Mercedes R500
10-25-2005 | 10:30 AM
#27
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Joined: May 2004
Posts: 99
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are u saying grown ups can't go clubbing?? LOL you need a life sir. if racing was only for kids, there wouldn't be many racing fans in the world, would there? you are basically saying ferrari is making their cars for kids... hmm..... very good one Echo1.
*edit: there is a section in this forum just for interior upgrades and engine modifications. and many of the members have posted their topics. so i am guessing all of you are kids, if i must refer to what you are saying?
*edit: there is a section in this forum just for interior upgrades and engine modifications. and many of the members have posted their topics. so i am guessing all of you are kids, if i must refer to what you are saying?
Last edited by termigni; 10-25-2005 at 10:42 AM.
10-25-2005 | 10:33 AM
#28
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Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 1,959
Likes: 0
From: Houston, TX
LOL--
Seriously though, this thing is basically the strongest minivan ever--and most expensive. Sure there will be a couple on the road--but at that price, its a niche vehicle. I've seen one driving--and it was probably the $50K R350. This van won't make or break MB and they are AMGing it with the R63 as well. MB is kind of like a kid with extra legos sitting around after the main model is built.
Seriously though, this thing is basically the strongest minivan ever--and most expensive. Sure there will be a couple on the road--but at that price, its a niche vehicle. I've seen one driving--and it was probably the $50K R350. This van won't make or break MB and they are AMGing it with the R63 as well. MB is kind of like a kid with extra legos sitting around after the main model is built.
10-25-2005 | 11:17 AM
#29
CAW CAW
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 741
Likes: 0
From: Toronto
Originally Posted by ECHO1
the r500 is basically an answer to a question that no one's asking,
10-25-2005 | 11:24 AM
#30
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Joined: May 2004
Posts: 99
Likes: 0
MB has been so good at making a niche market. it's been its history.
same thing goes with the ML the SUV, no one had luxury SUV in the market. I didn't think i would ever buy one, but now i have one.
I'm not saying this R will succeed 100% for their sales. but this is a niche that MB just created, again.
same thing goes with the ML the SUV, no one had luxury SUV in the market. I didn't think i would ever buy one, but now i have one.
I'm not saying this R will succeed 100% for their sales. but this is a niche that MB just created, again.
10-25-2005 | 07:31 PM
#31
Registered User
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 445
Likes: 0
From: Hell in the desert
Originally Posted by termigni
MB has been so good at making a niche market. it's been its history.
same thing goes with the ML the SUV, no one had luxury SUV in the market. I didn't think i would ever buy one, but now i have one.
I'm not saying this R will succeed 100% for their sales. but this is a niche that MB just created, again.
same thing goes with the ML the SUV, no one had luxury SUV in the market. I didn't think i would ever buy one, but now i have one.
I'm not saying this R will succeed 100% for their sales. but this is a niche that MB just created, again.
10-25-2005 | 08:29 PM
#32
Kaiten Kenbu Rokuren
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 934
Likes: 2
From: Central Valley, NY
Originally Posted by termigni
are u saying grown ups can't go clubbing?? LOL you need a life sir. if racing was only for kids, there wouldn't be many racing fans in the world, would there? you are basically saying ferrari is making their cars for kids... hmm..... very good one Echo1.
*edit: there is a section in this forum just for interior upgrades and engine modifications. and many of the members have posted their topics. so i am guessing all of you are kids, if i must refer to what you are saying?
*edit: there is a section in this forum just for interior upgrades and engine modifications. and many of the members have posted their topics. so i am guessing all of you are kids, if i must refer to what you are saying?
10-25-2005 | 08:32 PM
#33
Kaiten Kenbu Rokuren
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 934
Likes: 2
From: Central Valley, NY
Originally Posted by NomisR
What do you call Range Rovers then?
10-25-2005 | 10:49 PM
#34
Registered User
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 4,887
Likes: 2
I found the review I read of it. It's from Octobers EVO Magazine.
Like they said, what's the point?
Mercedes-Benz R-Class
It's huge, it's got four-wheel drive, but what's the point?
What's this mammoth device you see here? It's the new R-class, M-B's 15th unique model range. It has arisen from a 2002 concept called Vision GST, or Grand Sports Tourer. It could equally stand for Giant Sports Tourer. But what is it? Estate car? SUV? MPV?
All of the above, is the answer. Here we have the most crossed-over of crossovers, the car that can do everything provided you live somewhere spacious, like the US where the four-wheel drive R-class is made; it's an inch short of 17 feet long. Admittedly that's for the long-wheelbase version, but even the Europe-only SWB R-class busts the 16ft barrier.
The style disguises the bulk a bit, but the key to the R-class's appeal is its interior space. It's a six-seater in three rows of two, and the front four chairs give space and comfort akin to Club Class on a 747. The rearmost pair are pretty good, too, with adult-size headroom and enough leg space even for a six-footer sitting behind another six-footer. That's in the LWB version, anyway; the SWB is 235mm shorter overall so some of the R-class's USP is lost. Neither version will be able to swallow six well-heeled people's luggage, though.
Naturally, the seats slide and fold in usual MPV fashion to make a big load bay, but the centre-row seat-fold needs some strength and skill to deploy. There's an optional
removable centre storage box with cupholders between these seats, matching the fixed one between the front seats, which adds to the R-class's vibe of long-distance usefulness.
These US-spec cars had softer dampers, thinner anti-roll bars and lighter steering than Euro-spec cars will have, but the two sampled engines - R350 V6 and R500 V8 - are the same. Europe will get an R320 CDI turbodiesel, too.
First off, the 306bhp V8. It's a smooth, torquey device able to haul the R500's 2240kg bulk with surprising vigour and without forever hunting up and down the seven-speed automatic transmission on difficult roads. Nor do you need to rescue it with manual gearchange intervention, which is good because the side-to-side rocker switches on the back of the steering wheel's spokes are hopeless.
The R350's engine struggles despite its ample 272bhp, and the endless gearchanges are tiresome and not always smooth. It feels a bit wieldier in corners but you're still aware of the bulk. The US-spec dampers give a good ride when you're ambling but they feel like they've covered 100,000 miles if you up the pace on a poorly-surfaced road. As for off-road driving, this isn't really in the R-class's remit despite the four-wheel drive.
So, why is it a 4x4? Because US buyers believe four-wheel drive is the only way to stay safe in a big car. And the customer, of course, is always right.
-Words/Pictures: John Simister/Andy Morgan
EVO RATING
2/5 stars
+:Imposing and versatile, rapid V8
-Not much luggage space six up
It's huge, it's got four-wheel drive, but what's the point?
What's this mammoth device you see here? It's the new R-class, M-B's 15th unique model range. It has arisen from a 2002 concept called Vision GST, or Grand Sports Tourer. It could equally stand for Giant Sports Tourer. But what is it? Estate car? SUV? MPV?
All of the above, is the answer. Here we have the most crossed-over of crossovers, the car that can do everything provided you live somewhere spacious, like the US where the four-wheel drive R-class is made; it's an inch short of 17 feet long. Admittedly that's for the long-wheelbase version, but even the Europe-only SWB R-class busts the 16ft barrier.
The style disguises the bulk a bit, but the key to the R-class's appeal is its interior space. It's a six-seater in three rows of two, and the front four chairs give space and comfort akin to Club Class on a 747. The rearmost pair are pretty good, too, with adult-size headroom and enough leg space even for a six-footer sitting behind another six-footer. That's in the LWB version, anyway; the SWB is 235mm shorter overall so some of the R-class's USP is lost. Neither version will be able to swallow six well-heeled people's luggage, though.
Naturally, the seats slide and fold in usual MPV fashion to make a big load bay, but the centre-row seat-fold needs some strength and skill to deploy. There's an optional
removable centre storage box with cupholders between these seats, matching the fixed one between the front seats, which adds to the R-class's vibe of long-distance usefulness.
These US-spec cars had softer dampers, thinner anti-roll bars and lighter steering than Euro-spec cars will have, but the two sampled engines - R350 V6 and R500 V8 - are the same. Europe will get an R320 CDI turbodiesel, too.
First off, the 306bhp V8. It's a smooth, torquey device able to haul the R500's 2240kg bulk with surprising vigour and without forever hunting up and down the seven-speed automatic transmission on difficult roads. Nor do you need to rescue it with manual gearchange intervention, which is good because the side-to-side rocker switches on the back of the steering wheel's spokes are hopeless.
The R350's engine struggles despite its ample 272bhp, and the endless gearchanges are tiresome and not always smooth. It feels a bit wieldier in corners but you're still aware of the bulk. The US-spec dampers give a good ride when you're ambling but they feel like they've covered 100,000 miles if you up the pace on a poorly-surfaced road. As for off-road driving, this isn't really in the R-class's remit despite the four-wheel drive.
So, why is it a 4x4? Because US buyers believe four-wheel drive is the only way to stay safe in a big car. And the customer, of course, is always right.
-Words/Pictures: John Simister/Andy Morgan
EVO RATING
2/5 stars
+:Imposing and versatile, rapid V8
-Not much luggage space six up
10-26-2005 | 09:06 AM
#36
Registered User
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 99
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by NomisR
What do you call Range Rovers then?
seriously, can we stay on this topic?
fyi, even though Range was around, Range Rovers did not revolutionize the luxury SUV industry. MB did back in 1997. the classic Range was sold till 1996 in parallel with the P38 Range. Range came out with their P38 in 1994 and was not so successful nor set any trends. When BMW took over Range Rover, that's when they started to make real Luxury SUV(MKIII) in 2002.
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