Merc1

Well I'm not sure where to start here.

I think MB's interior design is all over the place right now because the S-Class is the first of a new generation of MB's so just like when BMW changed directions with their 7 in 2002, the S will stick out for a while until the other cars are re-designed to adopt its interior/exterior design motif. The rest of the lineup pretty much has the same interior design except for the CLS and SLK, one being different on purpose and the other a sports/roadster so I wouldn't expect it to have the same interior design as a sedan.

The quality issue is the biggest problem with Mercedes. Despite all the bad press their name is still so highly thought of its almost unbelievable when I hear people talking so highly about Mercedes-Benz. If this was fixed most people wouldn't even question the asthetics of a Mercedes, no matter what they looked like IMO.

My current favorites of the range are the CLS, CL, SL, S, and E-Class.

Roberto I knew a post like this was coming from you for a while now. I watched you defect for months now...lol!

We've all talked on and on about Maybach, that will remain a failure until the whole business and marketing case is totally re-examined. Either design something unique from a Mercedes or fold it back into Mercedes-Benz as a one-off customer model. I prefer the former solution, but the funds aren't there right now.

I'm likely the only person in the world that likes the R-Class. This vehicle suffers from a price/value equation that is out of whack (in the U.S. at least) and an interior that doesn't really live up to the price tag. Remember a time when a Mercedes had little tires and looked just fine? Ditto for BMW. Nowadays any Bangle BMW and newer model Mercedes (M,R,S) needs larger wheels to look "right". With the tiny wheels the R-Class puts off a lot of buyers in the U.S. by being just plain ackward to ugly looking. I could fix the R-Class in the US just like that.

I agree, either the A or B needs to be nixed. Totally redundant models. Mercedes would have better off spending the money on the development of the B-Class on better engine technology and better quality control.

The most crippling thing with Mercedes is that they've had to slow down their tradition of stunning technical innovations to keep quality up. This is like a ship with a huge hole in its hull. Bluetooth is a obvious oversight, but my question is why hasn't MB implemented direct-injection on their gasoline engines yet? (Same for BMW, minus their V12 too).

Ah the SLR. I still think this is the ultimate GT that is capable of at least keeping up with the "supercars" in most cases. They'll fix this one in due time. I suspect a facelift and more power along with a sportier track-biased model are due. They have sold enough of them (1000 at 450K a pop) to take some of that money and re-invest in this (IMO) awesome machine.

This E-Class facelift is very important. This car is part of the bread and butter lineup and it has but a few more years before a total redesign to get its reputation cleaned up. Otherwise it could wind up like the M-Class, redesigned and better than the previous generation, but people are wary of buying one based on past dealings/reputation.

There are some bright spots...........

Roberto, having AMG do their own engine is the best thing they could have ever done. That does wonders for AMG's prestige. Knowing that you're getting a custom engine from the same guys who build (with HWA) the AMG racing cars/engines. This engine has won praise from everyone and sounds like a demon in the vids I've seen. It is just as much of a racing engine for the street as the V10 from BMW. Now you're getting a custom engine, not a souped up version of a "regular" Mercedes engine. I think thats great, AMG can't help but be better off because of this. Have you seen the Autoweek article about Mercedes doing some special models called "Track Series"? Sounds just like what the image doctor ordered to me. The only fly in the buttermilk at AMG is that they may be spreading the name around too much with a AMG version of the R and upcoming GL. I would personally only offer a AMG verison of the ML, the ML63 and concentrate on making the R/GL better in terms of quality than trying to make them intro racing trucks.

It seems as though Mercedes has learned their lesson about cheap interiors. Every since the SLK every new Mercedes (again except the US built models) have the proper interior quality, CLS,SLK,S and no doubt the new CL.

It seems as though the S-Class is major hit so far. They seem to be flying off the lots here in the U.S. I'm looking for big numbers to be posted for Feb. I agree that the E-Class kinda does hark back to the older days of Mercedes' conservative, but good looking, clean design, but the E is getting called old looking and what not from a lot of folks so I think Mercedes new looks (think CLS and S) is what they'll have to do stay current in the eyes of people who like things anew. If they go back to the super conservative without being the highest in quality they'll loose the fight for sure. If the quality is supect as in reliability they have to make the cars more alluring to win people over since the reliability and to a lesser degree the engineering aren't doing all the talking anymore. Wouldn't you agree? I think that once they get the quality back without question they could do a semi-retro design for one of their cars, like the next CLS since it is a one-off model intended just for flash.

I don't see how BMW's designs are any more appealing. Car for car I think Mercedes' designs are far superior in most cases. Yes the C-Class does look like a senior citizen next to the A4 and 3-Series no doubt, but the E and S hold their own IMO. The 7-Series especially is nothing pretty, bold yes, but pretty no way. It was actually very ugly until the FL. The 5-Series has to have the biggest wheels and tires and the right color to look "right" the E-Class doesn't. Now Audi I can say does have a stellar lineup of designs. No argument there. The A8 is just the best Audi to have ever been built so far. I sat in one a few days ago at the Chicago autoshow and man this car is just the greatest thing on wheels. It feels custom made just for me. The S-Class may be superior on the road and in the techincal details, but the interior design/build award still goes to Audi. Exterior I'd say it is a toss up since I've seen the S enough now to have become a fan of it, especially in AMG form.

I think people buy a Mercedes (not the A and Bs though) for build quality, safety, comfort, engineering/technology in most cases though some models in their ir lineup don't display these qualities as vividly as others, which is why cars like the A/B should have never been built. You can't build SL/S or even E-Class qualities into such a car for such a price and if you do people want something sportier in those classes.

This on/off partnership with Mclaren could produce some stunning cars if Mercedes would let MC do their part (chassis/gearbox) while letting AMG supply the engines and MB doing the styling/interior. Forget the stupid rule about every MB having to have an automatic and loosen up some and give some of the "control" to the real chassis guys. Hell even AMG when turned loose knows how to do a real performance car, witness the CLK-DTM AMG. Likely the best Mercedes ever built for the road in modern times. A sports car designed by MC/MB in the manner above to compete with the F430/Gallardo with one of AMG's killer engines would be brilliant.

The new AMG boss talks a good game so far and now with real managment at the helm of DCX/Mercedes I think things are going to get much better, but it might take another 2-3 years before it really starts showing up in every faucet of the company.

M