Mercedes takes R-Class down a notch
After selling only 18,168 samples of their R-Class in 2007, even after dropping the base price by $5,000, Mercedes will try taking the uber-wagon downmarket in 2008.
For starters, the cheapest R-Class you can get next year will be the 268hp R350, which has a V6 and does without all wheel drive to come in under $43,000. Originally, the cheapest R350 started at around $48,000. Other R models will retain standard AWD.
In the past, spotting a 500 HP AMG R63 has been difficult, probably due to its $80,000 price tag. Spotting one now will be even harder. All 2008 R-Class models will get the body cladding of the 2007 AMG (pictured above) and 18" wheels, but not the performance mods. No AMG R-Class will be offered in 2008.
The most expensive R next year will be the 221hp R320 CDI at just over $46,000.
[Source: Automotive News - Sub. Req.]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
mary 4:34PM (3/03/2008)
I have a 2006 R350,loved the car up until recently
when I learned that the tire life is about 20,000 miles! This is because the care is very heavy and the spec. touring tire is soft and will wear quickly. The tires cost about $280.00 each! Better yet there are only two tire manufacture for this odd size tire and they are back ordered for 10 weeks! Bottom line I have a car that I am paying for and can't drive because it is unsafe. Called MB and the Customer Care Associate told me too bad for you it's your problem! When I contacted MB I was willing to accept the fact that I need new tires all I was looking for was help in locating the tires for my car so that may drive it. The kicker is that I may have to rent a car until the new tires come in! Now I understand what people are referring to when they say MB has issues with reliability.
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antrow 8:54AM (8/22/2007)
MB should try updating the design to look a little more elegant. Get ride of the truckish snot. I am sure others would disagree, but to me, it looks like a Pacifica that was beat with an ugly stick. MB needs to dress it up like they have done with the sport package on the 07 E-class.
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geo.stewart 8:56AM (8/13/2007)
ya mean the Chrysler Catera never took off?
well, this should drive down the price of the PAcifica
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F451 12:22PM (8/13/2007)
LOL, and true. This is one ugly vehicle.
Drewboy 9:23AM (8/13/2007)
I've only ever seen one of these on the roads. It didn't look horrible, but it sure doesn't look as elegant as most of MB's models do.
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Mike 9:27AM (8/13/2007)
For those who think the station wagon is making a come-back in the US… think again.
The R-Class, the Pacifica, Ford Freestyle (Taurus X) and the Cadillac SRX are all cross-over SUVs that look too much like a station wagon, and their sales in the US are disappointing.
The Ford Flex will be the next vehicle that does everything it’s asked to do (carry people, get good fuel economy, haul stuff from Costco, etc.), but sells less than it should.
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Icon149 10:52AM (8/13/2007)
Yeah but like you said none of these are wagons, I would love a real Wagon, something that actually rides and possibly handles more like a car/sports car. Crossovers are still too tall and to heavy. we need more sportwagons, like the Audi's and BMW's in Europe. Wagons will make a come back, as soon as car manufacturers build wagons. Crossovers blow, they are bad cars, and bad trucks, how does that make a good automobile?
just my 2 cents
1337 11:13AM (8/13/2007)
@Icon,
America seems to be really obsessed with having three rows of seats, even if the third row is useless. Ideally, crossovers would look and handle like sport wagons but have the interior utility of a minivan. Thus far, the Mazda5 has come closest to meeting that goal.
I am, however, also frustrated by the how few traditional wagons are available in the American market. A Honda Civic Si wagon would be more than enough room for me, but the smallest wagon-like vehicle that Honda sells in America is the Pilot. Go figure.
Avinash machado 12:06PM (8/13/2007)
In Europe Mercedes sells wagon or estate versions of the C and E-class. Perhaps Mercedes should start selling them in the US also.
Manolo 4:36PM (8/13/2007)
Did you forget about the CRV and the Element? and even the Honda Fit is also what can be considered a tiny station wagon...
Tne MB R is - as per Autoextremist- the answer to the question nobody asked...
LeRobert 9:29AM (8/13/2007)
I have my fingers crossed that Mercedes will soon drop the R-class entirely. It and the B-class have totally destroyed Mercedes' image; I'm sure many of you would agree.
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RicardoHead 9:45AM (8/13/2007)
Dont just take it down a notch. Take it down to the graveyard and buried the hideous thing.
MB really needs to admit this heap is a failure.
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Jim from Florida 10:06AM (8/13/2007)
I looked at one of these in June when we were in the market for a wagon along with the Audi and BMW wagons. We went with the Pacifica.
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Derek Kreindler 11:07AM (8/13/2007)
Wow what a useless car. Funny that the three people who bothered to get an R63 now have a collectors item.
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1337 11:18AM (8/13/2007)
The R-class was an opportunity for Mercedes to one-up the leading Japanese minivans with great handing and an M-B badge for only a few grand more than a similarly equpped Sienna. However, the R-class ended up being boring to drive, overly styled, and too overpriced to lure buyers from Siennas and Odysseys.
Well, Mercedes, your job is to build beautiful, fast, fun luxury cars. I don't see how you could have f*cked up more.
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John Mitts 10:11AM (8/15/2007)
Just get it over and bring back the woody. Bone it out, sell it for about 10 and have it just haul people, groceries, and a surf board. Also put in an engine that gets 50 mpg regardless of size or hp.
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Rufus 11:39AM (8/13/2007)
I've driven behind a few of these. IMO, The black ones with the tinted windows makes it look like a hearse.
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Andrew 11:47AM (8/13/2007)
I kind of dig it. I think the R320 CDI would be a great family car. It's about the same price as the M320, but much roomier.
However, even the most common options are insanely expensive, and you end up in the $60's.
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eenlow 12:34PM (8/13/2007)
I own one of these and I like it. I leased it through the MB family plan. We wanted an AWD SUV and settled on this for 329 a month. It is a lil ugly but it grows on you. Its not a S Class in terms of the interior but it handles well, it is great in the rain, and "The Bus" as i call it moves really well great power and a super smooth ride. The roof is glass and almost half tucks away. And you can seriously fit 6. It is supprisingly big inside. It takes a little to get used to its size but parks nice great turning radius. Today we have no kids so do not load it up. But its great at the drive in and i cant wait to load it up for a road trip. I think it didnt do well because of A. Its Price (MB or not 50K damn..) B. the styling isnt drop dead gorgouse.
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MB 1:51PM (8/13/2007)
I work at a Mercedes dealership and can confirm that the R63 will still be available for 2008 by special order only. (If you order one, it will be produced, but don't expect to find one a lot somewhere.)
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