Why is Mercedes considered luxury by the general public?
Discussion
Obviously we gearheads know that Mercedes makes some tremendous cars and a lot of typical everyday cars, they a huge lineup covering many different areas and types of cars.
But in the UK Mercedes is seen as somewhat of a luxury brand to the general public? And from what I have heard in some markets they are considered as very average cars.
So the question is, why do Mercedes have a notion of being luxury amongst the general public in the UK? More so than Audi, BMW, etc.
But in the UK Mercedes is seen as somewhat of a luxury brand to the general public? And from what I have heard in some markets they are considered as very average cars.
So the question is, why do Mercedes have a notion of being luxury amongst the general public in the UK? More so than Audi, BMW, etc.
A little outdated image. Merc are not a premium brand anymore. They're on a par with all mainstream stuff like Ford, Vauxhall, Hyundai, Kia ect just like BMW. Many won't agree and like to think the 3 pointed star is something special but there's much better mass produced stuff out there for far less money..
It has surprised me when in some 3rd world place the taxis are Mercedes. So yes odd how different countries view them.
I see Audi/BMW as rep mobiles nowadays all on PCP. The equivalent of the 1970's Ford Cortina. Mercedes/Jaguar are the equivalent of the Ford Granada (management car).
I see Audi/BMW as rep mobiles nowadays all on PCP. The equivalent of the 1970's Ford Cortina. Mercedes/Jaguar are the equivalent of the Ford Granada (management car).
Chozza said:
At the spec most people see them - its not luxury just another lease /rep mobile like BMW and Audi.
Get up the S-class it starts getting into luxury.
plus some of the van conversions are really good - but i doubt the public would recognise these ( kinda the point)
I’m not so sure about that, go in a Vauxhall or fiesta then any Mercedes/ Bmw and they feel much better quality. Tbh the biggest surprise I had was getting a taxi and a Skoda superb long wheel base jobbie showed up it was extremely nice place to be in the back of. Get up the S-class it starts getting into luxury.
plus some of the van conversions are really good - but i doubt the public would recognise these ( kinda the point)
A1VDY said:
A little outdated image. Merc are not a premium brand anymore. They're on a par with all mainstream stuff like Ford, Vauxhall, Hyundai, Kia ect just like BMW. Many won't agree and like to think the 3 pointed star is something special but there's much better mass produced stuff out there for far less money..
No.DOCG said:
But in the UK Mercedes is seen as somewhat of a luxury brand to the general public? And from what I have heard in some markets they are considered as very average cars.
Mercedes makes a very broad spectrum of cars - I doubt you will find a market where ALL Mercedes cars are considered as average, but in places they are used as solid reliable workhorses (or at least used to be... a modern E-class is surely too technically complex to be a Stuttgart taxi year-in, year-out, without some hefty bills?)For me, it's not just about squidgy leather seats and good NVH characteristics (although my old E-class does have those!). It is a venerable old thing; it was 50k miles and 11 years old when I bought it, it's now 16 years old with 105k miles and it feels like it would do another 16 years and 105k miles no problem... I've just jinxed myself, haven't I.
Think of that person you know who is almost always wearing the same tweeds that they've worn in all weathers, for all activities, for as long as you've known him - that suit is like a second skin to him; it's comfortable, it's familiar, it does what he asks of it and with careful maintenance it will last a lifetime. That's what an old Merc is like; it's not trendy, it's not ostentatious, no-one would be impressed if I showed up at wherever it is people go to buy their steroids, tattoos and smashed avocados. But it is very well built, very well thought out and there are no niggles where I think "why did they design that feature to work that way?! How annoying!" or "why did they make that bit so flimsy and cheap feeling?". In the course of my work I drove hirecars of pretty much every major brand in the last 10 years and most of them have at least one shortcoming that annoyed me in the few hundred miles I had it.
I suspect people with Mercedes Unimogs feel much the same way about their Mercs.
For the avoidance of doubt, I never look at another driver and think "pah, look at him in his lesser car! I'm far superior in my 16 year old minicab-looking Mercedes!". I'm the chap who was mocked in another thread for thinking a Laurin & Klement Skoda indicated that someone enjoyed the finer things without needing to show off about it.
MikeStroud said:
It has surprised me when in some 3rd world place the taxis are Mercedes. So yes odd how different countries view them.
I see Audi/BMW as rep mobiles nowadays all on PCP. The equivalent of the 1970's Ford Cortina. Mercedes/Jaguar are the equivalent of the Ford Granada (management car).
II see Audi/BMW as rep mobiles nowadays all on PCP. The equivalent of the 1970's Ford Cortina. Mercedes/Jaguar are the equivalent of the Ford Granada (management car).
They are taxis in the 3rd world because they are seen as supremely durbable. It isn’t because they are a cheap option and I don’t think it negatively affects their image.
MikeStroud said:
I see Audi/BMW as rep mobiles nowadays all on PCP. The equivalent of the 1970's Ford Cortina. Mercedes/Jaguar are the equivalent of the Ford Granada (management car).
To be honest I see Mercs in the same vein as Audi/BMW - all on PCP with aspirational drivers (renters)! I mean an A-Class is pretty much a 1 Series alternative and a B-Class looks like a 2 Series Active Tourer.
I grew up with aspirations of having a Mercedes and in 1990 finally got my 1st, a 1980 W123 280e. But sadly it wasn't a great example, although the build quality was great.
Then in 1997 I bought a manual 1989 190e and loved it.
But the 1994 W202 C280 Sport I replaced it with in 1999 was the most disappointing car I have owned.
And as a result I've only had BMWs since 2005 because I prefer RWD, and at least you can get them with manual gearboxes!
Plus Mercedes C-Class models from around that time didn't have leather seats, it was basically PVC with some sort of poncy name!
Having said that my love for BMWs died in around 2007 when even 6 cylinder petrol models got forced induction forced upon them.
OK, old man rant is now done.
Edited by Mr Tidy on Monday 8th June 00:59
Mr Tidy said:
To be honest I see Mercs in the same vein as Audi/BMW - all on PCP with aspirational drivers (renters)!
I mean an A-Class is pretty much a 1 Series alternative and a B-Class looks like a 2 Series Active Tourer.
I grew up with aspirations of having a Mercedes and in 1990 finally got my 1st, a 1980 W123 280e. But sadly it wasn't a great example, although the build quality was great.
Then in 1997 I bought a manual 1989 190e and loved it.
But the 1994 W202 C280 Sport I replaced it with in 1999 was the most disappointing car I have owned.
And as a result I've only had BMWs since 2005 because I prefer RWD, and at least you can get them with manual gearboxes!
Plus Mercedes C-Class models from around that time didn't have leather seats, it was basically PVC with some sort of poncy name!
Having said that my love for BMWs died in around 2007 when even 6 cylinder petrol models got forced induction forced upon them.
OK, old man rant is now done.
What's your opinion of people who buy cars on finance?I mean an A-Class is pretty much a 1 Series alternative and a B-Class looks like a 2 Series Active Tourer.
I grew up with aspirations of having a Mercedes and in 1990 finally got my 1st, a 1980 W123 280e. But sadly it wasn't a great example, although the build quality was great.
Then in 1997 I bought a manual 1989 190e and loved it.
But the 1994 W202 C280 Sport I replaced it with in 1999 was the most disappointing car I have owned.
And as a result I've only had BMWs since 2005 because I prefer RWD, and at least you can get them with manual gearboxes!
Plus Mercedes C-Class models from around that time didn't have leather seats, it was basically PVC with some sort of poncy name!
Having said that my love for BMWs died in around 2007 when even 6 cylinder petrol models got forced induction forced upon them.
OK, old man rant is now done.
Edited by Mr Tidy on Monday 8th June 00:59
It was always ingrained in me to never use finance to purchase a depreciating asset. Cars seem a lot less impressive to me when I hear they were bought on finance.
DOCG said:
Obviously we gearheads know that Mercedes makes some tremendous cars and a lot of typical everyday cars, they a huge lineup covering many different areas and types of cars.
But in the UK Mercedes is seen as somewhat of a luxury brand to the general public? And from what I have heard in some markets they are considered as very average cars.
So the question is, why do Mercedes have a notion of being luxury amongst the general public in the UK? More so than Audi, BMW, etc.
I don't think Mercedes are viewed as a luxury brand, unless you are specifically talking about the S class. But in the UK Mercedes is seen as somewhat of a luxury brand to the general public? And from what I have heard in some markets they are considered as very average cars.
So the question is, why do Mercedes have a notion of being luxury amongst the general public in the UK? More so than Audi, BMW, etc.
MB are probably seen as more premium/executive than BMW/Audi as the cars tend to focus on passenger comfort above driving dynamics.
I see Mercedes as being a similar brand to BMW and Audi, no better or worse, the only Mercedes I see as being really luxury is the S Class.
I've only owned one and it was a W202 C180, it was around 20 years old when I bought it but for the money it was a brilliant run around. Certainly nothing flashy about it but it felt a really comfortable solid car, a big MOT failure list saw the end of it sadly.
I've only owned one and it was a W202 C180, it was around 20 years old when I bought it but for the money it was a brilliant run around. Certainly nothing flashy about it but it felt a really comfortable solid car, a big MOT failure list saw the end of it sadly.
Back in the mists of time before PCP & the like, they were exclusive, what successful professionals drove.
At the same time Mr average drove a Ford, Vauxhall or BL. It started with BMW in the 90's, then Merc picked up in the 00's. They became cheaper to buy, much cheaper. More accessible to Mr Average. Even in the late 90s prices were relatively high, supply limited. Around the late 90's quality also tanked, which set them up to chase market share in the 00's
At the same time Mr average drove a Ford, Vauxhall or BL. It started with BMW in the 90's, then Merc picked up in the 00's. They became cheaper to buy, much cheaper. More accessible to Mr Average. Even in the late 90s prices were relatively high, supply limited. Around the late 90's quality also tanked, which set them up to chase market share in the 00's
jamoor said:
It’s premium not luxury
Ultimately that's just semantics / marketing. For it to be really true a Mercedes is premium not luxury it would fulfil your needs more completely than a non premium car.Which of your needs could not be met by a Hyundai or Dacia ?
What they have done is convinced you that you need certain levels of performance, quality and convenience that you almost certainly do not.
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