There doesn't seem to be too many options currently on the market for Premium/Luxury EV Sedans.
If you could pick between either of the Model S plaid (~$200k) or the EQE53 AMG (~$230k), which one would you get and why? Noting that one is $30k more and the Model S plaid is not yet available in Australia.
Update: Added poll options for BMW and Porche just for fun.
and a badge to show those > $250k pa club.
I'm all about that AMG, high yield investment
Gotta get that cash flow, gotta make that progression
I'm stacking my cash, ain't no time for depression
Gotta diversify my portfolio, with some aggression
AMG, AMG, making money all day
AMG, AMG, watch that cash flow come my way
I'm buying low, selling high, that's my strategy
Making bank, ain't no need for no salary
My AMG investments, they're bringing in the dough
I'm living large, ain't no need to save no more
AMG, AMG, making money all day
AMG, AMG, watch that cash flow come my way
So if you want to make some cash, invest in AMG
You'll be living large, just like me
It's the way to go, the smart way to invest
So don't be left behind, make that AMG move and be blessed.
This one is well beyond OBs
Both are top line cars
Both very good
Neither is cheap
Neither is a bargain
Neither is a great buy.
Nothing says ‘you made it’ like a merc
(I have not/ will never ‘make it’ unfortunately)
AMG on the boot, just to make you smile every time you take the golf clubs out.
Still can't brag about having the fastest car ever, unfortunately? Lol
Did you know all Teslas are made in China? 😂
I'm a spoilt Merc fan!
Nah the Plaids come from the gapping Fremont.
Kia is getting viable options ready, charge faster than the Taycan more fun to drift
Y's from Berlin but only LHD
But Ja Ja ein Panzerwagen mit Stern!!
@payless69: Since when did they split up production? Or has the model S always been assembled in Freemont
@thousandsuns: Where are Tesla Model S Plaid made?
Fremont, California
In the United States, the Model S is manufactured at the Tesla Factory in Fremont, California. For the European market, the battery pack and electric motor are removed, and the remaining parts are shipped and assembled at Tesla's European Distribution Center in Tilburg.
The China built Teslas are actually better quality than the US made ones.
@xdigger: Gapping is not yet an offense in China but they love to churn out model 3's all same same…
everytime i see a dude with a fully decked out amg i think to myself, damn hey - i bet under that perfect posture, perfect teeth, $5000 suit, 1st owner omega speedmaster, $500,000 job, the super model wife and suspicously hot columbian house maid and awesome car, he's not THAT happy.
the dude: nah mate, life is B E A U T I F U L.
Or.. guy is financially strapped to the ceiling, and eats nothing but instant noodles
@87percent: Probably not. There's mercedes "rich" ie; A class/C class to pretend you have money. Then there is Mercedes RICH ie S55 / G63 etc. That's just rich.
People like to dissemble their jealousy towards successful people but tbh they do exist.
@meowsers: Hahaha! You nailed it. The funniest is people who buy base model mers like A180, b180, c200 and truley believe they are hot shots. Lol. Then they complain about not being able to afford to service the car. Hahahah.
he can't be too happy but at least happier than you are :)
500,000 gets you a mortgage in sydney and not much else, might need an extra 0 for all the things described and probably more than one 0 for the super model wife and suspiciously hot columbian house maid!
everytime i see a dude with a fully decked out amg i think to myself, damn hey - i bet under that perfect posture, perfect teeth, $5000 suit, 1st owner omega speedmaster, $500,000 job, the super model wife and suspicously hot columbian house maid and awesome car, he's not THAT happy.
I think this is an incredibly complex topic that's much deeper than whether someone is "happy or not" in a very binary way.
For several years of my professional career, I worked alongside people who had seven-figure salaries and had I stayed on that path, I could have been one of them within a decade. The reality is that all of these people worked extremely hard and gave up on a lot of "life's niceties" that people not in that situation often take for granted. How much would you accept being paid to not have dinner with your family on a regular basis, to be an absent parent, to not have a social life outside of work, to work day-to-day in a pressure cooker environment where closing a deal or not determines your professional future.
I don't think that they were driven first and foremost by "money", in the sense that you could have (effectively) 75% of what they had working half of the hours they worked. However, just like people can become trapped in the "cycle" of poverty, many of my old colleagues were trapped in a similar "cycle" of success.
You see all around you that all of your friends, all of your mentors, people you respect, your clients all drive certain cars, live in certain blue ribbon suburbs, send their kids to certain private schools, holiday in certain exotic locations. When you are constantly surrounded by people like that, you want to be like them - not out of competition, but because humans have a deep-seated desire to fit in and to feel like they belong. You want to fit in with your friends and colleagues, you want to be a part of their social clique…etc.
All of a sudden, you eventually find yourself driving an expensive car (though you never really have the time to drive it), living in a blue ribbon suburb (with mortgage repayments so high that you have to keep your job), kids going to elite private schools (because you just wanted to help them have a better future), playing golf with your colleagues on weekends because they are truly your only friends and people you have time for in your life.
What most people do not understand is that it costs a lot of money to earn a lot of money, which sounds oxymoronic, but it's very true. If you run a business, you have to invest capital to make a return, similarly, if you are a highly paid employee, you also have to invest a lot in yourself to maintain your position.
Yes, you could ask why someone in this position doesn't simply just pack up shop, go retire in a ranch and enjoy life without all of the stress and pressure if they don't like it. However, it's hard to go against the grain. There is a huge difference between people who are rich and people who have high incomes, ultimately.
Both cars pretend to enlong the phallus: One with pickup, the other with bling blings…..
I've had a Mercedes from new. Worst car I have ever owned in terms of reliability.
People think 'you've made it!', but really it's just a car, like all other mass produced cars. The people designing and making these cars in Germany (if you're lucky) are not gods of industry, forging the finest cars humanity has ever seen. It's just a brand.
in OZ maybe, but in Europe those Merc are drug dealer and burglar preferred cars. this and BMW lol
See man driving a German whip!
I'm too poor to even consider choosing between the two.
Looking at them is one thing, but what is the likelihood of you actually buying one of these?
Dream big and conquer. Nothing is impossible, my guy.
I'm personally considering one of the two, and that’s why I brought up the question.
Dream big and conquer.
Are you talking about dreaming a big debt? haha
I was just wondering because most people I know who spend that amount on a car are often 'car people' who know exactly what they want, so they won't ask for other peoples' opinions.
No way. Not ever going to get one going in debt lol. That's insane. Savings and investments are a good way to get to what you want to get. Waste of money perhaps but YOLO right? And nobody can take their money to their grave.
@thousandsuns: haha don't get me wrong! I'm all for spending on a nice car! 😊
Mine's not as expensive as the one's you're looking at, but still puts a smile on my face each time I sit in there!
@bobbified: Nah man c'mon I agree with you 200k for a car is too much haha
We all have priorities. I don't have a family yet so perhaps the tables will turn then.
@thousandsuns: If you've got the money for it, it's not too expensive!
I don't have my own family either. Just me, myself and I and a big salary (although I do still try and be sensible! haha)
@jatbinks: Funny comment lol.
Is $200k too much? The cost may sound high or low or fine in relative to a person's wealth and income. Clearly this car is not for the avg or low income people 🤷♂️
@jatbinks: I'm not talking about myself. I'm speaking in general. Ask Mr. Musk or Mr. Gates (In your view is a $200k car expensive? 🤷♂️)
I don't make much as them but my point is something being expensive and worthy of value is relative to a person's financial situation.
Surely I'm not the only person on this site who is considering one of these cars or already own one?
@thousandsuns: Jeff Bezos at some point was worth 10 billion and still drove a 1996 Honda around.
A luxury item is a luxury item irrespective of if you are poor or not. The purchasing power can obviously differ.
@jatbinks: Yes, people can buy whatever they want whilst it is in their affordability. It's a personal choice to buy a luxury car if they can afford it. If they dont have the money to buy the car, that doesn't make them poor, it just means they have enough or have better priorities. Note: I never mentioned the word "poor" in comment.
Also, this entire conversation has nothing to do with flexing.
NGL even though Tesla isn't a premium company i have to admit their car looks way better than the EQE, it's pretty amazing that in 10 years the Model S has only undergone iterative upgrades to the exterior, somewhat reminiscent of what Porsche does.
The Mercedes design looks like a $50,000 Hyundai Sonata (i think the Hyundai looks better personally) and i feel would age rapidly.
But Ms Joplin from Texas used to sing: Oh Lord won't you buy me a Mer…..
For the price they both ugly, one is look like Hyundai other one look like yet an another boring tesla 3 lol
I bet EQE interior is way better.
I agree completely. I would take the Merc over the Tesla because Teslas are (profanity) boring looking. The Merc will have more road presence because people will be like “oh, another Tesla”.
Even these days you have old grannies driving Teslas. Teslas are now officially granny mobiles, if you’re gonna spend $200k+ on a car, do you really want to be lumped into the granny mobile category? I don’t think so. The Mercedes’ will make your wifes’s boyfriend jealous and is certainly the more alpha male car between the two. If you are a cuck, by all means buy the Tesla, but real men drive Mercedes.
There's a reason though that there's more Teslas than Mercedes on the roads these days though and i'd debate that someone in a Mercedes would garner the more respect as say someone in a Tesla.
I don't think it's something to write home about if your car sales are falling (Mercedes have hit an 8 year low). And if anything Mercedes are considered more of a granny mobile than a Tesla.
Admittedly yes, Teslas are about as common as Toyotas now, but they're selling for a reason. Just wait till the chinese cars start flooding Australia with 4wds that do 0 to 100 in 4 seconds, Mercedes and Tesla will rapidly lose market share.
Just wait till the chinese cars start flooding Australia with 4wds that do 0 to 100 in 4 seconds
Meth'd up roadrager P-plater tradies in 4 second utes.. won't that be fun :/
someone in a Mercedes would garner the more respect as say someone in a Tesla
Nah, both are equal arseholes
After I driven both Tesla and C200 current model, in Merc you feel the real luxury. Other than the acceleration, Tesla 3 is bat shit boring inside. For $200K, I would go for new line of C63? I think its comes with v4 hybrid with the pretty good preformance. What kind of real luxury you get out 200k Tesla, in a year time, some chinese compnay will bring out better prefoming car 1/4 the price.
@boomramada: Doesn't make sense. Tesla interior can be called "bland" \ "minimalist" but certainly not boring. It's action \ feature packed, especially compared with the C200 current model and the boring entertainment system.
In the S you can play steam games, and an entertainment system that receives regular updates. Merc is very.
The C200 is a dumb entertainment system, functions best in Android Auto mode where it's basically just a screen and interface and your phone does the smarts. BUT unlike Tesla Apple\Android auto isn't an integrated feature so you lose all the smarts, like pre-charge, battery health optimisation. But yeah go Android Auto.
The design of the Merc interiors seem to be heading towards the "futuristic"-looking style rather than the "luxury and comfort" image of the brand that I had as I was growing up. IMO, the new interiors look cheap and tacky.
100% agree. The exterior of the car isn't too exciting, but apparently, the drag coefficient on the design is the best you get on the market, and thats why they believe these are the best aerodynamic and energey efficient cars boasting highest ranges.
The interior, on the other hand, is a different story since the hyperbolic unit is possibly the best looking console you can get on the market.
Each to their own i guess. Personally i think both are ugly, though the tesla far worse as it looks ugly and cheap.
If I had to choose, I would buy the Mercedes because I don’t like Elon Musk, he tries to act like Tony Stark IRL but he isn’t Iron Man like people think he is (hell, he hasn’t even built his own Arc Reactor, Tony Stark built one in a cave with scraps).
I would buy the Mercedes because I don’t like Elon Musk
https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1988-06-12-mn-7400-s…
insert Michael Scott no.gif here
That article is from 1988. It was wartime Germany, they either did what they were told or got nationalised.
he has been grifting since his paypal days which resulted in multiple class action law suits.
even in the last 6 months he tried to pump and dump dogecoin
You really played into the media's hands in how he is portrait.
Not really. I am able to read his tweets/opinion pieces and come to the conclusion he is a bellend without any help from media.
Unsure if sarcasm with that last part 🤣
Wheres the neither option?
I suspect you won't have to wait long as the Tesla Model 3s come off lease and the growing number of private sellers can't move them and the dealers aren't interested for the price- https://www.carsales.com.au/cars/tesla/model-3/?sort=%7ePric…
That list has grown significantly in the last week and it's only a matter of time before Oz Tesla used cars join their cousins in the US with pricing.
OK, I'm updating my comment since now you've added context. Thank you.
I'm talking about Model S here not the 3. The 3s aren't considered luxury cars.
I still have my watchlist from 18 months ago for Tesla Model 3's under $55k… no hits on it for over 12 months, and now, it's every day I am getting a "This car has just been listed…"
The used Tesla Ponzi scheme is collapsing. And fast.
I don't understand your comment. Are you saying you are surpirsed a used 4 year old vehicle is going down in price?
No, they are saying it's rediculous they were so high for so long and people have an infated idea of the used car value that is dropping now
These are nice cars, but if I had that type of money I would probably buy a Model 3 or Y or a RAV4 hybrid and invest the rest.
I like nice cars but when they cost about 5 years of discretionary income (after taxes and non-discretionary expenses), I cannot bear to part with that.
If you had that much money disposable you would probably not need to invest the rest - it's a different mindset when you are happy and comfortable with your wealth and want to spend the money on something nice.
if somebody has that kinda money for car they probably have their investments in order and this is just disposable cash to spend without guilt 😄
Genesis GV70, seen few around and really like the look of them. Solid looking well built car.
https://www.genesis.com/au/en/models/luxury-suv-genesis/gv70…
Plaid an expensive cheap car, design is a decade old now
It's an SUV, let alone it isn't even comparable to an AMG.
@thousandsuns: Better built than Benz.
https://www.jdpower.com/business/press-releases/2022-us-vehi…
Go have a look in the metal, I was quite impressed. Certainly makes Tesla look really cheap. Benz EV effort is kinda half arsed
https://www.drive.com.au/news/mercedes-benz-eqc-to-be-axed-i…
@thousandsuns: What’s wrong with that? The way Hyundai have transformed their company and cars is nothing to be scoffed at.
I don’t think they should be looked down on these days.
@Ghost47: I don't have anything against Hyundais, but I'm not quite sure (subjectivity speaking) that Hyundai even falls under the same class as a Mercedes, BMW, and Porche? Then again, a Tesla doesn’t belong in the same category either. Is Genesis considered a luxury brand? I'm genuinely asking.
@thousandsuns: Oh, right. In that context your comment makes more sense then lol, sad face because it’s not prestigious enough.
I duno if Genesis is considered as prestigious as Lexus or whatever.
@Ghost47: Hey man, I've learnt to know that expensive doesn't equal best lol.
Reliability wise a Toyota beats every car on the market. My discussion is centred more around premium EVs.
Technically, a Lexus is considered a luxury brand but is a Toyota!
@thousandsuns: So you want a EV with a badge, vehicle itself is irrelevant.
Go Benz and premium tow truck service.
@Bid Sniper: No, I want a premium EV. You don't compare a Mercedes to a Hyundai or Toyota. They are not in the same class. The discussion isn't about the best performing EV because then that would most likely be the Model 3. It is rather about premium plus performance. Mind you, the new Mercs are said to be the longest range cars coming to the market.
We all have preferences and passion towards specific brands, so there is need to bag out Mercedes.
No, I want a premium EV
No, what you want is a "look at how much disposable income I have" water cooler, toss pot penis extension that you can one up your work mates with. What you want is something with "badge envy" and the Genesis range, while "premium" just wouldn't impress all your fake, shallow "friends". You want something that has "badge cred", and not something that you would like or would be more reliable, better built and a fraction of the price.
there is need to bag out Mercedes.
Correct, there is a need, and I'll shit on MB all I like, because in about 5 years, when the warranty runs out and it breaks down at the worst possible time and the MB network leave you out to dry, you might think a lot differently about just how "premium" MB is as a manufacturer. This, coupled with the fact that MB treats Australian consumer laws as if they are optional guidelines and their customers like they are an inconvenience between MB and the customers bank accounts.
Along with BMW, you can expect these Euro arseholes to make your car a "pay to play" slot machine. You want a feature, that's a subscription. Want another feature, well, that's another subscription… And because rich arseholes can afford to just pay for all these "subscriptions", this trickles down to the affordable vehicles and everyone ends up paying for subscription services for a vehicle that they own…
So, don't come with that "I want a premium EV." and dismiss valid options if what you really want is a Toorak tractor with lots of "badge envy" to impress people who wont really wont care as soon as Lord Lady Muttonchops gets her latest round of cosmetic surgery.
@pegaxs: Hey mate, are you doing OK? I'm really concerned by your highly erratic rant. Why so much hate?
Where did I dismiss valid points? If you've learnt to read the discussion, the topic is about Tesla vs. Merc. Not other brands.
Besides the point what is it to you as to why I want a Merc and for what reason? Does my choices or personal preference annoy you that much buddy?
Get a grip and take a deep breath before you blow up! 😮💨
Having read your comment all I can take away is how much you hate Mercedes Benz. So please don't blow a gasket over this discussion. The subscription model exists for most companies out there and it is a new business model which is here to stay. Just because it is free today, it doesn't mean it'll be free tomorrow.
Lastly, YES I like Mercs and YES I want an EV Merc. I already own a C200 and it's been nothing but excellent since day 1. So NO, it not all about the badge and flexing how much money I have, thank you!
@thousandsuns: Explain class to me, explain to me like I’m 5, what is class when it comes to cars?
My family had a range of benz (not AMG) and honestly, they’re average. I think in the 80s they were actually good, then 90s were total cheap mass-produced trash and kinda never really recovered. I been through a lot of dealers with family, seen all the demos and driven a lot of them and yeah they’re an average car. When a $70-90K Benz is sold that a 1.5L 4cyl, you have to ask if you’re how much you’re willing to pay for the badge because it certainly not the car. I'm more interested what actually under the hood and the car.
The only Mercedes product that I will and want to buy is their Ebikes, no seriously they're good. They sales sucks though, heaps of inquires and no on will get back to me but that’s a different thread.
https://nplusbikes.com.au/
@Bid Sniper: Mate, we all have personal choices and opinions. You can't argue personal preference. It's like saying why would anyone buy a Gucci jacket when you can probably go and buy a similar jacket at Kmart jacket? Brand and reputation itself is a factor or else all expensive brands would be out of business. Besides that, I'm not sure what Mercedes you've had in the past and what problems they gave you, but I've owned a brand new one since 2014, and I have had zero issues with it. It has not only been reliable but also has been a great car to drive, and this is just a mere C200. If their cars were that rubbish, then nobody would be buying them.
@thousandsuns: Gucci is for Karens
Direct from the review of you 2014 C200 "generates a modest 135kW at 5500rpm". You pay top dollar for modest power, you happy being modest?
https://www.drive.com.au/reviews/mercedesbenz-c200-new-car-r…
People buy Benz because they don't know any better. They lack the critical thinking skills and experience to be able to form a judgement on their own. So they resort to "brands" and "prestige", meanwhile what you get is just poor value.
Benz is the McDonalds of automotive prestige, looks a like prestige car, common and just a mediocre car.
@Bid Sniper: So wait, your view is because Mercedes is a premium brand that is very expensive, and that is poor value?
"Value" is subjective based on personal views when you compare different tier of brands. You could argue a million things about how you can get a cheaper car with more features and options but you're still stuck comparing apples and oranges. Again, why do people go for premium brands over generic brands? They see paying more not only gives them mental satisfaction that they've purchased something premium but also of better quality.
If you're doing a fair comparison here you'd compare the EQE53 with other top tier prestige brand EVs.
You don't compare a Toyota with a Lamborghini do you?
"Value" is subjective based on personal views
100% agree
Mercedes is premium poverty, let me educate you on the concept of an Aspirational brand.
Defined as “a brand of goods that people believe is of good quality and that will make them feel successful if they own it: An aspirational brand will almost always be more expensive than other products in the market.”
Ref: https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/aspirati…
Key concept is that people believe that its good, not that its actually any good.
You don't compare a Toyota with a Lamborghini do you?
Oh I would and would chose a Toyota over a volume model Lamborghini. Lexus LFA, now collectors item and has increased value and will continue to increase in value over time, its the smart buy over a entry level Lamborghini. Hell even a Toyota 2000GT if I got in early.
See this is the difference, actual rich people know their stuff and buy the proper quality models. in terms of Lamborghini, those would be the actual rare limited models not really available to the plebs that increase in value. eg Seisto Elemento, Reventon for example.
for those of us not on those lists. We need to be smart consumers and not buy cheap trash made for plebs. See you been talking about brand perception all this time, never once you asked important things like; range, battery size, charging, drivetrain, quality, reliability, charging station compatibility etc… Those things don't matter to you only the badge.
That's fine, go the Benz and premium tow truck service. Personally I would lease it, also the depreciation on it will be brutal, like most Mercedes products, wonder why….
Explain class to me, explain to me like I’m 5, what is class when it comes to cars?
5YO would know, its a waste of money to buy entry level Mercs, if you buying a Merc, at least C class with AMG styling lol
At least your parents had some class, you can go drive your Hyundai ;)
Genesis is like over priced Hyundai that wanna be Lexus.
5YO would know, its a waste of money to buy entry level Mercs
Tell that to OP who currently owns a entry level Benz 😑
@Bid Sniper: I rather tow a merc than drive a Hyundai or Toyota, I think they do come with premium towing service.
The Genesis' are definitely flying under the radar.
Hyundai reliability with a luxury fitout (and they look terrific).
would happily get one of those over a Tesla (0 to 100 in 4.5 secs is more than enough) and it's practical.
Parents own a Genesis, and 100%, if i could afford a G80ev, I would have one tomorrow… They have the GV70… and holy shit, I have woked on a lot of premium vehicles (BMW, Range Rover, Jag, Audi, etc) and these Genesis vehicles are very under rated. All the features, very very well build. Comfortable and quiet. Best of all, it's made by Hyundai, so it has impeccable reliability.
Parents last car was a Genesis G70 and they did well over 100k in 4 years and the only thing it needed was servicing. Oh, and a tail light that someone backed into and smahsed, and from memory, I fitted it and it only cost them $600 for the part.
What they need now is their own dedicated Genesis service centres instead of piggybacking on Hyundai dealerships for services.
@greatlamp: They're already billing you higher, it's like flying business class but getting economy class meals.
thought the E-Bimmer was ugly then the above….
The Model S is an 11 year old design. No fanks.
The features! Most smart car available on the market?
I don't like smart cars. I enjoy driving the car myself and exercising the privileges of my licence.
Like JimB below I would choose a Taycan any day over the above options. Sure it has some tech and smarts but it is still primarily a driver's car.
Look at the videos online of all the Plaids going nuts with acceleration and the the absolutely shithouse brakes. Again, no fanks.
High yield investments, both.