CNNMoney: $1.7M Mercedes world's most expensive lemon?

[DeepModem Mom]

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



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, 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."...

http://www.cnn.com/2006/AUTOS/06/14/pricey_lemon/index.html

[Bluzmann57]

1. For $1.7 mil, the car should drive itself

I'd be happy if someone just gave me the money. Then I could buy a bunch of reliable cars.

[pooja]

2. with cars like this, is it a wonder oil companies are making

major money

[benburch]

3. You simply CANNOT screw your DEALERS

Wow! Mercedes has really lost its way.

[madaboutharry]

4. I would think simply taking the

car back and writing it off as a loss would cost Mercedes less than the bad publicity. I know people who have owned their cars and haven't been all that happy.

[billbuckhead]

6. It is a gray market race car

DCX is under no obligation to fix this car. It's just anti-Mercedes proganda

[madaboutharry]

8. Gray market?

Who built this car then?

[billbuckhead]

11. Mercedes built this car for racing

Not to be street legal in the USA let alone to be retailed as a production unit.

[madaboutharry]

12. That does change the argument, but

then why did a dealership think they could sell it? And if it only went 10 blocks, how could it be a race car? I guess I just don't get it!

[billbuckhead]

14. A dealership in Germany sold it to someone to go racing

It would have to be modified to dependably drive on the street.

[acmejack]

9. They commited a crime simply driving it on the public streets.

ooops... I am surprised they got it through customs. Bill Gates had a Ferrari that never did get through as far as I know, because of emissions control issues.

[CanuckAmok]

5. I'm glad you posted this; I was just about to buy one!

Actually, my suspicion is that DC doesn't want to deal with this because it's an AMG Mercedes.

AMG is a third-party company who are licensed by Mercedes to buy, modify, and resell as new a line of Mercedes vehicles. Once they are purchased for AMG, the warranty transfers obligation from Mercedes to AMG.

I'm sure Mercedes doesn't care about this at all. It's not their car anymore, it's AMG's, and this "bad press" only applies to a vehicle afforded by 0.000001% of their demographic. It'll probably eventually make the car more valuable, as there won't be a repeat run in the next model year.

[DeepModem Mom]

7. Whew! Just in time! nt

[dipsydoodle]

10. Why so ?

Wuz you thinking about ordering one for each of the family but now you think one just for yourself might be a better 'till they sort out the issues ?:rofl:

[Joe Bacon]

13. I have no symapthy for that fool.

Any idiot who throws $1.7 million away to buy a car should be in the 99% tax bracket!

[no_hypocrisy]

15. Is it true that Mercedes are now all made in Mexico and none are made

in Germany anymore?