The SA plant actually builds very nice cars. Whether or not they will hold up against decades of use and remain serviceable remains to be seen.

I think the Alabama plant is a bit like the E class plant in China that builds E's in China for the Chinese market ONLY. The 2014 C, nailed together by Americans is going to be sold ONLY in the states. Frankly the fact they are building Nissan engines in Tennessee for a Mercedes Benz is a bit disgusting.

For instance; a common game we play is Merc Spotting. First one to point at and verbally say "Mercedes" gets one point. Alabama garbage cans are -1 point, and special MB's (anything sixties or older, or any modern rare stuff) are worth 2 points.