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| I didnt' think Mercedes could make a lemon?; Especially a $1,700,000 one | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Jun 17 2006, 07:03 PM (174 Views) | |
| kenny | Jun 17 2006, 07:03 PM Post #1 |
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HOLY CARP!!!
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![]() World's most expensive lemon? Dealership says $1.7 million car won't run and maker Mercedes-Benz won't fix it. June 16, 2006; Posted: 11:29 a.m. EDT (1529 GMT) NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) - The owner of a Los Angeles car dealership is suing Mercedes-Benz, its parent company DaimlerChrysler and other affiliates, alleging that a $1.7 million car purchased in 2004 wouldn't run for more than 10 blocks without problems. The car, a Mercedes-Benz AMG CLK-GTR Limited Edition Roadster, was supposed to be one of only five made. In the lawsuit, the owner of exotic car dealership Grand Prix Motors also alleges that six were actually made, reducing the value of his car. A two-door sports car, the CLK-GTR has a carbon fiber body and a 6.9-liter 12-cylinder engine enabling it to go from zero to 124 mph in 9.9 seconds. It has a top speed of 198.4 mph. According to the dealership's Web site, the car's intended retail selling price was $2.5 million. The car is believed to be the only one of its kind in the U.S., said plaintiff Mark Johnston. It is intended to be a street car but, because of differences in safety and emissions rules between the U.S. and Europe, it cannot legally be driven on public roads here. "Unfortunately, the car turned out to be 'exotic' in the worst possible way," dealership owner Johnston said. "When we took it off the lot in 2004 for its first customer test drive, [dealership co-owner Ernest Johnston] drove the car all of 10 blocks with a prospective buyer when the oil light came on. We've been trying to get it fixed ever since, but the Mercedes folks have refused to stand behind the car as promised in our contract." Additionally, according to Johnston, the car's transmission failed to shift properly, the hydraulic jack system failed and the car's windows came unglued. Mercedes ultimately determined that the car suffered from an oil pressure-related engine failure, the plaintiffs allege, but refused to make any repairs. "It's unfortunate the defendants have forced us to bring a lawsuit in order to have our contract honored," said Johnston. "We obviously cannot sell the car in its current condition, which right now represents nearly $2 million of scrap metal." Mercedes-Benz USA spokeswoman Donna Boland said she could not comment on the lawsuit since the car was purchased directly from Germany and not through Mercedes' U.S. arm. Mercedes-Benz USA is named as a defendant in the suit. Mercedes-Benz officials in Germany could not immediately be reached for comment. The suit seeks a full refund of the car's purchase price as well as legal fees and other expenses. |
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| Mikhailoh | Jun 18 2006, 04:05 AM Post #2 |
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If you want trouble, find yourself a redhead
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Seems like there ought to be some kind of warranty on a $2M car.... |
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Once in his life, every man is entitled to fall madly in love with a gorgeous redhead - Lucille Ball | |
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| lb1 | Jun 18 2006, 05:07 AM Post #3 |
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Fulla-Carp
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A little OT, but I was working in the garage yesterday when I heard a car pull into the drive. It was a kid that used to hang around the house when my sons were home. He asked if he could borrow a $100 bucks from me. The funny thing about this was he was driving a new Mercedes S550 that he just bought a couple days ago for $98,000. lb |
| My position is simple: you jumped to an unwarranted conclusion and slung mud on an issue where none was deserved. Quirt 03/08/09 | |
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| Mikhailoh | Jun 18 2006, 05:31 AM Post #4 |
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If you want trouble, find yourself a redhead
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I assume you declined. |
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Once in his life, every man is entitled to fall madly in love with a gorgeous redhead - Lucille Ball | |
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| George K | Jun 18 2006, 05:37 AM Post #5 |
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Finally
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Or at least held the Benz for collateral. |
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A guide to GKSR: Click "Now look here, you Baltic gas passer... " - Mik, 6/14/08 Nothing is as effective as homeopathy. I'd rather listen to an hour of Abba than an hour of The Beatles. - Klaus, 4/29/18 | |
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| lb1 | Jun 18 2006, 05:55 AM Post #6 |
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Fulla-Carp
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The kid makes about $800K a year and paid cash for the Mercedes. He was eating out with his wife when he realized he forgot his wallet and didn't have a dime on him. He doesn't live very close so he ran by my place. Damn did I have fun with him :biggrin:, he knows how conservative I am and he knew how much crap I would give him. He was explaining justification for the car before he even got out of it. I gave him the $$. lb |
| My position is simple: you jumped to an unwarranted conclusion and slung mud on an issue where none was deserved. Quirt 03/08/09 | |
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| George K | Jun 18 2006, 05:56 AM Post #7 |
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Finally
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Did you get the money back? :ph43r: |
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A guide to GKSR: Click "Now look here, you Baltic gas passer... " - Mik, 6/14/08 Nothing is as effective as homeopathy. I'd rather listen to an hour of Abba than an hour of The Beatles. - Klaus, 4/29/18 | |
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| kentcouncil | Jun 18 2006, 06:36 AM Post #8 |
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Fulla-Carp
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Mercedes reliability has definitely taken a nosedive since the Chrysler merger. Most of the people I know who are in the market for a luxury car refuse to consider it. |
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It was a confusion of ideas between him and one of the lions he was hunting in Kenya that had caused A. B. Spottsworth to make the obituary column. He thought the lion was dead, and the lion thought it wasn't. - P.G. Wodehouse | |
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| lb1 | Jun 18 2006, 06:41 AM Post #9 |
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Fulla-Carp
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It's only a $100, and I am sure he is good for it. lb |
| My position is simple: you jumped to an unwarranted conclusion and slung mud on an issue where none was deserved. Quirt 03/08/09 | |
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| ivorythumper | Jun 18 2006, 08:58 AM Post #10 |
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I am so adjective that I verb nouns!
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So am I LB, I'll PM you my address. |
| The dogma lives loudly within me. | |
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