be there rain or shine but no conversation, and will always agree with whatever you say so there's no point asking his opinion, will never make a suggestion - basically rather dull.

My Merc, as a human, is a little apart from the pack, that mate who's always a little better dressed, supportive and enthusiastic and you trust his advice. He'll tell you if he disagrees with what you're saying. One of those people you want to have around if you're in trouble. Ok, he may fail to turn up for a beer on the odd rare occasion which is irritating at the time, but you always know you'll have a laugh and end the evening smiling.
So who would you rather spend 3 hours a day with?

Cracking idea.....lets put it in the benz free motoring section then we can get some other makes on.

 

[littlebrooklyn]

GET OFF OUR FORUM, YOU, YOU SPAWN OF THE DEVIL YOU!!!:-D :-D

It's not my fault, it's my bf's :cry:

I need to find someone rich enough to buy me an AMG

 

[Ian Brown]

It's not my fault, it's my bf's :cry:

I need to find someone rich enough to buy me an AMG

I think slinkyjoe,s your man he has one that you could drive and you could give him the golf

 

[SLinKyjoe]

I need to find someone rich enough to buy me an AMG

thats a very fortune seeking, and frankly, shallow attitude you have there. you wouldn't really want to have a guy just for the fact he buys you an AMG do you? mind you, if Paris Hilton calls round for tea, i shall be happy for her to buy me anything.........she is a bit strange looking tho. it wouldnt last!

It has just occured to me tho, a VW may well help the pulling power, as the AMG financier may not be thinking you have a materialistic viewpoint and not run off. so your little decietful purchase, which you deny has antyhign to with you, and you suggest is your B/F's fault, may well work out in your favour.......I have you sussed!!!:-D :-D

 

[SLinKyjoe]

golf

Good walk spoilt! I dont do Golf!

sexist anyway. G entlemen O nly, L adies F orbidden.

 

[Ian Brown]

Well we now have a VW Golf GT TDi, wonder what that says about us

I have noticed since we sold the Mercedes and bought a Golf that it's much younger drivers that seem to look at the car. As my son also seems to love our Golf so much too I am guessing it's a boy racer type of car

Lyn Here is a forum for you http://www.tdiclub.com/ all about the golf gti

 

[littlebrooklyn]

Lyn Here is a forum for you http://www.tdiclub.com/ all about the golf gti

You trying to get rid of me :roll:

 

[television]

You trying to get rid of me :roll:

I know I should have bought an AMG

Malcolm

 

[Ian Brown]

You trying to get rid of me :roll:

No Lyn not trying to get rid of you, just another forum about the car you are driving just now. We don’t want you to leave this forum because we know you will be back when you get another Mercedes it just a phase you are going through just now with your Golf but once you have had it a couple of months you will miss the Mercedes and wish you had another one.

 

[littlebrooklyn]

Well funny that you should say that Ian as we do keep looking at the Mercedes site, I guess one day we will try and get another C Class, but maybe the coupe as it's smaller, least I think it is.

If anyone want to buy me one it's my birthday on Saturday

 

[shayes]

sounds distinctly like
Lord won't you buy me a Mer-ce-des Benz!