Mercedes X-class gone - insufficient sales

I agree, you would think they would of learnt their lesson when they did the same thing with Sangyong Musso SUV partnership and then dropped all of their customers when they brought in the M class and told existing owners they now need to go to Sangyong to get their vehicle serviced
Pretty poor form in my book.

Hi Candace, I spotted a couple of those on the Oodnadatta Track last year and commented that they were a bit of an expensive vehicle to be being used as a thrash and crash hire vehicle.

cheers

Dunc

I think the X-class disaster comes back to the fact that no-one really believed the Mercedes sales BS, that the Navara had been totally "re-engineered", to make the X-class.

On the CarAdvice website, a Mercedes "global engineer" is reported as stating that "every part (on the Navara) was analysed".

Well, all the parts might have been analysed, alright - but they weren't analysed on the basis of, "how can we improve on this, or eliminate problems associated with this part?"

No, the "analysis" would have been conducted on the basis of, "what is the minimum amount of Navara parts we need to change, to make it less obvious, it's a Navara?"

At the end of the day, Mercedes simply slotted in a range of different upholstery and trim, changed the front and real panels and lights, added a little bit of bracing to the weak spots in the chassis, changed the springs and shocks, widened the track a smidgeon (wheel offset?) - but didn't even change a single thing in the Nissan drivetrain.

Then they had the hide to ask $7000-$10,000 more for it (the Mercedes tax?) - and then charge an additional 28% in service charges, to service it?!

Oh, I guess Mercedes did offer a 3 yr, 200,000km warranty, as compared to Nissans 3 yr, 100,000km warranty.
It would be interesting to hear how Mercedes handled warranty claims or owner complaints.

Perhaps Mercedes couldn't get anything out of Nissan for any disputed warranty claims, either? - just like everyone else?? LOL

Navara VS X-class

Cheers, Ron.

Michael - The X-class is on a par with Toyota hopping into bed with Holden in the early 1990's and getting Holden to badge engineer and produce the Toyota Lexcen - while Toyota badge-engineered the Holden Apollo.

But the Lexcen buyers weren't getting a Toyota, they were getting a pile of Holden Commodore junk with Toyota badges on it.
On the other hand, the Holden Apollo buyers were getting an exceptionally good little chariot, a rebadged Camry, one of the best little cars ever to grace Australia's shores.

The Apollo was probably the best vehicle to ever wear a Holden badge, and virtually all the Apollos outlasted the Lexcens by at least 10 years.

And who can remember the other badge-engineering disasters of the 1990's? Y60 Nissan Patrols produced as Ford Mavericks?
Falcon utes sold as Nissan utes? Suzuki Sierras sold as Holden Drovers? Pintaras rebadged as Ford Corsairs?

At least a heap of Mavericks are still going! - but it's years since I've seen a Nissan Ute!

It's a wonder anyone knew what they were buying or driving back in those days!?
And what about the parts rorts associated with that badge engineering!?

Everyone knew where to buy the cheapest parts, and they weren't always from the company that had the badge on the bonnet!

Ford-Nissan-Holden-Toyota-Suzuki badge engineering

Cheers, Ron.

I wonder if Mercedes thought they could tap the market of people who buy 4wd utes and the roughest road they encounter are the speed bumps in the shopping centre car park.

Mercedes looks better on the school run than Nissan or Toyota etc.

Think you may have it wrong about the Amarock, I think most users would never use low range if it had one , the first two gears are very low . A mate had one , went every where the other 4wd's went on our trips no fuss .That included Pajeros and 200 series vehicles through sanddunes out the head of the bight and some pretty rough stuff towing a trailer .Not everyone is brainwashed to buy toyota's

Due to the lower first and second gears (rather than a transfer case), there was no low gearing in reverse which was a bit of an issue in slow going terrain and soft sand.

I've seen plenty of videos of the Amarok doing very well off road. I think it's horses for courses with the Utes we have to choose from. The Hilux is arguably best for it's off road capability but it's a bumpy uncomfortable ride on road compared to the others. The Ranger has all the bells and whistles and is great if you get a reliable one? The new Triton is making some waves, has great potential for the price. The Amarok is best on road by a mile with the V6 and is full time 4WD but as you say has some quirks. The Navara has been let down by it's suspension and is a little down on power. The Dmax is a real work horse with a great reputation but misses out in the luxury stakes and a few features. You need to establish your need and then pick the horse to suit IMO. 5 Year Warranties now make them all a safe buy initially but outside of warranty you need to be careful which one you choose. Enough said on that

Pat Callinan had to do an ecu tweak to remove the torque limiter in reverse. Not only is the gearing not low enough, but there's ecu torque limiting to 200nm on the Amaroks when reversing in difficult conditions. One guy on Youtube showed how his Amarok couldn't reverse over a brick behind his wheel on an uphill slope. He was pretty cheesed off about it.

TF - It seems that doesn't stop them from surging in sales in metro regions. I am absolutely staggered at the numbers of Mercedes (and BMW's) on the road today.

15-20 years ago, they were expensive "prestige" vehicles, that one only saw on the roads in small numbers.
Now, they're in numbers on the road, like Holden and Falcon numbers were in the 1970's.

It seems everyone has a huge desire to drive behind those "prestige" badges. Just shows what marketing can do.
For mine, I have no desire to ever own any German make - anytime I am forced to buy anything from Europe, it seems to have an additional 30 or 40% in costs included. I'm sure there are many hidden taxes in European products.

And don't get me started on the unbelievable complexity and costs associated with repairing these vehicles, with their "special tools", costly repair procedures, and unique service requirements that means owners often have no choice, but to have them serviced by the dealer.

Germany might have lost the War, but they still found out how to shaft other countries, to make up for their War losses.

Hi Ron you are right about Mercs and Beemers being popular in the Metro regions.
And buying second hand you can pick up some beautiful cars at a good price.
I'm on my second 5 series BMW, as a daily driver, cant fault it and probably the best thing i have driven.
German cars are popular in the USA,and UK, if you are doing all your service and repairs like me ,the parts are easily sourced from the US, plus many euro car part importers here, just don't buy from the stealers.
I have had parts from the US and UK quicker than being sent from Melbourne to Sydney. the parts are no dearer than Toyota parts either, or Holden or Ford .
Euro cars are still just cars nothing much different in servicing or repairs.
my current BMW there are no special tools needed .
just don't take it to the dealer for service find an independent, or do it your self, there not that much different.

Cheers Rob