I'm not exactly sure what your point is, but like it or not, Mercedes is a luxury brand in the USA. Even in the early 1980s, most models were available standard with automatic climate control (240D is the only exception), power windows, etc. Most of the world envys us for getting all the "good" cars with lots of features for reasonable prices.
There has been discussion about bringing the B class to the US for years. They are now sold in Canada. Really, its all about what the market wants. Does Mercedes really want to compete with VW Jettas, etc, and will people really pay a premium for it? I dunno, I'm an engineer, not a marketing guy. With "luxury" features comes loads of safety and quality in engineering. Plain models are really a relative thing. Looking back at a W211 2003 E320, I see a pretty simple plain and reliable car I'd consider owning. In 2003, we'd all look at this and say "Whoa, stay away!". I look at the new SLK I'm driving this weekend and I'm taken back by the numbers of advanced features in a mid-range Mercedes. Really, its just an example of where all other cars will be in a few years when they catch up, and where the S class was a few years ago. I'm sure when looking at a brand new W116 in 1973, with its crazy electronic fuel injection, people felt exactly the same way. Now people think nothing of owning a W124 or W210 and fixing it themselves, which are much more complex and closer to a modern mercedes than most realize. Our kids (and kid's kids) will grow up know nothing other than checking DTCs and using CAN tools to diagnose their teenage beaters. And they'll talk about how it won't be possible with "new" cars of the era. And a 240D will be a museum piece not fit for public roads. Jaime On Fri, Mar 25, 2011 at 11:45 PM, Dieselhead <126die...@gmail.com> wrote: > On the radio here they have been endlessly advertising the "new LUXURY car > lineup" compass, patriot, liberty, ...Blah blah. > > Now go ask your grandfather who was in WWII if a cheep is a "luxury car" > > Message to MomBUSA: If a cheap is a "luxury car" WHY ON EARTH would > Mombusa insist on positioning Mercedes Benz as a "luxury car" in place of > "the best engineered vehicles in the world"? > > We don't all want all the ACC and so called "luxury" crap. There is a > market for the A class and other "rest of the world" models here. The > "plain" models sold in the rest of the world will also sell here. > > _______________________________________ > http://www.okiebenz.com > For new and used parts go to www.okiebenz.com > To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ > > To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: > http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com > _______________________________________ http://www.okiebenz.com For new and used parts go to www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
