Now that Stehr in Graz, Austria are going to continue manufacture of the current body on frame style G, what is to become of the pseudo (unibody) G that was supposedly to come off the line in Alabama as a stretched ML with locking differentials? Is it official that both G's will be avaialable in the US?
Now that Stehr in Graz, Austria are going to continue manufacture of the current body on frame style G, what is to become of the pseudo (unibody) G that was supposedly to come off the line in Alabama as a stretched ML with locking differentials? Is it official that both G's will be avaialable in the US?
Actually the company is MagnaSteyr; and if you go back and read some recent threads, you will find that the vehicle out of Alabama is not going to be called the "G". Yes, both vehicles - THE G-Class and the Alabama GL will be available in the US.
I thought that Mercedes was trying to cut back and simplify the number of models that they are going to produce? It seems that they have more and more models.. The new B-Class, R-Class, GL-Class...
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Chuck "You can't kill em"
'74 240D - 359,000 Miles (sold) • '76 300D - 350,000 Miles (sold)
'84 300CD- 280,000 Miles (sold) • '85 300D - 380,000 Miles (sold)
'87 300D - 275,000+ Miles • '87 300D - 175,000+ Miles (yes I have two)
'98 G320 - 150,000+ Miles (Official Range Rover Recovery Vehicle)
I thought that Mercedes was trying to cut back and simplify the number of models that they are going to produce? It seems that they have more and more models.. The new B-Class, R-Class, GL-Class...
Don't forget the A class.
A bit OT but I couldn't agree more - think back to the 70s and 80s when MB had a handful of models.
There wasn't a lot of sharing of parts between models, quality was high, and they never broke. Now the model line-up is 2-3 times larger, parts are shared widely (not being designed to perform in 1 model perfectly but adapted to many models), complexity has increased (true for EVERY auto company) and the dealers need to know how to fix more and more models. In addition, the model lifespan is much shorter, w/ new editions coming out every few years. There are basically 2 editions (different chassis #s) of every model under warranty right now not to mention all the older models still on the road. More and more buyers are leasing or trading in every few years and don't care if a car is better built. They want the most features, luxury, style that fits their exact requirments for the lowest cost. The Mercedes name isn't enough, especially since Lexus, Acura, and Infiniti started competing directly w/ the Germans at a lower price.
This is a recent trend - there has to be a car for every single niche and whim somebody might want and it has to look "new". If Mercedes didn't do the same they would loose sales. The GL is a perfect example. The ML doesn't have a 3rd row of seats, they were loosing sales to SUVs that have that 3rd row.
This doesn't excuse MB from the quality issues - just explains why it is so much harder to maintain the same level. I think MB is on the right track to improve the brand. BUT - it will never be like it used to be, times have changed.
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