Quote:
Originally Posted by softconsult
I can't resist. Words have meanings.
"...................Do you really believe that reliability is the only criteria by which we choose the cars we drive? What about style, status, safety, performance, comfort, among many other factors. ......... The luxury car market will never be for most people.
Steve
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Reliability should be a large factor... so you prefer to drive the best looking car, let's say, and have it leave you stranded once in a while, have electric bugs here and there, have to pay $400 for a center console, have to depend on your freinds to pick you up from the mechanic in their Hondas, Nissans, and Toyotas, each month it breaks down (of course just "little" glitches). How do you feel that your car has been broken down, more times than all your freinds' jap cars COMBINED?
Of course, each "little glitch" is always $300-$700....
In my case, I did the math. I have had my car for 2 1/2 years, combined service / repairs averaged $140-$150 / month... I just said "f>uck it" if I just add another $100 / month, some down payment, equity on the car, and not worry about having the next "issue" come up.
Did I love my car? Yeah, we all do, that is why we're on this forum, that is why we put up with the **** of these cars.... My conclusion on my second mercedes and having it for the time I did is the following: These cars are for weekend only, you have to have a second car to drive while you work out the glitches in the next problem, check online for possibel resolution, trouble shoot etc on the weekend, or just lease/buy new.... Come on who are we kidding? These were $40K + cars when new, and now we are just "wanna be's"....
I am happy I am out of my E320 and driving Japanese. I have been eyeing the Lexus down the road, we'll see. Mercedes just rides on the brand and that is what sells.... A prestige thing (ie rolex, mercedes, corvette, harley davidson) ... OBVIOUSLY, NONE of these are best in their class, but society likes to show off and be seen with these "status" symbols....
My shop summed it up twice, once this week and last year at one point. I asked him, what model or year bmw/mercedes should I stick with to avoid these issues (I dont' think my car was a lemon, as it didn't have any more issues than what I see here for the most part)..... he said, "listen, they all have issues, if you want to drive 200K miles with no problem, you have to go with Toyota or Honda..."... This is someone who makes money on me and all the other MB / BMW owners, so it behoves him to see me drive more German cars....
I do give it to BMW/MB... they have the best fit, ride, metal, feel solid, etc... around.. the lexus and Infiinity metal feels like a coke can but they are Japanese and more reliable....
Cheers and have fun fixing you Mercedes
