PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum - View Single Post

G-Benz · #8 09-24-2001, 01:02 PM

OK here's my two cents worth:

On fading quality...subjective. Yeah, I can recall the chrome and metal of the older Benzes that is now replaced with plastic and vinyl. I agree with blackmercedes...we as consumers are demanding more power, reliability, and luxury out of our vehicles, while the government puts out stricter air quality and safety mandates, and all of this has to be presented in a solid, yet aesthetically pleasing product, in a price that competes with the Toyota Camry. Since financially, this is not possible, there are razzle-dazzle financing plans that allow the regular guy to actually consider getting into an MB.

I too have seen good and bad dealerships...lately though, the salesmen used to ignore me, knowing that I already had an ample supply of their product at home and was just waiting to pick up one of them from the service department. With the economy the way it is today, they have changed their tune. I was waiting for my ML (which they were washing prior to delivering) and no fewer than FOUR salesmen came up to me. They are starving out there, so we should all witness less of the smug attitudes that were more prevalent of the dot-com era.

I can't speak for others who have had bad experiences with brand new MBs, but I know that NONE of mine that I bought brand new EVER reared its ugly head. Sure there were some warranty fixes, but other than routine maintenance, all was well.

With the used ones, I will always attribute problems there with the lack of proper care from the former owner. After all, no one sells their car because it performed TOO well! A typical well-heeled owner probably disposes of their cars the way one throws out an old pair of shoes. I always wonder who supplies the used car department with low-mileage models that are barely a year old! Answer: the earlier example who thrashes their car and then trades it in for another disposable model. It's all about how the car is cared for.

I GAVE AWAY my 1986 Conquest Turbo to my nephew after he left for Missouri. I bought it in Colorado for $3K, fixed the clutch and struts (known problems by the owner), put new tires and muffler on it and had it painted, re-decaled, valve cover and wheels polished, and brake calipers painted. The car performed flawlessly for two years under my care, and I replaced parts when I detected potential problems, which most were small...a vacuum hose here, a radiator hose there, a leaky valve cover gasket, etc.

During its six month tenure with my nephew, he did absolutely nothing to the car except drive it. Now in Missouri, total failed parts include four completely worn tires, a battery, two shot fuel injectors, a destroyed front air dam, and just found out that he has blown the head gasket (despite my repeated warnings of "don't ever let it overheat"). By the way, none of the above had actually been replaced, so now it sits in a repair shop in KC. A perfectly good driver, ruined by the antics of a negligent owner, who should have known better given the lack of income he currently generates.

OK so now I'm venting...

I guess if he had shown up the day I saw that car for sale, I would not have bought it...