The Benz in front is...

[turbobloke]

...a Toyota? Just driven alongside my n'th C220 and can't believe why an aspirational marque like Mercedes would want to imitate a mass market numptymobile. And so to keyboard and PH. Any owners want to explain how fantastic they are? What's it all about alfie? Non alfies may reply.

[justthetip]

No replies, eh?

So in conclusion, only bought by non-PH'ers. Probably the same kind that have a C5 in the garage! Can't say I'm surprised.

[pentoman]

I see Mercedes not as a manufacturer of luxury cars, or sports cars. They are just a maker of well engineered, well made cars* which anyone may aspire to own (so long as they're prepared to pay for such substance) - qualities that everyone may enjoy, and ones which do not fade.

Hence people owning them for years and years.. whereas you will always eventually want to replace a fast car with the newer, faster model, and a luxury car with the newer, massageing-seat one.

The fact that you can choose a Mercedes and also choose huge speed, or no speed and great economy, or luxury electric-everything, or a basic equipment estate workhorse, just expands the appeal for me.


The best thing to tour the world with would be an old 240D 4-speed manual (W123).


Nowadays the focus has shifted a little. It seems like they spend more time getting magazine headlines and trying to outhandle BMWs and less time actually engineering them.


Russ
'86 190E nearly fully optioned, '62 Elan what's an option?


*Obviously this does not refer to stuff from the last decade or so

[MrAMG]

I have to say, if you steer well clear of the low end models then Mercedes still make and have made for that matter some *cracking* cars.

I speak from experience, I am a total car nut and currently own a C36 AMG. VERY quick, and very nicely appointed car. Sounds amazing in tunnels/multi-storey car parks too

The newer cars are, I admit, crap to a certain extent, but thats something that I think they're on their way to sorting out.

Simon
1997 C36 AMG