Why does TSN seem so anti Mercedes?

[962C]

Quality

[garcon magnifique]

Stop humouring him FFS.

Spekaing to someone at the weekend who had an older model ML270CDi. Was more than happy with it - the diesel's built in Austria rather than the US and has far fewer issues as a result. So happy he's bought a brand new ML280CDi Sport. Feckin gorgeous it is too - much prefer it to the X5 or Q7.

[Dave]

One of the local hoteliers down here had the oil burning AMG version... Jesus!!.. you should have seen the exhaust pipes on it.. a cat could have crawled up inside easy!

And it went too, but i forgot how much he spent on it.. well over £60K if i remember correctly.

[Alastair_A3]

The only merc i really fancy is the SLK55 AMG in black

[patently]

I followed an AMG SLK into a supermarket car park once, while in the 911 Cab. For a joke, I thought I'd follow it around and park next to it.

He very slowly went around every corner of the car park, even abandoning attempts to park in perfectly decent spaces when he realised I was going to go next to him, and eventually drove out of the car park and left rather than have his nice shiny top-of-the-range SLK shown up by my nice shiny 911.

I (honestly!) didn't mean to do that, it just happened that way. But there was no way Mr SLK was going to let anything he considered superior distract attention away from his car!

[garcon magnifique]

That's funny. Cruel but funny.

[Alastair_A3]

ha ha!

You do see alot of SLK 350 AMG cars out there, which is somewhat sad

Ive never driven the 55 version, but i do quite fancy one

http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/299987.htm

[330dcoupe]

I've had a CLS55 AMG for a little while - and oh my good golly gosh was it nice. Can't think of many cars that could beat that as a package (chassis balance, brakes, handling, power, comfort..etc) The Bentley's GT would get a tick for most of the boxes, except handling. The other thing about the CLS is that, in a couple of years, when the price has dropped to about 28-35k (AMG) it still wouldn't look out of place with the cars around it, at that particular time. Timeless looks, I think they call it.

What really stands out with Mercedes, from most other large manufacturers, is that they listen to criticism/customers and learn from there mistakes (Old SKL/New SLK - Old E class/current E class - old ML class/ current ML class - old C class/ current C class ....I think you get the picture) They're all a world apart in differences and all mistakes from previous models have been neatly ironed out.

[gizze]

[ QUOTE ]

I've had a CLS55 AMG for a little while - and oh my good golly gosh was it nice. Can't think of many cars that could beat that as a package (chassis balance, brakes, handling, power, comfort..etc) The Bentley's GT would get a tick for most of the boxes, except handling. The other thing about the CLS is that, in a couple of years, when the price has dropped to about 28-35k (AMG) it still wouldn't look out of place with the cars around it, at that particular time. Timeless looks, I think they call it.

What really stands out with Mercedes, from most other large manufacturers, is that they listen to criticism/customers and learn from there mistakes (Old SKL/New SLK - Old E class/current E class - old ML class/ current ML class - old C class/ current C class ....I think you get the picture) They're all a world apart in differences and all mistakes from previous models have been neatly ironed out.

[/ QUOTE ]

I totally agree, all the new models are so, so, so much better than the previous ones.

In comparison Audi employed a load of BMW designers and techs to help design the new B8 A4 and the A5 and get rid of some of that 'safe' feeling and try and get more feeling back in the steering and handling and then tell them that they can't design the cars like that after all say in public that they decided to stick with a chassis that provokes understeer, because that is what Audi is all about...'safe and steady'. But that is what everyone is moaning about, with the advances in stability management etc. they can surely start to loose some of that understeer and make the drive a little more exciting?

The new C-Class is a revelation in handling, they have really looked at what is out there and what people are wanting from their cars these days, and hats off to them.

[CarMad]

I find the brand a bit strange. They used to be fantastic quality but they were worse than most Ford for years but still charge a fortune for the badge. I don't want to spend loads of ££ on a averagely engineered car that breaks down a lot and a dealer network that doesn't understand the word service.

I used to work for a bloke who owned his own garage and he bought himself a new e-class every year. But even he started to get disappointed. The cars he had fairly recently almost lived in the garage and they had loads of problems.... thats just not right IMO when spending so much money on something.

I will say that the new C class looks great though and I might have a drive of it before I get something new to see what its like. But I'd have to be sure that the service and the reliability had greatly improved.

[Luke]

[ QUOTE ]

I followed an AMG SLK into a supermarket car park once, while in the 911 Cab. For a joke, I thought I'd follow it around and park next to it.

He very slowly went around every corner of the car park, even abandoning attempts to park in perfectly decent spaces when he realised I was going to go next to him, and eventually drove out of the car park and left rather than have his nice shiny top-of-the-range SLK shown up by my nice shiny 911.

I (honestly!) didn't mean to do that, it just happened that way. But there was no way Mr SLK was going to let anything he considered superior distract attention away from his car!

[/ QUOTE ]

He might have thought you were a nutter too

[Paul]

Im not Anti Mercedes either,its just there is not much of a following on here, and we cant have a forum for every brand.

TSN was started by almost 100% Audi enthusiasts, if they didnt have one at the time, they certainly had one previously and the site has grown to what it is now, with new and old members swapping and changing marques along the way.

[Riz]

If I remember correctly ..... it actually used to be a S3 forum...... my thats going back sometime.

I agree... people change brands etc and only until recently ive actually started liking some Merc`s.

McLaren SLR 722

AMG CLK-DTM

CLK63 AMG Black Series

SLK55 AMG Black Series

Riz

[330dcoupe]

[ QUOTE ]

If I remember correctly ..... it actually used to be a S3 forum...... my thats going back sometime.

I agree... people change brands etc and only until recently ive actually started liking some Merc`s.

McLaren SLR 722

AMG CLK-DTM

CLK63 AMG Black Series

SLK55 AMG Black Series

Riz

[/ QUOTE ]

McLaren SLR 722

AMG CLK-DTM

CLK63 AMG Black Series

SLK55 AMG Black Series

So just the every day car's then

[Riz]

[ QUOTE ]

[ QUOTE ]

If I remember correctly ..... it actually used to be a S3 forum...... my thats going back sometime.

I agree... people change brands etc and only until recently ive actually started liking some Merc`s.

McLaren SLR 722

AMG CLK-DTM

CLK63 AMG Black Series

SLK55 AMG Black Series

Riz

[/ QUOTE ]

McLaren SLR 722

AMG CLK-DTM

CLK63 AMG Black Series

SLK55 AMG Black Series

So just the every day car's then

[/ QUOTE ]Well ermm nope.... Ive always had a passion for slightly different cars.... my love for cars hasnt stopped but cant really buy a nice car at the moment.......

One day..... one day.......

Riz

[Paul]

[ QUOTE ]

If I remember correctly ..... it actually used to be a S3 forum...... my thats going back sometime.

[/ QUOTE ]

It was Audi-Sport by the time I joined up in the tail end of 2001.

Prior to that it was Sport3 something iirc.

Either way TSN started with a predominant core of Audi owners and has evolved to what we see today.

[Mollox]

I'm not sure that the site is anti-Merc...

I have a lot of time for them in fact and grew up around a lot of them. Personally, I love the E55 AMG - it ticks so many boxes and I've been quite tempted recently but for one thing - 99% of them (mercs) are autos and that's a big stumbling block for me.

I think you'll find that a lot of TSNers are very much manual fans and so Mercs rule themselves out before the game even begins. Sad really. I know I'll have one one day but for now I just can't get past the self-shifting part...

[skifly]

dont reckon the site is anti merc... but i will freely admit that I have a serious issue with their dealers after letting me out in a dangerous car not just once. Suspension failed on motorway and collapsed. I was doing about 80 (KPH) at the time and used all 3 lanes before getting control back and nearly stuffing into the central reservation.

It was on the bend where the new 50 zone starts as you come into leeds on what used to be the M1.

Oh and it was Merc head office tech that was furious car was back on the road.

[Paul]

Now Brabus, that suddenly makes Mercedes a little more intersting. , but then again, they are classed a manufacturer in their own right, as they mod so much!

[N3WOB]

It's ok I'm sure there's room for a Brabus forum

[Andrew]

I love Mercs. That said, I'd rather drive a manual so that always detracts from their appeal in my view but the recent models like the SL65 and now SL63 look fabulous.

I love the new CL too and my dad has got a new S Class which really is an awesome bit of kit. Saw a white S63 (could have been S55) last year on the way to Cheltenham (so almost exactly a year ago!) and it looked great.

[cruiser647]

I would rather an auto than a manual - makes me a minority on here then!

And Merc do make an exceeding good auto, along with GM's rear drive autos.

If I was to buy a new car, Merc would be above BMW for me. (dons flame suit)

[activa]

Wide range of views there,so maybe I was a bit eager to suggest that TSN was anit Merc,seems like it's just a percentage of users who are.

Interesting that the C-Class sport was mentioned as my mate bought a brand new one round at the weekend.The suspension and steering is transformed when compared to the standard model,it is indeed a decent drivers car now and imo looks pretty damn nice too!

Apparently the facelift SLK is out in the next few weeks and the 350 will be over 300bhp,judging by how capable the chassis is,that should be a top motor.

One thing I will say about every model that I've tried is that they are easy to drive,and easy to drive quickly,this to many maybe a downside and could also be the reason why they leave some "cold".To me that's a pluspoint,especially when you do a lot of miles,on a track it probably wouldn't be such a good thing but 95% of driving is on the public highway,so for me,ease of use is just fine.

[Teacake]

[ QUOTE ]

I followed an AMG SLK into a supermarket car park once, while in the 911 Cab. For a joke, I thought I'd follow it around and park next to it.

He very slowly went around every corner of the car park, even abandoning attempts to park in perfectly decent spaces when he realised I was going to go next to him, and eventually drove out of the car park and left rather than have his nice shiny top-of-the-range SLK shown up by my nice shiny 911.

I (honestly!) didn't mean to do that, it just happened that way. But there was no way Mr SLK was going to let anything he considered superior distract attention away from his car!

[/ QUOTE ]

I used to get that when I followed people round in my Triumph Dolomite. Do you think it was for the same reason?

Maybe he thought you were challenging him to a race, and he was just waiting at the next set of traffic lights outside the supermarket, wondering where you'd got to...

[Ari]

No anti Merc bias here I can assure you.