MB has expanded their product line to include MB-Toyota's ...price pointed to the mass mainstream

MB as a business has been successful at leveraging their 'ultimate Euro luxo' status to dip into this market and making money to ensure its survival (kudos to MB for realizing this)

as a consumer, one must simply recognize that that MB:
> "ultimate Euro Luxo" vehicles lie solely in the S/SL/CL classes
> ...and , "less than ultimate Euro Luxo" MB vehicles proceed downward through the mid classes
>...and, "econo Euro" MB vehicles ....yada, yada, yada

...I looked at purchasing new: E55, Clk430 cab, SLK32, etc. and was not satisfied that I was getting my money's worth in these vehicles in terms of build quality, quality of materials vs. cost.

-fad