Without a doubt, my 1989 420 SEL is a "luxury" car. A luxury car defined, is one of real comfort for driver and passengers, beautiful workmanship (fit and finish) and design of finer materials (leather and burled wood veneers) smooth ride, low interior noise level, and plenty of passanger and driver space, that is considered first before speed and handling. If these necessary "basics" haven't been addressed first, all the expensive sound systems, DVD players, GPS and the many fun "gadgets" are out of priority. The SELs and SDLs were the "luxury" flagships and pride of Mercedes. These standards haven't changed, but many cars today that consider themselves to be luxury models try to combine sport and luxury together, but don't do either very well.

__________________
"I have spent MOST of the money I have made in my life on expensive women, expensive cars, and expensive drugs. The rest I just wasted." - Myself "Belief in the supernatural, reflects a failure in the imagination." - Edward Abbey "Give me a firm place to stand, and I will move the Earth." - Archimedes

I agree with that. I see too many road tests today where they rate a car on how well it'll run thru a slalom. If I want a comfortable ride, I don't give a squat that it'll pull 1G on a skid pad. That's one of the things I hate about the wifes' Chrysler, it rides like a lumber truck. The SD will manuever when I need it to, but is a very comfy cruiser.

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past MB rides:
'68 220D
'68 220D(another one)
'67 230
'84 SD
Current rides:
'06 Lexus RX330
'93 Ford F-250
'96 Corvette
'99 Polaris 700 RMK sled
2011 Polaris Assault
'86 Yamaha TT350(good 'ol thumper)

How much does it cost? If it costs a whole lot more then it just MUST be better, right?

2002 Jag X-Type long term test in Car & Driver, 10/03, had a "Price as tested" of $45,095 (as "retail" as you can get, IMHO) and a base price of $36,595. $8,500 for "options" such as a sunroof (??!!!??), stereo upgrade, navigation, Sport Package, etc.

What still is, basically a Ford Contour with 4-wheel drive (nice feature), but, for your $45K, still has a cramped interior, quirky ergonomics and some "minor but annoying glitches". They fail to mention what it would bring on the open market at the now extreme age of 2 years with 40,000+ miles on it... Is there any warranty left? Better have been on a lease, huh? Does anyone actually buy these cars?

Compare this with a "near luxury" Accord EX at about 1/2 the price to begin with: which do you think will actually be worth more after 10 years? Which "luxury" car will even still be running?

My 450SE was a luxury car in 1973 and is still pretty luxurious & sporty 30 years later. The W126 cars are so much more of the same it is a joy to even ride in one!

Just take a look at $1,000 luxury washing machines, $2,500 refrigerators, etc. That's at SEARS, not at a commercial dealer.

Marketing junk to fools with more credit (left?) than sense...

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'91 420 SEL @ 199K, '92 SVX @ 181K, '93 SC400 @ 86K, '93 Kaw ZX-11 @ 30K, '87 F250 @ 181K , 2001 Valkyrie Interstate @ 6K, Y2K Honda NightHawk 250 with 1.5K, '88 420SEL I.@ 179K & the 2nd latest, an '88 420SEL II.@ 210K runnin' parts car, '85 F150 300/NP435

Ditto on the X-type-I read that article also. Just seems like more re-badged crap to me. I have only seen one of them on the road.

Depreciation is another thing-it amazes how much used car you can get these days. Even the Boxster has depreciated considerably.

I do love Jags, though. I guess I'm old school luxury. When I bought my MGB-GT, I actually thought it had a luxurious quality to it!

Defining luxury is interesting-to me it isn't just ride comfort or quiet, power stuff or electronic things. I think its part of the energy a car exudes, how it makes you feel when you drive it. A buddy has a Town Car, and its nice, it has a white leather interior which is really nice looking. But, my old Diesel feels better to drive for some reason, and the dash and overall design just projects good taste. I am ever suspicious of any car that has cursive writing on the labels and logos!

Nicely put Stormin'.

Botnst

DslBnz, I fully agree that the SDL is more luxurious in the traditional sense but I was responding to the essense of the article being that luxury is defined by the individual's need and preferences, not by what's made of good parts and with care.

For me, leather, wood and styling do not enhance the experience of a 126. Well, styling within reason. I'll take fabric, plastic and manual AC any day. For the driving I do, a 123 or 124 230E or 124 300Dt with fabric, manual AC and power locks and windows would be the ideal slice of cake. The SDL and S420 add to that a whopping dollop of icing

Sixto
95 S420
87 300SDL
83 300SD ... $950, see cars forum

I disagree that luxury must come at the expense off handiling, Ferrari has proved this to not be the case with there 456, 550, 575, cars. MB SL55 Amg, CL65, is another example. Bentely(sp?) is another brand that makes supper luxury cars that can handle very well, any true GT coupe fits this description. For enough money you can have anything you want!

Well, everything I've ever ridden in that was rated good on a slalom, ect, made you feel & hear every crack in the road. I don't call that luxery. But then I've never ridden in a Bently.

__________________
past MB rides:
'68 220D
'68 220D(another one)
'67 230
'84 SD
Current rides:
'06 Lexus RX330
'93 Ford F-250
'96 Corvette
'99 Polaris 700 RMK sled
2011 Polaris Assault
'86 Yamaha TT350(good 'ol thumper)

I've driven many sports cars in the past, Corvettes, Ferraris, Vipers and SLs. All but the SLs were pretty uncomfortable (at least compared to my '89 SEL). Low seating positions, almost lying down. Steering wheel uncomfortably close, and felt cramped for room. The Viper was the worst. Fast, but not comfortable. Anyway, my car will do 120 mph, handles well for a large car, and with REAL comfort!

__________________
"I have spent MOST of the money I have made in my life on expensive women, expensive cars, and expensive drugs. The rest I just wasted." - Myself "Belief in the supernatural, reflects a failure in the imagination." - Edward Abbey "Give me a firm place to stand, and I will move the Earth." - Archimedes

In that case I agree(wish I had manual AC). The simpler the better.

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1987 300SDL (324000)

1986 Porsche 951 (944 Turbo) (166000)

1978 Porsche 924 (99000)

1996 Nissan Pathfinder R50 (201000)

I think a lot of you posted without reading the article or excerpt. By "old luxury", i do not mean the age of the vehicle and vice versa.

As for me, I dont know, I must admit, working on cars all the time, difficulty finding parts, etc. is not a real luxury, so I can see where the authors are coming from.

Like some of you said, Hondas dont have that "prestige or exclusitivity" to be classified as luxury too.

It's funny I was caught off guard once when somebody refered to my 190E 2.6 5 spd as a luxury car. I always though of a Mercedes in the same terms as Blackmercedes described them, expensive to buy up front but a frugal decision in the long run because of their durability. I do have to add that everlasting symbol of quality for me will be seeing the Mecedes Benz star on my dads '59 180's steering wheel and hood.

Blackmercedes is right.

Traditional Mercedes-luxury is quality-luxury. The satisfaction is in the long-term ownership not the showroom testdrive, I feel Mercedes is losing sight of that. My 1999 R129 SL500 is in the shop at the minute and I have a W203 C220 CDI loaner. I reckon the C-Class is faster through the bends and being pushed hard, but my SL is a hundred times more satisfying to own and drive. It is monster luxurious! And it will still be that way in 2019; I doubt the C will make it to 2009.

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JJ Rodger
2013 G350 Bluetec
1999 SL 500
1993 E300 diesel T
1990 190

There should be a user setting that tells the system to censor references to MB models not available in the US

Not making available models buyers want - how does MB figure to be a luxury marque in the US?

Sixto
95 S420
87 300SDL
83 300SD

it all depends on how one defines "luxury". The article roughly equates "old luxury" with exclusivity, and defines "new luxury" as that based on some performance metric.

for me, "luxury" as applied to a Benz may be defined as:

the luxury of engineering ...

the luxury of safety ...

the luxury of ergonomics ...

the luxury of durability ...

the luxury of peace of mind ...

and ...

the luxury of not needing to prove yourself ...