E-Class (W212/S212/C207/A207) W212 a rip-off of the W126??

[K-A]

I posted this in another Thread when I was bored, figured you guys might get a kick outta it:

Perusing around the Web for pics of the great W126, my theory of the W212 being.... not an evolution of the W124, so much is it is of the W126 (namely the character of the W126), became more apparent. Hey, if you're gonna copy and modernize a car, what better than one you have in your own repertoire, and one that is perhaps the quintessentially most perfect and legendary Sedan ever made? Taking it even further than styling; interior ambiance, and the granite carved drive to degrees as well.

Eh?

A couple of random cool pics:

 

[Deleted member 1071]

In terms of assembly quality, technical innovation, safety features and sheer unadultrated drop-dead elegance, the W126 remains unsurpassed. Many ascertain the W126 was not only the best S-Class to date, but the best Mercedes-Benz bar none. This car enjoyed an 11 year model cycle and never appeared to lose its' appeal. That speaks volumes.

 

[Sovereign]

Ah! w126...the car and the star. I completely agree that it is the best mass produced sedan ever made. The only sedan that excites me more, and considerably more, is the w100 Benz 600 short wheel base. But that was a very special car and wasn't a mass produced model.

In the beginning the new E class (w212) did not excite me at all. I had the same awkward feeling about the wheel arch and could not make myself like the rear end treatment. The lights im my opinion are too small and I wish these horizontal lights have those distinguish and traditional Mercedes rear lights "spine" treatment as in w126. But then I saw a dark blue sports model and yes the car gave me that exciterment only a traditonal Mercedes can. I do not like the late 90s and early 2000 shapes of Mercedes, they were too soft. Small grilles do not match tradtional Mercedes image. The new cars are welcome return to the core brand value. I am hoping that they would be as sturdy as the classic Mercedes of w126 and previous era.

 

[Human]

In terms of assembly quality, technical innovation, safety features and sheer unadultrated drop-dead elegance, the W126 remains unsurpassed. Many ascertain the W126 was not only the best S-Class to date, but the best Mercedes-Benz bar none. This car enjoyed an 11 year model cycle and never appeared to lose its' appeal. That speaks volumes.

101% Perfect description of the W126

RESPECT!

 

[K-A]

Ah! w126...the car and the star. I completely agree that it is the best mass produced sedan ever made. The only sedan that excites me more, and considerably more, is the w100 Benz 600 short wheel base. But that was a very special car and wasn't a mass produced model.

In the beginning the new E class (w212) did not excite me at all. I had the same awkward feeling about the wheel arch and could not make myself like the rear end treatment. The lights im my opinion are too small and I wish these horizontal lights have those distinguish and traditional Mercedes rear lights "spine" treatment as in w126. But then I saw a dark blue sports model and yes the car gave me that exciterment only a traditonal Mercedes can. I do not like the late 90s and early 2000 shapes of Mercedes, they were too soft. Small grilles do not match tradtional Mercedes image. The new cars are welcome return to the core brand value. I am hoping that they would be as sturdy as the classic Mercedes of w126 and previous era.

Well said!

The W212 took a while on me too, but all it took was that *one*, and BAMN, as much as I detested starting to see it as that true "Mercedes" I was longing for to return (I owned a W211, and certainly would have liked to save some cash by holding onto it ), it became just that, and like a ton of bricks, the adoration hit me.

The W126 is such a legend, I don't think there are many cars out there that can command such respect. The fact that the W212 reminds me so staunchly of one (in a very modernized, and progressive form of course), just makes the ownership experience that much better for me.

 

[Deleted member 1071]

When the W126 S-Class was introduced to the public in the fall of 1979, Mercedes-Benz found itself in a far different marketing situation than it finds itself today. The W126 represented the absolute pinnacle in its' mass-produced luxury market segment. BMWs' E23 7 series was considered a somewhat more sporting alternative to the W126, although it sacrificed some of the athleticism offered in its' E3 (2500/2800/3.0Si) predecessor in exchange for a bit more heft and luxury. But in terms of unit sales, it could never really match those of the W126. BMW position in this market segment improved dramatically in the fall of 1986 with the introduction of the E32 7 series. And since then, BMW has been a more than formidable player in the luxury sedan segment, often outselling M-Bs' offerings. When the W126 was introduced, Audi was just beginning to dip its' toes into the waters of the luxo-sedan market with its' C2 Audi 100-based 200/200T. That car, along with its' C3 100 based 200T/200T 20V/V8 were never really in a position to offer an intimidating market presence and assail M-Bs' segment supremecy. It was the series I A8 of 1994 that first made a notable impact and since then, Audi has also been a recognised player among equals. Other cars such as the series I, II and III Jaguar XJ6/XJ12 or the Maserati Quattroporte II could never pose anything remotely similar to a threat.

How things have changed since the late 1970s'. No longer can we witness the unassailable supremecy of one marque or one model in a given segment. And its' all good. More choices among a variety of excellent brands and excellent automobiles.