Your favorite of the big three ?

[Tarek]

Honestly i'm stunned at how some of you would rate/think that Audi and BMW has a high image than MB?..i mean helloooooo!!
Mercedes-Benz is only German brand that is able and already doing it with the finest in the world.From the ultra luxurious British limos to super exotics from Italy.

Cars like the 65s/BSs/SLS/SLR,G 63/65 and old and new pullman are the reasons why i think MB has the highest image among German makers.

 

[Sunny]

If it was a decade ago, it would have been a BMW slam dunk for me. Like Martin said, all 3 have things going for it and there is hardly anything between them. So my vote goes to... Porsche.

 

[GTA45E]

My goodness...Where is the Mercedes crew?

Most of us choose to be under cover, we don`t need to say much, Mercedes literally speaks for itself.

Take the S-Class for example. It is literally the King of the 4-door car who wrote the text book of luxury car design
and how that design operates, peroid!

 

[mini_cooper4]

Honestly i'm stunned at how some of you would rate/think that Audi and BMW has a high image than MB?..i mean helloooooo!!
Mercedes-Benz is only German brand that is able and already doing it with the finest in the world.From the ultra luxurious British limos to super exotics from Italy.

Cars like the 65s/BSs/SLS/SLR,G 63/65 and old and new pullman are the reasons why i think MB has the highest image among German makers.

I must agree about the image I think today they are almost on par with BMW, tho

 

[Hofmeister]

Honestly i'm stunned at how some of you would rate/think that Audi and BMW has a high image than MB?..i mean helloooooo!!
Mercedes-Benz is only German brand that is able and already doing it with the finest in the world.From the ultra luxurious British limos to super exotics from Italy.

Cars like the 65s/BSs/SLS/SLR,G 63/65 and old and new pullman are the reasons why i think MB has the highest image among German makers.

The reason I rated MB third image wise, is because to a lot people they are still perceived as " an old mans car" .I do not share this opinion, however. For example which can you imagine a 20 year old preferring to say to their friend " Hey I just bought a new C-class coupe" Or " Hey i Just bought a BMW 4-Series"

 

[Deckhook]

The reason I rated MB third image wise, is because to a lot people they are still perceived as " an old mans car" .I do not share this opinion, however. For example which can you imagine a 20 year old preferring to say to their friend " Hey I just bought a new C-class coupe" Or " Hey i Just bought a BMW 4-Series"

My reason too for placing Merc third. Great cars and all but their image here at least is of a car for the older person and this despite the fact they make some mental machinery in the form of their AMG range. With BMW and more so Audi they are brands geared for the younger, upwardly mobile person and as such have a more hip image.

 

[HighestOfHigh]

Well thank goodness Benz fans are back! Let's win this one folks! Lol..

 

[Mr. Mercedes]

HOH it's because we're all 'OLD MEN' and we were sleeping. We're awake now.

(P.S I'm actually only 27 )

 

[Deckhook]

HOH it's because we're all 'OLD MEN' and we were sleeping. We're awake now.

(P.S I'm actually only 27 )

I'm in my mid forties and even I don't feel I've reached the right age for a Merc. lol

 

[K-A]

LOL @ all the "old person" stuff. It's such a knee jerk response to M-B's. I don't see any more "old people" in M-B's these days than I do in BMW's or Audi's. In fact, the only cars that have a mostly "old person" demographic is the revered S-Class and CL Class and SL and that's SOLELY because they're too expensive for the average "young person" to drive. The fact that M-B has more models that only "old people" can afford is a good thing for the brand. The C and 3 seem to have similar age demo's, and out here, I see more oldies in basic equipped 528i 4-bangers than I do E's, who with the W212 generation I've notice lots of younger buyers who seem to appreciate the more aggressive and and pointed styling, and who mod their E's more than I see modded 5's (used to be the other way around).

I've seen age averages between the 3, and the average M-B buyers isn't much older if at all than the average BMW buyer. On the subject of this, I'm sure Ferrari and Porsche and Bugatti drivers have a much older demographic than M-B drivers.... I guess only "old people" like those cars? Or maybe it's because you need to have enough money to buy into the brands.

And lastly, youth driven Pop Culture is still dominated by M-B's. Rap songs, Pop songs, celebrities, movies, references used to express "I've made it", or "wealth" within Pop Culture is still M-B dominated.

 

[Levi68]

And lastly, youth driven Pop Culture is still dominated by M-B's. Rap songs, Pop songs, celebrities, movies, references used to express "I've made it", or "wealth" within Pop Culture is still M-B dominated.

I think this time has past. Now Audi is Nr. 1 in the media and BMW is getting better. Mercedes is trying to keep its image becasue it has two tough rivals.

But about Mercedes for the "old" I don't think it is true anymore. The only Mercedes that is for the "old" is the SL, as most 30 year old man would take an Audi R8 over a Mercedes SL.

Concerning all, I don't think there is something like the best brand, but even if it is the case, the rivals are tough, very tough.

 

[K-A]

I think this time has past. Now Audi is Nr. 1 in the media and BMW is getting better. Mercedes is trying to keep its image becasue it has two tough rivals.

But about Mercedes for the "old" I don't think it is true anymore. The only Mercedes that is for the "old" is the SL, as most 30 year old man would take an Audi R8 over a Mercedes SL.

Concerning all, I don't think there is something like the best brand, but even if it is the case, the rivals are tough, very tough.

Audi is taking over automotive media, but aside from the R8 in some movies and driven by some celebrities, Audi has a very small presence in Pop Culture (I'm talking U.S, it's actually probably much different in EU). M-B still dominates the Pop Culture scene, which I'm not using to say it's a great or bad thing, but it is directly correlated to youth and "dream car status effect". Mercedes' name is still in over half the materialistic braggart Pop/Rap songs used as a metaphor for success/prestige, etc.

 

[Hofmeister]

LOL @ all the "old person" stuff. It's such a knee jerk response to M-B's. I don't see any more "old people" in M-B's these days than I do in BMW's or Audi's. In fact, the only cars that have a mostly "old person" demographic is the revered S-Class and CL Class and SL and that's SOLELY because they're too expensive for the average "young person" to drive. The fact that M-B has more models that only "old people" can afford is a good thing for the brand. The C and 3 seem to have similar age demo's, and out here, I see more oldies in basic equipped 528i 4-bangers than I do E's, who with the W212 generation I've notice lots of younger buyers who seem to appreciate the more aggressive and and pointed styling, and who mod their E's more than I see modded 5's (used to be the other way around).

I've seen age averages between the 3, and the average M-B buyers isn't much older if at all than the average BMW buyer. On the subject of this, I'm sure Ferrari and Porsche and Bugatti drivers have a much older demographic than M-B drivers.... I guess only "old people" like those cars? Or maybe it's because you need to have enough money to buy into the brands.

And lastly, youth driven Pop Culture is still dominated by M-B's. Rap songs, Pop songs, celebrities, movies, references used to express "I've made it", or "wealth" within Pop Culture is still M-B dominated.

First of all this isn't a "knee jerk response to M-B's" its MHO. Secondly, why do you think Mercedes regularly trail BMW/Audi in the sales race by a significant margin. They have roughly the same size range as both those companies, and its not like they make bad cars (as I'm sure you will attest). Hey I'd have a MB over the equivalent Audi any day of the week, I'm just saying their image is holding back some potential customers( And I'm not for one second saying how well a manufacturer sells is an indication of hoe good they are I mean lately Audi are outselling BMW
And for response to Mercedes dominating pop-culture I point you to "Miami to Ibiza"

 

[K-A]

Lol. Miami 2 Ibiza is one unpopular song to U.S standards. If you want to state every Pop Culture M-B reference within even the last year, it'll take up all the bandwith on this site. Point being that the youth dominate Pop Culture, and Pop Culture dominates the youth, and M-B is still by far the most revered by Pop Culture.

Sales wise, I think what's holding M-B "back" (which in terms of brand value this is a good thing) is that people still see them mostly as a brand that you only want to own the more expensive cars of. Unfortunately, M-B seems to be trying to do everything that they can to change that. Sales don't really say how popular something is, as least not in a desirability/cachet sense (the opposite if anything). Ferrari's and RR's and Bentleys are very popular in a desirability/cachet sense, but not in a technical "who has it" sense. BMW's sales supremacy lies in the 3-Series and Audi in the A4. M-B's popularity still comes from the upper models, even though that's waning due to M-B trying to (unfortunately) focus more attention to their cheaper cars).

Thing is, the youth might buy BMW's and Audi's in most parts of the world when they're working within a budget, but I think M-B still is the one "they want to own someday" i.e in the "halo effect" sense.

 

[PanterroR]

...but I think M-B still is the one "they want to own someday" i.e in the "halo effect" sense.

Well, i think those days are over when most people were dreaming about owning a MB because whatever they offer now, Audi and BMW offer it too and for many people they do it even better than MB... They only thing BMW is missing is that damn supercar, i admit that. Everything else is out there on offer.

 

[K-A]

The "ultra cachet" halo still weighs in M-B's direction, though. People will still spend $130K on a non AMG Benz, and you have the SLS, etc. BMW and Audi's are identified by their cheapest models, M-B is still identified by its most expensives.

This is of course changing more and more, as M-B pander to the cheaper car segments and inevitably bring their "ultimate prestige level" down, while BMW and Audi push to expand their ultra-cachet "halo effect" aspects, but today, M-B still holds that "halo" effect much stronger I think. Using Pop Culture as a reference, you don't hear/see metaphors using BMW's or Audi's to express status or wealth, but M-B in that sense is still as strong as, or stronger than ever.

IMO it's still the auto enthusiasts who prefer BMW and Audi, which is what inevitably brings a brands cachet up, but due to M-B's decades and decades of being at the top even there (before these days), the "mass public" I think still see's M-B's as the most prestigious and "dream car-esque".

 

[Zafiro]

When I think of Mercedes I dont think old people. I think Taxi's

Upper level (S-class, CL, SL ) MB have the best image but when it's down to lower models then MB dont have the 'thing' or is the one people are dreaming of. Down there the image is pretty much equal between MB; Audi, BMW.

 

[Levi68]

German government drives Audi now. Taxis are yet Mercedes, but there are more and more BMW's and Audis.

 

[ACE]

I have favourite cars, not favourite badges. I have favourite cars in various segments from all 3 of these brands so I wouldn't pick one brand over the other (without at least being told a particular segment).

 

[Zafiro]

Currently its VW for me because of Scirocco......