Mercedes not happy with Consumer Reports

[92merc]

http://money.cnn.com/2006/11/17/autos/plug...dex.htm?cnn=yes

[RichardJensen]

What is up with THIS whitewash?

 

Mercedes still makes superb automobiles - striking in design, sophisticated in engineering, exhilarating in performance. It attracts hugely loyal buyers and its cars retain value better than most.

 

But being a leader means being constantly under attack by those behind you. Along with BMW and Lexus, Mercedes ranks in the top tier of luxury brands.

 

But until it can tame the devilish complexity of its cars into more reliable transportation, its position will remain precarious. And it doesn't help to be in denial about the problems you face - or to attack the messenger who delivers the bad news.

Edited November 20, 2006 by RichardJensen

[mackinaw]

I said this a few weeks ago. The most important and inlfluential car magazine in the U.S.A. is Consumers Reports. Forget C&D, RT, MT or Automobile, when America goes car shopping, they grab a copy of CR.

[syrtran]

I said this a few weeks ago. The most important and inlfluential car magazine in the U.S.A. is Consumers Reports. Forget C&D, RT, MT or Automobile, when America goes car shopping, they grab a copy of CR.

Unfortunately.

 

Too bad the greater mass of new-car buyers don't realized that CR is no better at rating automobiles than the guys hanging out at the local bar. CR's rating is just a popularity contest amongst their mostly-import-owning subscribers. Oh, and the 'Reliability is estimated based on previous models' - i.e. 'wild-ass guesses that are intended to help Toy and Honda and not GM and Ford'.

[pcsario]

What is up with THIS whitewash?

Sounds strangely just like you, Richard.

 

Perhaps you won't have trouble finding a new job after the next cut at Ford NA.

[630land]

But are not all foreign cars supposed to be "par excellance'", according to the average man/woman at the local Starbucks?

[Guest Sixcav]

A little over 10 years ago Mercedes Benz decided to cut back on some of their extensive quality control measures that had for decades ensured that Mercedes delivered some of the best built cars in the world. Why would they do this you ask? $$$$$$$$$ of course. They wanted to increase their profit margin. As a result the Mercedes Benz brand, that once ranked near the top of the JD Powers long term reliability ratings for decades is now much closer to the bottom of the list. The results show through.