Larry, The sticker for my 1990 300D 2.5 t says $39,9xx. I bought it used but was surprised at the sticker price-esp. when I ran the same kind of inflation analysis that OK Don did.. I think all the factors you identify might be contributors in part-but I personally think you have to look at Chrysler's influence too. Moving the brand from up market to mid market-at least the E class-and probably the C class too. And letting marketing not engineering make decisions. May be just a bias on my part, but you could partially test this hypothesis by checking other German luxury brand prices over the same period of time. Snook? Dwight
Dwight E. Giles, Jr. 1978 240D 4 speed. 218K + miles. 1990 300D 2.5t 170K miles. Wickford, RI -----Original Message----- From: mercedes-boun...@okiebenz.com [mailto:mercedes-boun...@okiebenz.com] On Behalf Of LarryT Sent: Saturday, January 02, 2010 10:10 AM To: Mercedes Discussion List Subject: Re: [MBZ] MB prices, then and now Hi Don - As you noted, quality may have suffered, but there are many more things at work here that dictate inflation of 1 specific model. In addition to the reduced quality you mentioned are things like: improved electronics which also cost* much less & do more, increases in productivity when building the cars through the use of robots, reduced overheads, changes in the materials used in the cars, building cars in non-union areas (the ML in Al.) - all of these and more go into the price escalation. While your calculation of the increased price was correct it's not accurate when looking at one particular product. Also, the E350 may seem to a grandson of the E300, there's been a lot of changes made to it - perhaps enough to consider the E350 no longer related to the E300. New bodies, new engines, new controls, new materials of construction, etc may make it no longer a straightforward comparison. But I'm glad to hear the price of the '91 E300 - it gives me a pretty good idea what my 91 300D cost - I'd guess at around $51k or $52K. * = consider the cost hard drives and memory - and last I heard there were over 2 dozen computers on a new MB!. Memory costs have been driven down so far that some companies have been pushed near bankruptcy. In the last ~20 years we've gone from having 10MB or 20MB hard drives to 500GB - 2TB hard drives for similar prices - or cheaper. (that's the technology increase I experienced in the corporate world at least) More ability in less space. Take Care - LarryT 91 300D OilAnalysis Time? Looking for Weber Parts or Porsche Posters? www.youroil.net -------------------------------------------------- From: "OK Don" <okd...@gmail.com> Sent: Friday, January 01, 2010 11:31 PM To: "Mercedes Discussion List" <Mercedes@okiebenz.com> Subject: [MBZ] MB prices, then and now > I got the '91 300E that my daughter and SiL bought last year today. > Looking > through the books, I found the original window sticker. This 124 has > leaster > seats, memory doors, adjustable stearing column, and head light wipers. It > was $47,550 in Dec. of 1990. I just priced an E350, same color, leater > seats, no other options at $51,065. Doesn't seem like enough of an > inflation > factor. > I found the NASA inflation calculator - > http://cost.jsc.nasa.gov/inflation/nasa/inflateNASA.html - and adjusted > the > 1991 price to today = $75,842. > Todays price of $51,065 adjusts down to $33,017 in 1991. > More technology for less money -- makes you wonder about the quality, > engineering, etc. > > -- > OK Don > CONSERVATIVE, n. A statesman who is enamored of existing evils, as > distinguished from the Liberal, who wishes to replace them with > others. > The Devil's Dictionary > Ambrose Bierce > _______________________________________ > http://www.okiebenz.com > For new and used parts go to www.okiebenz.com > To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ > > To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: > http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com _______________________________________ http://www.okiebenz.com For new and used parts go to www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com _______________________________________ http://www.okiebenz.com For new and used parts go to www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
