Is merecedes too troublesome ? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

ksing44 · #1 07-15-2007, 08:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by khickey

I rebuilt my first car engine at 13 years old. I am 44 now. With 31 years of gasoline vehicle experience I have seen where people have brand loyalty for strange reasons like, "I buy Fords because my dad always drove them". I can point out to the Ford people examples of how Ford has been producing junk for 30 years, yet you cannot change their minds, even as they return to the repair shop again and again.

I wonder how much of that goes on with the Mercedes people: My guess is it would be the same. How many people promote them because they are good and how many promote them for other reasons?

I have been thinking about this a bit too. I read lots of praise for the W124. Mine is a 1995 E320. I do love the car, even though it has plenty of expensive problems, but I think the reality is that newer cars are probably faster, quieter, handle better, and are more reliable. That may even be true for Fords, although I would be more tempted to get 3-series BMW, or maybe a Lexus, or an Acura.

Hatterasguy · #2 07-15-2007, 10:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ksing44

I have been thinking about this a bit too. I read lots of praise for the W124. Mine is a 1995 E320. I do love the car, even though it has plenty of expensive problems, but I think the reality is that newer cars are probably faster, quieter, handle better, and are more reliable. That may even be true for Fords, although I would be more tempted to get 3-series BMW, or maybe a Lexus, or an Acura.

Well yeah a new car of any make would need less attention then a 13 year old car.

For totaly trouble free driving its hard to beat a leased BMW 3 series. The only problem is that route will cost you about $6k a year, much more then your 13 year old E class. For a new E350 your looking at about $9k a year.

ksing44 · #3 07-15-2007, 01:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hatterasguy

Well yeah a new car of any make would need less attention then a 13 year old car.

For totally trouble free driving its hard to beat a leased BMW 3 series. The only problem is that route will cost you about $6k a year, much more then your 13 year old E class. For a new E350 your looking at about $9k a year.

I have owned my 1995 e320 car for 10 years. I would say it cost about $4K per year, if I include the depreciation. I know my car has cost more to own than my wife's Honda Accord, but my car is nicer to drive. I think a new 3-Series would also be nicer to drive than my car, although it might cost more. It is just that some will say that it is worth it to pay more for the W124 experience, compared to the Honda Accord experience, since the W124 is so great. I am just saying it really isn't all that great, compared to say the the new or newer 3-Series BMW, which is regarded by many as possibly the best all around car in the world.

I am just saying that if I purchased a slightly used 3-Series, like I did with my W124, I might find it costs about the same to own as my aging W124, but that it would really be much nicer in many ways, or possibly every way, to be in the newer 3-Series. Many seem to try to convince themselves that these older Benz cars are really superior. I don't think they really are, even though I still love driving my car and I think there is something special about keeping and maintaining an older vehicle.

I would not consider the newer or newest Benz!

Hatterasguy · #4 07-15-2007, 10:28 PM

$4k a year? Thats not bad. I expect a luxury car to run about $2k-$4k a year to keep as they age.

The only way to not have to pay that while driving a high end car is to buy a new one every 2-3 years and trade before the factory warranty goes up. I know a builder that buys a new 325I every year, costs him about $10k a year but he always has a brand new BMW. Thats not a bad way to go if you just want something new all the time.

I know a ton of people with late model MB's, they all love them. Happy people don't complain and make noise.

Texholdem · #5 07-16-2007, 12:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hatterasguy

The only way to not have to pay that while driving a high end car is to buy a new one every 2-3 years and trade before the factory warranty goes up.

Alas, not many of us belong to this privileged circle. Otherwise there would be no forum like this.

Ocean View · #6 07-16-2007, 02:50 PM

Just bought a new E350 2 weeks ago.
I must say that it drives nice and that everything works fine so far.
The new brakes feel more responsive than the SBC system.
However I noticed something right away.
The car feels like it's made out of a tin can.
The same cheap metal and plastic feel that many of you complain about on Japanese cars.
It must be the new way to make cars now as compare to the older vehicles.
I compared it to my 96 W210 which feels solid and better engineered to me.
For example, I was really surprised to see that the rubber foam seal that surrounds the trunk lid on the W211 does not cover the entire opening like my W210.
I wonder how much MB is saving by doing this?
I have heard many people say that MB was lowering quality on it's cars to make more profits but the sight of this made me wonder what else are they cutting back on. Are they as safe as the older cars?

I don't think I can justify the high prices of a MB anymore as they really are not that much better than a Toyota in my eyes.
Is the quality of a new MB worth 2-3 times the price of a new Toyota?

Texholdem · #7 07-16-2007, 03:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ocean View

...
I don't think I can justify the high prices of a MB anymore as they really are not that much better than a Toyota in my eyes.
Is the quality of a new MB worth 2-3 times the price of a new Toyota?

No, it is the brand not the real value. MB lives on its reputation of the past. I love my 300CE but would not buy a new MB, not for that inflated price.

Hatterasguy · #8 07-16-2007, 11:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ocean View

Just bought a new E350 2 weeks ago.
I must say that it drives nice and that everything works fine so far.
The new brakes feel more responsive than the SBC system.
However I noticed something right away.
The car feels like it's made out of a tin can.
The same cheap metal and plastic feel that many of you complain about on Japanese cars.
It must be the new way to make cars now as compare to the older vehicles.
I compared it to my 96 W210 which feels solid and better engineered to me.
For example, I was really surprised to see that the rubber foam seal that surrounds the trunk lid on the W211 does not cover the entire opening like my W210.
I wonder how much MB is saving by doing this?
I have heard many people say that MB was lowering quality on it's cars to make more profits but the sight of this made me wonder what else are they cutting back on. Are they as safe as the older cars?

I don't think I can justify the high prices of a MB anymore as they really are not that much better than a Toyota in my eyes.
Is the quality of a new MB worth 2-3 times the price of a new Toyota?

Thats what many W124 owners thought when the W210 came out...

Its funny how that works...

Hatterasguy · #9 07-16-2007, 11:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Texholdem

Alas, not many of us belong to this privileged circle. Otherwise there would be no forum like this.

Well high end cars cost more to maintain then regular cars, thats been true since the car was invented. Model T vs Duesenberg. Even if its used, thats just the way it is.

Thats why most older MB's are shot, people cannot or will not repair them and just drive them until the problems affect operation.

khickey · #10 07-17-2007, 12:51 AM

"High end" means quality to me, and quality to me means less maintenance. I can see where the maintenance would/could be cost more, but I would contend that a quality car should require less of it.

Peter Fearing · #11 07-17-2007, 02:57 PM

Keep in mind that most of the front end of a new Benz is made of aluminum, a weight saving method. I drive a new ('07) E550 and find the quality higher than any of the last 26 cars I have owned. In my business we tend to want a higher quality auto with little regard to cost. I have a feeling that the folks at MB are doing a rather excellent job with their cars.and they are making quality improvements on each new model.

ksing44 · #12 07-17-2007, 04:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Peter Fearing

In my business we tend to want a higher quality auto with little regard to cost.

I need a job in a business like that! I am leaving Big Pharma. They don't care at all about my car!

Ocean View · #13 07-17-2007, 07:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Peter Fearing

Keep in mind that most of the front end of a new Benz is made of aluminum, a weight saving method. I drive a new ('07) E550 and find the quality higher than any of the last 26 cars I have owned. In my business we tend to want a higher quality auto with little regard to cost. I have a feeling that the folks at MB are doing a rather excellent job with their cars.and they are making quality improvements on each new model.

I thought the plastic grill felt cheap and unsupported.
Have you opened the hood up and closed it?
You can see that MB is improving in many areas of the car, the brakes for example.
I just wanted to make a comment that overall the car felt cheap and tin can like and felt that MB was cutting corners in some areas.