Stopped by the local Mercedes–Benz dealer to pick up a part and what did I see? The brand new 1995 Oldsmobile Aurora.

They call them a CLS now and waive a flag about it being the first four door coupe. Well, looks like the boys in Stuttgart didn’t do their home work.

They could have copied the 1995 Buick Riviera and had a real coupe.

Maybe next year MB can copy Lincoln and come out with a new 1977 Mark VII.

I would love to have a Bill Blass edition

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Anders

1995 E300
2015 VW TDI Sportwagen 15K
1977 240D (197K)
2002 Subaru Legacy L Wagon (115k) (Wife's)
Gone but not forgotten:
2005 Buick LeSabre
1998 C230
1984 300D
1983 240D
1981 300SD
1974 240D
1974 Fiat 124 Spider
1968 Triumph TR250

My apologies, but I see no relation between the Aurora and the CLS.

Although I think they're as ugly an unoriginal. Also, the real fakewood polish(matte) that's in the CLS looks worse than what's in the Aurora.

Don't insult the Aurora!

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1987 300SDL (324000)

1986 Porsche 951 (944 Turbo) (166000)

1978 Porsche 924 (99000)

1996 Nissan Pathfinder R50 (201000)

I just don't trust a company that trys to pass off a 4 door car as a coupe.

A real coupe has no B pillar, and 2 (two, dos, zwei, kettő) doors.

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'90 300SE 298k
-300K and it gets put into retirement.
'80 300D 255k Purchased new by family in 1980.

Had a:
1973 220 (gas)
1980 300SD
1992 400E

not to get off-topic, but i had a chance to buy a 1976 Bill Blass edition Lincoln about a year ago....everything was bone stock, just as it came off the floor....74,000 miles, incredible paint, car looked like it was maybe 3 years old...guy wanted $6500 for it....i kick myself every day for not buying that car but funds were short at the time, a real beauty....ok, on with the bashing of the CLS

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1985 300SD 192,000miles...Astral silver/ Grey MbTex

1983 300D 194,000miles...White/Tan MbTex...my newest addiction

I think the CLS looks more like the Lexus ES330 than anything else out there.

Who would have guessed that Mercedes copied a Lexus.

The tables have turned!

I remember seeing the LS400 when it was relatively new, back in the early 90's. Looked like it was clearly "inspired" by a mix of Mercedes-Benz products. The two-tone body styling of most of the Lexus products added to that. Then came the early 90's redesigned ES300... which was offered in a trim level that had 15" wheels that were certainly a mocking of the AMG monoblocks.

Somewhere in the mid-late 90's, Mitsubishi's Mirage coupe and sedan recieved tail lights VERY reminescent of the the W202 tailights. There have been countless times when I have been approaching a Mirage from quite a distance.. only being able to pick out shapes, thinking it could possibly be a W202! Surprise surpirse, as I close in on the car it turns into a Mitsubishi!

Now I see a Mercedes and nearly mistake it for a Lexus, Toyota, Ford or Pontiac! If so many people are buying new MBZ's for style alone, dont they realize that there isnt anything really distinctive about them anymore?!?
Seems the last straw for me in MBZ's design dept. was the demise of the W202, W210, and W140. I dont mind the current C-class, its kinda cute, but where has Mercedes gone!?!?! Seems like the 3 pointed star on the hood and trunk are more important to have than the rest of the car for alot of "style driven" consumers. And as long as thats what consumers want, MBZ will continue to provide that.. I wish current MBZ consumer values would revert to those upheld 20 years ago! The cars bearing the 3 pointed star at your local dealer would probabaly be very different.

I miss the teutonic and over-engineered feel of MBZ cars from the past. The current CLS, C, E SLK, S, CLK, M, SL, etc etc etc are now clearly over-designed, over-equipped, and lacking in that certain timeless flair, staid personality, and quality that the 3 pointed star used to represent to me.

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Nate

1995 E420
1992 BMW 525i
1984 300D Turbo sold
1993 Volvo 244 sold
1995 Volvo 944T R.I.P!


"The details are not details. They make the product."
-Charles Eames

www.cbs.nu

On the last page of the November 22 Autoweek, there is a a direct comparison of the profiles of the CLS and the Camry Solara. Aside from the inclusion of two more doors, there is almost no difference in the actually shape. Fugly.

The AMG version does look much nicer with the side skirts and more aggresive front bumper. Yeah, and the wood is quite possibly the ugliest, cheapest looking wood trim ever to be seen in a MB product.

Frikin USA automaker ruined the Mercedes, Mopar- my GOD!!! BMW should have bought them out, at least the would be 100% german then. Ever Opel would have been good....but the US stop making great cars after the 60's after that down hill. I have never owned an american made car and never will-they build absolut CRAPOLA!!!

That's funny. The first generation Aurora was a good looking car.

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Current Benzes

1989 300TE "Alice"
1990 300CE "Sam Spade"
1991 300CE "Beowulf" RIP (06.1991 - 10.10.2007)
1998 E320 "Orson"
2002 C320 Wagon "Molly Fox"

Res non semper sunt quae esse videntur

My Gallery

Not in this weather!

WAS is the key word!!

Not so sure...the first generation Aurora remains a good looking car.

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Current Benzes

1989 300TE "Alice"
1990 300CE "Sam Spade"
1991 300CE "Beowulf" RIP (06.1991 - 10.10.2007)
1998 E320 "Orson"
2002 C320 Wagon "Molly Fox"

Res non semper sunt quae esse videntur

My Gallery

Not in this weather!

i agree that the aurora was and is a very good looking car. looks muscular and athletic. i made it a point to rent one when one of my cars was being repaired once. unfortunately it drove like a typical 'merican car. floaty and nose heavy and would bottom out at the hint of a dip in the road.

the cls is in my opinion, electrifyingly good looking. i see nothing of any other car there. fresh and new looking.

the new jettas though look like a camry to me. and the new s class is a combination of the misguided bangle butt and ford focus fenders. very unfortunate.

tom w

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

The MB interior designer stated in an interview with Mercedes Enthusiast magazine that he wanted more matte wood in the cars, and less conservative interior designs...
The sales manager at the dealership where I work says the latest batch of CLS's has high-gloss wood...people must have *****ed.

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2002 Ford ZX2
2 x 2013 Honda Civics

I like them a lot. Very nice looking and not as conservative as MB models of the past, the W124 for example. Proves you don't have to buy a Jag to get a sexy car.

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1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

i just wish they were cheaper.

tom w

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.