Baby ///M3

Mercedes needs to start focusing on improving the overall quality and reliability of its products rather than screwing around with model designations.

How many more years will it take for them to decide to name an E350 a 350E? And why is Mercedes dumping the CLK name when it sounds a lot better than an E class coupe?

From the way things are going, perhaps some day the CL will be known as the S class coupe and the SLK the... well you know what it'll be.

Jon

mmarshall

There's some evidence that's happening now. Consumer Reports shows some notable improvements in M-B reliablity in the last couple of years.

I8ABMR

bye bye !!!!!

bad co

I should start a thread called "Why so much hate for CLK Merc's"

IS-SV

Mercedes is focusing on improving quality and reliability and it's obvious to owners of cars of recent model years. But to make it a trend they need several years of solid performance. I have a 2008 Mercedes that has better quality and reliability than most built in the last decade.

davidsong

and what do you drive?? why such a negative feeling about camry? and the es? both car are great to an extent.

IS-SV

The Camry and ES are good, reliable, nicely finished, roomy family sedans. I've driven several, in fact there's on my driveway this week (ES350). Probably the best cars in this class.

But for the driving enthusiast they are numb, soft-riding, front heavy, with light steering, heavy understeer, brake dive, and too much torque steer. Or to put it another way, the ES is a fine example as to why Mercedes and BMW don't do front wheel drive cars here. I prefer Lexus IS/GS/LS and own IS350/C300. That's just my opinion and hands-on observations.

Ice350

iTrader: (1)

People keep saying that but I can't tell.
I saw a sticky thread on mbworld.com listing over 60 recall campaigns for the newest s-class. I don't call that reliability.

mmarshall

Recalls, unlike the more common service bulletins, don't necessarily address reliability or drivability problems on a large scale. They usually deal with safety-related issues, involve probelems found of a limited number of vehicles, and may or may not be in areas that affect relability.

For instance, a problem in an air-bag circuit or seat-belt mechanism may be a safety-related issue, that, by law, would require a general recall, but not necessarily affect a car's day-to-day driving reliability.
On the other hand, too much of a prasitic-current drain that prematurely runs the battery down, or a defective alternator that won't charge it, is quite another matter....that, of course, WOULD affect reliability.

CDNROCKIES

I just subscribed to CR as we start our test drives next week and am still very leary of the German's reliability.

Keep in mind that it very much depends on the specific model and it is only reflecting initial reliability. I do find it interesting the CR recommends the S-class but only gives it average reliability. The MB and BMW have shown good improvement over the last couple of years...meaning only two.

We'll see how they stand up for the long haul. I still would never own a MB, BMW or Audi that was out of warranty.

IS-SV

I can tell because I've owned several Benzes and currently own a 2008 C-class. We aren't talking miracles here or Lexus-like quality yet. The best Benz's, including the new C-class now have average quality. It'a amazing how well the C-class sells with just average quality, but other attributes of this car make it stand out amongst the competition.

Unfortunately the S-class may not have achieved the acceptable level of quality and reliability that some of the other models have. S-class has always been a trouble-prone and expensive car to maintain. The high-rollers keep buying them, obviously it's a very nice car.

IS-SV

I agree you should be leary. I will only own them while under a factory-backed warranty. But as auto companies, BMW and Mercedes are extremely successful in the US market despite these known weaknesses.

bad co

people, quality and reliability are two diffrent things. quality is how good are the materials how well will they stand up to the test of time, how nice are they to the touch? etc. I have rearly seen a mb with worn out leather or a cracked dash on the other hand the leather in my is looked like **** after only a couple k. reliability is how well is the product designed where was money cut where was it thrown at. older mercs may have had reliability problems i wont deny but the new ones are leaps into the right direction.

Gojirra99

Average reliability is the minimum requirement for a model to be recommended by CR, they will not recommend if it's deemed below average in reliability.

djestouff

i drive a '90 accord. like IS-SV said, i'm not knocking the camry, its a comfortable and very reliable car, my dad's '89 was still in great condition when he finally bought his '04. But when I have the money to get a new car, it will most definitely not be an accord, camry, es350, malibu, etc. I want something that's fun to drive. I've been looking at the mazdaspeed 3 and wrx.