MBEaston

BMW V Series Spied with Interior Shots I think BMW would do well to leave the R-class market alone. As a Mercedes dealer I must say that the R does not appeal to a big segment of the population. Most people are willing to spend the extra $10k on the GL just so it doesn't look like they are driving a wagon.

New BMW 5 Series Prototype Caught Again in Munich Just wanted to point out that the E-class, along with the CLK, SL, and S-classes, were highest ranked in initial quality in their respective categories by J.D. Power. Also, MB sells more vehicles per year in the USA than BMW in every segment other than the 3-series and the new C-class is gaining major ground. We literally cannot keep the C in stock right now... good problem to have but frustrating for our customers. I like BMW's from the 90's way better than Benzes of similar era, but Bimmers just don't do it for me anymore. I think it is the move towards more feminine styling look that all new BMW's seem to be adopting. I'll take a little E36 or E39 boxiness, thank you. I still want to buy a 97 or 98 M3 sedan just because of the looks, but would never pick an E90 or E92 over the new C-class based on styling or driving dynamics.

Mercedes M Class Facelift Spied The current ML is an awesome vehicle. It is much more comfortable on Midwestern (USA) roads than the X5 but had a more direct and sporty feel than the Lexus RX. It has a very tight and controlled ride along with plenty of power and lots of cargo space. Most ML's I sell are to people who have just come over from the BMW store disappointed with the driving dynamics and confusing interior layout of the X5. Either that or they were bored to tears by the RX... it's a nice compromise between the two. As a brand, Mercedes-Benz sales were up almost 15% this year BEFORE the new C-class came out, and now we are unable to keep adequate inventory of most of our models in stock. Nothing wrong with BMW, but Benz is really at the top of their game right now.

Mercedes CLK spied The CLK had sold strongly ever since it was originally introduced in the late 90's. It has incredible ride and handling qualities and holds a great resale value. It is difficult for us to keep them in stock even during the winter months, and they are very sought after on our pre-owned lot. The biggest thing that hurts the car right now is that it is not edgy enough and lacks a retractable hardtop. Even though a soft top weighs less, takes up less trunk space, and looks more elegant when in place, people spending upwards of $60k are now expecting a hard top.

Mercedes GLK Undisguised on the Set of 'Sex and the City' As a Mercedes-Benz dealer, I am glad to see we will have an SUV entry in the small crossover segment. While I am not crazy about the gawky proportions or front-end treatment of the GLK (especially hate the headlights), it will be nice to have something to compete with the RX350, X3, and upcoming EX35 from Infiniti. Because most ML's run about $50k we lose a lot of deals on people wanting an SUV but unwilling to spend more than $40k-$42k. I did also want to say definitively that no Mercedes-Benz vehicle share parts that came from Chrysler. The easiest way to prove this is that all Mercedes have longitudinal-mounted engines while all Chryslers (save LX-platform vehicles based on last-gen E-class) have transverse-mounted engines. This is because Mercedes are based on rear-drive architectures while Chrysler uses front-drive.