Thoughts on the R Class/SUV

[95benzman]

Just caught a glimes of the R Class/SUV.
What's the latest word?

[A. Rosich]

The latest word on the R-class?

An OVERPRICED Chrysler Pacifica !

[gilwave]

Nice review on MSN autos yesterday - raves about the driving experience, especially for such a big car:

http://autos.msn.com/advice/article.aspx?contentid=4023276&src=News

-gil

[lkchris]

Bad timing with respect to increasing fuel prices.

[Pierre Louis]

It needs the diesel option badly in the US. Waiting for ULSD, unfortunately, may delay it for a while. The new G class is supposed to have one and may come with a diesel under the over 8400 GVWR rules, if the rules even exist any more at the time of its intro. Bummer.

[gilwave]

Did anyone go to the Dealer Launch Event today?

I'd love to get a diesel one of these R-Class models.

[Pierre Louis]

They just came out with a lease special on the R350 with luxury package. Go figure.

[davis449]

Originally Posted by A. Rosich

The latest word on the R-class?

An OVERPRICED Chrysler Pacifica !

Precisely.

[420SEL]

I haven't driven it, but I did get to give it the once over and sit in it at the dealer last week. From the outside I think it looks good enough, and inside it is roomy and the glass roof is also cool. Very nice, inside and out, but it sure does not feel like a Mercedes.

[Lance Allison]

I checked them out at my friendly MB/Volvo/Audi/VW dealer last weekend. Dare I say they looks like...well...overgrown, bloated station wagons. GASP

[A. Rosich]

I was carefully checking out today a B-class, which looks much better proportioned and has a much better looking front and rear end than the R-class, all at half the cost.

Although, I do agree with several car analysts with their point of view that the A-class, B-class, R-class, ML-class and endless variations and permutations from Mercedes-Benz are really confusing the market and general public.

Mercedes-Benz lost its North from the time when it had only the C/E/S and G classes, all made right and specially suited to an specific group. Now the brand is so diluted that it is hard to figure out what are they trying to do.

[BENZ-LGB]

Originally Posted by davis449

Precisely.

Ditto!!!

[braverichard]

The R-Class is a pretty nice vehicle. I haven't driven it but I thoroughly checked it out at the Benz dealership. Sharp car in several aspects. Very expensive, but hey, those high rollers who have always driven fully loaded minivans now have a reason not to: just get the R-Class, a luxury minivan, though that's not what M-B sells it as.

M-B's expanded product portfolio is somewhat necessary for survival. A company can't stand stagnant forever with three or four product lines. Even BMW has expanded to hell, following M-B. With the arrival of the Japanese with luxurious vehicles with better reliability, similar perceived quality and feature content and much lower prices, M-B and Co. had to expand or go out of business. I can question how the expansion has been conducted and marketed, but not the necessity for it.

[A. Rosich]

In Spanish there is a saying that goes: "El que mucho aprieta poco abarca".

Which loosely translated goes something like: "Those who try to grab a lot don't have a good grip".

And that is the BIG mistake on Mercedes part. I know today a company has to diversify to survive in an ever changing world, BUT M-B should have stuck to its original three car line and the G.

If they wanted to add cheap-small econoboxes (like the A and the B classes), imitation off-roaders (like the ML) and ugly minivans (R), they should have created a separate line or brand (like they did with Smart).

I really don't mind, but most of my friends who own S-classes do get frustrated at the dealership when they have to share services in line with A and B classes.

[braverichard]

In response to your post, I'll take a sentence from my previous post as my reply to you:

Originally Posted by braverichard

I can question how the expansion has been conducted and marketed, but not the necessity for it.