AJT123

100%. Back when ours were new things were different.

Mercedes still has stunning cars, but they also have a lot that water down the brand pretty badly.

Granted I paid a hugggggge discount but I can pull a rank on basically any Mercedes other than an S-Class or AMG GT. The same way a mint 560SEL could.

BTW 30MPG is great!

geko29

Not in the US. If you exclude the roughly 70k Sprinter/Metris vans from the picture (because work vans are not really what we're talking about), FWD Mercedes vehicles accounted for a bit less than 14% of 2023 sales. 39,299 total of the A-, CLA-, GLA-, and GLB-class, against an overall "non van" total of 282,229.

AJT123

The cheap Mercedes are everywhere though it seems.

It used to be every Mercedes demanded respect, even the 190.

Now it's only the high high end ones.

BTW the Sprinter vans are excellent, I used to deliver flowers in college briefly in the '00s and I always drove it. It wasn't fast by any means but had a very satisfying Diesel engine. It felt light years ahead of the American vans they had in every single way.

Striker223

Correct, it was a Calvo! I shouldn't have accepted but you know......it's nice to have something to chase

Striker223

IDK, I would think an SL outranks the S personally

link13

I am trying to remember which car they reviewed and completely lambasted it. I think it was Hammond who said, so you’re saying it would be better if it were worse. lol.

Carfan94

Yeah I agree. The Mercedes that I see the most are the most of are the C-class. GLC, E class, and GLE. I actually don’t see too many of the FWD based models..

Until I venture into the crappier parts of town. Then I see a shocking number of A classes, CLAs and GLAs. Still not enough to offset the RWD models. But more than one would expect to see in low income areas. Some people are really stretching to own a budget Mercedes.

Striker223

And the craziest part is that mainstream brand options in that tier are objectively better. I can't believe how cheap the GLA feels

Toys4RJill

I think Mercedes has two front wheel drive sedans whereas Lexus has just one lol.

this has to go down as the worst idea in automobile history.

AJT123

They're both among the highest end models, for sure.

The SL I believe is the last high end Mercedes that's not a hybrid, so that makes it extra desirable for me.

Carfan94

You’re forgetting the HS 250h it was based on the European Avensis and had the Camry Hybrid powertrain from a 6th gen Camry. And let us not forget ladies and gentleman that the GS was discontinued so that the FWD ES could live!

And I disagree about the RTI being a horrible idea, but I seem to be in the minority on that….

Toys4RJill

how could you make the heated seat process any better?

SW17LS

I wouldn't go that far. They still sell more higher end cars than they do the FWD chassis cars, amd everything that is not one of those models has that soul.

Thats true as long as traffic is moving lol. Not as fun at 4 MPH.

AJT123

I have decided to search for a W210 E55 and see what I'm looking at price wise.

I want a Mercedes with a hood ornament, and those are reliable. Pull up old E55s that were NA for sale and they are welllll into 6 figures with the mileage.

FrankReynoldsCPA

Most of the Benzes I see are C and E classes and the various SUV's related to them. Maybe the occasional W222 or W223 S-Class.

At my workplace I do see one CLA regularly in the parking lot, and a colleague of mine purchased a GLB upon being promoted to manager. But the RWD's vastly outnumber the FWD's that I see.

Same for BMW. I rarely see the X1 or X2, or the fake 2 series. Mostly 3 series and RWD SUV's. Occasional 530i or 7 series.