> > Why buy a high grade Mondeo when a Mercedes or BMW
> > > entry level model has more than enough equipment and specification > for
> > > about the same money with a significantly lower depreciation cost? > >
> > One thing is the aquisition cost, something else is the ownership
> > cost. MB has such dismal reliability,
>
> Mercedes reliability is good. Maybe not the best but still very good.
You haven't been keeping up much, have you? Reports within the past year from both Consumer Reports and JD Power (as well as informal ones by Motor Trend and others) reveal that German quality has slipped to or below American levels. YEOWCH! Mercedes is the worst offender, with most of their cars getting black marks (1s and 2s out of 5) at CR. They've slipped below GM, which is on the rise. As is Hyundai. Mercedes has always been overrated, second-rate crap to BMW in every way anyway. Inferior engines, inferior suspensions (ride and handling), inferior steering feel, inferior styling, inferior pricing, inferior resale value. Across the board. And they try to compensate for all this by endowing their lineup with bigger engines. What an American solution. Now that Mercedes can't build their cars to Chevy Cavalier standards, their prestige will surely go down as it deserved to years ago.