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Mercedes-Benz pre-safe sound

mercedesbenzofnatick.com

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Re: Mercedes-Benz pre-safe sound

#41

Post by anyfoo »

nradov wrote: post #10
jedberg wrote: post #5

The Mercedes is known for being more expensive than most, but in most cases, it's worth it, not only for the luxury, but for the extreme attention to detail they put into safety. For example, when you get into one, it will adjust the tension of the seatbelt automatically to be ideal for each passenger. And of course this pink noise. And a ton of other little things that cost extra that most people will never notice.…

Unfortunately they don't devote any attention to longevity or serviceability. But yes the safety features are excellent.

Interesting. Not having looked at any data, I’m now wondering why most taxis in Germany are, and have been for a long time, mostly Mercedes? (Commonly their E class.) Are they just cheaper to buy for that purpose or what’s the reason?

Re: Mercedes-Benz pre-safe sound

#43

Post by twblalock »

trilila wrote: post #7

“Mercedes-Benz is constantly at the forefront of automotive safety technologies” - not really. Rear wheel drive, which is common in mb and bmw cars are a real danger in winter. Volvo claims, and seems to be, a safer and more at the forefront of safe driving choice.

Volvos were RWD for decades.

These days the electronic stability control systems in new cars make it almost irrelevant whether a car is RWD or FWD, unless you are on a racetrack. The cars will usually take control from the driver before serious oversteer becomes a problem.

And if that's not good enough, Mercedes and BMW offer a lot of AWD models.

Re: Mercedes-Benz pre-safe sound

#44

Post by twblalock »

anyfoo wrote: post #41
nradov wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Unfortunately they don't devote any attention to longevity or serviceability. But yes the safety features are excellent.

Interesting. Not having looked at any data, I’m now wondering why most taxis in Germany are, and have been for a long time, mostly Mercedes? (Commonly their E class.) Are they just cheaper to buy for that purpose or what’s the reason?

Taxis get maintained religiously, and taxi companies have no problem replacing worn parts or even entire engines.

There is a big difference in build quality and longevity between modern Mercedes cars and the ones built in the 1970s and 1980s. They used to feel substantially better than other cars. Now they don't really, except for the S class.

Re: Mercedes-Benz pre-safe sound

#47

Post by cr0sh »

anyfoo wrote: post #41
nradov wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Unfortunately they don't devote any attention to longevity or serviceability. But yes the safety features are excellent.

Interesting. Not having looked at any data, I’m now wondering why most taxis in Germany are, and have been for a long time, mostly Mercedes? (Commonly their E class.) Are they just cheaper to buy for that purpose or what’s the reason?

I've heard that German luxury cars (what we consider them here in the USA) are more like what we think of Fords here; so common and normal, considered affordable. Or maybe just not "high end" due to being common? Again, though, only heard that - nothing to back it up.

It also may be that because Mercedes and BMWs are "local brand" vehicles, there are more of them, and more mechanics out there able to service them? Whereas (to them) foreign cars like American vehicles you have to take to special American automobile repair places (like we have European auto repair places here that specialize in those makes/models)?

Again - guesses...

Re: Mercedes-Benz pre-safe sound

#48

Post by anyfoo »

twblalock wrote: post #44
anyfoo wrote: post #41

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Interesting. Not having looked at any data, I’m now wondering why most taxis in Germany are, and have been for a long time, mostly Mercedes? (Commonly their E class.) Are they just cheaper to buy for that purpose or what’s the reason?

Taxis get maintained religiously, and taxi companies have no problem replacing worn parts or even entire engines. There is a big difference in build quality and longevity between modern Mercedes cars and the ones built in the 1970s and 1980s. They used to feel substantially better than other cars. Now they don't really, except for the S class.

That’s a good point. A lot of taxis in Germany are owned by individuals (so while it’s still a business, it’s often a one-person business), but I know they have workshops specifically for taxis, that are probably somewhat specialized on Mercedes. And maintenance packages that factor into the price, which Mercedes likely has if only because of their long tradition as a taxi brand, would play a role as well. Otherwise, I would still expect taxi concession owners to go with the most reliable brand, because any maintenance cost still has to be subtracted from your profit.

Re: Mercedes-Benz pre-safe sound

#49

Post by bookofjoe »

twblalock wrote: post #44
anyfoo wrote: post #41

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Interesting. Not having looked at any data, I’m now wondering why most taxis in Germany are, and have been for a long time, mostly Mercedes? (Commonly their E class.) Are they just cheaper to buy for that purpose or what’s the reason?

Taxis get maintained religiously, and taxi companies have no problem replacing worn parts or even entire engines. There is a big difference in build quality and longevity between modern Mercedes cars and the ones built in the 1970s and 1980s. They used to feel substantially better than other cars. Now they don't really, except for the S class.

My 2010 MB C-class feels very much like my previous car, a 1988 MB 420 SEL which I bought new in 1988 and traded in in 2013 for the C-class.

Re: Mercedes-Benz pre-safe sound

#50

Post by manigandham »

Invictus0 wrote: post #18
jedberg wrote: post #5

The Mercedes is known for being more expensive than most, but in most cases, it's worth it, not only for the luxury, but for the extreme attention to detail they put into safety. For example, when you get into one, it will adjust the tension of the seatbelt automatically to be ideal for each passenger. And of course this pink noise. And a ton of other little things that cost extra that most people will never notice.…

> The Mercedes is known for being more expensive than most, but in most cases, it's worth it, not only for the luxury, but for the extreme attention to detail they put into safety. Citation needed. The little seatbelt tightening thing is cute but probably doesn't increase safety at all, and some cars in the 90s had a feature that would put the whole seatbelt on for you.

> "cute but probably doesn't increase safety at all"

Pre-Safe occupant protection including pretensioning reduced stress to the head and neck by 30-40%: https://media.daimler.com/marsMediaSite/en/instance/ko/The-P...

The comment is about safety, not just luxury, and Mercedes has been on the cutting edge for over a century. You can read about their list of innovations including being the first to have crumple zones, airbags, anti-lock brakes, traction control, and more: https://www.mbusa.com/mercedes/benz/safety

> "and some cars in the 90s had a feature that would put the whole seatbelt on for you"

Are you referring to the belts attached to the A-pillar that would slide up when you sit? Those didn't handle the lap portion and were proven terrible by safety testing and consumer response.

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