11th Jun 2022, 01:13

This is the reason why I have no aspiration to own a modern Mercedes - of any sort. I grew up at a time when Mercedes was hallowed, if you could afford it, just buy it blindly - any of them, even the cheapest Mercedes 200 - and you will feel exactly why it was expensive. It was like getting a Rolex watch. You really got what you paid for - they were superbly engineered cars, and had the durability and dependability to match. You can almost assume that even the bolt holding the front license plate must have been made of some advanced metal alloy which probably resists environmental, chemical, and mechanical attack you can dream of (and it probably was). Durability, reliability and dependability came with the brand. Not anymore. They are merely complicated - anyone can think of any gimmick activated by computers and software, but the sensors and seals are not made "legendary Mercedes." Nope. Mercedes made their name by doing the simplest things very, very well. Aspiration - well, in my eyes the modern ones are also ugly to boot. The car maker that has taken up the mantel that Mercedes used to have, is really Lexus - despite complexity, still manages to be pretty reliable and dependable. Now, if they decided to poach the design teams of Hyundai and Kia (all European, ex-VW/Audi/BMW, etc), Mercedes might as well start just building dishwashers.