Growing Dissatisfaction With Mercedes Products
“Even Mercedes Hits a Few Speed Bumps” (July 13) states that “Mercedes executives argue that dissatisfaction with cup holders is not a quality issue.”
That sort of attitude speaks volumes about what is wrong with this former benchmark of quality, engineering and style. Nothing less than a shining example of German condescendence toward us unsophisticated Americans.
If DaimlerChrysler doesn’t want to design vehicles that are in tune with American taste, then they shouldn’t offer them for sale in the U.S.
Certainly, the size of cup holders isn’t on the level of, say, engine performance and safety features, but by putting things in the sort of tone being presented by this comment, they are sending a clear signal to Americans that they aren’t interested in designing cars with us in mind. Without a doubt, Lexus and Infiniti will gladly build automobiles with cup holders as large as Americans would like them.
Jim Wunderlich
Westlake Village
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I am not the only one! I purchased my Mercedes 2000 SLK230 about three years ago. Among other annoyances, the paint started to chip after the first month, my front tires are continually plagued by black brake dust and the armrest on the passenger side has started to fall off.
I had to take it into the shop because a gray, possibly noxious smoke flooded the cab.
But I believe that my Mercedes curse really started to haunt me when my car drowned in a Los Angeles puddle less than a year after purchase. Although a good-sized puddle, it certainly was not high enough to reach the door (or to deter any of the passing cars that were understandably laughing at the lifeless Mercedes roadster).
According to the service representative, driving through the puddle kicked water through the air intake valve (located near one of the low front headlamps) and into the engine. The water destroyed the engine, which needed to be replaced in its entirety.
E. Barish
Los Feliz
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Every Sunday I open my L.A. Times with trepidation as I prepare to absorb the latest crisis at home or abroad.
But you cannot imagine the tears that were brought to my eyes on reading the plight of poor 18-year-old Suzy Valentino, who had to trade in her $34,000 luxury sedan for a gas-guzzling Cadillac Escalade luxury SUV at a loss.
Woe is the world! Woe is the world!
Mark Anthony Galluzzo
Venice
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I bought a Mercedes CL500, which is a $100,000 car, and found the electronic door failure to be the most remarkable issue of all. The inability to open the door is akin to buying a car without a wheel or an engine.
As a Mercedes and a Lexus owner, I can safely say I would not buy another Mercedes. It is just not worth the aggravation.
Stanley L. Iezman
Glendale
