Mercedes is no longer a proper premium brand

[gizze]

I've been a member on here for a number of years and I've posted over 350 times before starting this topic. Why would I be "trolling"?

I started a subject based on my opinions. Oddly enough, at a work related dinner last week I sat next to a guy who, completely unprompted by me, expressed his comments regarding current MB products and his views were identical to mine. We got talking because he saw me and my W123 in the car park and the conversation started from there. Ok, this man was in his late 60s, (I'm 39) so we shouldn't be surprised that his views are somewhat old fashioned.

As for my writing style, that's the way I write and the language I use. I don't do text speak, m8. I rely upon old fashioned phrases, sometimes for comic effect, other times to make a point. It worked!

I really don't want to take this much further. I don't regret starting this post but I will refrain from sharing my views on this forum in the future.

I don't think you are intentionally rude or try and look down your nose at others or be so damned judgemental, but the way you write and what you write certainly comes across as that.

C Class drivers are all photocopy repairmen, people who drive around in C and E Class's these days are "common folk" etc. etc.

I was waiting for a couple of racist slurs thrown in there too, we would be onto a 100 pager in no time!


Mercedes are not as prestigious as they once were because they are producing for a mass market and keeping up with what modern buyers are prepared to pay for a car.
Looking back at all the people I knew with big Mercs when I was a kid, so the 80's really, they were mostly the criminals, or not criminals but those that may have avoided doing everything absolutely Kosher.
I remember the guys turning up at the cricket club and me saying to my Dad "Wow! look at the Merc, what does he do?"
"I wouldn't like to guess." was his reply most of the time.

I don't think the Mercedes client base has changed much at all, I reckon for every barrister or surgeon that buys one, 9 more are sold to those that may twist the rules of business somewhat.
Maybe back in 1980 when you were 6 or so you were, like me, just a little green?

Rose tinted spectacles and all that?

 

[television]

Looking back at all the people I knew with big Mercs when I was a kid, so the 80's really, they were mostly the criminals, or not criminals but those that may have avoided doing everything absolutely Kosher.
I remember the guys turning up at the cricket club and me saying to my Dad "Wow! look at the Merc, what does he do?"
"I wouldn't like to guess." was his reply most of the time.

?

It was the same with the Jags years ago, Mk10's were 2 a penny and the undesirables all drove them including me

 

[SteveX]

Let’s not forget that it's more and more difficult for Marques to be ahead of the times.

The cheaper Marques are always striving to improve and be up there with the 'big boys', take the quality of a ford fiesta today and compare it to 20 years ago, there will be no comparison.

With mass production in the Far East and other areas, and technology becoming cheaper, vehicles are much better spec’d and equipped than they were 20 years ago.

You could say that MB should be upping their game, and whilst they are working on new technologies and premium features they are also working the other way around, building premium cars and releasing models and ranges to accommodate the mass market and suit everyone's taste and pocket. You can see the other manufacturers even Kia starting off with cheap poorly equipped vehicles, and then moving steadily up to offer premium models, why? Because they had popular low cost cars that offered good value and appealed to buyers. This put them in the position to be profitable and be able to invest.

Without one in this day and age there rarely can be another, there are some exceptions with the exotics, and a number of those companies have had their fair share of bad times without any 'bread and butter' but MB has never been an exotic.

They are doing exactly what they need to do to have a strong market position, be solvent, expand their customer base, make profit and have cash to invest in R&D. If you run a business, you don't ignore untapped markets if you can, it would be stupid to ignore a massive percentage of the population and their needs and wants if you are in a position to provide them with something and make a profit to progress your company.

We've seen so many Marques vanish over the past couple of decades because they couldn't adapt, and I for one am happy that MB has, and hopefully this will put them in a position to continue to do so for many more decades. It would be a sad day when there are no more MB being produced, so be thankful that they are doing what they need to do and we can still see them on the road and experience them.

 

[Peter C1974]

So "Common folk" is not insulting and doesn't put you above people?

This is the problem, I know there are a small percentage of people who look at me and believe I am too common to drive my Merc, and I've only had it 3 days!

In the context I've put it, no, I don't think that using that term was particularly insulting.

 

[obduro]

In the context I've put it, no, I don't think that using that term was particularly insulting.

I could continue this discussion with you and explain why what you've said would be construed as insulting by those you are demeaning (some of whom are in this thread), but I feel like I'd be talking to a brick wall and for the sake of my sanity I'll exit at this point. Thanks for playing!

 

[Mcobinad]

I don't regret starting this post but I will refrain from sharing my views on this forum in the future.

Sorry to interject but it is called divergent views and opinions. Your statement seems to suggest to me that you are that kind of person who believes in the existence of an equation between status and human worth and one who values another person primarily on the basis of the level of social rank that such other person holds in society. Also, I have taken time to appraise the replies on here so far and I think that everyone must not agree with your statement. You can be rest assured that you are not the only one being massacred on this forum. I have made many posts here in which some trolls who came on as well to participate were known to have brought a reputation of petulance, inflammatory and extraneous statements. Some even used incendiary words and bitter diatribe to hijack the thread. Don't get offended. It is a common forum peripeteia. Now back to the crux of the matter, you seem to purport that Mercedes has lost its premium image because it is too rampant and accessible to people of all social class. (This is the opinion I have formed based on your replies so far). Well, in my opinion, I think that revolving credit facilities have helped a lot of people in this present time to attain premium car brands, that which, they could not afford with raw cash back in the day, especially the brand in question.

Making car finance available to all, irrespective of one's position in the society, of course subject to status, has helped to parlay the economy of this country without which this country would be suffering endemic financial doldrums. Do you think Mercedes would rely solely on the affluent to make their yearly turnover? I don't think so! Mercedes would rely on everyone from every nook and cranny of this world to boost their market sales and most of which is achieved through financing. Finance makes the world go around and through this floodgate, alot of people have been able to afford their dream cars. What's wrong with that? Back in the day, when a modicum of finance companies existed, one could count the number of Mercedes Benz cars on the road, today, it is a different market of people with different needs. Today, it could be that those affluent (old-money customers) who could afford Mercedes back in the day, have all diverted to a much more prestigious brand since they noticed this leakage in financial floodgate and the ones left are the new money customers who could care less about this status symbol artifact. For me Mercedes still remains a premium brand and anyone who thinks, it has lost that image can switch to a more defined premium brand. I can only see such people as wannabes, show-offs, snobs, who think they have got it whereas in true essence, they haven't got it. At the OP, I can only but refer you to two financial books and they will teach you who the true rich really are. If there is anything to be learned, they are certainly not the ones that drive Mercedes or any premium brand out there.


Rich Dad, Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki

The Millionaire Next Door by Thomas J. Stanley & Willima D. Danko



Now, I believe this statement will cure everyone and help die down the tension of this thread.

"Everyone on this forum should be respected irrespective of divergent views, thoughts and opinions. No one should be subject to unnecessary criticisms or bullying from a stronger force except where explicitly permitted by the charter of this forum. Everyone's right on this forum must remain inviolate!"

 

[st4]

<face palm>

 

[gizze]

This is turning into a right old belly rub!!

Best thread in years!!

 

[television]

This is turning into a right old belly rub!!

Best thread in years!!

It has highlighted a few problems and hopefully a fix or cure.

I mean just because 7 years ago I upset a members friends father on another forum over what actions I chose to take at the time, this should not be reflected on every post I make here. At the end of the day it is the one on here asking for help that gets hurt.

Sure we are all different with different standards and thoughts, and a good thing too.

In many ways the thanks button shows the obvious in who like who, it is a Eurovision song contest type thing. And I just love it when they post the wrong answer and get thanked by their followers, I think that we have 4 members that play this "thanks" game.

 

[st4]

Huh?

 

[gizze]

Sure we are all different with different standards and thoughts, and a good thing too.

Totally agree.

In many ways the thanks button shows the obvious in who like who, it is a Eurovision song contest type thing. And I just love it when they post the wrong answer and get thanked by their followers, I think that we have 4 members that play this "thanks" game.

I use the THANKS button quite a lot, many times when I am disagreeing with someone to show that although I might disagree I still appreciate their views on the matter.

I also tend to use it as a way to say "I have seen your post, nothing to add but have seen it so please don't think I'm ignoring you."
Others probably do the same and it may be taken the wrong way?

I don't know the ins and outs of the forum over the years, but I certainly do know that it is a better place when everyone is on here, differences of opinion make it for more interesting.

 

[television]

Well said gizze, just the same as me then

 

[NW_Merc]

It has highlighted a few problems and hopefully a fix or cure.

I mean just because 7 years ago I upset a members friends father on another forum over what actions I chose to take at the time, this should not be reflected on every post I make here. At the end of the day it is the one on here asking for help that gets hurt.

Sure we are all different with different standards and thoughts, and a good thing too.

In many ways the thanks button shows the obvious in who like who, it is a Eurovision song contest type thing. And I just love it when they post the wrong answer and get thanked by their followers, I think that we have 4 members that play this "thanks" game.

What has this got to do with Mercedes being a premium brand?

 

[st4]

What has this got to do with Mercedes being a premium brand?

No one stays on topic anymore.

The thread had merit and there was truth in the OPs post as to how in real terms the Mercedes car is cheaper and more readily available than it was in the past.

I love having one, but I'm under no illusions that its not that much better than the mainstream cars, but it still has the edge

 

[Mcobinad]

What has this got to do with Mercedes being a premium brand?

Malcolm's statement may not relate to the subject discussed but atleast he has contributed in his own way. As far as it is not inflammatory, his opinion is still as valid as anyone who goes straight to the point.

 

[NW_Merc]

Malcolm's statement may not relate to the subject discussed but atleast he has contributed in his own way. As far as it is not inflammatory, his opinion is still as valid as anyone who goes straight to the point.

Quite................


Anyway back to mercs, I have 2 mainly because I like them, they're basic enough for me to be able to repair. I cant comment on the newer ones but then from some of the failures on here of newer MBs I probably will go for a jag if I was going to get a newer car.

 

[SteveX]

Anyway back to mercs, I have 2 mainly because I like them; they're basic enough for me to be able to repair. I can’t comment on the newer ones but then from some of the failures on here of newer MBs I probably will go for a jag if I was going to get a newer car.

Interesting point, I'm still trying to work out what Jag's newer image and models mean.

A chap I work with turned up at my house in a 12reg XF, I asked him his thoughts so car and he said it was good thus far, (his favorite feature was the james bond style animated shifter and vents, which I must admit looked pretty cool!) but time was needed to make a full assessment.

It looks like they are on the right track though, just a shame about the depreciation they seem to suffer so badly from.

I will get a Jag in some way shape or form in my life, even if it is just as a toy as it's something I've never owned.

I still think that whilst any car is far from perfect, MB do seem to have a pretty good build quality, certainly much better than Porsche.

 

[st4]

Tata has invested a lot in JLR.

Land rovers in satisfaction surveys don't do well but Jags too.

Look at that new F type. Stunning car and the finest drop top on sale IMHO

 

[SteveX]

Tata has invested a lot in JLR.

Land rovers in satisfaction surveys don't do well but Jags DO.

Look at that new F type. Stunning car and the finest drop top on sale IMHO

Fixed that for you

 

[NW_Merc]

I think Jag for some reason have always suffered with depreciation issues. But at least with the new model XJ when it came out, was all aluminium, I'd get that because the same engine is in my discovery and it's a sweet engine.