The last Mercedes Benz S Class that had real quality was the 1991 models before the 140 series which were plagued with defects. The 1991 and earlier ones of the same series were well built with electronics that were not so complicated. Emphasis then changed and I really have no desire for the newer Mercedes . You dare not keep one past the warranty. Al
Agree with your point about their electronics and personally like the style BUT these are gas hogs and new cars offer dual stage airbags, side and side curtain airbags etc. New cars are bought for good reasons.
Now if we could get all the new stuff in a c. 1990 S class body.....
The consumers demand and competitors force Mercedes-Benz to be one or few steps ahead in the technology. We ought to credit Mercedes-Benz for its technological innovations that are found in more and more competitors's vehicles as well as taking risk in introducing the new electronic technology. A side turn signal repeaters integrating into the external rear-view mirrors, the signature automatic gearbox selector template, electronic ABS (yes, the mechanical ABS existed in the late
1960s on certain American cars), diesel motor for passenger car (260D), fuel injection for passenger car (300SL), dual-pane side windows (BMW beat to Mercedes-Benz by a few weeks by introducing that feature at the car show), ad infinitim.
Sometimes taking risk bode ill-feeling amongst the consumers, yet Mercedes-Benz, unlike GM and Ford, is addressing them and recalling the vehicles to sort the issues.
Since the term last means up to and including the current point in time I would say that the last quality S class is the one coming off the assembly line.
We may argue about that but to me it implies that the quality has gone down since then, it being 'unreal'.
Not so, young man?
I may not agree with the OP's opinion (or even disagree) as I don't have enough detail about the S-Class, but I understand his point.... blah...blahhh...blahhhh.
DAS
For direct contact replace nospam with schmetterling
Agree with your point about their electronics and personally like the style BUT these are gas hogs ___________________________________________ My 1986 560 SEL with 140K miles get 20 mpg as long as you stay under 75 mph. That is with regular unleaded gas purchased in the state of Washington. The same car only gets only 17 mpg using gas purchased in California as the CA gas has an entirely different blend.
I don't consider a 1986 model luxury car that gets 20 mpg on regular gas to be a gas hog.
As owner of a 1991 560 SEL since new and a 1995 S 320 since new I can tell you there is a difference in quality of parts with the 1991 being superior. The plastic supports for the windows, the evaporator core, the wiring harness were all prone to failure in the 1992-1995 S class the last the being very costly . The core was in warranty (thank goodness ). Even the center A/C vents failed on the 1995 ( cost to replace about $350 ) thank goodness for super glue. Even the feel of the switches is Mercedes in character i n the 1991. New Orleans has had a large number of Mercedes for many years before the deluge of "cheap" models. You rarely see a 140 series anymore - guess why. I really dare to think of the cost of maintaining a current S class out of warranty. The 1992 S 320 gets fantastic gas mileage (30 mpg) on the road at about 70. That six cylinder is probably mercedes best engine and I have always thought it probably costs more to build than the V8. Al
560 engines were NOT designed to run on regular!!!! All say 'premium gas only' on the gas gauge. They do not have knock sensors. Pinging will severely damage these engines.
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