I think the world's defence forces and emergency services would agree that Merc deserve just a tad of credit for knowing how to build tough honest 4WDs (and charge through the teeth for them).
If you believe what you read there's more differences than similarities between the Merc and the Nissan donor...
It seems we are following the American trend of buying lots of trucks. We want rugged, but also lots of comforts. I'm sure LR will cover the trend with the next Defender. LR will want to sell boatloads in the USA and Europe. We are a small market and will have to take what we can get.
Thats why i run a fleet of Toyota vans.....and some have done upwards of 300 000k,they run fully loaded all day, without an issue,not even touched the brakes.Quote:
Originally Posted by DazzaTD5
I know a few guys who run the European stuff,drama after drama.They are OK for about 100 000k,then they need lots of maintenance,repairs,blah,blah....
Ours are never off the road,even the services are done by the dealer after hours.
Service prices are also very reasonable,none of this $200/hr garbage.
And resale,way above any of the European stuff.
Just my 2cents worth....
Says he who has Td5 in his user name!! 😂 What Euro Trash do you drive? Defender or Disco Td5? I wouldn't own a Hilux or Hiace or anything similar, because they're all boringly similar, and predictable. We love our Euro trash. VW Golf, Range Rover, and Mercedes truck. Matter of preference I guess. :)Quote:
Originally Posted by DazzaTD5
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sitec
*People from the U.K all seem to have the viewpoint of ... there is the United Kingdom and way over there is Europe.
*If by "boringly similar, and predictable" you mean good built quality, good r&d, reliable... then yes, too true.
*Japanese brands that are built in Thailand (all Jap light 4x4s) and South Korean brands have some of the best build quality and reliability of any brands.
I just dont see why anyone would realistically or rationally buy a (supposedly) premium brand and pay premium price for a modern vehicle that is plagued with poor build quality and poor reliability issues.
The other slap in the face to consumers with premium brands
VW and its horrific scandal of cheating emissions regulations around the world. We arent talking about some CO emissions irregularity, its about 11 million vehicles producing horrific levels of NOX (oxides of nitrogen).
VW continued its attitude of maximising its profits over human health with the same emissions scandal to get the Audi Q7 into the Chinese market (after the original incident).
Audi accounts for 40% of the VW Group profits, Audi models such as the Q7 are a re-badged VW touareg built in Slovakia (same as Porsche and Bentley).
The Mercedes light 4x4 is after all the BS is said and done, is a Nissan NP200 built by Nissan in Spain or Argentina.
The Mercedes Musso (ah la Samyang Musso) built in Russia.
Numerous Mercedes and Volkswagen models built all over the world (read where ever there is cheap labour).
Mercedes CLA (model) relegated into the worst reliability reports down there with other **** boxes such as the Ford Focus, Holden Captiva or anything with a Dodge or Chrysler badge
Regards
Daz
So... Being Navara chassis its likely to snap in the middle like a twig?
Quote:
Originally Posted by DazzaTD5
Yikes.. Did I touch a nerve? Dot points too!!😂 I was taking the **** at the fact that you slated Euro stuff yet you run and repair Land Rovers (and Jeeps I see). There was no need to get over excited back. I couldn't give a hoot where they're made. I just know that my Mercedes truck (not car, 4x4 etc) is German built, over engineered, solid and reliable. I can get parts for it world over in any country by just quoting the chassis number, and it is the only choice for a good overland vehicle. I also know that the VW Golf is solid, reliable and faultless and goes like a cut snake. My old 1990 GTD sold reciently for $5000 and had 400000kms on it and is still going like a cut snake! I actually can't stand anything else that's British built because the quality is/was dismal. Focus's, Astra's and Captives' are all shocking things.. Right up there with anything Dodge, Chrysler, Holden or Jeep built IMO. Anything I've had to do with Jap stuff has been good, if a little boring. The Hilux is over priced, and I hear good for cracking pistons now.
Re VW and its 'scandal', in the grand scheme of things its tiny.. Look at the amount of fuel any V6 or V8 Ford or Holden consumes.. (And the thirst of most older US cars). VW just got caught.
No offence was ment, I just had to smile when you had a stab at Euro stuff yet had/run a Td5. :)
I wouldn't call a td5 euro , just the black sheep of the usually crap pommy ****boxes - yes I love my pommy ****boxes :)
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sitec
*I realise no offense was intended, and I'm not intending the same either, to which I normally start with a "IMHO" (In My Humble Opinion) and at the end of the day, thats all it is, simply my view point on things, cheers.
*To be fair (or more balanced maybe) Mercedes trucks seem to have a good reputation for both build quality and reliability well beyond that of other truck brands.
*This does not equate to the same standards set by the car manufacturing.
*Just like your (or anyone's) old model VW's build quality does not equate to good build quality on new models.
*Yes I repair both the Land Rover and Jeep brands, I like them and could think of nothing worse than working on other brands. Apart from that dubious reason, sometimes there really is no accounting for stupidity.
*I try to use dot points where I can, including invoices to customers as it reduces my somewhat long winded explanations on things.
*Who could not have a passion for a bloody good engine such as the TD5 (again ref: I like them and no accounting for stupidity).
*I'm sure on a Corporate level Volkswagen LOVE NOTHING MORE than consumers that say:
*Oh its a minor thing.
*Its only a gov regulation thing.
*they arent the only ones, they just got caught out.
*Its a conspiracy against German car manufacturers by the American.
*Any other non qualified comment etc etc etc.
*NOx (oxides of Nitrogen) emissions are a serious health risk (plenty of factual information out there).
*Emissions/health issues aside. We are talking about a Corporation that took a corporate level decision to maximise their (the corporation) profits, rather than meet government regulations which would have been well within their (the corporation) scope of engineering ability.
*Yes there are plenty of corporations world wide that are maximising profits over consumers health or the planet (big tobacco, big oil etc etc).
*There are also plenty of corporations that are doing business in a ethically and environmental manner.
*As consumers should we not support corporations and businesses doing the right thing (you know, ethics and such) over ones that are blatantly not giving a ****? or do we just not care?
Regards
Daz