Quote:
Originally posted by blackmercedes
The C-Class and E-Class cars do not compete for the same dollar. Mercedes has made a compact sedan since 1984 and the W201. This has been a successful strategy for them. They introduced a car that is priced below the larger sedans, offers economical drivelines (in North America, no fours in bigger cars) and captures a customer they didn't have.
You don't think they need the C-Class? Right now the "entry level" luxury market is the most crowded segment. This is cars like the BMW 3-series, Audi A4, Infiniti G35, and so on. There is a strong demand in this range, and profits to be made. MB would be foolish not to sell the C-Class in a lucrative segement.
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John: I did not mean to give the impresssion that the C series has not done well. However, something has to give eventually. I just got my Nov 2003 edition of Mercedes Enthusiast where they have a feature this month called "Range Review 2003". If I can quote from them on the C series:
"Saloon, Estate and Sport Coupe versions are available with the four cylinder kompressor, V6 and 4 and 5 cylinder diesel power....C-class spans a wide gulf. You can have an entry level C180 for not much more money than a high-spec Golf GTI, while the C32 AMG offers near superior performance at nearly double the money.
In between, you can have a 'compact S-class' with the ultra refined 2.6 liter or 3.2 liter V6 engined cars". {I am not even going to talk about the CL and CLK models since they are coupes}.
The huge range of C class models as described above has to lead some competition between the E and C models.
I do agree with most of the points in your post in terms of what MB did with their models and demographics. Perhaps that is why the interior styling is starting to use materials that look more like what you find on American cars as opposed to the original expected design features.
- Jon