Ferrari Mailing List: Re: MB reliability and a litte F content (warning: long)

[Peter Pless (ferrarilst]

I just remember the NSX being as fast as, but much better handling than, the
348, which was the current Ferrari at the time. I'm very grateful, because
that was what made Ferrari produce the 355. ...and what a car that is. The
NSX was hardly mentioned again after that.

-----Original Message-----
From: LS [mailto:lashdeep [at] yahoo.com] 
Sent: Wednesday, 15 April 2009 12:53 PM
To: Peter Pless
Cc: The FerrariList
Subject: Re: [Ferrari] MB reliability and a litte F content (warning: long)


Wacko, the NSX single handedly crushed the exotic car as we knew it.

I spent hours in a Diablo SE30 last weekend...what a machine...a real man's
car with compromises that make an exotic...EXOTIC. 

The NSX made journalists gush because all of a sudden, they were capable of
driving an "exotic" without looking like idiots. So, that makes it the
greatest car in the world right?

The car companies couldn't take the competition or felt they needed to react
to it and the rest is history.

Now, we have chimps with iPhones, wearing ladies jeans and $900 sunglasses
driving 4wd Lambos with NAV systems. The same mentality has spread to other
car companies.

AM I GOING TO WAKE UP FROM THIS NIGHTMARE?

Thanks,
LS



----- Original Message ----
From: LtWacko <ltwacko [at] aol.com>
To: LS <lashdeep [at] yahoo.com>
Cc: The FerrariList <ferrari [at] ferrarilist.com>
Sent: Tuesday, April 14, 2009 5:24:34 PM
Subject: Re: [Ferrari] MB reliability and a litte F content (warning: long)

Am I the only one that thinks this?  MB's pretty much went to crap in the
90's and only have recovered in recent years.  It wasn't only the
Diamler/Chrysler deal that did them in.  It was the pricing war with Lexus. 
MB didn't know how to build a price competitive car.  Finally said screw it,
we're MB and made a better car which cost more but worth it.  With Toyota's
manufacturing capability, Lexus put up a serious contender for awhile but
dare I say they now have to worry about Hyundai?  MB finally recovered, but
then chased profitability and then, now back on track.  In it's best
financial years, the CEO was fired because the board didn't think
profitability was worth the sacrifice in quality and image.  In a home
country survey, BMW and Audi were perceived leaders in their industry and MB
in a paltry third.  That survey was the CEO's final undoing.  The "merger"
with Chrysler was suppose to bring design capabilities.  Wasn't the Viper 16
months paper to production?  MB perceived this "speed" was needed to keep up
with Lexus at the time this was cooked up. Too bad the quality came with it
too.

Even though the R class was a product of the marriage, it's actually quite
good.  I had one as a loaner and so did a friend.  I had the 500 while he
had the AMG.  His S55 was getting serviced and after spending a couple of
days in the R, he said that it would be his next car as it was "more
practical" than the S.  Definitely a product of need rather than want.

I do miss the family's old W123 300D Turbo's - we had two.  My favorite MB's
along with my 92 500SL.  Loved all of my BMW's except for the 740iL.  It's
okay.  Once I started learning how to wrench on my own a few decades ago
(yikes!), I thought MB's pretty much sucked in simplicity and technology
compared to BMW's of the same era.  Family and extended family has owned
nearly every MB model made from 1976 to 2005 so I hope I know what I'm
talking about.  Don't think I'm biased.  BMW's are hitting a nerve with me
now too.  I attribute part of this to me getting old.  MB is now on track
with marketing and product line.  Maybe not for the enthusiast, but
definitely for the mass market.

Every generation has their favorite generation of car.  My problem of old MB
is that they made 1 generation of technology for 3 generations.  No wonder
they were so reliable.  How do you screw up 30 years of making the same
thing over and over again.  Porsche 911 is a perfect example.  They finally
changed things up when BMW made them look slow for awhile on the track
(Thanks Jim C. and Prototype!)  One of my criteria in judging engineering is
hp/performance vs. mpg.  Anyone can make hp but doing it with an eye on mpg
is very difficult.  BMW's amazed me compared to competition.  Honda was
surprisingly disappointing with their V6.  What's even more surprising?  The
Corvette.  Props to GM for that.  No guzzler tax on C6, right?

Oh yeah, the F-car content.  NSX made Ferrari look at better reliability
among other things.  Ferrari added a little and then the NSX went away for
this and a few other reasons.

We wish new cars did what the old cars do.  Companies churn out products for
those that "will" buy, not those that "have" in the hopes of "surviving". 
Finding the right balance is key.

Sorry for the rant.

Rodney
Most reliable car ever owned - Camry.  Favorite?  Still trying to find it. 
I will let you know on my death bed.
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