I stole this from another board, but it's ripe for discussion. I doubt many here will disagree with what Forbes has to say.

http://mbnz.org/forums/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=1202220&posts=6&fid=44

"Carmakers are never satisfied with their current positions in the marketplace.

For example, next year BMW will likely bring its smallest car, the 1 Series, to the U.S. And DaimlerChrysler's (nyse: DCX - news - people ) Mercedes-Benz likewise will bring its smallest models here, too--although the carmaker seems in a perpetual state of indecision about which models to bring and when.

But we're not at all indecisive about small, inexpensive BMWs and Benzes. We think it's a silly idea.

Why, for heaven's sake, should the hallmarks of aspirational brands--right up there with Rolex--stoop to Timex status and compete to see who has the cheapest toys? In this country, Mercedes and BMW are icons. Their badges alone mean you've "made it," so there's little point in making these badges more widely available.

In simplest terms, people "graduate" to Mercedes and BMW status. Aspirational brands have status because they aren't easily obtained. They lose this allure when they go on sale at the outlet mall. How exclusive is a Ralph Lauren suit when you can buy it at Marshalls?

Preserving status should be the No. 1 mission for luxury brands."

He on target, ironically he mentioned Rolex which is far from the best brand but has advertised and created the perception that it is.

There is a huge difference between actual value and perceived value. I'm not slamming the Rolex guys I'm just telling it how it is. The fact is today Toyota is a better car than Mercedes but the general publics perception is much different. Mercedes should forget about these el cheapo cars and concentrate on the qualities that made it the marque it's in the process of destroying.

No doubt! There are quality control issues with my E55 that you normally don't even see in an domestic car that is twenty years old. It's not a POS but there are some issues that should not be there on a car that is this expensive. I don't even think the Koreans have problems like these on their cars. Then again, I'd guess that's why they are all ranked higher than Mercedes in quality.

If Toyota made a new car that was exciting, I'd probably buy one. Their cars are just so damn boring.

Wow, and I didn't even know I'd "made it". What did I make?

LOL me either........

We'll just call my 8 year old 202 a dangling carrot that leads to the CL65 down the road.

After I "make" it, that is.

Perception really is everything, look at how much company's pay for a name. Mercedes is best known for prestige, quality and safety. I'm not so sure they are leaps and bounds ahead of other manufactures in safety like the were 20 years ago that leaves MB with prestige if that erodes like quality has you can bet you will be able to buy re badged Impala's with the MB star on the front.

I want to get a new MB badly but I am scared to death of the quality issues, so I'm leaning to the dark side like Ted did. I am way too hard on a car to deal with maintenance issues that can be avoided at the drawing board.

IMO MB has to do something big to upgrade quality fast. It took GM 5 years to be at the top I would like to see MB do the same and IMHO ditch the C-class in the US or sell it as a Dodge Uranus.

A post this ignorant deserves another viewpoint.
What is with this U.S. mindset about MB standing as some hallmark of "prestige"?

Mercedes-Benz used to signal durability, dependability and safety to many people. Did this "prestige" thing get created in the United States, before or after the whole Packard-Studebaker-MB debacle? Max Hoffman, importing these vehicles beforehand with celebs buying them up? Hugh Heffner? What?

Doctors to bus drivers operate Mercedes-Benz badged vehicles in countries around the world without "prestige" even being considered. I look at the MB sprinter vans used by FEDEX and now even Canada Post and smile with joy.

People who cry outrage at the BMW 1 series and MB A Klasse and the like need to deflate their egos. We need to stop tough talking, uniformed "piss on you, look at me" arrogant attitudes from proliferating any further.

If I ever finish school and graduate, I'd like to order a 320 CDI with MB tex interior, hubcabs (I hate how in the US and Canada the E's come with alloy wheels with 5 spokes and their pseudo-sporting connotations) power mirrors/locks/windows/winter package with light washers/heated seats and base everything else. Will that happen, that amount of choice offered to consumers here? Not until we can change this terrible mindset which plagues North America (Canada to a lesser extinct I'd like to think but, I'd be biased to say that).

Medmech, I cannot believe it was you who wrote this post, in the past you've made some insightful, intelligent and very funny remarks which I've enjoyed reading. Who is this impostor????

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1989 300CE - 269,000 km
1994 SL600 - 59,000 km