CD Article: 2006 Mercedes-Benz R350

[CD_Editor]

You may discuss our cover story of the day in this thread....
Test Drive:

For 2006, Mercedes-Benz enters the "people-mover" segment with its all-new, six-passenger R-Class. It's lavishly appointed, ridiculously comfortable and offers considerable space even in the third row. But Assistant Editor Jil McIntosh wonders just what audience the R-Class is going to reach.    More...

[a4_tom]

R-Class is a tough sales in the showroom, according to my friend who works for Mercedes Canada. Its really hard to convince consumers to buy a R350 and R500 when they can get an E-Class for same prices, at some point, S-Class isn't too far away from a loaded R500.

[mdxtasy]

Hehehehehohohoho.....that's a lot of cake.  I like the R class....but not that much.

[ovr50]

Fellow I work with looked at getting rid of his Tahoe for the R. Then he found out he couldn't even tow a small trailer for his motorcycle and that was the end of that idea. Still has the Tahoe. I think the R may be a tough sell for sure.

Personally, the looks of it do nothing for me, looks like a Pacifica which I dislike also. 

[tpl]

     I saw it in the MB showroom on Eglinton when I went to look at the B classe.   It looks ponderous to me.... and the B classe is deadly ugly compared to the A Classe. I think that MB cars generally look good but whoever desgns their trucks/suvs/crossovers definitely deserves the 2006 Bangle prize  IMHO

[Gardiner Westbound]

Mercedes major problem in recent years has been poor reliability and substandard quality control, particularly with products emanating from the Alabama plant, yet there is no mention in this review of fit and finish issues. 

[wing]

I believe Mercedes has improved in the past 1.5 years 2005+ models.

[Bullet Blue]

Yup, quality has improved, now all that's left is for them to improve of their pricing as well. I mean, I know it's a premium brand, but when you start having competition from within your own brand (E-class, S-class) then obviously one model will take the hit in sales. Looks like it's gonna be the R class.

[Shnak]

I doubt people looking at a minivan will cross-shop it with a 5-passenger sedan or wagon... The fact is, there really isn't much direct competition with the R-Class right now, but look for BMW and others to join in quite soon.

[wing]

Sat in the R class in Toronto, there will be some lucky munchkins IMO, Kids should be cramped not sitting in limo seating

[Shnak]

Both the R-Class and M-Class were absolutely astonishing... plenty of room, quality of materials impeccable, design, features, comfort... these vehicles are simply perfect. Well, other than their unproven reliability... but other than that, if I had money and looked for the absolute best minivan and SUV, those would be my picks, no doubt about it.

[The Mighty Duck]

I think I'd rather buy a decent minivan and fast sports car for less money...

[Jameel]

I believe Mercedes has improved in the past 1.5 years 2005+ models.

Yes I read an article which said they would be cutting their profit of $3billion to $1.5Billion to improve quality.  It's amazing that a brand name like M-B which use to be synonyms with good quality and fit/finish has a worse rating than a Hyundai

I can’t believe anybody will buy this car.  $64K base price, as tested $84K, wow!  What is M-B thinking?  There must be a lot of friggin’ money in the world.  Cause I sure as hell don’t have it.

[johngenx]

Evidently, the R-Class is a complete flop, not evenr eaching 2/3 of MB's conservative sales goal for the first year.  Priced too high, too ugly, too weird and too unlike anything else.  The only one I've ever seen driving is a dealer's demo.

The one at David Morris was stickered at $84K.  Dumb.  E350 4-Matic wagon would go home long before that ugly thing.  Oh, I guess that's what people have been saying 'cause E-Class sales are still decent.

[a4_tom]

Auto Motor & Sport put R350, ML350 and E350 Avantgarde 4Matic in a comparo. Unsurprisingly, R350 came last and E-Class wagon is the winner. Even those Germans can't find a reason why Mercedes "needs' to produce this massive vehicle.

[mdxtasy]

I have only seen one on the streets.  Silver...it's big...and kinda dorky looking.  It's got nice lines....but it looks too bulky to be sexy.

[Prius]

If I had a choice between the ML320 and the R320 (in CAD), I'd get the R so fast, the salesman won't even know what hit them. I got to drive the R320 and the R500 at the RMB Tour that Mercedes Canada hosted. Boy are they fun to drive! You don't even notice how big they are cause they handled quite nicely and are fairly agile. The R500 has a nice exhaust to it and the panoramic roof (2-piece glass!) is huge!

Yeah, I don't normally promote MB cars cause I find them a bit overpriced for what they are but this R-Class is a very nice surprise. It's very big, the 3rd row can actually fit adults comfortably. The front looks odd though. I'm not sure if I like the metal trim in the lower bumper.

[sirAQUAMAN64]

For a Benz so large, I find pricing to be fine. It's not THAT much more than an ML, yet offers much more space. I'm sure the GL will sticker for more than this, and being as long as an S-Class, it offers lots for less.

Sitting in the 2nd row, I was NOT impressed with the space. With the sunroof, my head was firmly into the roof, and the 3rd row didn't look as accomodating as I thought it would - or as roomy as many journalists have claimed it to be. Nothing yet beats a minivan.

I personally find the look somehow oddly appealing, but not great. Mainly, the headlights look questionably shaped to me. Way better executed than the Pacifica tho.

And to combat what everyone else has said, I've seen quite a few on the road now. I think for the price of vehicle, they are selling more than I expected them to. At least around the Toronto area.