German Car Forum

There's at least three R-Class' at my school already and I've seen a fair few on the roads. Very popular here, as far as MPV's go.

I've only seen one R-class over here, and it was a Taxi.

That was going to be my next question, how is the R selling in Europe? Does anyone have any numbers?

M

20,000 plus in the US alone. That is actually very good. And the intro of the diesel will only enhance this figure. The problem with the R is it was priced too high to begin with. You could buy a base model for $48k or a loaded 500 for $73k. That is too big a spread. MB is re-launching the vehilce for 07 and making the packaging much simpler. The numbers is July will be down because inventories are low.

MB needs to offer a 2nd row bench option and a tow package.

Though at the rate they're going they'll be lucky to hit 20K I think. Sales have gone down every month so far this year.

I wish someone could tell me why the R and M don't get either of the new V8s?????

M

They won't hit 20k on a 9.5 month year.

This is a mystery. My guess is that they're probably waiting to see what the new X5 brings to the table. But if they are waiting to see how much hp the new X5 is getting, I can't see the ML/R550's getting more than the 382 hp the rest of the 550's are getting, so what are they waiting for?

.

????

M

Yes this is one of the few remaining engine mysteries at MB right now. The 6.3 stuff has been cleared up for the most part, but this I really have no idea about. I was thinking that they'll put the new V8 in the M/R for 2008 if they add direct-injection to make a "clean" or "economy" statement with the M/R, but then that leaves the GL hanging because it already has the new V8s, both of them depending on the market. So I'm at a complete loss here. A R550 and ML550 would be great IMO, but then the ML would have more power than GL450 in the U.S. market since we don't get a GL550. Doesn't make sense.

M

Well, I know they've sold 55 of them here during the first six months of 2006. Which is not a lot by any standards.

Sales of the R class can't be very good, I've only seen one R class on the roads ever, and that was only a few days ago!

I guess MB thinks this endorsement will drum up some sales and lift the image of the R-Class:



Whether it be for a rock band, a designer or a basketball trainer, the unique vehicle concept that underpins the Mercedes-Benz R-Class is designed to meet the particular needs of modern people in the modern world. The touring SUV provides an exemplary level of ride comfort for the driver, front passenger and rear passengers. This is why the Rolling Stones used the R Class as a shuttle on last year's "A Bigger Bang" tour in the US. Designer and entrepreneuse Jette Joop also plumped for the R-Class because "most of all, I am enthralled by the vehicle's extravagant, exciting design, its high level of practicality and its spaciousness

http://www.worldcarfans.com/news.cfm...-of-jette-joop

M

I'll give it to them though in one respect, the R does look pretty good in these pics, the interior looks very inviting here:



M

BTW, MBUSA has cut the sticker price by 5K on the 2007 R350 and R500, and the R63 is a "special order" item only, i.e. we know we can't sell that many so we'll only build one if you ask. We'll see if this helps salesin the new few months. They do seem to be selling better in the last month or so.

M

Lol the girl look better than the car

Absolutely...

She asks, do I look better now?

M

NO!!!!!

What do you think, Marcus?

Well truthfully I like the R-Class. In certain colors it is really good looking when it has the right size wheel. MBUSA specifies the uglies and smallest standard wheels for the thing and it make it look worse. A big vehicle needs big wheels, MBUSA needs to get this!

M

MB is not offering in factory wheel upgrades to the R320 cdi. What a joke. You can only get the stock 17" wheels. Get with it MB.

Some of the early prospective E320 Bluetec owners are complaining about the 333 sport package not being available on their cars too. The most popular theory for this is that MB would have to run seperate test through the EPA for the larger wheels/tires on the diesels and that larger wheels/tires would ruin the EPA MPG estimates. I can buy that, but they should still offer it for those who want to sacrafice a few MPG for a better looking/handling E/R/ML/GL diesel, especially with the E which looks so good with a FREE sports package! If there are no takers or not enough then withdraw the option for 2008, that is how I'd do it.

M

UK market report:

Mercedes R-Class problems


Tue 3 Oct, 2006, 16:21

If you are not sure exactly what the estate car/off-roader/MPV crossover R-Class is for, you are in good company.
Mercedes Chief Executive, Dieter Zetsche, has said the company needs time to "educate the market" about the new car. The company line is that once people understand it, they will buy it. Maybe - but customers are usually pretty clear about what type of car they want to buy and if they don't like the R-Class, it is unlikely they are too dim to understand it. The usual model is that the seller tries to understand the buyer - not the other way around.
In the UK, the R-Class has sold less than 500 units so far this year - once you take out demonstrator vehicles, that does not leave many actual buyers. Apparently buyers in other big markets are equally lukewarm.

Source: reuters.co.uk

The R-Class has to be one of the biggest mistakes for benz in two weeks!

BMW is looking to enter the market as well with this type of vehicle and also stated that the consumers and market need time to accept such a vehicle. I am not saying that as an excuse, because sales have been much lower than expected.

Unless you haven't read previous treads on this matter, you should know that the upcoming RFK V5 will be actually a SportBack type of car, only bigger and with a higher ground stance.