Quote:
Originally posted by KNanthrup
it's really the japanese market's fault that things have turned out the way they have. As mentioned they are coming out with such rival cars for so much cheaper... and for reasons that concern quality. Now that the efficiency war created by the japanese market is going on, MB has been dragged in to fight a game they're not used to... a game I'm sure many of us wish they do not have to fight. Honestly I find it sad that MB has to stoop top such low levels, but that's how the business works.
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This sounds like - "Oh, I was happily selling my product at whatever price I could charge, until competition came along, how horrible for the consumer, he now had a choice! and got much lower prices! what can be worse than that!!".
How can you blame the Japanese for pushing these carmakers into more efficiencies and cost savings? That's good for the consumers, right? Oh, mercedes has been dragged into a race they are not "used to". Well, they better get used to it, and get used to it pretty fast - their market share is dropping, steadily! Sounds like a lazy athlete saying - "Oh, I am used to running 5 minute miles, and in 1902, I used to WIN based on 5 minute miles - but now these harder working athletes have come, and they run 4 minute miles, and that's unfair, I have to work harder now".
Mercedes should pay more attention to quality/reliability issues. They are hitting rock bottom on that (on NEW cars, again, I am not questioning cars older than 10 years). They also better start providing customers with some "value". Do you know that a CD player is an "option" on the M-class? Now come on, don't be SO cheap. Its a 40 grand plus vehicle, give the customer SOMETHING for it. Especially when others are giving FAR more, for the same price (or lesser).
Mercedes is just not as efficient as Toyota or Honda. You can't blame Toyota or Honda for raising the bar. You gotto blame Mercedes for not keeping up.