Top Gear motoring survey 2004

[RichardM]

Just got an email from Top Gear that the results have been released.

http://www.topgear.com/content/features/stories/survey_2004/01/

Lexus came out top overall. Mercedes came 29th out of 34 which is pretty pathetic!

 

[OGiii]

Mercedes came 29th out of 34 which is pretty pathetic!

Agreed, but not surprised. Dealer service is worse than my previous experiences with Volvo, Nissan, Ford etc.

 

[mark.t]

grovelling excuses

spent 3 hours in Mercedes Benz yesterday and had to endure all types of excuses given from staff to other customers from dangerous seat belts that don;t work on a 2 week old car to the old one sorry the parts not here ..........................................it really dose seam to that mb will run with your money hey but what the hell ......... think i will change in a few months a lease car is looking good with full maint may be a mercedes because then you arnt paying for exbenzive parts servicing and bull s**t ,with the deal I got with my e300 iam laughing all the way..even on a brand new S Class you only get 3 years warranty and not even WEAR AND TEAR...you have to negotiate for your money ...I just show the dealer the paperwork ....they roll there eyes and just do it :bannana:had car 11months £8500 on warrenty 13 monthe to go with recovery...

 

[R2D2]

doesnt it make you feel great o have Mercedes come in 29th and be beaten Daewho?

 

[Robby]

I'm buying a ford next. Cheap, ugly, and all the toys.

 

[sym]

Honda seem to be doing well ... don't they !Having had a couple of Hondas before, I had a test drive of a brand new Honda Accord Tourer today (was just curious !!).

Sales person was about the least persuasive effort I have ever seen !

Whilst the car drove very nicely indeed (2.4 VTEC) & had all the toys etc etc, it just didn't have the 'X-Factor'. Neither did it have the build quality/finish that I've become accustomed to, so was quite frankly a bit of a let down ! Also didn't feel as big inside as it looks from the outside, and the noise generated at any kind of speed (not from the engine, but from the road, and wind) was excessive.

I'm sure its very reliable, however, conclusion .... If I change my car in the near future, it will most likely still be German !

S.

 

[Vlad]

Rather than buying new, I'm going the other way......I do over 25,000 miles per annum which has a nasty effect on depreciation, so I buy old Mercs....pre 95 as you get better paint and build quality,cheaper insurance and cheaper servicing.

Run them for 25,000 miles and normally end up selling them for close or more than what I bought them for in the first place.

Not ideal for everybody I know, but I enjoy tinkering around on older Mercs, and as long as you buy wisely (ie full service history) there should'nt be any nasty surprises or big bills.

 

[R2D2]

I was invited to drive a ST200 by Ford. I found the torque steer terrible and the build quality just OK, the ride was poor (18 inch wheels), and like Sym says just no X factor!

I think my w202 is great, dear at £23k when I bought it new, but well built, very reliable, safe, good ride/handling. But build/reliablity issues on current Mercedes do scare me. Put it this way I drive my 5 year old out of choice.......

 

[RichardM]

Whilst the car drove very nicely indeed (2.4 VTEC) & had all the toys etc etc, it just didn't have the 'X-Factor'. Neither did it have the build quality/finish that I've become accustomed to, so was quite frankly a bit of a let down ! Also didn't feel as big inside as it looks from the outside, and the noise generated at any kind of speed (not from the engine, but from the road, and wind) was excessive.

Totally agree with you there Sym, I test drove the 2.4 saloon and it just seemed boring both to sit in and to drive. Nothing wrong with the car at all, just didn't have that X-Factor.

 

[OGiii]

Totally agree with you there Sym, I test drove the 2.4 saloon and it just seemed boring both to sit in and to drive. Nothing wrong with the car at all, just didn't have that X-Factor.

And that's a big issue.

I've had more problems with this car than any other but I wouldn't go back, it is a great car. I think my (and no doubt others) dissapointment is that you expect that bit more because it's Merc - you'd accept more if you'd bought a 'cheap' marque.