Trend for Manufactures

[5vz-fe]

http://www.autoweek.com/apps/pbcs.dl.../70116006/1024

Why would Mercedes shape the C-Class almost like a S-Class? Wouldn't that lose the styling uniqueness of each model? Bunch of lazy ass designers. PS Mercedes is dumping a 6.2L V8 now on the AMG model, I think the AMG C will turn into an amercian muscle in 5 years having a 427 under the hood. LOL.

[dutchmasterflex]

The C-Class was always designed to be a mini-S-Class to let the people with less money feel like they have "top of the line" Benz..

I still don't like the new C class.. just looks so boring and bland.

[pitfield]

Basically Mercedes has about as much quality as Ford these days, i.e. sweet f.a.

[TopGearNL]

For people who can't afford an S-class. Just like Porsche and the Boxter. :bah:

[Shinigami]

Originally Posted by pitfield Basically Mercedes has about as much quality as Ford these days, i.e. sweet f.a.

They say they're trying to improve:

"Mercedes recognizes that its image as a builder of trustworthy and long-lived vehicles has taken a knock, so the new car has done more test mileage than any Mercedes model before it, according to the automaker. Some 280 prototypes covered a total of 140 million test miles worldwide."

I guess it's one of those "let's wait and see"...

[5vz-fe]

^Pretty much. The worst possible sample of mercedes should belong to first generation M-Class.

I know the C suppose to be a mini S all the time, but that tail is just plain ugly for a small car like that. I could live with it on the S, hell I even like how it looks on an S, but a C.....it's just ugly.

[TopGearNL]

Worst thing about mercedes is the service and customer care

[ZfrkS62]

Having worked next to the Mercedes guys for two years, i can tell you that both the statement about the M class, and the customer service is so true it's really kinda sad.

i saw the M classes eat their piston rings in 60K, trim pieces falling off, harmonic balancers rip apart and even one engine block cast so thin in one spot, oil started seeping through the metal :shock:

their CSI scores were in the low 80%s for just about everything and when Mercedes dropped their maintenance program, holy fuck...the backlash from that was horrible. BMW saw a direct 30% sales jump when that happened.


They aren't going to be able to turn it around anytime soon. It's a long hard road out of hell, and Mercedes is so deep in it even Satan wouldn't want to go find them.

[TopGearNL]

Originally Posted by ZfrkS62 Having worked next to the Mercedes guys for two years, i can tell you that both the statement about the M class, and the customer service is so true it's really kinda sad. their CSI scores were in the low 80%s for just about everything and when Mercedes dropped their maintenance program, holy fuck...the backlash from that was horrible. BMW saw a direct 30% sales jump when that happened. They aren't going to be able to turn it around anytime soon. It's a long hard road out of hell, and Mercedes is so deep in it even Satan wouldn't want to go find them.

Yeah its pretty sad ZfrkS62 keeping in mind that they were the best in the world with their Customer care and service for a very long time.

I think that the concern just didn't think it was worth the investments. Bad choice! as we see now..

It will take pretty long to reach that level again because the cars might be good but the customers need to regain the trust again, and thats very hard.

[TopGearNL]

Originally Posted by bmw06m6 Just like GM and Ford.

Pretty much but Mercedes is different

[ae86_16v]

Back in the days it was "One sausage, three different lenghts". Of course in reference to the C, E, and S Classes.

- - -

Yeah, starting with the original ML320 back in 1998/99 was the first downturn in MB's quality. Of course it carried over to the C Classes with the cheap interior, and even the first two years of the new E Class, they had a lot of problems too. My friend works as a service agent at a MB dealership.

Although he said with the facelifted E Class, a lot of the initial problems were taken care of. Looks like MB realized that they cut to the bone with their cost-saving measures.

I personally broke a CLS's trunk latch at a MB Dealership one time .