I remember reading an article in Auto Week in the early 1980's and they were talking about the 450 SL. They said that it was a terrible sports cars, but no car got more attention pulling up to your country club than a 450 SL. They concluded people buy the car for the image.

When Lexus came to CA they were offering incredible terms on financing and cash strapped Californians went for it. I remember asking a MBZ salesman why doesn't MBZ offer something like Lexus and he said that MBZ owners can find their own financing.
The dealership isn't a bank.

Now on the MBZ commercials they talk about how affordable the C class is.