2014 Mercedes-Benz S-Class Leaked
#46
Super Moderator
It's not even a production car we see there I think, they can put whatever combination in it for whatever reason, so can't judge by that ......
#47
Lexus Fanatic
iTrader: (1)
The valet key is optional on the $300k Bentley Mulsanne.
On a Ferrari, the windshield is almost optional
Last edited by BNR34; 01-30-13 at 09:23 AM.
#48
Lexus Fanatic
iTrader: (1)
Nope, the higher level you go, the less standard equipment it comes with, is funny how that works. Everything is a la carte to drain your wallet and to make the base MSRP seems low. I guess the theory is, if you don't like the price, you can't afford it. If you want it cheap, go buy a Lexus
The valet key is optional on the $300k Bentley Mulsanne.
On a Ferrari, the windshield is almost optional
The valet key is optional on the $300k Bentley Mulsanne.
On a Ferrari, the windshield is almost optional
It is an amazing pricing structure,indeed.
The option on a Bentley is even more shocking.
#49
Lead Lap
I do agree, however Mercedes' marketers have made it a point to offer it as an option (instead of standard) on every model they sell- clearly they have a logic...would love to know what it is. I think it is dumb that its not standard.
#50
exclusive matchup
iTrader: (4)
but at the same time, i think all the cars were ordered with these silly options included, unless someone actually goes in and custom order i suppose.
first this is just a test car, can be testing a lot of things and you simply has no idea what's going on
second, as stated before, on mb with smart key setup, you can actually pop out the start button cover and insert the key to turn and start the car. from what i see, it's actually a practice used at dealerships every often (car wash, service, etc...) to insert the key regardless, to make sure none of the keys are accidentally taken out of the car or mixed up with other cars.
same case with bmw, at least until recent years, cars with smart key setup there is still a slot to insert the key. dealerships do the same all the time.
just fyi
#52
Lexus Fanatic
iTrader: (20)
right now doesn't look great when they're off, but i bet it's eye popping when turned on.
as for usability, of course that's an unknown. i hope mb moves to much greater voice activation. personally i think a car should be 'listening' all the time, and you just get its attention with a key word. on my phone i just say 'google' in search and can enter a query via voice.
mice, touch screens, buttons, they basically all suck in one way or another.
#54
Lexus Fanatic
iTrader: (1)
Once they are in the showroom, mesmerised by how much fancier looking of the European's offering, they are sucked in. They kept asking is this and that feature available, salesmans are like sure for just a few hundreds more...........you can have anything you want and a kitchen sink.
IF the base MSRP add up all the options that most people want, Lexus shopper won't even go look at the S-Class if it is $30k more.
#55
Lead Lap
In my opinion, because of stiff competition from Lexus and now even Hyundai, the European lure customers into their showroom by their really low base MSRP. Customers are like hey the S-Class and 7-Series are only a few $thousands more, let's go check them out.
Once they are in the showroom, mesmerised by how much fancier looking of the European's offering, they are sucked in. They kept asking is this and that feature available, salesmans are like sure for just a few hundreds more...........you can have anything you want and a kitchen sink.
IF the base MSRP add up all the options that most people want, Lexus shopper won't even go look at the S-Class if it is $30k more.
Once they are in the showroom, mesmerised by how much fancier looking of the European's offering, they are sucked in. They kept asking is this and that feature available, salesmans are like sure for just a few hundreds more...........you can have anything you want and a kitchen sink.
IF the base MSRP add up all the options that most people want, Lexus shopper won't even go look at the S-Class if it is $30k more.
#56
Lexus Fanatic
iTrader: (1)
$18k more, let's go look at the Benz, maybe we can stretch a little.
$40k more, forget it, is so out of our price range, we don't even have to go see it, we will never buy one.
The goal is to get people in the door. If they really can't afford all the nice options, maybe they would buy the base car with no options just to drive a nicer looking car. A car is sold.
Last edited by BNR34; 01-30-13 at 11:39 AM.
#57
well it looks incredibly cheap to me. I dont see why do we have to justify it. Are Lexus dealers losing their customer keys? It is a lot easier to simply put them in cup holder and thats the end of it. You wont be able to scratch customer's dash with key either.
In 2014, on car costing $100k, it seems rather cheap to make customer pay for things that $25k cars have these days.
I dont think we should hold different manufacturers to different standards, there is really no reason for anyone to want to justify this. I doubt this is done for weight or performance reasons, so only other reason is $$$.
In 2014, on car costing $100k, it seems rather cheap to make customer pay for things that $25k cars have these days.
I dont think we should hold different manufacturers to different standards, there is really no reason for anyone to want to justify this. I doubt this is done for weight or performance reasons, so only other reason is $$$.
#58
Lexus Fanatic
No doubt the high labor/production costs that German carmakers are often stuck with is part of it, but even over and above that, there is a reason why the S-Class is not chump-change. It has some of the best engineering in its class, especially in chassis-dynamics and safety-features.
#59
Lead Lap
No doubt the high labor/production costs that German carmakers are often stuck with is part of it, but even over and above that, there is a reason why the S-Class is not chump-change. It has some of the best engineering in its class, especially in chassis-dynamics and safety-features.