balthazar

Direct link : http://www.shorpy.com/files/images/SHORPY_FL16790028.jpg

Ironically, I saw a Freightliner Sprinter today, that someone had zip-tied a MB logo over the grille. Classy. The theory that a vast quantity of people aren't buying MBs, either cars or commercial vans, because of the brand name is a weak one. As far as 'being mercedes', that's poses an interesting question. I do recall reading the same opinion when GM was well over a 30% marketshare and fleeting like a whoremaster, that 'GM is doing pretty well'... and everybody just nodding their heads along. MB is first & foremost a fleet vehicle seller in Europe, and they are bringing their 'low-hanging fruit' to this market next, and dumping their top end. Will be interesting to watch.

1938 Cadillac Series 353 :

Offering spartan commercial vehicles has not tarnished the Mercedes-Benz nameplate here in Europe, so I really wouldn't expect it to do so in the US. The images of the brand differ a great deal from there to here from what I've seen.

didn't astom-martin just drop their small car? The cignet? This is COMPLETELY below where bentley supposedly is positioned. There's a few million that could easily be spend on making the core vehicles have some actual, detailed, distinctive bodywork rather than the bland, generic-cism they've been peddling up to now. I mean, look at the price tags on bentleys; why for one hot second ISN'T the interior for the concept EXP 9 immediately in regular production- the bentley GT coupe is $240K! There shouldn't BE any bentley concepts- they should be the production cars.

Have you looked at one up close? They're not built any better than the average cargo van. More to the point- it has a premium price but it reeks of cheapness. You can get 300K out of about anything with decent maintenance; that claim is no longer a distinction. Just today I heard the brother of my buddy say he had 320,000 on his Ford F-250 SD.

There's certainly not a lot of distinction in this increasingly-crowded segment, but the question remains what the association with the luxury aspect of the badge being increasingly seen on one of the most elemental & spartan vehicle on the road will do over the long run to perceptions. Because there's nothing 'mercedes' WRT a sprinter van...

Springs will 'set' in a few hundred miles tops, but I don't believe this will ever drop a car from the initial height any more than -say- 3/8-inch. If the spring is properly indexed in it's pocket (where applicable), it's really not going to go anywhere (as in permanently compress). This says big block front coils have a spring rate of 403. Your first link is for the Moog 6304's. This says their spring rate is 337. 2nd link for the Moog 6192s has a spring rate of 300. I suspect the 3rd link for the Elgin 6192s has the same spring rate of 300- cannot be a coincidence that the numbers are the same. These sound more in line with small block rates- either would be fine. I can tell you '65 Pontiac full-size front coil rates are 275- so either the 300s or 337s should be right on the money. The other issue tho is load height- and this is subjective. Factory correct coil load height tells you the height that spring is designed to carry it's load. Factory-spec springs just look like the car has a mild lift kit in it to my eye. This probably comes from being around these cars after they were decades old and the spring load height had deteriorated (spring rate is permanent, but load height does decline over many years). They just look better down about 2 inches (the full-sizers) from 100% factory, IMO. You can cut the coils to achieve this if you already have them without affecting ride quality, tho there are aftermarket dropped springs readily available. Again- cutting a coil off won't change the spring rate. This, IMO, is too tall :

The lack of a center stack is refreshing, but the console is so tall, it's of no advantage. It looks nicely finished, but design-wise it's a mishmash with little cohesion. The air vents are a bit much. My biggest gripe would be the uber-ubitquitous 3-spoke steering wheel trimmed in aluminum with the bottom spoke having a hole thru it : a slight variation on at least 20 other wheels just like it. Homogenization in full overdrive. I would agree if the controls are all driver-controlled that's not the way to go, but the TT is going to be a single-occupant car probably 98% of the time anyway.

This is yet another recent vehicle that open comment on it looking like the previous generation has occurred. Been saying for years we're at the 95% percentile of auto design- here's mounting evidence.

That person is long gone; your legion of fans yearn to see you TODAY. Sure, a few paparazzi shots have temporarily surfaced, but you are rapidly approaching the legacy of JD Salinger or Syd Barrett here.

We know this isn't you because we actually see this person, and you are invisible.

580 would only be a 24-HP bump. The 2G CTS-V surprised most when it's official numbers were released, I expect the same on the 3G V. I'm going to guess a minimum of 610.

Here's to hoping Fap's rabid, slavering, anti-Pontiac fuel doesn't have a 84-year run in its tank.

They have to be getting better: mercedes wasn't even in the luxury class in the 1980s.

GTO, Cavalier, Corvette, Cobalt- who can tell them apart??? I mean, they all have air vents.... and the first letters are VERY similar. {insert teeth-knashing, scribbly cartoon meme here}

Where's your GTO review? Can't unilaterally damn it because it had a manual? Last truly "unique" Pontiacs were the GTO & G8, not the Fiero. GTO was a pretty nice piece, every one I see is always impeccably maintained; surprising for a HURR rental car.

I'd prefer the mesh grillework of past Vs.

^ + GTO. GTO, G8 and Fiero were unique product; not 'Chevys with red gauges'. To a lesser degree, the others mentioned were certainly differentiated enough to stand alone, IMO. People who for some inexplicable reason are angry at the brand will gravitate right to the G3 / Aztek. Those who can value the cars listed above will focus on those instead, and that's how the 'chips fall' WRT opinion, apparently. I'm sure there are BMW haters that will harp on the 318i, the FWD pods a-comin, the debacle of the Bangle Butt and the decades of horrendously cheap interiors and dismiss that entire brand, too. I don't find this mindset legitimate in either case.

No doubt the limited production is playing a role in that stat.

The deviation to that theory happens after that; when the '2000-teens' cars look like the '2000s' cars, which look like the 1990s cars.

Finally something worth reporting : a tired but whole '66-67 Charger, silver, getting a ride on a trailer.

Nah, it was in reference to the wait time to turn over a diesel Mercedes. -- -- -- -- Crumple zones (?)

Anyone have a guess what the "Karl & Gottlieb Memory Minute" refers to?

Original Ever Angry :