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350se vs Diplomat V8 vs 733i vs XJ 4.2

Started by hokman, 23 January 2006, 08:21 AM


oscar

Good find Hokman,

Got no idea what conclusion the article comes to, but my one sightedness, bias and very loose translation has the 350 winning hands down. ;D

Seriously though I'd love to see the article in english, looks like an interesting comparison. 
1973 350SE, my first & fave

hokman

Quote from: mb350 on 25 January 2006, 05:34 AM
Good find Hokman,

Got no idea what conclusion the article comes to, but my one sightedness, bias and very loose translation has the 350 winning hands down. ;D

Seriously though I'd love to see the article in english, looks like an interesting comparison. 

Yes the 350se didn't let us down and got top scores for 1.exterior/interior, 2. Engine, 3. comfort all the areas.

But I was surprised.  IF you look at Opel today, would you ever imagined it would make a car to compete with Mercedes S-class? Totally unbelievable.  And it could compete in some ways.

Denis

Hi hokman

That "Opel" is little more than an american GM car with a Chevrolet "327" engine : big old torquy iron pushrod POS.

It's a form of rebadging, not a real Eurocar

Regards


Denis

Paris, France

oscar

Actually I thought I was looking in a mirror. :o
1973 350SE, my first & fave

editjunk

Damn, after looking at the photos I have no option but to search for a Diplomat - that guy looks exactly like me: All style!

OzBenzHead

Quote from: Big Richard on 31 January 2006, 08:12 AM- if your toy has breasts or wheels, its going to cost you money -

I know where I'd put my money for a reliable return (and a surer ride)!   ;D

(Says the permanent divorc?.)
[img width=340 height=138][url="http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a215/OzBenzHead/10%20M-B%20Miscellany/OBH_LOGO-2a-1.png"]http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a215/OzBenzHead/10%20M-B%20Miscellany/OBH_LOGO-2a-1.png[/url][/img]

OzBenzHead

 ;D ;D ;D

Perhaps that secretary has since learned what "68 + an IOU" is!

Okay - I'll go wash my mouth with soap now.
[img width=340 height=138][url="http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a215/OzBenzHead/10%20M-B%20Miscellany/OBH_LOGO-2a-1.png"]http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a215/OzBenzHead/10%20M-B%20Miscellany/OBH_LOGO-2a-1.png[/url][/img]

John Hubertz

Frankly, I'm amazed at the ranking superiority of our Marque.  The Jaguar XJ6 and BMW are well known, and to my experience top-line Opels are nothing to sneeze at.

The recent small Cadillac Catera is a European Opel design.  If you want to see value for the money, take a look at this car:  http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Fl-1-OWNR-LTHR-TRACTION-59k-MILES-L-K_W0QQitemZ4608972239QQcategoryZ6145QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

That is every bit the car an average 1999 C or E class is....  and no WAY you can ignore the price/value ratio!  Incredible!

John
John Hubertz
"When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro."
(Hunter S. Thompson) 

1977 450SEL (Max Headroom)
[img width=68 height=73][url="http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f248/fullhappyfish/max.jpg"]http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f248/fullhappyfish/max.jpg[/url][/img]

OzBenzHead

Quote from: John Hubertz on 07 February 2006, 11:08 PMCadillac Catera ... That is every bit the car an average 1999 C or E class is....   

John: You can't be serious! That's a Holden Commodore (at least bodily; the Commodore has 3.8 litres); the Commodore is the standard Oz "family" hack (it's, Opel-based, built in Oz). Maybe the mini-Caddy has nicer leather and a little wood trim, but that's not what makes for a sound car. There is so much more to a good car than meets the eye.

There can be no reasonable comparison at the engineering level of that and any Benz. Hit something substantial, at speed, or roll the thing, and see if the occupants can open the doors and walk away; even the A-Class does well on that score (and, for that matter, the minuscule Smart! http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=6605730767077503480&q=smart+crash).

"Value for money" rather diminishes at the hospital and funeral parlour.

And as for longevity ...

I drove, for two years, a company car: it was an Opel-built (fully imported to Oz) Holden Vectra (a.k.a. Opel Vectra).  It was noticeably better assembled that the later, locally assembled Vectras, but when it came to longevity and serviceability, it was extremely disappointing.  At 70,000 km it needed new front brake rotors; according to the dealership's service centre, that was quite normal and "expected". The rotors cost considerably more than a set for my Benzes.  My twice-as-heavy Benzes go through rotors every 200,000 km.  In a carpark, some idiot banged the Vectra's driver door - at very low speed, leaving a little panel damage but removing no paint; the door could not be opened and had to be replaced in toto; the B-post also needed straightening.  I'm glad nothing hit it whilst I was driving; the integrity of the (supposedly strengthened) cabin was highly suspect after seeing what that small ding did to it.  After 170,000 km the Vectra was totally clapped out, gutless, and rattling; its resale value was bugger-all.

No, sorry; the only thing I can see that Caddy having in common with a Benz is four wheels.
[img width=340 height=138][url="http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a215/OzBenzHead/10%20M-B%20Miscellany/OBH_LOGO-2a-1.png"]http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a215/OzBenzHead/10%20M-B%20Miscellany/OBH_LOGO-2a-1.png[/url][/img]

John Hubertz

I could be wrong about the relative merits of the Opel....  but I'm very concerned about reliability issues with all late-model Mercedes due to gadget failures that render seats, climate control or other electronically controlled systems inoperable.

I admit I simply distrust newer Mercedes... and frankly I'm not a safety person - I love driving my Uncle's 64 Buick and it was not equipped with safety belts, and neither he nor I have any interest in retrofitting them.  Call us fools, I suppose.

A sadder truth about all that is the fact a local family died in a wreck of a Duesenberg a couple of months ago.  They were thrown from the wreckage in the accident.  I agree entirely that the body construction of a Mercedes is superior and that for some people, it is an important part of their purchase decisions.
John Hubertz
"When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro."
(Hunter S. Thompson) 

1977 450SEL (Max Headroom)
[img width=68 height=73][url="http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f248/fullhappyfish/max.jpg"]http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f248/fullhappyfish/max.jpg[/url][/img]

OzBenzHead

Quote from: John Hubertz on 08 February 2006, 12:29 AM
I could be wrong about the relative merits of the Opel....  but I'm very concerned about reliability issues with all late-model Mercedes due to gadget failures that render seats, climate control or other electronically controlled systems inoperable.

John: I must agree with you there; the last decade's production of Benzes has been disappointing. I'm sure it's related to the accelerated development period. During the (now over!) reign of former top Director Jurgen Schrempp, the development of new models was reduced from over five years to just 33 months. Even D-C has publicly admitted that it has major reliability issues - particularly with fancy electronics.
[img width=340 height=138][url="http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a215/OzBenzHead/10%20M-B%20Miscellany/OBH_LOGO-2a-1.png"]http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a215/OzBenzHead/10%20M-B%20Miscellany/OBH_LOGO-2a-1.png[/url][/img]

Denis

Hello gentlemen  ;D

In recent years, D-C has made several bad moves :

1 - Intro of cheaper models (not the Smart) downgrading the marque in general.
2 - Dilapidation (fany word meaning destroying) of a century of good reputation (a major feat fostered by Jurgen Schrempp, mister margins)
3 - Kicking out the Mercedes-Benz marque from the top position in world class cars by introducing a more "upper-class" car (with a very limited market)
4 - Hot-rodding every model (? la AMG) to get part of the "tuning" market with the effect of downgrading the base configurations of most models.
5 - Follower instead of leader styling
6 - Gadgetizing the cars to the point of unreliability (cheapie electronics)

No wonder an average marque such as Audi has had it so good in recent years, especially with the help of the goofy BMW Bangle designs.

In 2006, if a new car fairy appeared to me, I might well take a walk to a Jaguar stealership....

Denis

Paris, France


OzBenzHead

Quote from: Denis on 08 February 2006, 03:13 AM3 - Kicking out the Mercedes-Benz marque from the top position in world class cars by introducing a more "upper-class" car (with a very limited market) 

Not to mention the Maybach's utterly vulgar interior!  Surely no-one with "old money" taste would buy one; only the taste-challenged nouveau riche would go there.

I'll happily stick with my Bracq-mobiles (and one Bruno S).
[img width=340 height=138][url="http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a215/OzBenzHead/10%20M-B%20Miscellany/OBH_LOGO-2a-1.png"]http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a215/OzBenzHead/10%20M-B%20Miscellany/OBH_LOGO-2a-1.png[/url][/img]

oscar

Well the answers obvious to me.  REMAKE :)

MB should go back to perhaps a period after the roundies and do it all again. 

We've seen Mini's & Beetles rediscovered with degrees of resemblance of the originals.  Whilst not a remake, the PT Cruiser does well with its retro styling.

Imagine a new 116 or 108 remake?  I can if I think hard enough.  And what about Gullwings.  I can't believe they haven't remade gullwings.  Can you imagine how well an originally styled 300sl would sell.  Who would get upset? No one.  Collectors would collect another,  and the many who could afford it but weren't around to buy the first version would buy this one to see what all the fuss was all about.  Prices of originals wouldn't plummet and if they did, who cares.  I know the only way is up for my benz.

It wouldn't be the first time for MB, I read they did a remake between world wars because of the popularity of an earlier model.  Can't remember details, let us know if you do.
1973 350SE, my first & fave