You can not control some peoples ignorance.. all you can do is educate them.. at a stop light

 

I don't think your friend was ever really in the market for a high performance sedan. Some people have different taste in cars and/or different needs. I have a friend that will only drive S-class Mercedes Benzs. The guy has been driving them for thirty years and I can't immagine him driving anything else - they're great cars - big, safe, swift, stylish and, historically have better resale value. And yes, MB (especially S-class) does seem to have a different status here - be it good or bad. (Just like many people can't say BMW without slipping in the word yuppy)

I think what you can't seem to figure out is that you thought he was an enthusiast like yourself. It apears now that he's not and you probably feel let down by his decision and that's understandable.

To each his own.

Derek

 

I don't think there's anything at all wrong with mercs. Though I've never owned one, many folks who have seem to think they're great cars. It just depends on what you want to use it for. For jaunting around the countryside many Mercedes would kill an m5 for ride comfort. But that's not why we bought 'em. At the track I'll take my m.

 

I think what you can't seem to figure out is that you thought he was an enthusiast like yourself. It apears now that he's not and you probably feel let down by his decision and that's understandable.

To each his own.

I think you hit the nail on the head. I was a little let down. But the thing that got me the most is the way he said "If I were to spend $60k, may as well be a Mercedes. Almost as to say, we'll the M5 is not worth the $60 but the S-500 is. I felt a little offended by that. Like you said "to each his own".

 

To each his own.

"If I were to spend $60k, may as well be a Mercedes. Almost as to say, we'll the M5 is not worth the $60 but the S-500 is.

The point here, and where most sales people go wrong, is selling without understanding what the "customer" really wants. I can completely undertand why one would NOT want an M5 and choose an S500, if "luxury" is viewed as: my car does everything but drive for me, than maybe the S was a good choice for him. An M5 may be perceived as a car that requires TOO MUCH from the driver . . . which, I would suggest is EXACTLY why we have chosen an M5. We want to participate in the experience and your friend is just along for the ride.

No worries, it's all just a matter of getting what we value for ourselves . . .

JMO, Kevin

 

wow turning down a M5 for a S-class...i can understand if it were a E55 AMG...but.....:confused3

 

He at least better start looking at an AMG, like the E55. The E55 is nice, but I am sure most of you all saw what happened to the E55 when it went up again the M5. The funny thing, is that Car and Driver magazine still thinks their E55 is better than the M5, even though it got smoked two weeks ago. They wrote in the last article something like although the M5 won again, twice in the last three years, we would still take the E55. I dont know, haters I guess.

 

If he's looking for performance in a sedan, the S500 is the wrong place to be looking.

 

Guys,
What do you think about this one?
My friend has been looking for a high performance sedan for the last 2 months. Today he turn down a 2003 M5 with 9800 miles for 59,000 for a 2002 Mercedes S-500 with 45,000 miles for $60,000. He said, “if I’m gonna spend $60,000 it may as well be on a Mercedes”. What????? I have noticed that most American’s would choose a Mercedes over a BMW. Why is that? Is it a status thing? I always though the BMW was a better overall performer than the Mercedes. Any thoughts?

I have both M5 and S500L Lorinser.....

After I bought M5 I rarely drive my MERC...

Totally 2 different cars....Merc is more luxurious and M5 if totally diff car is the BEAST...If you want POWER....get M5....if you want Comfort get S500L...

I lovelove my M5..... :cheers:

 

I have noticed that most American’s would choose a Mercedes over a BMW. Why is that?

"Nobody ever went broke underestimating the taste of the American public. "
H. L. Mencken (1880-1956)

He also said, "For every problem there is one solution which is simple, neat, and wrong."

And, "The whole aim of practical politics is to keep the populace alarmed (and hence clamorous to be led to safety) by menacing it with an endless series of hobgoblins, all of them imaginary."
Hmmmm.

 

If he chose an S500 over an M5 he would have been happiest driving this:

:7:

 

He obviously wasn't looking for a performance car. Those 2 cars are totally different.ouich

 

Very simple, the guy is not a driver. He's the reason you find relatively new, low mileage sports cars for sale. They buy them and don't realize they have to know how to shift and steer - so they get rid of them.

 

I guess the guy confuses luxury for performance.

 

The funny thing, is that Car and Driver magazine still thinks their E55 is better than the M5, even though it got smoked two weeks ago. They wrote in the last article something like although the M5 won again, twice in the last three years, we would still take the E55.

Where did you see this review? Can you provide a link

 

The funny thing, is that Car and Driver magazine still thinks their E55 is better than the M5, even though it got smoked two weeks ago. They wrote in the last article something like although the M5 won again, twice in the last three years, we would still take the E55.

Where did you see this review? Can you provide a link

Guss:

It was not a review it was an article about the most recent One Lap of America compitition in which the CD writers drove a new E55 and got beat by ten other cars in their class alone. A nicely prepared E39 M5 won that class.

The CD people commented that they liked the E55's ability to make big speed effortlessly and while they were disapointed by the E55's performance on the track they appreciated its ability to easily get them through the long days on the open road and to their next destination - which usualy ment more sleep. Sleep becomes hugely important in these type of enduro events. To some, after a week without much sleep, it becomes more important than winning.

Too bad they didn't drive an M5. They could have had their extra sleep and won at the track.

Derek

 

Hey Guys:

While preferences are subjective I think overall world wide the Mercedes Benz name carries more prestege than BMW. And I think the same feelings exsist here in the US. Don't you agree?

Paul

 

Hey Guys:

While preferences are subjective I think overall world wide the Mercedes Benz name carries more prestege than BMW. And I think the same feelings exsist here in the US. Don't you agree?

Paul

Not really. The 745 is in the same class as the S430 and S500. Maybe the S is more money, but when people consider a luxury car, they are mentioned in the same breath. The Mercedes may be more money, but as I said to my brother-in-law when he showed me his Hummer that it made a statement. The statement is "look how much money I can piss away on a car."

 

If you are seriously considering this get the S Class 500. :byebye:

 

If you can get all that in writing, I'd say we have a good case for your friend to be interned at the nearest mental hospital. hiha

 

Not really. The 745 is in the same class as the S430 and S500. Maybe the S is more money, but when people consider a luxury car, they are mentioned in the same breath. The Mercedes may be more money, but as I said to my brother-in-law when he showed me his Hummer that it made a statement. The statement is "look how much money I can piss away on a car."

I do agree with you that the 745iL and the S500 may be in the same class but the casual person who does not know much about the M5 and the 745il
may automatically believe that a mercedes Benz is a more prestigeous car
than a BMW in general.

 

Not really. The 745 is in the same class as the S430 and S500. Maybe the S is more money, but when people consider a luxury car, they are mentioned in the same breath. The Mercedes may be more money, but as I said to my brother-in-law when he showed me his Hummer that it made a statement. The statement is "look how much money I can piss away on a car."

I do agree with you that the 745iL and the S500 may be in the same class but the casual person who does not know much about the M5 and the 745il
may automatically believe that a mercedes Benz is a more prestigeous car
than a BMW in general.

 

I do agree with you that the 745iL and the S500 may be in the same class but the casual person who does not know much about the M5 and the 745il
may automatically believe that a mercedes Benz is a more prestigeous car
than a BMW in general.

That's exactely right - its a perception of prestige. The average person has no clue when it comes to automobiles. There is a guy in my development who bought a Z8. When I went to talk to him, he didn't have a clue.

 

That's exactely right - its a perception of prestige. The average person has no clue when it comes to automobiles. There is a guy in my development who bought a Z8. When I went to talk to him, he didn't have a clue.

That is really, I mean really, sad. :crying: Then again, the vast majority of people believe our Volvo R wagons are "just another Volvo"...makes them great sleeper cars .

 

I believe the Mercedes Benz attraction is because it comes with a year subscription of Viagra.