[climkt]

Mercs reign supreme in Asia. Every aspiring individual used to aspire to own and drive one as the 3 pointed star was and still is a coveted motoring item.
My first car was a merc 190 manual, loved the quality, image but everything changed after geting my hands on the E36 325i. since then, beemers are top on my list, prefer the sporty, more involving drive,' less aged ' image and that glorious, sweet manual BMW shifter. any other MB converts out htere?

[cntlaw]

It seems your Merc experience were those from our grandfathers times? At least , test drive the current C280/C350 and see the difference.

[CSL]

True, i've driven the SLK350 and i must say it is quite nimble. Mercs were always a love of mine.

[climkt]

i think i am biased against merc AMGs because the top cars are always autos and i am not a fan of autos even if it is powerful auto car. recent merc shapes just don't seem to cut it for me.

[victri]

I used to have a 1992 500E and then a 1997 SL500. Since then, I haven't wanted to get another Benz. The current car designs just look plain ugly to me (except maybe for new SL and SLR). It just doesn't appeal to me anymore. Plus their engines are a joke. True you get tons of torque and some horsepower, but that's only at the expense of a heavy large displacement engine weighing the front of the car down. 5.0L for only 300+hp? Not very competitive in today's standards. Great for neck-wrenching straight line acceleration, but not very fun in the corners.

I do still keep an eye out for their new cars in the hope that they'll come up with something great again.

[rikuF10]

My first MB was a 1991 190E 2.6 auto. In those days, there is not much modification cannot be done to it. Maybe because I was living in Canada at that time. Still remember ordering a re-built engine from AMG in Germany which took almost 6 months(at that time AMG was not a division of MB yet). In terms of sport driving, it didn't quite satisfied me....especially the auto gear box.

Also owned a used 190E 2.3E-16V for fun.....kept it for about a year

The E90 is my first Bimmer. I don't know if it is just me or it is happening to other E90 owner as well. My car has lots of rattling noise since day one I took the car. I remembered my old MBs....there is no rattling noise even after few years of ownership and heavy modification done to it.

[shadowcoder]

I have a 1963 MB 190 fintail from my dad and a 1981 MB 200D with
1.6 million miles on it (yes 1.6 million miles - it's on its fourth engine).

If I had to compare those to my E36 where I had to change camshaft,
valve springs, rockers arms and ecu after only 70K miles and my 1 month
old E90 330i where the dash rattles on the left hand side, I would say
I love all the cars and that BMW corners like no other car, but the MB is
always one place above for me overall. Of course this is my opinion.

Someone said in one of the posts above that MB engines are a joke. To
that I have to say that on average, the reliability of MB engines is beyond
dispute. Ever wondered why a very large number of cabs in Europe are
MBs? As far as the comment of "you get tons of torque and some
horsepower, but that's only at the expense of a heavy large displacement
engine weighing the front of the car down" well, try finding a C32 AMG and
take it for a spin. The lets talk...see if you've changed your mind.

Surely people don't think that if MB, a company that has done so much in
the industry, wanted their engines to give more horsepower they couldn't
do it...

The philosophy, appeal and target buying groups for MB and BMW are
different. There are many cases where you can not do a 1 to 1 comparison
between the two and their cars. But as I said, my opinion is that overall MB
is one place above BMW. This doesn't mean I think less of BMW or I don't
like the two I have - I love them.

[cntlaw]

I bought brand new a fully loaded facelift E320 W210 in 2001. In 2004, I traded the E320 with a brand new C55 AMG facelift W203. A decent Benz ownership experience is something I always treasure. My next Merc will either be a 2007 S350 fully loaded with spaceshuttle technolgy and luxury including Dual Color TV LCD monitors, 4 Massage seats, Dolby 5.1 Surround Sound and personalized PASSION leather; or a monster 481hp V8 powered 2008 new generation CLK63 Coupe Convertible.
Life is short, drive the best Merc you possibly can.

[jz520]

..owned an ML and a C350...have to go to my dealership every week for all kinds of problems...i promise myself....will never own an MB again.....

[victri]

One of my dream cars is still the 1971 280SL convertible. I once saw a beautiful silver/blk/blk and I was so tempted to chase it down and make the owner an offer. I promised myself I'd get me one of those someday, and I'd cruise around with my then senile dog. :rocks:

[ToddPhilly]

I had a 2001 SLK, and then a 2003 E-class. Both were great cars. If I were in the market for a sedan, I probalby wouldn't look anywhere else. For sport coupes however, I just don't think MB has a car that will please me. For that I'll stick to BMW or Porsche.

[cntlaw]

Just read this from Mercedes Enthusiast, 35 custom designed SLK55 for the AMG Ultimate Experience Asia AMG event has been launched. The highlight is its unpainted carbon fibre hardtop and the very sexy 19" AMG Multi Spoke Forged rims! The transmission (especially the steering wheels gearshift buttons) has been redesigned and now they offer one extra manual mode especially for track.
These cars are not for sale but have a high possibility AMG will launch a similar concept SLK55 as limited edition.

[RD Sport]

I am a MB driver too!

In terms of driving pleasure. of coz bimmer rules but MB won in comfort department.

Also, the quality of MB cars are going downhill. Nowadays MBs are quite problematic........ Maybe they need to be ahead and use so many electronics etc.....

[mapsbmw]

Originally Posted by ml2x5

..owned an ML and a C350...have to go to my dealership every week for all kinds of problems...i promise myself....will never own an MB again.....

My parents each have one (2001 ML and a 2005 E)....the ML loves the shop and must keep telling the E how wonderful it is because it too has been going there quite often.

I like driving both cars....but only temporarily....both are automatics and I really miss my manual transmission.

[ALPINE6SPD]

Originally Posted by cntlaw

Just read this from Mercedes Enthusiast, 35 custom designed SLK55 for the AMG Ultimate Experience Asia AMG event has been launched. The highlight is its unpainted carbon fibre hardtop and the very sexy 19" AMG Multi Spoke Forged rims! The transmission (especially the steering wheels gearshift buttons) has been redesigned and now they offer one extra manual mode especially for track.
These cars are not for sale but have a high possibility AMG will launch a similar concept SLK55 as limited edition.

Sounds cool. You have pics?

[LEDZEP]

I had a C230 Coupe and almost bought a C class sedan before the E90 caught my eye. I won't say I'll never go back... MB makes a nice machine. But I am quite happy with the BMW 3 Series thus far.

[Oz]

My first car was a 1988 300E and it had almost 200k miles when I got rid of it. I loved that car and didn't really have major problems. I haven't considered a MB this time around because I feel in love with the new 3 but you never what would happen in the future..

[Frank_NJ]

The car was a lemon and the first and last MB for me!!!

[stressdoc]

Shared a '56 190sl with two of my brothers that our dad gave up for a VW camper bus. The dif btw that and my 1602 was significant, but the MB was 12 years older. Still have fond memories of the 190, it was the only convertible I've had. There is nothing in the MB range that I would buy now.

[06E90Rostik]

Since BMW is my first car, I never driven MB, but I like new SUV they got

[Peanuthead]

I drove a string of different BMW's, including a 318i, 528i, 535i and 328Ci. I now drive a 2003 C32 AMG.
I have a 2007 335i coupe on order, but I am agonizing over the decision. The 335i is an impressive car, but there is just something about an AMG. Now if the E92 M3 were available now, it may be a different story.
I'm going to test drive an E55 and SLK55 this weekend.
Maybe this will help with my decision.

[chonko]

Originally Posted by shadowcoder

I have a 1963 MB 190 fintail from my dad and a 1981 MB 200D with
1.6 million miles on it (yes 1.6 million miles - it's on its fourth engine).

If I had to compare those to my E36 where I had to change camshaft,
valve springs, rockers arms and ecu after only 70K miles and my 1 month
old E90 330i where the dash rattles on the left hand side, I would say
I love all the cars and that BMW corners like no other car, but the MB is
always one place above for me overall. Of course this is my opinion.

Someone said in one of the posts above that MB engines are a joke. To
that I have to say that on average, the reliability of MB engines is beyond
dispute. Ever wondered why a very large number of cabs in Europe are
MBs? As far as the comment of "you get tons of torque and some
horsepower, but that's only at the expense of a heavy large displacement
engine weighing the front of the car down" well, try finding a C32 AMG and
take it for a spin. The lets talk...see if you've changed your mind.

Surely people don't think that if MB, a company that has done so much in
the industry, wanted their engines to give more horsepower they couldn't
do it...

The philosophy, appeal and target buying groups for MB and BMW are
different. There are many cases where you can not do a 1 to 1 comparison
between the two and their cars. But as I said, my opinion is that overall MB
is one place above BMW. This doesn't mean I think less of BMW or I don't
like the two I have - I love them.

I have to agree with you. The target customers of MB & BMW are different, so is the design philosphy of both companies. MB focus on Luxury built around powerful engines that are durable while BMW focuses on Performance engines and Chasis, and then adds a touch of luxury to it. Due to the differences in the company philosophies, they have both been successful at what they do. A MB will not drive like a BMW and vice versa. A BMW will not have the luxuriousness of a MB.