Top Gear survey 05

[Satch]

How is it wearing inside though? I had one a few times as a hire car and I have to admit it was very impressive for throwing around and surprisingly easy to drive for such a big car and economy was great - but for a three months old car with 5k miles on - the leather interior was very poor showing indredible signs of wear

I've never seen a Merc Leather interior look poor unless its very old and been mistreated

Ah, not a scrap of moo hide to be found inside. This is not an Amazon but the Land Cruiser LC120 series: more of a working vehicle, not a Chelsea tractor. Leather was an expensive and not very attractive option. So interior is a grey velour that is hard wearing. Treated by dealer so it keeps clean and is still fine, if boring

Third row of seats are out and dog guard in all the time so the back gets a bit scruffy, just as you would expect with two large dogs jumping in and out all the time. But then it is often covered in mud splashes so that sort of blends in

 

[janner]

The more you defend and excuse Mercedes' poor quality the longer it will take to sort it out. I wouldn't accept minor niggles from our Honda why should you from an E-Class? If Honda dealers treated us like Mercedes do we would not have replaced our CRV with a new one.
edit...
Just looked at the list..CRV is 16 with 3 other Hondas above it. Can't say I'm surprised.

 

[big x]

No..you can only compare like with like in the same class for subjective things like comfort.Mercedes are however the worst performing prestige brand comparing hard statistics IE.the number of electrical faults and from other sources like Fleet News the brand most likely to leave you needing to call out a breakdown service.Some here might like to bury their heads in the sand but the upshot is E-class sales fell 28% worldwide last year while at the same time some other prestige brands increased sales.

adam

And whilst scores like "Performance" and "Handling" are fair enough for "Honda S2000" (there's only one version), what on earth do they mean against "Ford Focus" (which covers an entire range of models with different body styles, engines, tyres, and suspension setups)?

 

[glojo]

The more you defend and excuse Mercedes' poor quality the longer it will take to sort it out. I wouldn't accept minor niggles from our Honda why should you from an E-Class? If Honda dealers treated us like Mercedes do we would not have replaced our CRV with a new one.
edit...
Just looked at the list..CRV is 16 with 3 other Hondas above it. Can't say I'm surprised.

I hope you do not think for one minute I would accept minor niggles far from it. I will not tolerate the slightest little problem.

I laugh at folks that think I, or anyone else is putting their 'head in the sand' or similar. I accept there have been minor issues with the electronics and have experienced some of them. Folks seem to think these are major issues and think we are silly for owning the car. My problems have all been the horrible intermittant type that never appear when you want them to, and never show up on diagnostic equipment.

However each time we have reported a fault, it has been sorted out. The folding mirrors being an ideal example, this fault would only occur once every blue moon, but the dealership replaced the motors and instantly fixed the problem. None of this irratating, "Fetch it back when you can replicate the problem, sir"

I cannot comment on a 28% drop in figures because these are statistical numbers which are so easily manipulated. I have also read that the E-class is the most popular mid sized executive car?? However these statements mean absolutely nothing to me as a private buyer. I research the market and buy the vehicle that I like. The E-class has surpassed my expectations and apart from the one flat battery it has been 100% reliable. Its engine is one of the best in its class. The new BMW 535 and perhaps the new 320CDI are perhaps better, but that is progress. Mercedes-Benz were perhaps guilty of putting to many new electronic gizzmo's in a new model and have learnt from that mistake.

John

 

[Tony M]

Have I made a good choice ordering a new ML to replace my C Sports Coupe?

You will be delighted overall with the car, but if you have Sat Nav you will find it second rate.