Joseesp

Phoenix Performance is doing some work on my C6 Z06 (Cage, T1 suspension, etc.) and because they didn't finish on time for me to take it to NCM VIR HPDE, they suggested that I take one of their T1 car as a loaner.

I bought a 2007 Mercedes Benz GL 450 to tow my 24' trailer and car about 2 months ago. The truck is rated at 7500 lbs. towing capacity and I figured the total weightwould be around 7,000 lbs. with the loaded trailer (Trailer 3,400 lbs; car 3,100 and approx. 400 lbs. of gear. On my way down to pick-up the car, towing an empty trailer, making a right turn into a mall at 5-10 MPH the hitch receiver broke (see pictures). Lucky I connected the brake-way cable to the frame of the truck, as recommended, and not to the hitch itself as most people do. The trailer came to an immediated stop and there was no damage to anything or anyone.

Joe Aquilante (president of Phoenix Perfomance) came to the rescue and besides the T1 loaner, provided me with a GMC Sierra 3500 turbodiesel with an auxilliary tank that made the entire trip (just over 1,000 miles) without stoping for fuel.

wallyman424

i really need to take my car up to pheonix.

get some cornerbalancing/cat removing/alignment goodness.

John Shiels

now after you towed with a 3500 diesel your are done. Nothing will feel right again.

wallyman424

the real question here: what is Benz doing to make this right?

joemoia

Sorry for your problems w/the Benz, but that was awesome by Phoenix

SouthernSon

It was nice meeting you and Aileen, Jose. I trust your trip back home was good. I stayed over for the CHIN event on Wed/Thur. I will definately go back to VIR.

I am trying to talk my mother into the new LS460. Her S430 has had more problems than any cheap car should possess, much less an $80k one. Merz has try to become all things to all peoples and it ain't workin' out. Merz problems? let us talk navigation screwup with 2 different contactors on hardware and software, an adjustable suspension that has had 3 replacements, headlight bulbs that the dealer screwed up twice and I finally fixed myself the third time. There is much more to the saga of this car but any Merz owner knows the tale.......

What really gets me is the fact that the factory warranty is 3yrs/36k miles but one cannot get a workshop manual until the vehicle is in its 10th year!!

My dear ole mom is beginning to see the light and the LS460 looks like a real possibility.

Sidney004

Now I know why I can't get a repair manual for my wife's 2000 C280. The Merc's really aren't as reliable as some people think. Just wait till they get older and out of warranty, the electronic gizmo's crap out at an alarming rate, not to mention the maintenance costs. My V6 has 12 unreachable spark plugs, the dealer charges a $1000 to replace these! Needless to say, my 106K V6 will have to misfire pretty severely before I pay that bill. They do run sweet at redline though.

Tintin

the Benz is too small....

BuckeyeZ06

I need to echo your comments on the treatment you recieved from Phoenix Performance. I have purchased two race cars from them (their 18th and 88th!) and am going to buy a third in the future. They do treat the customer right.

Mercedes? My father has had 7 S class Mercs and overall his experience has been very good. His current car is a new S550 and he loves it. I am going to be buying a new car this coming March and am looking at the LS460 as well as a S550. The Lexus is a great car, but (to me) just doesn't have the "emotional" pull that a Merc has.

BuckeyeZ06

I agree. I LOVE my Sierra 3500.

wallyman424

this benz has promise...
c63 amg...



harkens back to the 1980/1990 merc styling. back when they were really the best cars on earth.

Joseesp

You got that right. I'm definitely going with a heavy duty diesel truck. I'm looking into a Sierra, and (I'm sorry to say in this forum) a Ford King Ranch Super Duty (I just like the interior better).

Joseesp

The dealer of course was very apologetic and assured me that they'll have Mercedes look at the broken hitch and get me a, hopefully improved, new one.

Joseesp

Nice Meeting you too Art. Eileen and I really liked VIR. I think that I'll recruit John Shiels and other active members of PDA to convince the organizers to get some tract time there. Hopefully the NCM will continue to have their HPDE's there; but once a year is just not enough.

gonzalezfj

Improved hitch??? All they needed to do was to weld the original one correctly. Is welding a lost art at MB??

I'll stick with my GMC, thank you very much.

José, glad Joe came through for you. He always does, somehow.

Frank Gonzalez

Cobra4B

Damn... curious, how'd you hook the break away chains the the chassis of the vehicle?

0Randy@DRM

Look into your lemon laws in your state. I personally would shove that thing right up their azz.

Randy

robvuk

This just goes to show you that GM and Ford are not the only companies in the world with problems. From what I've seen, GM has really ramped up the quality and although a few problems remain, their biggest obstacle to overcome is just PERCEPTION. It will take time and hopefully they will be able to hang in there till the perception changes.

Cobra4B

^ Exactly... everyont "thinks" Toyotas and Hondas never break and that Mercedes and Bimmers are flawless.

It really comes down to service/perception. When the above marks have issues etc they're generally handled by a good dealer network whereas GM struggles w/ dealers used to helping people who buy Cavaliers.

DOUG @ ECS

I agree, the problem IMO is that most of the driving population has been around since the 70-80's when GM was substandard to the foreign cars as far as longevity etc goes. I think those days are past them now, but it takes generations to loose that perception.

Nice seeing you again Jose, very cool of them to help you out like that.
btw, I thought to myself.. well he will be buying a dually after towing with that one.