Being a Porsche owner and a Mercedes owner, I can say the issue isn't so much the competition. The reason being that Porsches are presently being built with the same crappy quality as current Mercedes products. But the difference being the fact that Porsche does not have even half as much competitors. Nonetheless, the same is happening to Porsche wich leads me to the conclusion that competition isn't the reason for the drop in quality. The common denominator here is German manufacturers forgetting to be German. They are acting more like Asian maunufaturers where the latest trend is more important than quality. After all, they no longer want to build cars that last forever. Like the Asians and American builders, they are interested in building cars that are designed not to last. This with the aid of constant design changes to appeal to the tasteless, leads buyers to new cars which in the end increses the volume. The triple decade durability Benz or Porsche that appeals to the owner who intends to keep it for a decade, is no longer a goal. They want to go after the buyer who does not know Benz or Porsche of old. The type of buyer who knows only the badge. Porsche itself mentioned quietly a few years ago that building cars that last forever wasn't a very good idea for profits. In essence, they are prostituting themselves and alienating the loyalists in the process. Not just with quality, but with styling as well. I think this will go on for a little longer until it catches up to them. Then they will have to look for their roots or wither. Playing the Lexus and Accura game is not the answer. The answer is to do what you have done for 100 years and never forget that form follows function. Working in that manner, the loyalty remains. Even through lean times. I don't mind paying the money, nor do I care for some electronic doo dad. I want a solid, no nonsense vehicle that lasts. The only catch is that the "conoisseur" is becoming an endangered species. Good taste and knowledge is no longer an abundant resource among the public. Unfortunately the Germans figured this out to the detriment of the knowledgeable and loyal. Hopefully the newbies will eventually become knowledgeable and expect the Mercedes cars we have been driving for years. To me the last were the W124, W140 and the previous generation SL. Everything else is crap.