Because you’d talk about a haul-ass Mercedes van in that case! 6 ventilated nappa leather captain chairs and a V6 turbodiesel going 130mph :)

Spoken by someone who’s never been in a Viano Avantgarde Grand Edition. You’re missing out my friend...

Absolutely agree with everything you said. As for the cost-use ratio, Mercedes recently said they didn’t realise how much their customers were willing to pay for the best or nothing, so there’s that.

Absolutely, but if I get a car I either lease or buy used. Therefore the comparison :)

They probably just can’t afford to piss off the whole region and lose them as customers by not allowing it. Every 5th car in my university parking lot is a 458.

I’ve once configured an MKZ how I’d like it, and suddenly I was at $60k. I could get a new E250 Bluetec with options for less or a base GL for $63k.

Not sure about Audi but Mercedes is somewhere between 2k - 3k Euro.

*Goes looking at used RS6 Avants and E63 T-Modells*

Eiher pay more, theres a great selection now with Deltas new cabin or don’t fly an American airline. I hardly had the urge to use WiFi on 2 hour commuter flights so I’m assuming we’re talking international here and on that level you have choices like Lufthansa, Emirates, BA, Virgin etc on nearly every route.

It’s a US problem only. Check the german configurator and be amazed at the availability of everything you want with all the options you’d ever want to spec. And only the ones you want.

You still can in Europe. I’m slowly getting the impression that the US is just too ‘lazy’ to take care of that.

Thank you!

You’re saying it’s a US thing after all.

I’m completely aware of the bullshitness of our EU cycle, but based on my experience from driving an S500 and a Range Rover V8 those are the numbers I came up with. Not to forget that things like the traffic light cycle in your city etc play a big role in that.

Well I’d also get what I want not what others pursue me to get :) Personally I have a strong bias towards everything Mercedes, but the American cruisers like the Town Car and Escalade have a place in my heart as well.

Well the bigger wheels, smaller tires and less suspension travel do their own for voiding that offroad capability on the G65. Given that the GL has air suspension, low range and diff locks as well I don’t think they’re too far off, albeit the GL being harder to manoeuvre offroad.

If you don’t mash the throttle at every stop light and avoid stop and go, it will. If you’re light on the gas pedal even a normal S500 will take no more than 10L/100km! All hail low displacement and turbos...

This is ugly? Hell no. Also pretty sure the G65 is thirstier than the 12L 100/km the GL63 needs.

The MKZ is pretty nice and one of my favorite US cars. I’ve heard the complaints about the US C-Classes quite often now, which is sad. The ones built in Germany for Europe and the Middle East are on par with the new S-Class concerning look and feel of the materials.

Designwise yes I absolutely agree, quality no. Went to see the new CTS and Escalade at a dealer over the weekend. All the trim and panels were misaligned, creaking and showed a significant amount of movement. If that’s Cadillacs definition of luxury, no wonder they can’t sell...My $40k A-Class is better built.