Theres soooo many R-Class on the road where I live now I think it has surpass the E60s. I swear! I see more of them I think.

 

HAHAHHAHAHA I like the W211 front. I absolutely HATE the W210 tho.

 

Amazing resemblance

 

The R class is definetly fugly, but the Pontiac Aztec takes the cake. What the heck some designer was thinking when they came up with that mess I don't know. The GL 450 looks better, but we all need to see the new X5 with optional seating for 7. Many familes need more than a 5 seater at times. I will be looking for a replacement for my Chevy Tahoe within 6 months and it will be difficult decision. It actually holds 9 people (uncomfortably), as it has three rows of bench seating.

 

Can you get the Tapir as a coupe? My one concern is if you feed it high-test will the emissions smell really bad when passing?

 

Must be a local thing then. No one has them in DC - very unpopular, and the Benz dealer near my house is literally brimming with unsold ones. A friend of mine test drove one - thought is was really awful. Even with the stellar deal they couldn't make the sale.


The X5 being beaten doesn't surprise me - it's not the same class, and it's -really- long in the tooth.

 

Here is a link to an interesting article on the disappointing sales of the MB R-Class:

http://news.moneycentral.msn.com/provider/...&ID=5664095

 

I think the upper range is starved for a bigger vehicle for a family that isn't an SUV or dopey minivan. I like the idea of the M-B and Pacifica, but they have rotten styling. I HATE the fat D-pillar that tapers from top to bottom. I don't get it, and it's the same on both.

Audi had a concept A8 stretch wagon a few years ago, and it was getting there. I think people would buy an expensive stretch wagon without the rotten SUV handling. Make it AWD if you want, but it needs a major sport suspension and huge wheels etc.

The 5-series wagon is big, but not third-row big. I would love to get one of the M5 wagons when they come out (spy photos have confirmed they will build some). But that isn't big enough for some.

I would even be open to a minivan concept in a European sport vehicle, pretty close to the MB but just not totally ugly like that. Sliding side doors, third seat, but still low to the ground with a taut suspension and sporting looks.

My 545 will have to do for a while. (BTW: I would have bought the 545 wagon if it were available here, just for the extra space for kid stuff.)

 

The R-class' concept vehicle, the GST, was on the money styling-wise. Too bad that they took its styling cues and used them on the CLS and the new S. In my opinion, they worked a lot better on the GST. But styling does not bother me since the driving dynamics combined with the utility are the best out there for this type of a vehicle right now. Heck, I was one of the first people with a 2002 745Li, and if its styling did not bother me then...

 

The Aztek had to be an inside joke/bet (see what fool would buy one). That monsters takes the winner's prize for the ugliest thing man has ever created.