Or, "Why we drive Mercedes". Found this in the local Pick-n-Pull.
It used to be a 2005 Kia Rio.
It used to be a 2005 Kia Rio.
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Kia Rio wreck photos
- Thread starter gsxr
- Start date
Since you asked... here are photos of a Mercedes W123 300D that was rear-ended by a big rig / semi truck. Traffic had stopped on the freeway to near zero visibility, from a dust storm caused by high winds. The 300D stopped, big rig did not. I know the owner of the car, he personally told me what happened, and I took the photos below. He was hurt, but walked away... note the W123 still had intrusion into the passenger compartment, but nothing like the Rio.
Attachments
My old hobby shop was across the street from Walnut Hill Wrecker in Dallas which had the city contract for clearing crashed cars. They pulled in with this 2000 era Hynndai a couple of years ago. I can't imagine that this is a survivable crash.
Friends who run body shops indicate that both Kia an Hyundai in recent years have improved greatly and are making very strong cars.
Friends who run body shops indicate that both Kia an Hyundai in recent years have improved greatly and are making very strong cars.
Owning, driving, and repairing, yes. But I'd rather be in a W123 than the Rio when hit by something large. I didn't have any 124 photos hit by a bigrig, Gerry. I'll commit seppuku immediately for my obvious failure.
Airbags are generally triggered by front impact, not rear.
No, no, NO please don't do that.
This forum would fail without your guiding hand and superior W124 knowledge.
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Not to hate on Mercedes, but things have changed in the recent years, and we really can't just buy based on brand anymore. I've never been a person who only looked at brands when making a choice; it is also super important to factor in the specific product and see if it is objectively better, which is why I don't have a favourite brand, and like Porsche, Mercedes and BMW equally, depending on the model.
Mercedes has really changed in the recent years. Their lower-cost A and B class use Renault engines, and recently I was at an autobody shop, and saw them take apart a CLA's rear and front bumpers, and with my own eyes, witnessed the "styrofoam"-like insert they use for it. This is the same sort of "styrofoam" insert that you often see used in Honda, Toyota, and other cheaper cars.
I think the best way to explain this is that Mercedes used to be a luxury/perfection-only brand, but they are now diversifying their brand, and expanding into the business of selling lower-cost and well-priced options (using their prestige and reputation to market them), which is a great business decision, but really, are cheaper than anything else they have ever made before, and cannot compare.
Basically, the saying "you get what you pay for" is really a lot more relevant these days; they don't make them the same as they used to. Can't judge solely by a brand name.
On a side note, wow that Kia is really wrecked. I'd rather be in a smart car.
Mercedes has really changed in the recent years. Their lower-cost A and B class use Renault engines, and recently I was at an autobody shop, and saw them take apart a CLA's rear and front bumpers, and with my own eyes, witnessed the "styrofoam"-like insert they use for it. This is the same sort of "styrofoam" insert that you often see used in Honda, Toyota, and other cheaper cars.
I think the best way to explain this is that Mercedes used to be a luxury/perfection-only brand, but they are now diversifying their brand, and expanding into the business of selling lower-cost and well-priced options (using their prestige and reputation to market them), which is a great business decision, but really, are cheaper than anything else they have ever made before, and cannot compare.
Basically, the saying "you get what you pay for" is really a lot more relevant these days; they don't make them the same as they used to. Can't judge solely by a brand name.
On a side note, wow that Kia is really wrecked. I'd rather be in a smart car.
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Dave,
Thanks for the heads up. I was just about to buy that very model Kia. HaHa, If you believe that I have a nice bridge to sell you.
Seriously, that's an ugly wreck. It looks like a sleeping Big Rig or Bus driver hit s parked car and shoved it into another parked car in front of it. I would hate to think anybody was in it at the time.
I agree with Lynch on the CLA. I think it's s piece of crap and doesn't deserve the Mercedes moniker. I think it's a rebadged Kia or some other cheapo brand. A front driver is not a Benz. It appears to me Mercedes tried to downsize the CLS styling for the starter Benz croud but instead wound up with a Doodle Bug on 4 wheels. IMOP, I don't think it will last long in its current form. Lynch is right it's just a ploy to get more capital into the company.
It was brought on so Benz could still build the high end stuff like the $198K+ CL65 I saw yesterday setting on South Bay Mercedes's lot.
Gerry,
I think the styrofoam in the E500E's front bumper at least is more to help it keep its shape than for added protection. Can't say much about the rear one because I've never had it apart.
Thanks for the heads up. I was just about to buy that very model Kia. HaHa, If you believe that I have a nice bridge to sell you.
Seriously, that's an ugly wreck. It looks like a sleeping Big Rig or Bus driver hit s parked car and shoved it into another parked car in front of it. I would hate to think anybody was in it at the time.
I agree with Lynch on the CLA. I think it's s piece of crap and doesn't deserve the Mercedes moniker. I think it's a rebadged Kia or some other cheapo brand. A front driver is not a Benz. It appears to me Mercedes tried to downsize the CLS styling for the starter Benz croud but instead wound up with a Doodle Bug on 4 wheels. IMOP, I don't think it will last long in its current form. Lynch is right it's just a ploy to get more capital into the company.
It was brought on so Benz could still build the high end stuff like the $198K+ CL65 I saw yesterday setting on South Bay Mercedes's lot.
Gerry,
I think the styrofoam in the E500E's front bumper at least is more to help it keep its shape than for added protection. Can't say much about the rear one because I've never had it apart.
I would have had no idea! I guess it's safe enough then. Thanks for educating.
I'll have to assume that it's just the thickness of the metal and engineering behind it that holds it up.
One thing that has always been a strong point with Mercedes- is crash testing. They have a huge huge parking garage and keep the wrecks. So, unless they have changed their engineering standards for seats, crash events etc(which may be in excess of Government requirements)- your better off in an accident.
Styrofoam is typically used as an impact absorber. It does a pretty good job (in that you can buy a 65 inch TV on Amazon and it will get to your house in one piece) and is relatively cheap to replace. I'm not sure about today's standards but certainly in the 80's, MB was a level above even BMW's of the era. I have an 88 535is parts car in the shop. The car must have slid and hit a pole just in front of the a pillar on the drivers side fender. The impact bent the frame so badly that doors on the other side no longer shut.
I've seen lots of MB wrecks but none like this.
