[MB190E2.6]

Did you know that:

The SsangYong Chairman is a large sedan made by the SsangYong Motor Company of Korea. It is built on a Mercedes-Benz E-Class platform known as the W124, but styled to resemble a 1980s Mercedes-Benz S-Class.

http://www.drive.com.au/editorial/article.aspx?id=9606&vf=1

http://www.smotor.com/en/showroom/chairman/main.jsp#

 

[ThomasT]

I read somewhere a few years ago, that the Korean Kia used the previous 220 S platform for their luxury model, just reshaping the sheet metal and cabin. That sold for about 40% less than the S. So, to save bucks or pay for prestige... tough call. Maybe MB had a few thousand naked 124 platforms left over when thy went to the new tinny models, and flogged them cheaply to the Koreans.

 

[Kestas]

I've read a writeup on this some time ago. One thing that turned me off was that this car was loaded to the hilt with goodies. To me that means a complicated car that potentially has the same-old problems with electrical glitches and a host of undiagnosable and expensive to repair problems for the DIYer.

 

[Nyahhh]

That's recently come on sale in Australia (hence the 1st article). I've never seen one on the road, and at $57k, I can understand why.

Instead of $57k on a piece of Korean crap (sorry to sound snooty and elitist, but lets call a spade a spade), you can get a mint '95 e320 for approx $20k (I gave you the best w124 they sold here, as there were no v8s). If you want something newer, how about a 2000 e430 for less than that.

If you look at the cars they've compared it to (Holden Statesman/Ford Fairlane), you see that you can get far superior (i.e S class size, decent power, albeit a tad stingy on the features) car for the same price.

It may be successful in Korea, but not in Oz - or at least not unless they slash $20k off it.


Also - I would like to know how they take a sleek classic design, and 'modernise' it into that ungainly thing.

 

[Nyahhh]

Oh - and to justify my last comments on the looks of it, the decent looking car in the second article didn't make it here... just the car in the 1st drive.com.au article.

 

[ThomasT]

Hiya Nyahhh.
Has your MB, been glitch free,
(from new, that is)??

 

[Nyahhh]

ThomasT - 3/19/2006 9:46 PM

Hiya Nyahhh.
Has your MB, been glitch free,
(from new, that is)??

Hey mate,

I don't know many benzes made after the 80s that are glitch free, but generally, my little car hasn't been TOO bad. Aside from the usual service items, theres been a few probs (driveshaft buggered up a while back, random relays dying, window regs, wiring harness, the aircon compressor's just died on me, etc), but nothing too major. OK the aircon shits me! Either way, given the way that I drive (I'm young - turned 20 yesterday - and I flog the car), she's held up pretty well. It's rattle free, despite a passion for rutted country roads, fast corners and smoke. That's a hell of a testament to w124 build quality.

An essentially stock w124 shouldnt have to deal with the crap I give it, but she still manages to deal with it when I'm acting stupid, yet draw the looks of the managers at work, and the chicks at uni.

I love this car. I'd love it even more with a bigger engine, but I guess that's a differnet story...

 

[cnd]

MB190E2.6 - 3/18/2006 11:12 AM

Did you know that:

The SsangYong Chairman is a large sedan made by the SsangYong Motor Company of Korea. It is built on a Mercedes-Benz E-Class platform known as the W124, but styled to resemble a 1980s Mercedes-Benz S-Class.

http://www.drive.com.au/editorial/article.aspx?id=9606&vf=1

http://www.smotor.com/en/showroom/chairman/main.jsp#

Yeah, I knew about the SsangYong Chairman... What a hideous car. It just doesn't look right, imo. Plus, why would you spend that much on a car that has technology and design that was offered on the W124 over 10 years ago? I'd rather buy the original (W124). [8)]

 

[janos_z]

cnd - 3/19/2006 2:18 AM

Yeah, I knew about the SsangYong Chairman... What a hideous car. It just doesn't look right, imo. Plus, why would you spend that much on a car that has technology and design that was offered on the W124 over 10 years ago? I'd rather buy the original (W124). [8)]

does anyone know how reliable the ssangyong is? if it's about as reliable as the w124 was/is, then you could argue that the price premium over a used w124 buys you a brand new w124... it is rather ugly, though.

what i think would be really awesome, though, is if mercedes started a "classic" line and started manufacturing the w123, w124, and w126 again (maybe throw in the w201 and r107 too), maybe with some minor upgrades like standard ABS, airbags, and stability control thrown in. if brand image is an issue, it could leave the three-pointed star off and give the classic line a different name. or someone else could come along, buy the license, and make replica versions. which, you could argue, is what the ssangyong is -- except that it's ugly.