PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum - View Single Post

Jim B. · #10 03-19-2013, 10:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by barry12345

Mercedes target market is to people that rotate new cars fairly frequently. As long as rust is not an issue in their ownership or lease period they will probably get another one.

No reason for mercedes to spend the money on more modern approaches to rust reduction like some manufacturers do. As long as their high end image remains,

That's the rub right there.

For about the last 15-20 years their "brand equity" is being truly squandered.

The large three pointed grille star, once worn only by top of the line S class coupes and the venerable SL roadsters, is now seen on utility vans and the "new" CLA, a dreadful little shoebox touted on the airwaves as YOU TOO CAN DRIVE A BRAND NEW Mercedes for under $399 A MONTH - (AND THAT IS LEASING, NOT BUYING). The chosen market evidently is school loans/retail credit card debt-laden 20 somethings that will likely dump them unceremoniously at lease's end (or before).

Any ads for Mercedes Benz autos of the 1970s, and 1980s NEVER referred to price. Buying one was much like buying a bespoke Savile Row suit; it was the best, everybody knew it, and it cost a fortune, but it was worth it, if you could afford it.

Those days with Mercedes Benz are long gone now; Even Hyundai, with cars like its Genesis, are now nipping at the heels of this market segment.