Originally Posted by Jim B.

Which is why we buy Braun electric shavers, Lang und Sohne watches, Mauser rifles, Zeiss binoculars, cuckoo clocks from the Black Forest, and older Mercedes Benz automobiles.

Originally Posted by Skid Row Joe

I feel like I'm driving through the Fatherland on I-20 in far east Texas amongst the varying pine trees in the late Fall & Winter at the wheel of the Mercedes-Benz albeit at less than 80 mph.

Originally Posted by Skid Row Joe

40 years ago, my Dad's 70 yr. old, 1st generation 100% German-American MIL (Mother in law) asked him; "what kind of machine is this?" when taking her first ride in his new 1969 220D. He said; "Ma, it's a Mercedes-Benz.....if you open the glove box, a voice says: you vil enchoy the ride."

It's an old family joke/story we tell often. Ha!

Originally Posted by pj67coll

Made - past tense. I doubt they are much use for anything more than parades that are a pale shadow of their formers selves any more.

This probably doesn't matter much since Europe is no longer of relevance in the world. It could be significant in the future should a new threat to Europe arise, however I still doubt they'd amount to much. The discontinuity marked by 1945 is too great.

- Peter.

Originally Posted by raymr

True. The Germans have been shamed and neutered, and their parades are just window dressing. But never count them out.

I have to disagree regarding Europe's relevance - it is still a desirable place to live, and as such holds a lot of financial and political clout. Militarily it is more a target than a destabilizing force, but that doesn't make it irrelevant.