Weird
 

So, I was driving down Veterans Parkway on the way to the gym last night. This is the main road in town, and is six lanes. I was in the center lane in the F150. I looked to my left and saw that I was right next to a silver SL 65 AMG...not a typical car for my area. Then I look to my right...a silver 997 C2S. I know of every single Porsche in town, so this is either a new one or an out-of-town visitor. Kinda had a 'Beverly Hills' moment there...except that it was 52º out.

Re: Weird
 

Only a guess.. if the drivers were over 50yrs old it may be the boomers who are finally cashing in their fantasies that they had while growing up, getting a job, and raising a family. Also I read the biggest customers of Harleys are men and women over 50.

Yes, both were clearly over 50...but that's always the case around here with nice cars.

Mmmm SL65AMG. That's a $179,000.00 car! :D

I park next to one sometimes at work.

Yesterday, when I was leaving work, there was an SLR McLaren parked nearby. Makes the SL65 AMG seem slow, even when it's standing still!

Yep - I work for MBUSA home office. :D

-Z.

So what's the deal with the "electronic" brakes? I was thinking about an E 55 AMG, but I'm sort of worried about an electronic brake failure with 469 HP.

And why is the navigation system so primitive? Why doesn't Mercedes contract this out to Garmin? Hell, Lexus has a better nav system.

And another thing!... ;)

Does anyone at MB take issue with your driving a car made "across town"? :p

The electronic brakes take a bit of getting used to - they are far more sensitive than the typical hydralic units - you really need a light touch to be smooth with them. That said, there is a hydralic backup in the system, in case the electronics fail, so you shouldn't have to worry about brake failure.

The COMMAND system (Nav system in MB-speak) is slowing being 'redesigned.' As a matter of fact, the new S-class has a completely new design that kinda looks like the BMW I-drive system, but from what I've been told, it is far superior to use. It's more like a roller mouse type interface. I assume they will be making this the standard COMMAND / NAV interface in the other models. I have seen it, but have not yet used it - they don't give out prototype S-classes to us lowly IT guys! :eek:

When my boss first saw my Porsche, his exact words were, "Hey, at least it's German." It is the Lexus owner employees that get the hardest time here.

-Z-man.

I had an interesting sighting yesterday as well. On my way home I look over and see a brand new Maybach. Too bad is was stuck on the side of the road. I stopped to help but the driver was nowhere to be found.

My wife has a ML 350 and she is not a happy camper. She had a Lexus ES300 before that.

Her Gripe...Customer service at the MBZ dealer pales in comparison to Lexus and the build quality of the ML is lackluster (she actually said really sucks on both counts). She is telling everyone she knows to never buy a MBZ and that she will go back to Lexus for her next car.

Too bad, i do not like any of the new Lexus. Hope the MB dealer makes her happy soon or i will have to deal with a GX in my garage.

alf

This is very sad, but true on both cases.

Is your wife's ML350 the new model or the older body style one?

The new S class launch is being delayed a month or two in order to ensure all quality issues have been addressed.

As for the dealership's attitude - the best thing I can suggest is that you fill in the 'customer response' card thingy and send it into the home office. Believe it or not, we do look at those quite closely.

-Z-man.