Came across the following article today:

http://carpoint.msn.com/advice/windowshop.aspx?contentid=4020111

Again, Mercedes seems to come up short in another survey. Not one Mercedes model was ranked highest in any category.

The survey was carried out by Auto Pacifica. AutoPacific's results come from surveys of more than 34,000 owners and lessees of new 2002 vehicles acquired from September to November 2001. Owners are asked about the overall satisfaction they have with the vehicle, as well as 43 features that are important in a vehicle's operation, comfort and safety.


Toyota / Lexus dominated the list, with more car models than any other maker.

One surprise to me is that Kia and Hyundai had cars that were ranked highest in two car categories: Kia's Sedona won the minivan category (I can't believe Honda's Odyssey didn't win this) and the Hyundai Sonata was ranked highest in the midsize car category. Whatever the Koreans are doing, they sure have satisfied customers.

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Paul S.

2001 E430, Bourdeaux Red, Oyster interior.
79,200 miles.

1973 280SE 4.5, 170,000 miles. 568 Signal Red, Black MB Tex. "The Red Baron".

They're selling 'em cheap. That will start you off with satisfying customers. From there, it naturally follows that they will be basic vehicles, but then there's nothing to go wrong, and servicing is simple and cheap. All the requirements to come top.

Doesn't *actually* mean the car is any good, of course, which is why I hate surveys.

later

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190E's:
2.5-16v 1990 90,000m Astral Silver
2.0E 8v 1986 107,000m Black 2nd owner
http://www.maylane.demon.co.uk/190esmall.jpghttp://www.maylane.demon.co.uk/190esmall2.jpg

Most likely a Mercedes buyer expects a perfect car for the premium price and gets disappointed when a thing or two are not perfect. The guy that buys the Kia does not expect much, and yet the car gives him no trouble, and if it does its expected; he has a zillion less components in it too...

Anyhow the MB's will still be running while those others are in their third reincarnation

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'02 C240
'00 LR Discovery
'72 280SE
'67 280SL

---past---

'79 280E sold (RIP)
'86 300E sold
'87 300SDL sold
'90 Laforza sold
'95 320SE sold
'98 ML 320 (sold)

dont get frustrated over these surveys

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99 C43
98 S420
99 C230K
01 C240

cheap + a 10yr, 100,000 drivetrain warranty is tough to beat. koreans are beating the japanese at their own game. the japanese used to take apart western tech and copy it shamelessly. many of the successful japanese engines of years past are copies of german design. hyundai initially bought machinery including engine castings from mitsubishi. i wouldn't be surprised if they are still doing it and with more partners now. i think one of their cars has a tiptronic tranny licensed from Porsche/Audi/VW...

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joE
1993 300e-2.8 - gone now <sigh>
"Do not adjust your mind, it's reality that's malfunctioning"
http://banners.wunderground.com/bann...L/Key_West.gif

My buddy at Mitsubishi Motors U.S.A. tells me Hyundai is still buying engines / transmissions from Mitusbishi.

They also purchased the equipment from Honda and are selling rebadged previous generation Acura's as their top of the line model.

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Paul S.

2001 E430, Bourdeaux Red, Oyster interior.
79,200 miles.

1973 280SE 4.5, 170,000 miles. 568 Signal Red, Black MB Tex. "The Red Baron".

Speaking as someone who works with statistics, surveys like this can be meaningless.

Consider what percentage of the population owns a Mercedes whatever brands are sold. Toyota is perhaps the highest selling brand, so it just make sense that a higher percentage of people polled would own these cars, including Kias, whatever population you poll. Given 280+mil people in the U.S. (don't know how many people actually cars in the U.S., but I could find out) it is totally possible that not one person polled would own one.

A much better way to poll would be to find out what percentage of owners enjoy their cars.

The previous point of high expectations is an excellent point.