The biggest mistake Mercedes is making with their E320 diesels in the USA

When you look at how good the German diesels really are, it's virtually impossible not to at least consider them in your purchasing research and test driving.

But everyone knows that the 40+ crowd suffered through many bad experiences when diesels used to be available in the USA.

So it befuddles us why Mercedes is targeting the new diesels, to people who already have a bad taste in their mouths.

Check out this snippet from Forbes describing the USA configs of the Mercedes E320 diesel...

'The E320 Bluetec is targeted at the pragmatic luxury buyer. Where the E350 Sport gets a stiffer, sportier suspension and sophisticated front disc brakes with four-piston calipers for better performance, the Bluetec has a softer ride and single-piston calipers up front. All E-Class models, fortunately, share Mercedes’ smooth, seven-speed automatic transmission with manual-shift capability.'

The Spies say loud and clear....BIG MISTAKE!

One of the biggest rubs on these cars in the past is if you get the diesel, it's a performance dog and you give up all the power of a regular engine.

The informed know, that is no longer true but if the uninitiated wander into a Benz dealership and see the two E's next to each other, no one on earth could walk out of there thinking I've gotta have the diesel cause it looks sooo bad on those 14's (It doesn't come with 14's but the wheel it does come with looks like ASS compared to the gorgeous rim that comes on the E350 Sport). Add the AMG body kit and no one under 80 is picking the diesel.

Message to Mercedes, BMW, Audi and VW...If you want people to get jazzed about diesel's again, make them look like badass performance machines and don’t make people feel embarrassed to drive them!

And don't just take it from us, let our audience tell you...please let these guys know in our blogs LOOKS MATTER!

EvoAudi - 10/2/2007 12:35:41 AM

+1 Boost

I agree.

EnnNorak - 10/2/2007 8:27:52 AM

+3 Boost

The big mistake Mercedes made was to eliminate the in-line 6-cylinder diesel in favor of an inherently-out-of-balance 90-degree six. The other mistake is failure to offer the Vision C220 in North America immediately. If the E-Class were a little larger and had an in-line six cylinder diesel, it just might be the perfect car.

We should have adopted true diesels years ago. It is wasteful for us to import gasoline from Europe and send them our surplus diesel fuel.

I hope that none of the GM executives responsible for selling those half-ass GM diesel cars a couple of decades ago have any decision-making power today.

budfrogS4 - 10/2/2007 9:01:31 AM

+3 Boost

Well, isn't the lack of these cosmetic perks due to the higher cost of producing a diesel drivetrain? Which is worse, a car that doesn't look as sharp as the sport models or a car with similar performace as the petrol version but with a higher price tag? I guess if you're buying the E320 Bluetec, money really isn't an issue and you'd rather have the sport trim.

What the Europeans need to do is put a true high performance diesel in a sport model (ie. the R8!). Get an image like that into the thick skulls of us Americans and maybe it'll start catching.

w209w114 - 10/2/2007 11:12:32 AM

+3 Boost

Houstoncutie,

Your existence is a mistake

EL34 - 10/2/2007 12:40:35 AM

+1 Boost

Agent 001, eduacate the people over 40 and then they will understand what a great car the Bluetecs are.

Agent001 - 10/2/2007 12:59:15 AM

+1 Boost

I'm not saying don't go after over 40's, but make the car look gorgeous to get them to give it a second chance...

001

w209w114 - 10/2/2007 9:19:58 AM

+1 Boost

001

This model has been out since 2002 as an 03 model. Due for re-design next year. CUT IT SOME SLACK. Go bash on something worth bashing.

w209w114 - 10/2/2007 10:07:55 AM

+2 Boost

Technologically, the new Bluetec engines are the most advanced and efficient diesel engines in the world, giving you strong V6 Power with the economy of a small four cylinder engine. The complete redesign next year will make this car MUCH more desirable to every buyer.

spadog55 - 10/2/2007 2:23:44 AM

-1 Boost

Nicad, stop telling us war stories about your parents old cars. Man up and stop writing about your poor parents and their broken cars.

Bill - 10/2/2007 4:14:37 AM

+4 Boost

So 'Spies is the expert on this subject now? MB is not run by idiots. I am sure they know exactly who they are targeting.

Also, Mercedes diesel engines have a better reputation than GM diesel engine, so this is an important factor to consider as well. This might even sell the car if you think about it.

S4cabriofoxone - 10/2/2007 5:20:29 PM

+1 Boost

They know what they're doing. They have some amazing new products (S, CL, C, GL) and are positioning most of their cars in exactly the right way. M-B is on a roll.

Will_ - 10/2/2007 5:38:48 AM

+5 Boost

People under 40 generally don't want E-Classes anyway. The C-Class diesels have more potential in America.

EnnNorak - 10/2/2007 8:34:04 AM

-2 Boost

The 2008 C-Class is still too small and has excessively firm seats and ride. The E-class needs to be a bit larger and priced more like the current C-Class without the extra paint charge of course. Mercedes does not price its product competitively today because just about all the luxury features have trickled down to ''lesser" cars. i don't believe in throwing money away for the promise of a brand when other brands deliver just as much on the same promise at a lower price.

JRobUSC - 10/2/2007 10:47:04 AM

+2 Boost

again with the extra paint charge. A lot of manufacturers charge extra for different paints, it's not just ze Germans. Get over it already.

david999 - 10/2/2007 8:17:43 AM

-1 Boost

Mercedes will have a much better chance pushing hybrids in North America versus diesels. People here have a bad taste in their mouth with the diesel experience (and yes I know they are much improved and cleaner than in the past).

EnnNorak - 10/2/2007 8:41:22 AM

+3 Boost

The bad diesel experience in North America was purely a GM doing so it is not fair to blame Mercedes for it. Mercedes used to sell some real good diesels in North America and their diesel technology has come a long way since then. Unfortunately they abandoned the in-line 6 diesel (the one with the strong iron blocks) and licenced its design to the Koreans who were supposed to bring the Koranda to North America but never did.

JRobUSC - 10/2/2007 8:29:36 AM

+1 Boost

I've driven a 535d sport, looks identical to the 535i sport.

SixxFive - 10/2/2007 10:26:35 AM

+2 Boost

001 - you hit the nail on the head: the diesel versions of these great cars should look just as visually appealing as their gasoline counterparts.

S4cabriofoxone - 10/2/2007 5:21:38 PM

+1 Boost

Yes, I agree.

I've been saying this since the E320 Bluetec came out: WHERE'S THE SPORT PACKAGE?!? That's the only thing that turns me off.

w209w114 - 10/2/2007 11:15:51 AM

+4 Boost

The old diesel mercedes are some of the most reliable of all times.