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Future of MBCA as linked to new MB design language
One of our writers posted an interesting article on an issue that both the MBCA and Mercedes-Benz seems to be attempting to tackle recently, how to get younger members/buyers into the brand and maintain them. I've had similar discussions with folks at other forums, it seems clubs are having a hard time across the board. Will the new models coming out now and in the near future enough to get younger people into the brand, and by extrapolation, into the club?
Moto Arigato: Mercedes-Benz and the New CLA Welcoming Future Generations
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1962 220SE W111 Coupe, 2nd owner http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3.../SideSmall.jpg The Coupe Group (W111/112 coupes and cabs) official website The Coupe Group on Facebook MotoArigato: Roadworthy News & Humor |
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The relationship between Mercedes Benz USA and Mercedes Benz Club of America is "complicated." In addition to the $49 annual dues, MBCA gets quite a bit of money from MBUSA. MBUSA, in return for its investment, wants to attract and retain customers and over the past few years, MBUSA wants to attract a younger ownership segment to compete primarily against BMW and Audi.
As we all know, there are lots of younger Mercedes owners, typically driving a second, third or fourth owned car, and loving the experience. The MBCA however, is probably second only to AARP in terms of its membership demographic. That makes sense, as most luxury car clubs tend to be older and participation in club events easier without having kids soccer games or business duties conflicting with club events. Drive & dine events are the norm, and frankly, younger members want to drive more. The club demographic isn't likely to change anytime soon either . . . baby boomers are still the largest segment of likely future members. So, on one hand, MBUSA want's new blood to show up at dealerships and start their loyalty relationship with the brand, but the MBCA experience is more like having Sunday dinner at your parent's house. To their credit, the newly elected president of the MBCA is much younger and seems ready to change directions as much as he can. |
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MB USA has deliberated set out to make a mercedes something you buy when you "arrive" through years of marketing and appealing to only the upper end of car buyers.
This line says it all- Quote:
I drive my old car because its indestructible, easy to repair, cheap, and I like it. Not because it being a mercedes automatically places me on a higher plateau of ownership than other car makers or owners. If mercedes really wants to appeal to the younger generations, bring over the A-class for as cheap as a civic, the work vehicles, the trucks, and everything else that gives mercedes a broad market in Europe without as much pomp and circumstance over the brand alone as we get in the USA. The engineering alone will sell vehicles, it doesn't need to come with a mink and a golf club membership.
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One major thing IMO is how difficult it is to make your Benz "yours". What I mean is the lack of modifiable aspects of the Benz. You can buy a bolt on turbo kit for a honda but to do the same to a merc is a $pecial club. Bmw has dinan and others, merc has nothing.
I see a lot of younger people driving 300e's because they are pretty cheap to buy ATM. There is very little to invest in them modification wise, so once the car becomes a nuisance the love affair quickly ends because the equity (both emotionally and financially) is small.
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Eugene 10 E63 AMG 93 300te 4matic 07 BMW X3 14 Ford F-150 Fx2 |
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There is a tuner market for Mercedes Benz, going back to the early 80s. Kleeman, pre-merger AMG, Remus, Wald, Lorinser, MKB, Brabus, Carat-Duchalet, SGS and several more tuners, just from Germany, Holland and Austria, alone, spring instantly to mind. My personal rides -- the '91 560SEC and '95 e420 each feature Remus exhaust and AMG pentas/monoblocks, and the 560 has AMG headers and downpipes on it and the e420 has a Lorinser spoiler.
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1991 560 SEC AMG, 199k <---- 300 hp 10:1 ECE euro HV ... 1995 E 420, 170k "The Red Plum" (sold) 2015 BMW 535i xdrive awd Stage 1 DINAN, 6k, <----364 hp 1967 Mercury Cougar, 49k 2013 Jaguar XF, 20k <----340 hp Supercharged, All Wheel Drive (sold) Last edited by Jim B.; 01-27-2014 at 06:15 PM. |
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Whoever said there's nothing more expensive than a cheap Mercedes never had a cheap Jaguar. 83 300D Turbo with manual conversion, early W126 vented front rotors and H4 headlights 400,xxx miles 08 Suzuki GSX-R600 M4 Slip-on 22,xxx miles 88 Jaguar XJS V12 94,xxx miles. Work in progress. |
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TC Current stable: - 2004 Mazda RALLYWANKEL - 2007 Saturn sky redline - 2004 Explorer...under surgery. Past: 135i, GTI, 300E, 300SD, 300SD, Stealth |
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Jim b, can you show me a link for a performance part or kit for my 300e? Maybe something under 1k? Further more, something that exists for purchase today?
Something that may actually do something positive in the hp department. Last performance upgrade I bought was a set of mosselman turbos that where over 1k. I'll be 5k deep by the time I'm done.
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Eugene 10 E63 AMG 93 300te 4matic 07 BMW X3 14 Ford F-150 Fx2 |
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HP on a Mercedes isn't cheap, since (believe it or not) the folks in Germany did a pretty good job back then. A less restrictive exhaust, and weight reduction would be within your budget, but for your 1988, switching to EFI would likely be the big step.
Just curious, but what would a "bolt on" EFI system for a similar vintage BMW cost? |
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TC Current stable: - 2004 Mazda RALLYWANKEL - 2007 Saturn sky redline - 2004 Explorer...under surgery. Past: 135i, GTI, 300E, 300SD, 300SD, Stealth |
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RC Imports may take issue with some of that. Back in Europe . . . Turbo 300E v Ferrari Last edited by MTI; 01-27-2014 at 09:30 PM. |
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When I was younger and just got into it, I didn't feel very welcome at MBCA events with my older car.
I got the impression it was mostly for the new car crowed, in their 60's... Now as I get older and move along in life, eventually I will get a new Mercedes, and I won't join the MBCA. MBCA should do something with the Classic Center to try to get more younger people with older Mercedes interested in events. That's part of the problem with selling higher priced cars. BMW gets them threw slightly used 3 series and Audi has VW as a funnel towards A4 ownership.
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1999 SL500 1969 280SE 2023 Ram 1500 2007 Tiara 3200 |
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No offense Jim but that's nothing, modifying a Mercedes has always been limited, challenging, and expensive. You have to hunt for parts and import a lot of them from Europe, and what you do find is very expensive. Renntech can do a lot but anything beyond an ECU flash is like $20k+ I can buy a Corvette, Mustang, or a Honda and get 1k page thick catalogs of cheap and very affective bolt on parts. Even BMW and Audi are worlds ahead. When I talk about aftermarket: http://www.jegs.com/ https://www.mustangsunlimited.com/ Mercedes tuning is similar to Porsche and Ferrari. You either have a lot of money or are an engineer with a massive and well equipped garage so you can fabricate everything. OTOH I can buy a Mustang with a Coyote V8 and in my garage bolt on a super charger and get E63AMG level's of power for what $8k maybe probably less. Also since its a Mustang their are probably DIY Youtube videos on the kit, and oh I have 6 to chose from as well...
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1999 SL500 1969 280SE 2023 Ram 1500 2007 Tiara 3200 |
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The new E250 CDI is a step in the right direction though.
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1999 SL500 1969 280SE 2023 Ram 1500 2007 Tiara 3200 |
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TC Current stable: - 2004 Mazda RALLYWANKEL - 2007 Saturn sky redline - 2004 Explorer...under surgery. Past: 135i, GTI, 300E, 300SD, 300SD, Stealth |
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