AutoExtremist is really starting to piss me off....

Alright.

In this week's Autoextremist rant, the editor of the site howls that the so-called "near-luxury" phenomenon will ultimately lead to erosion of luxury-car brand status. He goes on to cite the Mercedes C-Coupe as an example.

Doeqn't this idiot know that the concept of the M-B as a superluxury car has only been perpetuated by Mercedes-Benz, USA? Fifteen years ago in Europe, W124 cars were available with 2.0 liter gas engines, 5-speed manuals, cloth seats, and roll-up windows. Did that "dilute" the image of Mercedes-Benz? Obviously not; since Europeans are used to Mercedes building everything from taxicabs to Autobahn burners.

This rant just bugs me.

http://www.autoextremist.com/page2.shtml#Rant2

-Sam

[placo1]

Sam,

Your absolutely right in regards to MB having entry level cars in Europe for years and I'm sure AE knows that.

I think the point AE is making is that in the United States MB, Jaguar, BMW, Audi have been marketed as luxury cars for decades. They (especially MB) have managed to market their vehciles not merey a typical car but as a status symbol.

I have nothing against the C-Coupe nor its quality (and I'm sure its up to MB Standards) but when a company like MB starts selling a large amount of vehicles they will become common vehicles and the upper class won't be attracted to them. They essentially lose the exclusivity they have. Granted the upper class makes up a very small market.

Here's another example.

In the coming years MB is introducing the Maybach to the world, however it will not have the MB logo on it. Why you ask? They did this to create a very elite class car. Hmmm makes you wonder if 15 years ago they would have done the same. So my question is, if Mercedes wanted to enter into the entry level market why didn't they create a new brand altogether so as not to affect the status of their current car. Besides wasn't this the reason MB merged with Chrysler? Instead they bank on their own brand at the expense of decades of luxury car marketing.

The point AE is making is that MB is diluting their brand in the US and will lose it's position as an exclusive luxury car.

I guess in the end it wouldn't really matter. Our society is becoming very global and majority will eventually realize that a MB is a taxi in most other countries. Soon a luxury car will essentially be any brand from any company with extravagant options, their won't be true market leaders.

[jjrodger]

With the partial exception of the S-Class and its derivatives, Mercedes-Benz doesn't build luxury cars: it builds very well-designed and engineered cars and it builds them very, very well. That is what Mercedes-Benz is about: quality not luxury.

Want luxury? buy a Jag, a Roller, a Cadillac. Want a car that will last forever? want a car that will protect you in a bad accident? Want a car that will start? Want a car to own? Buy a Merc. There's more to motoring than electric windows. At least that's how it used to be, and that's what made Mercedes Benz the second most recognised brand in the world.

[The Warden]

jjrodger, well said!

I'm looking at a W123 diesel. I'm not looking for a luxury sedan. I'm looking for a reliable diesel-powered vehicle that is good on fuel. I looked at Benzes, along with Volkswagens, simply because they were the two manufacturers from whom I was and am most likely to find a diesel-powered vehicle within my price range. I chose M-B for two reasons; one was that VW uses an aluminum cylinder head in their diesels; and two, VW uses a timing belt to drive the camshaft (in my opinion, both are weaknesses that I don't want to gamble on).

I don't need all the power gizmos such as door locks, power windows, a sunroof, etc, and while I won't go out of my way to get a car that isn't equipped with these options (in fact, they can come in handy at time), you can bet that I will be cursing the idea of not having manual door locks or windows at least once a year.

I don't want a luxury car. I want a car that will run with relatively minimal attention (basic preventative stuff, of course, but little major work needed), will do whatever I ask of it when I ask of it, will do it efficiently, and without complaint. That's why I chose a Benz. If I had wanted a beautiful vehicle in near-showroom condition that I couldn't trust, I would have kept my '65 Chevelle.

Okay, done ranting

[SHYNE]

I believe the article should have the reference of the C coupe removed. The C coupe is an exercise in stupidity, but....still a Mercedes, it has the breeding to prove it.

I believe the article is talking about "fake" cars. Like "fake" Jaguars, example= X Type

I don't even have to explain myself. That car basically put, is a G0D DAMN Cadillac Cimarron from Ford.

Mike McKinney

As far as i am concerned, all vehicles can be put into 2 classes:
Mercedes, and the Rest
Every manufacturer in the world has copied from Mercedes!
There is no comparison.