Deutsch

I guess this would be another topic of controversey for Mercedes Benz. Model for model, compared to the competition, comparable cars are always cheaper than the MB model, albeit not by much, but still. When you take into account that the new S will be nigh $100,000 base, and an 750Li is almost $30g's less you really have to ask whether or not its' worth it. Granted the S-class is a techno showcase on wheels, the 7 offers comprable features, though it's tons less attractive. But really, even an C350 costs more less than a 330 which is a newer model w/ less options?

Also, I remember looking at the W203 230 back in 01' when they first came out w/ my Mother, whom at the time was looking at the car for purchase, and the car would have cost $50k!!!! and it only had AMG rims amongst the options. Moms would have been pissed w/ all the money she would have lost, LoL.

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Matt

Hey! what happened to your "superior class" signature?? I thought that was awsome

You have to remember that Germany is in a recession, so mercedes is probably hiring as many people as they can to keep the unemployed rate as low as possible (its basically a socialist country, mercedes may have been forced). Anyway to make up for higher labor costs they might have to boot up the cost of the actual product because so many people (than necessary) are being used to build it. Thats just a theory of mine though, so take it for what its worth.

That is one expensive 230! Whoa. I think a fully loaded 330i is about 44k at most, but thats a 330, which is way more car than a C230.

Deutsch

And also another four years ahead.

Interesting theory Matt. Thanks for sharing.

Just_me

I have driven both BMW and MB and still havent found a reason why I want to pay more money for a MB. As I see it the only reason why I want one is cause of the badge but the car isnt a much better car than Audi and BMW that make me wanna pay the extra cash.

Matt

Are you referring to the guy who was reelected in Germany? I didnt catch the news on that. Your from Germany right? What do you think of him?

bum-man

Where are you getting your info about the S-class breaking $100k base?

"The US is getting the S550 in February, the S450 will follow and then the S600 in April 2006. The price increase is 5% more than the W220."

The base S430 (LWB) starts at $78k. Add 5% to that and you are a far cry away from breaking $100k.

Matt

But they dont make a S430 version anymore so maybe its more than 5 percent increase from that car.

78k is still a lot of fricken money for the base model S of the old body style. The 745 is much more car than that.

bum-man

Funny, because it's still listed on Mercs US site. We also have a member that just recently purchased one. http://www.germancarzone.com/showthread.php?t=533
BTW The S430 translates to the S460 (W221) for future reference.

Matt

Im not sure what your getting at?

Hypersonic

Angela Merkel is the new German chancellor - and the first women one too.

I think it is getting harder for Mercedes to justify it's prices - they have traded on their name for far too long - consumers are starting to get wiser but it seems that [particularly in the USA] people are still prepared to pay a great deal more just for some kind of perceived status they think MB has over BMW or Audi.

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