[Kiemyster]

so, i was strolling through benz world, and i read this post. this is coming from a die hard MB fan. obviously, this is just one persons opinion, but ive read many (too many?) like this on benz world. (post here:http://www.benzworld.org/forums/2591376-post27.html)

Friends, It is not necessary to take personal pot shots at eachother and get offended because we feel differently about Mercedes in the 21st century. This is not personal. We are talking about cars for goodness sake. I am also going to start this in a new thread because I am anticipating an onslaught of flamed threads against me but thats ok. I am a big boy, I can take it.

FACT: We all have different matrices to which we evaluating vehicles. The bottom line: if you have the means to purchase a vehicle (a Mercedes) over 35k you expect:
a. offer outstanding fit'n finish b. Reliability c. Driving Satisfaction.

Consumer Reports (like all consumer product review publications) is far from perfect. CR has admitted to err'ing on a couple of reviews in the past. I do not think Consumer Reports is in the business of smearing a car companies' reputation because as we know Merc is a company with an impeccable PAST reputation for building quality vehicles. CR has nothing to gain by engaging in a smear campaign against Mercedes. What, ya'll think they are being paid off by the Bimmer boys in Munich and the folks at Toyota? P---le-ease.

CR would not recommend any MB (06-07) vehicles for good reason: 2006-2007 MB'S ARE UNRELIABLE CARS!!! Yes, there are some owners who have enjoyed their 2000-2007 and have not had issues with their vehicles but as a rule they were the minority. In fact I wish I listened to CR. Besides my wife's 240d, I own a 2006 VW Passat 2.0t that I purchased in 12/2005. Unfortunately the Consumer Reports 2006 new car review came out a couple of months after my Passat purchase. If I read the issue I would of never of purchased the Passat because they were 100% correct about the 4 cylinder turbo Passat's poor reliability! It was my new car impulsivity that burned me with the Passat. This car has been the biggest dissapointment. I have had the vehicle in the shop for more electrical gremlins that I could point a stick at! My wife's 240d has been more reliable than my 2.0t Passat!

THIS IS NOT PERSONAL THIS IS BEING BRUTALLY HONEST ABOUT JUST ONE EXAMPLE OF A SUB-PAR 21 ST CENTURY Mercedes Benz! Just because it is entry level is not AN EXCUSE:

I was excited and very hopeful that the new C series would blow every car away in it's class. I was also hoping that the new C class was Merc's financial savior (like what the BMW 3 series did for the boys in Munich). However after spending over 2 hours test driving the MB C 350 @ my local SB Mercedes dealer I was let down (see my MB c350 test drive thread).

The c350 interior fit'n finish was horrible (cheap plastic). The door panels were flimsy plastic and the headliner looks like the cheap fabric they use in my daughter's 2002 VW Jetta. The interior door latches had that cheap mass produced feeling of the Chrysler Sebring I suffered with last week while on a business trip in Dallas. Oh yea and how can I forget the Chrysler-like cheap plastic chrome they use on and around the shifter knob on the C-350?

IMHO, The interior in my daughter's 2002 Jetta is of higher quality and is better thought out than the C-350. And what is with the I-drive like, cheap telematics screen in the middle of the dash? Are you kidding me? My $250 Magellen portable GPS has a high resolution and brighter screen.
Moreover, the telematic's like selector knob is soo cheap I thought I was going to break it off just by turning it.

I would of made peace with the C350's crappy interior if the handling, road feel, and tranny were up to par! Boy was I dissapointed! Merc's steering box in the C-350 is a joke. It is similar to the vague (did they inject novocaine in the steering box?) GM-like electromechnical steering in my crappy '06 Passat. Don't get me started about road feel! My first German car (an '88 Audi 90 20v ) was more involving and had better road feel than the '07 c350.

I tried so hard to like the c350. I was planning on trading in my Passat (it only has 15k because it has been in for service so many times) and was even willing prepared to fork over the extra cash for the c-350. After my experience with the c-350 I was so glad to return drive home in my '06 Passat.

"Opinions are like assholes. We all have them." That is personally directed to the gentleman (or lady) with the "Jap" in his username.

[ToddPhilly]

I had 2 benzes from 2001-2003, and I did have quite a few issues with them, but I think you need to define reliability. I had a 2001 SLK230, and a 2003 E320, and they were in the shop quite a bit for stupid little things. However, I was never worried about the car breaking down and leaving me stranded. So, I would have considered the car reliable but problematic. Would I buy a nissan over an MB because it's more "reliable"? No. I made the switch to BMW and couldn't be happier. Plus, I didn't know what I was missing in terms of driving fun until I got my first bimmer. I personally think BMW's fit and finish is very good, they're a blast to drive, and so far they have mostly stayed out of the shop. I probably wouldn't buy another benz.

[wj4]

^Right, to me reliability would be something like a fuel pump issue. They put so much electrical stuff in these new cars now that something is bound to go wrong sooner or later.

The new commercial for the C class made it sound so reliable.."We tested the new C class for over 7 years and put over 6 million miles on it." heh.

From the exterior point of view, I still think it's a big improvement over the old one though.

[Kiemyster]

of course, the exterior is a lovely improvement. i dont know, the car seems to man-ish to me. i like how BMW has that rough but sexy/silky look to it.

Like the 5er, its bulky, and rough, but when you look at it, it has that sexy indulging look to it that seems feminine. i like cars that look feminine, and MB new C class just doesnt appeal to me.

and as for BMW's interior? i think they do a fantastic job. infact, i am still impressed about how firm all the buttons and knobs feel, and how well put together/seemed the leather is. BMW gets an A+ for fit & finish.

well in the end, it still IS a c class (crap class)

[Steage]

Originally Posted by wj4

The new commercial for the C class made it sound so reliable.."We tested the new C class for over 7 years and put over 6 million miles on it." heh.

That's why I hate automobile advertising... everyone does this, Mercedes just decided to advertise it.

Originally Posted by Kiemyster

and as for BMW's interior? i think they do a fantastic job. infact, i am still impressed about how firm all the buttons and knobs feel, and how well put together/seemed the leather is. BMW gets an A+ for fit & finish.

In the industry BMW is the benchmark for their ability to understand the "customer's minimum accpetance". Which described simply is the reason why the engine bay is painted flat (not shiny like the exterior), while the fit and finish of the interior is quite good.

[BMWCali]

A MB is a woman's car. That's where it starts and ends. It will never be anything more than a car that women think is fast, cool, and makes them look like they are "the shit."

[!Xoible]

look, MB people will never go BMW, and BMW will probably never go MB anyway.

it's simple: smart people go BMW, low-IQ people go MB. simple...

jk... jk

[BMWCali]

Originally Posted by mantis

look, MB people will never go BMW, and BMW will probably never go MB anyway.

it's simple: smart people go BMW, low-IQ people go MB. simple...

jk... jk

You don't have to qualify it by the "jk." It's true. Fortunately for Mercedez Benz, there are a lot of low-IQ people in this world.

[BMW F22]

I must agree with what he said in his post. I looked at a C-class at a local dealer and couldnt get myself to like the interior. The dashboard just looked cheap and inferior to pretty much all the other cars I've seen/been in.

I must admit though that the exterior looks very nice. It's definitely a good looking car.

[!Xoible]

Originally Posted by BMWCali

You don't have to qualify it by the "jk." It's true. Fortunately for Mercedez Benz, there are a lot of low-IQ people in this world.

"jk" is a disclaimer for anal people only, those who wait for any comment to jump u

[!Xoible]

Originally Posted by Kenny@JleviSW

I must admit though that the exterior looks very nice. It's definitely a good looking car.

nooooooooooooooooooooooooo

BAN

[jlspeed29]

Originally Posted by that guy nico

well in the end, it still IS a c class (crap class)

haha and what does that make the 3 series? a little kids class?
c'mon people dont be so ignorant....
the c and 3 are in direct competition with eachother
ENTRY LEVEL and SMALL

[!Xoible]

Originally Posted by jlspeed29

haha and what does that make the 3 series? a little kids class?
c'mon people dont be so ignorant....
the c and 3 are in direct competition with eachother
ENTRY LEVEL and SMALL

why not be ignorant bro? it's a bimmer forum, no one gets pissed if u dis MB

[Crimson92]

Originally Posted by BMWCali

A MB is a woman's car. That's where it starts and ends. It will never be anything more than a car that women think is fast, cool, and makes them look like they are "the shit."

Sooo lets see here I'm stupid and a woman....hmmm

[!Xoible]

Originally Posted by Crimson92

Sooo lets see here I'm stupid and a woman....hmmm

u didnt know?

[jlspeed29]

^^ what are we supposed to say to the double quote? hahahah


sorry I couldnt resist

[Crimson92]

Originally Posted by mantis

u didnt know?

Guess not, for the last 22 years I thought I was a guy, and smart enough to be able to afford a mb and bmw.....

Looks like i gotta rethink my life

[Kiemyster]

awh man thats fucked up how yall mess with crimson92. come on, he doesnt deserve that kind of shit talk.

anyways. he has best of both worlds. he is one of the last though, because with the new MB lineup, there really is no more luxury in MB. so just go BMW

[!Xoible]

Originally Posted by Crimson92

Guess not, for the last 22 years I thought I was a guy, and smart enough to be able to afford a mb and bmw.....

Looks like i gotta rethink my life

hey, PM me before u i hate to see you go like that

[Ru$$ell]

i've seen a kia pride with a better steering wheel than the new C,looks and feels like CRAP,and one a side note

Originally Posted by that guy nico

well in the end, it still IS a c class (crap class)

LMAO!!

Originally Posted by BMWCali

A MB is a woman's car. That's where it starts and ends. It will never be anything more than a car that women think is fast, cool, and makes them look like they are "the shit."

ROFL!! thats so freaking true,its not funny

Originally Posted by mantis

look, MB people will never go BMW, and BMW will probably never go MB anyway.

it's simple: smart people go BMW, low-IQ people go MB. simple...

LOL,you guys are killing me here!

Originally Posted by jlspeed29

haha and what does that make the 3 series? a little kids class?
c'mon people dont be so ignorant....
the c and 3 are in direct competition with eachother
ENTRY LEVEL and SMALL

hey man the 335i isnt the only car i drive so i could care less
please when the M3 is out.... byebye to my 335i
even though the M3 can still kinda be classified as "entry level"..... i guess....?