Acceptance is the 1st step to recovery: Mercedes fesses up R-class is a failure

I already read this on a different blog.

They are NOT actually admitting this car is a failure.

Here is what struck me:

"Zetsche blames the crossover segment, saying it hasn’t developed as planned."

Huh. Is that so? So it has nothing to do with the CAR ITSELF, but the segment it's in? SO even though crossover sales have had double- or even triple-digit percent increases over the last five years, and a flash flood of new contenders, it's the segment's fault that the R-Class didn't sell well?

I hope that's not a sign of how Mercedes really thinks. I want to see a brand that can actually admit mistakes.

"Zetsche blames the crossover segment, saying it hasn’t developed as planned."

I guess that it's nice political way of saying that they made a mistake in planning.

the R was never good. it did not appeal to us. the GLK will probably tak its place.

My guess is that Mercedes did not expect so many competitors would have very good cross-over products, and thought that Mercedes would have a much higher share of the market. Don't forget the Chrysler Patheticar also had disappointing sales in this segment at a much lower price point.

It's a failure.

But it is actually a very good car.

I always thought that the R-Class looked like a minivan. I dont think that people purchase minivans from MB here in the U.S.

seriously, there are better options than this... thing. even the lambdas are a much better buy. buying it for the badge makes NO SENSE.

Premium touring mini-van

'yota and honda minivans are better choices.

even chrysler and dodge vans.

ALL of which are more reliable to boot.

Its a POS just like most Mercedes,they have serious reliability problems,people are tired of the time it takes runing back to their overloaded service departments.

Agreed the reliability of the R Class is shocking. However the reliability for the ML and GL are equally bad and yet they sell at higher prices than the R Class despite being less suitable for most families.

Never underestimate the power of illusion. Many people see a big Merc with a big price and think it MUST be good. They have all been more junk than good for about 25 years now. Through most of the 90 and ford was better!

They should refresh and redo the entire exterior by making it more aggresive and sleeker. The interior can remain if they want to save money. New headlights, hood, grille, and bumpers would help it tremendously.

Ugliest Mercedes ever. I like their utility van more, at least that has some character.

R Class = worlds ugliest machine!!!

the R class was a good idea, oddly enough its only real competitor was the Cadillac SRX which also doesnt sell well. It seems to have inspired other manfucturers because now BMW, and Toyota, and im sure others are producing cars similar in concept to the R class, i guess they feel they can sell the idea if Mercedes cant.

I also think the R Class could've been a good idea, but MB just designed it poorly from the inside out. I mean, not even the option for a 3rd row? No hidden away storage holes like most every other minivan has? Not to mention the level of quality is lacking compared to their other models. The execution and attention to detail for this car just needs to be better next time around.

There is a 3rd row what are you talking about?
But originally it was a 6 seater AWD only, now in the Uk at least we can get 5, 6, or 7 seats with RWD on the smaller engines.

too fugly to begin with. looks like a fish. at least its commercial van had style like M35 said.

If u want a good Van. Toyota Sienna 3.5 AWD (Fastest in Class) w/ HID & Laser cruise control and Full Leather. It just doesn't have the R's big opening roof.

the only reason it was selling at all was because of huge rebates on it, up to $12,000. last year you could lease one for around $350 - $400 a month for 27 months!

Some of MB's mistkes.

1)R Class
2)GLK
3)C Class's interior
4)Failure brand Maybach
5)Falure brand Smart

but good to see they are accepting one by one. before they accepted the Relibility problems, now that R class is not good enough and i am waiting for MB to accept that GLK and C Class's interior is ugly too.
And as a whole do something to bring the prices and displacement of their engines little down.

JUGNU

What do you have against Mercedes JUGNU? I always wonder your motives in why you always insist on bashing them. Youre calling the C-Class interior a mistake??? Have you ever sat in one? In Addition the GLK hasnt even been released YET and youre calling that a failure as well. On what premises?

Same thing goes for Smart. You ignore the fact that they have underestimated the demand for this vehicle just by looking at the numbers already reserved.

Has everyone overlooked the fact that this vehicle is basically a rebodied Chrysler Pacifica with a bigger engine? Same parents (DaimlerChrysler) but the older sibling is WAY more attractive (if you like this type of vehicle).

It is in no way related to the Chrysler Pacifica.
The R class is built on the same platform as the Ml and GL Classes.

Rupert is right. It has nothing to do with Chrysler. Mercedes isnt like Lexus which are rebadged cheaper cars with leather and wood.

mercedes most certainly is not like lexus.

heck, mercedes is not even like TOYOTA, which makes FAR more reliable machines, ALL with state of the art engines, and electronics and power accessories that WORK.

toyota has also been able to produce a top level rolls-royce competitor (toyota Century), WITHOUT having to resort to a separate (rebadged) nameplate like Maybach.

(not that the Maybach has been much more successful than the vw phaeton!)

all of the lexus line would've STILL been successful even if they were badged as toyotas. (eat that, all who claim lexi are 'mere rebadged toyotas!')

in japan and asia toyota is as much, if not more respected, than MB. both are FULL LINE mfgrs producing everything from econoboxes to luxobarges. as well as trucks and commercial vehicles.

toyota just happened to have the marketing savvy to realize a NEW nameplate --Lexus-- with exclusively luxury products, would more effectively jump start sales of higher priced vehicles in the West. (which had been exposed mostly to the econoboxes and trucks, but not high line toyota models not exported.)

MB apparently TRIED to copy this strategy with the Maybach line, to go further upmarket. i suppose they erred in this strategy too, like with the R-class. and probably blames slow sales on "the market" not being prepared, for their faultless offerings.

I stand corrected! ;)

re: "Zetsche blames the crossover segment, saying it hasn’t developed as planned."

The formula is pretty simple: People buy the cars they like and can afford. If you're not selling enough units, tne the vehicle is either priced too high compares to perceived value, or not enough consumers like it.

I never understood the target demographic for the R-class. Cutting through the marketing, it's basically a luxury mini-van. Is there really a market for this?

Families with kids who need a mini-van are not going to want to pay for a premium vehicle that the kids will tear up.

Families without kids (or with grown-up kids) don't usually travel in groups that often, so they're not going to pay for a premium mini-van; if anything, they'd get a luxury SUV.

So it always seemed like it was a solution looking for a problem, to me.

I don't think the sales issues are related to the cross-over segment or with MB quality.

Never could get excited about the R. But all you critics shouldn't forget that MB gave us the CLS which has generated clones from Porsche, Aston and more to come... truly defining a new car segment, the 4dr coupe.