Sabena332 From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 1, posted (7 years 18 hours ago) and read 1217 times:
Quoting TheSunseeker (Thread starter): Does anyone know how many of the new cars are in which category(%)?
I have no numbers but I can imagine that "Classic" is the bestseller because it doesn't cost extra. Both "Elegance" and "Avantgarde" cost several 1000 EUR extra charge (depending on the model).
GVWOW From United States of America, joined Nov 2005, 168 posts, RR: 2 Reply 2, posted (7 years 17 hours ago) and read 1199 times:
For some reason, we don't have those in the US. For "decisions decisions", we just have the numbers. You can choose between the S320, S430, S500, and S600 (among others), and those have increasing amounts of equipment respectively. You then choose the colors and interior trim, and I think I can recall the heated steering wheel not available with a certain color...
Fbgdavidson From United Kingdom, joined Oct 2004, 3687 posts, RR: 31 Reply 3, posted (7 years 17 hours ago) and read 1196 times:
Quoting Sabena332 (Reply 1): Avantgarde is my favourite because it contains extra equipment I would order anyway (e.g. xenon lights, etc.).
My father had a E Class Avantgarde for a couple of years at the tail end of the 1990s and it was a very nice machine. It spent six weeks in the workshop following a bad accident and we were given an Elegance during that time so can compare.
The Avantgarde sat lower on the road and seemed to handle a lot better plus it had some exterior styling differences too, none of which I can remember, maybe it was xenon lights as Sabena332 mentions. I also remember inside we had black leather and black wood veneer bits as opposed to a rather horrible beige and bright brown wood on the Elegance.
"My first job was selling doors, door to door, that's a tough job innit" - Bill Bailey
DesertJets From United States of America, joined Feb 2000, 7673 posts, RR: 18 Reply 4, posted (7 years 17 hours ago) and read 1191 times:
In the US market the options on Mercedes-Benzs are generally packaged together. Take the E350 as an example. You have the following packages:
Appearance Package
Entertainment Package
Heating Package
Lighting Package
Moonroof Package
Premium Package -- this one combines the entertainment, heating, and moonroof packages.
Seat Package
Sport Package
Sport Package AMG
These run from as little as US$920 for the butt warmers to $4000 for the appearance package.
I'd suspect the basic US spec Benz comes in nicer equipped than the Classic trim Euro Benz... plus the base spec engine is more powerful/larger too.
Stop drop and roll will not save you in hell. --- seen on a church marque in rural Virginia
AirxLiban From Lebanon, joined Oct 2003, 4491 posts, RR: 55 Reply 5, posted (7 years 16 hours ago) and read 1179 times:
I think Elegance is tilted a little bit more towards the luxury end than Avantgarde is, though if I am not mistaken it's not that one is cheaper than the other, it's more about which sort of style you prefer.
My family had one of the first new E-Classes (with the 4 headlights in front) in Turkey back in 1997 (I think it was 1997) and it was an Elegance model and even though it was only an E200 or something like that it had all the bells and whistles. The Avantgarde models that were being sold alongside the Elegance and Classic ones had a more contemporary interior whereas the Elegance was more old-world. Don't know about the handling.
I think in the UK some MB models have an available Sport trim as well.
Definatley an Avantgarde. My mom has a 2005 E240 Avantgarde, which I frequently drive, and it is a very nice car - xenon lights, very nice interior, a 5 CD changer in a very conveniant place, etc. The only thing I don't like about it is that it is very low, and the side mirrors need some getting used to (they are quite small). But, then again, that could be just because I prefer SUVs to Saloons.
Sabena332 From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 7, posted (7 years 9 hours ago) and read 1117 times:
Quoting Fbgdavidson (Reply 3): The Avantgarde sat lower on the road and seemed to handle a lot better plus it had some exterior styling differences too
Exactly, the Avantgarde is more sporty in both handling and design.
Quoting AirxLiban (Reply 5): though if I am not mistaken it's not that one is cheaper than the other, it's more about which sort of style you prefer.
I think that Avantgarde is more expensive than Elegance, at least when you buy an E-Class. I know that because I am reading those Mercedes Benz brochures frequently when I am at my Merc dealer to wait that my car gets repaired.
Sabena332 From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 9, posted (7 years 9 hours ago) and read 1109 times:
Quoting Jutes85 (Reply 8): If I ever own a Merc, it would definately be the AMG series, those things are beasts.
Recently I had a SL500 as rental car, it had 388hp and it felt like a rocket, now I will not imagine what is happening when you push the pedal of a S65 AMG (612hp, yes, 612hp ) down.
Raffik From United Kingdom, joined Feb 2006, 1643 posts, RR: 4 Reply 12, posted (7 years 8 hours ago) and read 1082 times:
My partner's Mercedes is Avantgarde- it's basically the most luxurious model, plus you get a different trim- chrome and a more contemporary look where the elegance is usually wood trim and the classic is just basic. The Avantgarde comes with all of the luxuries like parking sensors and rain sensors etc.
I suggest you save your money, buy another car, and let Mercedes suffer a little bit for building junk this past decade. They need to suffer in terms of sales, give them a little humility, which has been sorely lacking at Mercedes for most of the last century. Nothing can motivate you than a little humility.
BMW were always "2nd Best", so they motivated themselves to catch up. Toyota had the reputation of making cheap cars, and they now have Lexus. Humility drives you to build better products.
AirPacific747 From Denmark, joined May 2008, 2091 posts, RR: 23 Reply 15, posted (7 years ago) and read 1031 times:
Quoting Cfalk (Reply 14): I suggest you save your money, buy another car, and let Mercedes suffer a little bit for building junk this past decade. They need to suffer in terms of sales, give them a little humility, which has been sorely lacking at Mercedes for most of the last century. Nothing can motivate you than a little humility.
Mercedes has already improved a lot again. I suggest you never waste your money on a bmw.
1. They are the ugliest cars in the world (the new models anyway)
2. They are way overrated when it comes to driving performance.
3. They are for flashy people.
WHAT?!? Mercedes are a lot more flash. The reputation here here in Europe at least is that Mercedes is for people who want to show off how much money they make, while BMW is just a good car (upper-midrange).
I've had 7 BMWs so far, and they have all been reliable and great to drive. My 2 Mercedes' were always in the shop, although they drove quite well (when they were running - most of my cars' problems were electrical).
Fumanchewd From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 17, posted (6 years 12 months 4 days 23 hours ago) and read 1023 times:
Oh lord, wont you buy me a mercedes benz ?
My friends all drive porsches, I must make amends.
Worked hard all my lifetime, no help from my friends,
So lord, wont you buy me a mercedes benz ?
Oh lord, wont you buy me a color tv ?
Dialing for dollars is trying to find me.
I wait for delivery each day until three,
So oh lord, wont you buy me a color tv ?
Oh lord, wont you buy me a night on the town ?
Im counting on you, lord, please dont let me down.
Prove that you love me and buy the next round,
Oh lord, wont you buy me a night on the town ?
Everybody!
Oh lord, wont you buy me a mercedes benz ?
My friends all drive porsches, I must make amends,
Worked hard all my lifetime, no help from my friends,
So oh lord, wont you buy me a mercedes benz ?
TheSunseeker From Netherlands, joined Apr 2006, 218 posts, RR: 0 Reply 19, posted (6 years 12 months 4 days 21 hours ago) and read 1001 times:
Quoting Sabena332 (Reply 1): I have no numbers but I can imagine that "Classic" is the bestseller because it doesn't cost extra.
I think IF Classic is the best seller, only because of all the taxi's!
Quoting Sabena332 (Reply 7): I think that Avantgarde is more expensive than Elegance, at least when you buy an E-Class. I know that because I am reading those Mercedes Benz brochures frequently when I am at my Merc dealer to wait that my car gets repaired.
You actually wait for the repair jobs? Damn you must be waiting a lot
RSA: Dont drink and drive - take the train and get mugged
TheSunseeker From Netherlands, joined Apr 2006, 218 posts, RR: 0 Reply 20, posted (6 years 12 months 4 days 21 hours ago) and read 998 times:
Quoting Cfalk (Reply 16): WHAT?!? Mercedes are a lot more flash. The reputation here here in Europe at least is that Mercedes is for people who want to show off how much money they make, while BMW is just a good car (upper-midrange).
BMW is more sporty and more fresh than Audi and Benz
MB drivers showing off in my opinion are only the Avangarde people!
(no offence guys ) I just hate the blue windows! Makes it look like a porncar. (Am I allowed to say that here haha?) This is also why my parents have Elegance - its visually not outstanding.
RSA: Dont drink and drive - take the train and get mugged
AirPacific747 From Denmark, joined May 2008, 2091 posts, RR: 23 Reply 21, posted (6 years 12 months 4 days 20 hours ago) and read 985 times:
Quoting Cfalk (Reply 16): WHAT?!? Mercedes are a lot more flash. The reputation here here in Europe at least is that Mercedes is for people who want to show off how much money they make, while BMW is just a good car (upper-midrange).
I've had 7 BMWs so far, and they have all been reliable and great to drive. My 2 Mercedes' were always in the shop, although they drove quite well (when they were running - most of my cars' problems were electrical).
BMW drivers are the ones who are being flashy. You know, in Denmark we even have a name for bmws. We call them Brian cars. We also have a much worse name for bmws which I cannot mention here as it would break a few forum rules . I don't know if it makes sense in english, but you probably get the idea. BMW is for smartass people who want to show how good they are and how cool they are. Mercedes Benz is much more laid back and for the established person. Not the wild life person. You had some bad experiences with mercedes benz. That's too bad, but a lot of people also have bad experiences with bmws, and I know a few of them. I know a guy who owns a bmw 3-series convertible, and a few weeks after he bought it (as a brand new car), the roof would not go down.
Mercedes Benz are working hard to do something about their bad image they have gotten lately, and all their newest cars are great. But as I have said before, it will take many years for them to re-establish a good reputation. Mercedes Benz have also gotten a new CEO and fired the old one to make sure that the quality of their cars will live up to Mercedes' very high standards.
TheSunseeker From Netherlands, joined Apr 2006, 218 posts, RR: 0 Reply 24, posted (6 years 12 months 4 days 20 hours ago) and read 966 times:
I dont like the new "nose" system. However: the inside- brilliant.
A friend of mine might arrange us a RS4 testdrive. jummyyy
RSA: Dont drink and drive - take the train and get mugged
25 AirPacific747: Depends on which Audi it is. I think it looks very brutal on the new Q7
26 TheSunseeker: the Q7 is not new. Its a Touareq/Cayenne with a body kit :D:D I dont understand the hype around it. But yes, its the only Audi where the nose is looki
27 Fbgdavidson: As much as I have loved my folks Benzes, I doubt I'd buy one for a while. My father had a 2002 built S500 and after 2yrs the ignition motor went, cos
28 DesertJets: IMHO it began to go downhill after they retired the W124 cars, which were the epitome of modern Benzes. Truly innovative cars in their design, safety
29 Raffik: I really disagree about Mercedes. The new builds that they are producing now, are of far superior quality than has been seen before. We have only had
30 RayChuang: What is interesting is that here in the USA M-B cars are usually sold fully loaded with very few options. That's why the new S550 sedan has such a exo
31 QR332: While I agree 100% that the current models are of high quality, I think previous models were of higher quality. My grandfather had an old E-Class (ar
32 AirPacific747: LOL except that it is way longer than the Touareg and the Cayenne, but yes, built on the same platform as them.
33 Sabena332: Seems to be a common Mercedes problem. My car's electric is the horror, I have frequently problems with it. Lately it was the electrical roof, before
34 Flight152: Mercedes Benz are working hard to do something about their bad image they have gotten lately, and all their newest cars are great. I'm sure that someo
35 AirPacific747: So according to you, you can't have an opinion about more expensive cars than your own? Typical comment from a bmw owner who is trying to defend his
36 Slider: Nice stereotype. Hell, there are more Bimmers than Toyotas here anyway. It's another excuse to slap an Audi badge on a warmed-over VW and charge $10-
37 AirPacific747: Just like when people stereotype Mercedes owners by saying that people only buy them to show how much money/power they have. Hell there are more Merc
38 AirPacific747: Again, wait a few years. They cant change their image overnight. Also I just read an article about 8 different SUVs where the new ML class beats the
39 Aerobalance: I'm not flashy, neither is my '06 330i. I drive aggresively and sometimes with clients - the car is perfect for my job. What's with the stereotypes?
40 AirPacific747: Are you writing that message for me or for slider? Some people who own bmws are not flashy but tons of bmw owners are. I am glad you are not one of t
41 Flight152: And yes, I do know about their reliability, because *acidentally* my dad has a 14 year old mercedes which looks and drives like a new car. Which does
42 AirPacific747: Thanks for proving what point? Who said we were only talking about new Mercedes cars? Do you think you're the expert when it comes to Mercedes then?
43 Flight152: Who said we were only talking about new Mercedes cars? Slider. Reply 36 Do you think you're the expert when it comes to Mercedes then? No. You don't e
44 AirPacific747: Funny because I was already mentioning my fathers car in reply 35 Good. Then there's one thing we agree on here. No, I know a few people who own Merc
46 TheSunseeker: I'm surprised noone bitched about the E class headlights yet! I've had to chance them so many times...and still cant get it right without getting dir
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From Netherlands, joined Apr 2006, 218 posts, 
From , joined Dec 1969, posts, 
From United States of America, joined Nov 2005, 168 posts, 
From United Kingdom, joined Oct 2004, 3687 posts, 
My father had a E Class Avantgarde for a couple of years at the tail end of the 1990s and it was a very nice machine. It spent six weeks in the workshop following a bad accident and we were given an Elegance during that time so can compare.
From Lebanon, joined Oct 2003, 4491 posts, 
From , joined Dec 1969, posts, 
From , joined Dec 1969, posts, 
) down. 
From Denmark, joined May 2008, 2091 posts, 
. I don't know if it makes sense in english, but you probably get the idea. BMW is for smartass people who want to show how good they are and how cool they are. Mercedes Benz is much more laid back and for the established person. Not the wild life person. You had some bad experiences with mercedes benz. That's too bad, but a lot of people also have bad experiences with bmws, and I know a few of them. I know a guy who owns a bmw 3-series convertible, and a few weeks after he bought it (as a brand new car), the roof would not go down.
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