I have finally figured out why i feel the way i do about Modern Merc's!

[The Boss]

Ok... so those of you who know, and now for those who don't, im not exactly the biggest fan of the current line up of models coming out of Stuttgart.. or which ever American town they seem to be building in these days..

I watched a car review and it enlightened me!

Mercedes No long makes cars that could be defined as Miracle cars that are 100% a revelation... iconic, timeless, individual.. the 300sl, the Pagoda, the ponton, the 126, the 124... um.. maybe even the R107 and R129's

Todays Mercedes cars are simply put, Products, you buy them, they get used, they depreciate, they die..

History shows that Mercedes was always ahead of its time, in design, in flair, in heritage, in performance.

Today, they still have this.. but in minor minor pinches...

The SLS for example.. is it the heir to the 300sl? i dunno, but some of the reviews think not.. its a toaster to what was a glorious car... never will be the heir, nor a replacement, simply something to fill a void in a more superficial world that we all live in..

With the new SLS, this too is simply a product, and as the review stated, its a very good product, just not the miracle that history shows us that the Three pointed star is.. or was...

I feel what Mercedes offer today is not more than a flashy badge, for something that could easily be comparable to a high spec model out of the VW stables.....


Hopefully, this new CLS will bring back some of the old spark for me...
:bannana:

 

[Simon_M]

It's all about profit, platform sharing etc. nearly every current Mercedes has the same ugly wing mirrors. I think the outgoing CLS could be regarded as a classic in 20 years time. But the trouble is nowadays i they find a good formula say as Audi dis with the TT, they bleed it for every last penny and the iconic cars become two a penny. Although quite why they are blowing cash in F1 is a mystery to me....

 

[Sp!ke]

People have been saying the same thing about Mercedes cars for 50 years.

I think the main problem is that the competition have been catching up so they are less ahead of the game.

 

[MercFanUk]

To be fair, back in those days there was still room for "new" - can that be said anymore? I'd think it'd be tough for any manufacturer to come up with anything like that any more, even super car makers are getting 'samey'. Discounting the Veyron of course

Its more about technology innovation these days I think.

 

[bpsorrel]

For me, the outgoing CLS actually is a modern day classic, and possibly a nod to the previous iconic MBs of yesteryear.

Interestingly, over here, I've had some aquaintance wih cars that Russians feel are "equivalant" to MBs, such as Infiniti, Lexus and Acura (yes, we know, all fancy badges for higher end mainstream Jap cars, but very respected here, where badge snobbery hasn't hit fully yet) And, yet, I have to admit, the MB products are better. The quality is higher, the finish is nicer. So, though not as nice or ground breaking as previous models were, I think they are still better than their rivals and still at, or close to, the top of the automotive chain.

 

[petermansell]

I'm not so sure. The SLS to me, along with the CLK DTM and Black series demonstrate that MB do think more about factors other than simple product sales. Otherwise why would they have made the Black Series CLK?

 

[The Boss]

I'm not so sure. The SLS to me, along with the CLK DTM and Black series demonstrate that MB do think more about factors other than simple product sales. Otherwise why would they have made the Black Series CLK?

maybe so, but these cars are very aggressive, and could easily be made redundant as the new models appear.. the timeless and iconic flare of the original Gullwing or 107 dont seem to be in the new design guide... hmmm

 

[MercFanUk]

In those days though, that was the cutting edge in power and design - to be cutting edge today, you lose the classic look and gain the modern look - not through desire to be pretty, but a desire to perform at the same time.

The original gull wing was no where near as efficient etc and cutting through the air and what not.

Would people still buy a car that was as expensive as that, yet wasn't anywhere near as good in terms of performance as any of its competitors in the same price range?

The only car's that I think are capable of that are Rolls Royce types really. Where your paying for prestige and brute power. And even for that you pay a lot more than the majority of other marques...

 

[KillerHERTZ]

The original gull wing was no where near as efficient etc and cutting through the air and what not.

Also meant to be horrendous to drive!

 

[fabes]

the Renault Wind

Saw one in the flesh on the weekend and I think that is an innovative model in a niche that no one else is in (though that maybe for a reason....) - small engined, 2 seater coupe/targa cheap cruiser type thing

Yes its a Renault so I would never buy one (again), but they look to have executed it reasonably well - ex the cabin plastics as ever

 

[Simon_M]

Smart Car?

 

[Colin_b]

Smart Car?

Automotive oxymoron

 

[wemorgan]

Smart Car?

and the Audi A2.......oh that's my current car line-up

I wonder if the MB issues The Boss mentions are based around the need for high volume manufacturing to recover the R&D investment?

 

[DITTRICH]

I have been ferried back and forth to and from the dealership in w204 c classes and I look at them - how they "feel" when you are sat in them. And I prefer my 11 year old w202. It is as if they think more thin plastic, more shiny bits and more buttons to press will sell cars. This feeling is repeated if I step into my w124 estate with the w202 on the losing end of the battle. It feels like the difference between a chinese electronic product where you know they have shaved almost everything off the quality in order to save money. The cars are built to a price now, whereas before they were built to a standard quality. This could be interpreted as just being an old f**t syndrome but I don't think so. I shall stick with my w202 and w124 until the rust monster gets them. Either that or I find a nice c43 or 500e.
Les

 

[Tiff]

the Renault Wind

Saw one in the flesh on the weekend and I think that is an innovative model in a niche that no one else is in (though that maybe for a reason....) - small engined, 2 seater coupe/targa cheap cruiser type thing

Yes its a Renault so I would never buy one (again), but they look to have executed it reasonably well - ex the cabin plastics as ever

Bah, the X1/9 did that in 1972!!!

 

[gIzzE]

If they were not mass produced throw away items Mercedes would no longer exist.

You just don't like the modern world I'm afraid.

 

[Smatt]

This is due to the march of technology, commercialism & telecommunications, such that competitors are able to duplicate faster and despite the extra billions MB plough in, there are diminshing returns.

On a similar note; there are few people out there who prefer the latest chart hits to the music that they grew up with.

 

[RBYCC]

maybe so, but these cars are very aggressive, and could easily be made redundant as the new models appear.. the timeless and iconic flare of the original Gullwing or 107 dont seem to be in the new design guide... hmmm

Agree that all new Mercs including production AMG will be made redundant..

However the bespoke versions such as the SLS, DTM and Black Series are very unique, are and will be collectable due to low production numbers...