@emg77: On ours, which is only a 72 foot track, we had to add a couple booster wires to various places of the track. Plus, it's powered by a G-gauge train transformer..., no way a standard slot car "power slot" would do anything close to that. #mercedeseclass
I would honestly consider a modern E-class wagon for $40k...no fancy electronics, no nav, nice cloth seats, etc. I'm sick of good driveability always coming with the premium of "lots of luxury shit I neither need nor want". Basically, I want Mercedes to break the US mold and actually behave like they do in Europe.
(And frankly, at least around here, there is virtually no "automatic douchebag" package like the one that comes free with BMW or Audi.)
@cchannel: I really like the interior on this W212. My pops has a W211 CDI, and I love the thing to death (I told him to get the thing), but the interior has much to live up to.
I really like the styling of the new C and E classes. They look much more "chiseled/muscular" than prior MB's.
However, I sure would be iffy on all the "assist" gadgets at a "low" price point, on a German car. These guys aren't known for electronics, and having the full boat of them seems like a lot of trips to the dealer.
Amazingly though, those dealer trips and poor reliability don't stop people from buying numerous MB's without thought. My uncle lemoned an E-class 2 years back, replaced it with the same car, and then just leased another. Must be because he was on a first name basis with the whole dealership.
@rlj676-Carbon Footprint Size - Clownshoe: It's really hard to explain, but there's just something about them that isn't present in so many other cars. You genuinely feel special in a Mercedes-Benz. I would have someone stop me to compliment me on my car at least two or three times a week, and the moment someone saw the logo on the key, I had waitresses give me the eye, front-desk clerks give an approving nod, etc etc.
I still want my G8 GXP, but I already miss that kind of approval.
And don't say "wanking in the front seat of a Dodge Nitro," either. Not that you wouldn't do that, but it happened in Edmonton. Were you on a business trip?
@Ash78: Aww, I missed you too. C'mere, big guy, gimme a hug. If you'd join us on Facebook like everyone else on the planet, you'da known that. I was actually on medical leave for almost a month, then had to play catch-up at work.
And no. I wouldn't be caught dead in a Nitro. It's VW or nothing for me right now -- mostly because it's all I've got. (You do know I live just outside of Edmonton, though, right?)
@Ash78: That's no excuse. I only accept about half the friend requests I receive on Facebook. I have a bunch of people from my various high-schools who made my life hell back when I was awkward and ugly who routinely get ignored. Just accept the people you want to hear from. And me.
Besides. You're missing out on the hilarity of engineerd, tenbeers, and our Strolling Player on a daily basis.
I thought all the facebook posts showed here too? Now they're some seperate cool kids (emphasize "kids") club? I don't understand these internets.
As to getting looks and compliments, my old cheby pickup gets more than it's shares of looks, thumbs up, and actually caused a wreck for one looky-loo.....but I will be getting another GM too (I'm probably a bit more captive of a customer than avg though).
@rlj676-Carbon Footprint Size - Clownshoe: No, Jalopnik posts from Facebook still show up here. A bunch of us have also become Facebook friends, because we don't have any friends in the real world.
I was actually trying to refer to the attention from various pretty girls, but I can't really compare that to a truck. I know a number of pretty girls who get squishy pants instantly from a big truck (and not from, say, a Corrado... dammit...). Mercedes are among the only cars I've driven -- along with, say, a Jag -- that get the same sort of universal response.
I know what you mean though, the MB has a certain attraction for sure. Girls will all claim they don't care what you're driving, but they certainly seem happy to hear if you say Mercedes, as opposed to a Cavalier don't they?
Not that girls don't like my truck, but not to the extent dudes do. They're the ones who'll slow down on the hiway for a thumbsup, etc.
The real kicker is that trying to trade this in on a vette, all the dealerships want to take the lift and wheels off and return to stock, and basically destroy all the value in the thing.
@rlj676-Carbon Footprint Size - Clownshoe: Come up to Edmonton, where they're referred to as "rig rockets". Usually driven by inbred-looking fellows with seven fingers and even fewer teeth. So if you show up in one of those, all your teeth, all your fingers, and an ability to dress yourself without looking like you're mentally handicapped... you'll get the ladies.
@Bullitt417: It's okay, I'm just picking on you; if I can't get my G8 GXP, I'll probably end up with a Navigator, since you can buy them for pocket change around here, and that's basically an Expedition without all the ugly. ;)
@rlj676-Carbon Footprint Size - Clownshoe: Once they come down in price, look for me to pick up a Sprinter and fit it with Mercedes parts, so I can tell the ladies I have a Mercedes and offer to pick them up in it. Their heads then asplode.
@skitter: That's something I've wanted to do ever since the release of the Sprinter onto the American market. Which was timely in that it happened just after my first voyage to Europe, upon which I saw many MB Sprinters.
Better styling? Love the review, Wes, but... that's twice now I've had to look at your taste in cars and think, "Is he kidding? Really?"
Mercedes cars are getting uglier and uglier. They don't have a design direction to follow, nor do they really know how they want their cars to look, other than "different from the previous generation". The Bangle Bimmers, while horrendously ugly, at the very least had a theme, a language of design. All Mercedes has right now is a basic platform. Their cars look like they picked pieces willy-nilly and stuck them on wherever they'd fit.
It pains me to say this, too, as I owned one up until recently. Well... I suppose I technically still do...
They did manage to make the E look smaller than in the past. In the photos, at least, it's almost C-class sized in appearance. I too would wait fro the diesel, but my main complaint about MBs in general is the crappy durability of the cars of late. I have several friends with late model Es and S's and they vow to never buy another benz again due to parts failures, high repair costs, and apathetic dealer service.
Of course, they all speak even more poorly about Audi.
11/09/09
11/09/09
I'm surprised that even worked. There would be a huge voltage drop over 1300 feet of track.
:End geeky electrical engineer comment #mercedeseclass
11/10/09
11/09/09
05/08/09
I followed him for a few minutes and tried to get him to make some moves but the looked like no fun so i continued on.
05/08/09
05/08/09
Maybe I could just get an airbag suit, so in case of impact I blow up like the Michelin Man or a puffer fish.
05/08/09
And what do the "sand assist floormats" do -- clean themselves automatically after you've been at the beach?
05/08/09
05/08/09
05/08/09
(And frankly, at least around here, there is virtually no "automatic douchebag" package like the one that comes free with BMW or Audi.)
05/08/09
05/08/09
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05/08/09
05/08/09
05/08/09
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05/08/09
However, I sure would be iffy on all the "assist" gadgets at a "low" price point, on a German car. These guys aren't known for electronics, and having the full boat of them seems like a lot of trips to the dealer.
Amazingly though, those dealer trips and poor reliability don't stop people from buying numerous MB's without thought. My uncle lemoned an E-class 2 years back, replaced it with the same car, and then just leased another. Must be because he was on a first name basis with the whole dealership.
05/08/09
I still want my G8 GXP, but I already miss that kind of approval.
05/08/09
And don't say "wanking in the front seat of a Dodge Nitro," either. Not that you wouldn't do that, but it happened in Edmonton. Were you on a business trip?
05/08/09
And no. I wouldn't be caught dead in a Nitro. It's VW or nothing for me right now -- mostly because it's all I've got. (You do know I live just outside of Edmonton, though, right?)
05/08/09
Facebook? My short answer is I've met far more people I don't ever care to speak to again than the opposite. The latter know how to find me.
If this outsourcing of Jalop to Facebook continues, we're going to have to print "Save the Jalop" t-shirts.
05/08/09
Besides. You're missing out on the hilarity of engineerd, tenbeers, and our Strolling Player on a daily basis.
05/08/09
I thought all the facebook posts showed here too? Now they're some seperate cool kids (emphasize "kids") club? I don't understand these internets.
As to getting looks and compliments, my old cheby pickup gets more than it's shares of looks, thumbs up, and actually caused a wreck for one looky-loo.....but I will be getting another GM too (I'm probably a bit more captive of a customer than avg though).
05/08/09
I was actually trying to refer to the attention from various pretty girls, but I can't really compare that to a truck. I know a number of pretty girls who get squishy pants instantly from a big truck (and not from, say, a Corrado... dammit...). Mercedes are among the only cars I've driven -- along with, say, a Jag -- that get the same sort of universal response.
05/08/09
Please introduce me to said ladies, thank you.
I know what you mean though, the MB has a certain attraction for sure. Girls will all claim they don't care what you're driving, but they certainly seem happy to hear if you say Mercedes, as opposed to a Cavalier don't they?
Not that girls don't like my truck, but not to the extent dudes do. They're the ones who'll slow down on the hiway for a thumbsup, etc.
The real kicker is that trying to trade this in on a vette, all the dealerships want to take the lift and wheels off and return to stock, and basically destroy all the value in the thing.
05/08/09
Again. Corrado? No.
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05/08/09
/I'm doing it wrong, I know, I know...
05/08/09
05/08/09
Mercedes cars are getting uglier and uglier. They don't have a design direction to follow, nor do they really know how they want their cars to look, other than "different from the previous generation". The Bangle Bimmers, while horrendously ugly, at the very least had a theme, a language of design. All Mercedes has right now is a basic platform. Their cars look like they picked pieces willy-nilly and stuck them on wherever they'd fit.
It pains me to say this, too, as I owned one up until recently. Well... I suppose I technically still do...
05/08/09
Of course, they all speak even more poorly about Audi.