Mercedes is no longer a proper premium brand

[SAABfan]

What image does someone who drives an old Merc project?
I'd rather drive a W202 that is worth £1k than a £10k new Ford Fiesta.

Who's showing off the most? The W202 driver or the new Fiesta driver?

 

[television]

What image does someone who drives an old Merc project?
I'd rather drive a W202 that is worth £1k than a £10k new Ford Fiesta.

Who's showing off the most? The W202 driver or the new Fiesta driver?

My good friend is still paying off his fiesta that was new 3 years ago and he still owes more than the car is worth

 

[PeterCLK]

Commoners are everywhere these days. The future King even married one!

 

[prwales]

Commoners are everywhere these days. The future King even married one!

some take the view that her bloodline is far better than his

 

[prwales]

I have a fairly mint 210 estate, nobody made anything comparable when I bought it.
Its let down by penny pinching and the usual rust worrys, but I still like it and I think only the size of the fuel tank would stop it going to the moon.
If I had endless amounts of money Mercedes Engineers would build my car.

agree about the mechanicals but I would have Audi or Jag to build the bodywork as they can do either aluminium or galvanizing [properly]

 

[st4]

agree about the mechanicals but I would have Audi or Jag to build the bodywork as they can do either aluminium or galvanizing [properly]

Interesting comment, I frequently go "wheel arch spotting" and invariably the Fords and Vauxhalls do rust, as do the Japanese cars around 10yo. The VAG offerings and Jaguars really do seem decent.

I've seen one rusty S type, but it was like a Y reg and only a little showing and plenty older ones really spotless like M reg XJs. I think Jaguar probably paint the cars a fair bit better, and use better steel to build their cars.

However, I saw one of the more recent alumimium XJs, about 4yo at the time, and the aluminium corrosion was not pretty.

Never seen Audi fail with this level of construction on A8's (1st gen) never seen a spot of corrosion.

 

[prwales]

Audi have been galvanizing since 1986 and Porsche even earlier from 1977.

 

[syncropaddy]

I love threads like this and I largely agree with the OP ......

I reckon Mercedes Benz cars are no longer special enough.

 

[NW_Merc]

I love threads like this and I largely agree with the OP ......

I reckon Mercedes Benz cars are no longer special enough.

Especially when there are idiots like this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cIhufeVwWj0

 

[TheBluetac]

I find snobbish behaviour most disconcerting. In the most part it stems from those who believe they are better than everyone else getting annoyed at those who they consider inferior bettering themselves.

In saying that, Mercedes of 20-30 years ago were head and shoulders above anything else imHo. But now I believe the line is blurred between premium and 'run of the mill' brands. Your Vauxhall and Fords have undoubtedly improved, and premium bands have maybe taken their eye off the ball in search of mass production and a quick pound.

So I do agree with the OP about the quality issue, but that is all. We can all expect and wish for unprecedented quality, but cannot ask for it at a price that precludes 'certain sorts'. Otherwise I will complain about the 'colour' or 'age' or 'religion' of some types which now drive Mercedes. Wise up!!

 

[SAABfan]

But anyone can drive a second hand Merc these days. You can pick up a decent W202 for a grand.

Driving a Merc has nothing to do with class or how much money someone has.
It has everything to do with valuing engineering though.

I rather drive a car that won't fall apart mechanically. Mercs are pretty good in this respect.

Fords and Vauxhalls aren't as well engineered and are built from cheap components. That's why I don't want one.

It has nothing to do with a badge when you drive a 14 year old car, like I do. I've always loved the look of the W208 and now I have one. How old it is to me is an irrelevance, but I bet it is a much better car than a 14 year old Mondeo would be.

All I know is, everything still works on it and the engine still sounds like new.



(edit - my bad typing)

 

[toby1]

An earlier poster summed it up for me - a premium brand but not a premium product