This has always puzzled me. I live in Canada and here a Mercedes Benz isn't cheap. Why is it there seems to be so many Mercedes vehicles in Europe. Are they cheaper in Europe or do have they features that are not available in other makes?
ABTOMAT said:What's really crazy were the Mercedes in the Middle East in the '70s and '80s. Something about exchange rates--they use them for hauling manure, delivering food, etc.
ABTOMAT said:Heck, in Dubai these days they do that with Ferrari Enzos.
picard said:E... MB quality has steadily declined fast for past decade. I only trust Japansese brand name cars.
As a European, I can say that's not true. However, as Diesel engines are realy popular, Mercedes Benz vehicles are likely to last 200.000 miles. This means that for little money you can get a second hand mercedes. The japanese cars are simply outlived by them. So a 13.000 dollar japanese car which will go for 100.000 miles without problems has to compete with a 17.000 dollar Mercedes which will go 200.000. And I know there are many Japanese cars which will do better than this, but who is willing to spend money on repairs if a completely new car doesn't cost that much? On the other hand, if you've spend a lot of money on a Mercedes, you are more likely to keep it going, even at high cost.picard said:Europeans are rich enough that can afford MB like Kia rio in Canada.
Kristofg said:As a European, I can say that's not true. However, as Diesel engines are realy popular, Mercedes Benz vehicles are likely to last 200.000 miles. This means that for little money you can get a second hand mercedes. The japanese cars are simply outlived by them. So a 13.000 dollar japanese car which will go for 100.000 miles without problems has to compete with a 17.000 dollar Mercedes which will go 200.000. And I know there are many Japanese cars which will do better than this, but who is willing to spend money on repairs if a completely new car doesn't cost that much? On the other hand, if you've spend a lot of money on a Mercedes, you are more likely to keep it going, even at high cost.
I wish! In Denmark, the "cheapest" (new) MB is like US$75.000 and that is way, way over what most people can afford. The most common cars here are the japanese brands, VW and GM (Opel, etc) + korean cars.picard said:Europeans are rich enough that can afford MB like Kia rio in Canada.
I know japanese cars are good, I used to drive a nissan sunny. But after 100.000 miles the little irritations seemed to start to happen. knobs which wouldn't turn, cracks in the leather, the numbers on the gear know which had faded away. The car in itself was pretty good thoug. On the other hand, I now drive an oudi and I'm going to keep driving it untill it completely breaks down because the feeling is more of "this was an expensive car, I'm going to use it for every cent it was worth when I bought it." Had it been a japanese car, it would have probably been replaced by now, just for the want of something new.CM said:So what were you saying about Japanese cars' repair needs and longevity again? :nana:
chevrofreak said:Mercedes makes a very broad range of vehicles (including semi's) with a broad range of purposes and accessory lists. In the US we only get their high end luxury stuff, whereas their low end stuff, which is basically the equivalent of a Ford Crown Victoria*, is sold locally in europe and the middle east.
If there is a class of vehicle, mercedes likely makes something to compete in it.
*used as taxi's, police cars, delivery vehicles, whatever