Whats happening to Mercedes-Benz?

Question

Chrysler is bringing MB down. Have you noticed every year Mercedes is starting to look more like Chrysler group cars? Back then 1930-2000 you could tell a benz from a crowd of cars..but now Mercedes cars looks like any other car. Maybe its because every car make is getting parts from one same big company (especially Mercedes-Benz since Chrysler took over). You can tell Chrysler has completely taking over MB because of the new GLK that was just release. Chrysler then did it by putting Mercedes-Benz in the discovery/ exploring field. (jeep..land rover etc)!

Answer 1

I agree with the above post. Chrysler never took over. It was a supposed to be a merger between the two companies and it was billed as a "merger of equals". However, if you read a little deeper into it, the Daimler portion of ownership was actually the majority shareholder ( why do you think the top posts over at the Chrysler arm was held by Germans? How do you also think that Daimler was able to sell Chrysler to Cerberus last year if Benz didn't actually own Chrysler? )



Yes, there were quality issues from Benz vehicles ( the low point being somewhere around the 02-03 model years ) but if you look at their recent cars, take a look at the new C or S class models and you'll both see a world of improvement in quality and design and the automotive press and public seem to agree. Benz reliability scores have improved greatly within the last couple of years.



By the way, looking at trim options. Cloth seats have been available for a very long time in Europe. In North America, Benz was marketed more as a luxury brand so cloth seats were not common ( although they were available on entry level products such as the 190E during the 80's and the older C220/230 in the 90's ). But, as Benz tries to get a little larger share of the pie by introducing more products to appeal to a larger audience ( the Smart car is a perfect example ), they have to step outside of the luxury segment.

Answer 2

1. Mercedes owned Chysler.

2. Mercedes no longer owns Chrysler, hassnt since sometime last year.

3. Mercedes still stand out to me...

4. Mercedes put its self in the off road feild with the G class like... 30...40 years ago?

5. Saturan is owned by GM not Chrysler, and the C class and M class are both older than those Saturn models.

6. Mercedes never have had leather wood and ect as standard, in Germany a Mercedes is just another car, so they don't come with everything, they become luxury after coming over to the US.

7. Mercedes has always used like plastic and what not in theyre cars because, as I said in 6, America is the main place they sale Mercedes for luxury. Go look for pictures of the Euro spec 1970's S class.



People have been copying after Mercedes for years, its nothing new. Dude, not to be mean or anything, but you need to get youre $hit together, youre prbly one of those people who doesnt know Lexus is really a Toyota and cant afford a Mercedes anyway (im not saying that you cant afford a Mercedes-Benz)



so, have a nice day :)

Answer 3

Chrysler never took over Daimler-Benz. Daimler-Benz acquired Chrysler Corp in 1998, forming a merger called DaimlerChrysler. Their cars don't like any other car or like any of the Chrysler products. The biggest issue was that Mercedes' reliability and quality took a huge hit tarnishing their reputation in the luxury car industry. They were pouring in a lot of money to try to get Chrysler turned around, because Chrysler was dying in the mid 90s. Despite having a lot of money coming in, Chrysler still continued to put out some of the worst products in the industry. Then came the slump in domestic car sales, and Daimler could no longer afford to keep Chrysler afloat. They sold about 89% of Chrysler last fall to Cerberus Capital. Mercedes is now known as Daimler AG.



Carpet seats or plastic trimming (exterior) didn't used to be an option on a Mercedes-Benz...but now it is (since Chrysler took over) The plastic trimming that other car makes put on the cheaper version of a model ex the Toyota 4runner srs..and not put it on the limited edition!



-- I have not seen plastic trim being an option. Remember, Chrysler never took over.





Mercedes-Benz has an option for carpet seats or leather for the C-class hatchback.....(witnessed it)



--On the C-Class yes, but I don't see what that's such a big deal. It is their entry level car after all.



The cheaper version GLK has plastic trimming on the exterior!



-- I don't care fo the GLK personally.



Another thing: Every foreign model manufactured in north America tend to have similar looks to general motor cars (only mazda similar to ford)



ex: Mercedes (M-class/ Saturn vue)





-- The M Class has NEVER looked like a domestic. The current M Class was designed BEFORE the current Saturn Vue was released.



Mercedes (c-class hatchback/ that new hatchback Saturn)



--The C-Class Sport coupe came out long before the new hatchback Opel Astra based Saturn Astra came out. Nor do they even look anything like each other. Not even compared to the new C-Class Sport Coupe called the CTC, which will not come to North America this time.

Answer 4

I agree. Mercedes used to be very good in quality in features. I see the new ones and the resale values and I am shocked. Some of the new C class models just have plastic instead leather on the doors! Its crazy. Im sticking with our 1993 and 2000 E Classes!

Answer 5

Sorry, but Mercedez-Benz owned some of Daimler Chrysler, making it Daimler-Benz. Chrysler did not own part of Mercedez.



In Europe, Mercedez have come without all the luxury options such as leather, power seats, etc. for a long time. They are luxury only in the USA.

Sorry, but your just wrong.

Answer 6

Mercedes Benz sold Chrysler last fall.

Answer 7

Nothing happened. Chrysler basically ruined MB, but now, for 2008, MB is once again on it's own. Quality is expected to go up.^WAY UP.^

Answer 8

I agree that a bunch of shortcuts have been taken. THe headliners used to be vinyl. Now they are the fabric foam backed materials that go bad in 10 years.

Answer 9

I couldn't agree with you more. I have always driven a MB and now I am leaning towards the BMW. I would have never thought that our prestigeous car would be Americanized. Germans do it better, that is why we have payed the price up until now. Its a sad thing.If I would have wanted an American car, I would have bought one!!!!