Mercedes X-Class Pickup Drive

[Chris F]

There are zero changes to the gearboxes.

I'm afraid you are wrong.

 

[Clive]

Small point, they are not the manufacturer, they are just a retailer in this case..

Not actualy sure if that is technically correct or not

RUf for example are a manufacture even though there car share engine and body of a Porsche, same with Alpina / BMW or Mazda /alpha. Toyota/ Subaru etc and even in the pick-up world the likes of Ford /Isuzu

 

[Clive]

I'm afraid you are wrong.

Give up chris - he’s clearly memorised the parts manual !

 

[Lincsman]

Not actualy sure if that is technically correct or not

RUf for example are a manufacture even though there car share engine and body of a Porsche, same with Alpina / BMW or Mazda /alpha. Toyota/ Subaru etc and even in the pick-up world the likes of Ford /Isuzu

Is it made in a mercedes factory or the nissan one?.. IE assembled.. not where the light bulbs were made. EG Galaxys used to be made in the VW factory along with the Seat and VW versions

 

[Cowabunga]

I'm afraid you are wrong.

Then tell me more! I want to know. Just what is the difference? Difference in the manual or automatic transmission? Both?

You really think that Nissan will build and import a different gearbox [from Thailand I believe] for the relatively small number of otherwise mechanically identical Mercedes going down their line?

Its up to you to prove that there is a difference. I acknowledge differences only where they actually exist.

 

[General-Lee]

@Cowabunga you're very knowledgable and switched on, but don’t ruin it!!

 

[Clive]

Is it made in a mercedes factory or the nissan one?.. IE assembled.. not where the light bulbs were made. EG Galaxys used to be made in the VW factory along with the Seat and VW versions

I’m not sure it matters - It will be a Mercedes product with a Mercedes handbook and warranty etc and I would think legally they would be the “manufacturer”. Even if that work is outsourced to others on their production lines

Are case not a tractor manufacturer ? I saw case tractors going down the NH line when I went to Basildon last year

 

[Cowabunga]

@Cowabunga you're very knowledgable and switched on, but don’t ruin it!!

What, by asking where the claimed differences are? Surely if they claim the transmissions are different, they would be able to tell us what the differences are?

 

[Chris F]

There are several different versions of suspension on the Navara. They have been re-engineered since launch if you like. Twice as I understand it. Nissan have also strengthened the chassis of the Navara in a minor way since launch. I've already proved that the gusset under the chassis that has been claimed to be the Mercedes strengthening has also been done on the Navara for over 12 months [Illustrated in pictures].
Plus Nissan actually have the option of leaf springs, a long and medium bed as well as the shorty with double cab that is the only Mercedes offer.

I didn't say what Nissan have or haven't done, just that the X-Class suspension is different. You do have your knickers in a twist about this. Different is different. Its up to the person involved to decide what does and doesn't represent value to them. Its clear it doesn't for you. For some, just having a Mercedes badge on the front will be enough, for some, the interior would swing it, for some the Navara will win on price all day long. When I was buying a workhorse I bought an Isuzu. It did everything I needed for the cheapest price. I didn't care it was loud and not that comfortable on long journies. I was all about what it could do.

I'm not that buyer anymore. I will be 95% on the road and want the best pickup for the road. I still want the space and convenience of a pickup, but don't want the other stuff. I'm in a different place will be getting plenty of prices before making any decision. But you are wasting your time telling me anything about NIssan or how great they are. I couldn't care, because when push comes to shove, Nissan don't care about customers, they care about shifting units as far as I am concerned. And this has been lived out by their customer service which I have been at the sharp end of.

 

[ollie989898]

I thought Ruf manufactured their own engines.

Alpina are based on production BMWs but with bespoke bits added.

 

[Lincsman]

I’m not sure it matters - It will be a Mercedes product with a Mercedes handbook and warranty etc and I would think legally they would be the “manufacturer”. Even if that work is outsourced to others on their production lines

Are case not a tractor manufacturer ? I saw case tractors going down the NH line when I went to Basildon last year

Mercedes are a car maker, its just they didnt make this one, other than post some badges to the factory.... maybe? Case is a brand of CNH, like Seat is a brand of VAG

 

[Clive]

Then tell me more! I want to know. Just what is the difference? Difference in the manual or automatic transmission? Both?

You really think that Nissan will build and import a different gearbox [from Thailand I believe] for the relatively small number of otherwise mechanically identical Mercedes going down their line?

Its up to you to prove that there is a difference. I acknowledge differences only where they actually exist.

Mate - I’m not proving anything, just reporting what we were told buy people I would have thought far better qualified to know the facts than “some bloke on the Internet”

Maybe you should call Mercedes European CEO and tell him to remove their fraudulent product from the market immediately as no one will be crazy enough to buy it when the Nissan is “identical” and cheaper ?

I’m not buying one so your words are wasted on me

 

[Clive]

Mercedes are a car maker, its just they didnt make this one, other than post some badges to the factory.... maybe? Case is a brand of CNH, like Seat is a brand of VAG

You buy it from Mercedes - I’m pretty sure your Nissan dealer would be un intetested in doing warranty work on it if required

 

[Cowabunga]

I didn't say what Nissan have or haven't done, just that the X-Class suspension is different. You do have your knickers in a twist about this. Different is different. Its up to the person involved to decide what does and doesn't represent value to them. Its clear it doesn't for you. For some, just having a Mercedes badge on the front will be enough, for some, the interior would swing it, for some the Navara will win on price all day long. When I was buying a workhorse I bought an Isuzu. It did everything I needed for the cheapest price. I didn't care it was loud and not that comfortable on long journies. I was all about what it could do.

I'm not that buyer anymore. I will be 95% on the road and want the best pickup for the road. I still want the space and convenience of a pickup, but don't want the other stuff. I'm in a different place will be getting plenty of prices before making any decision. But you are wasting your time telling me anything about NIssan or how great they are. I couldn't care, because when push comes to shove, Nissan don't care about customers, they care about shifting units as far as I am concerned. And this has been lived out by their customer service which I have been at the sharp end of.

I'm sorry to tell you but unless you have different Mercedes dealers to the car ones, then you will have no better luck with Mercedes with their customer care. However, there's a good chance that perhaps their truck dealers are cut from a different cloth and I'll give them the benefit of the doubt, because I have not dealt with the local truck dealer [local as in 50 miles away from me, which is actually quite a bit nearer than a Nissan truck dealer.

So you can't actually say what the difference is in the transmissions?

 

[Clive]

I thought Ruf manufactured their own engines.

Alpina are based on production BMWs but with bespoke bits added.

Ruf engine is a modified Porsche unit

I think alpina are. a TUV manufacturer or at least they certainly used to be, Brabus similar with manufacturer status despite being Merc on steroids

 

[Cowabunga]

Mate - I’m not proving anything, just reporting what we were told buy people I would have thought far better qualified to know the facts than “some bloke on the Internet”

Maybe you should call Mercedes European CEO and tell him to remove their fraudulent product from the market immediately as no one will be crazy enough to buy it when the Nissan is “identical” and cheaper ?

I’m not buying one so your words are wasted on me

I have not seen anything in print apart from a pre-launch press release that claims any difference. Indeed they try and ignore the fact that it is built by Nissan and has a Renault van engine and Jatco transmissions. Jatco is a company controlled, if not 100% owned by Nissan of course.

 

[Lincsman]

You buy it from Mercedes - I’m pretty sure your Nissan dealer would be un intetested in doing warranty work on it if required

Obviously, but they still didnt make it, and the Nissan parts distribution will send the parts required to the mercedes distribution warehouse for a mark up and delivery to its dealers.

 

[Chris F]

I'm sorry to tell you but unless you have different Mercedes dealers to the car ones, then you will have no better luck with Mercedes with their customer care. However, there's a good chance that perhaps their truck dealers are cut from a different cloth and I'll give them the benefit of the doubt, because I have not dealt with the local truck dealer [local as in 50 miles away from me, which is actually quite a bit nearer than a Nissan truck dealer.

So you can't actually say what the difference is in the transmissions?

These aren't sold or serviced out of the the Mercedes car dealers - which I've actually only had good experiences from - they are sold out of their commercial dealers. Which I have zero experience of.

I asked if the gearbox was different, they said it was. I'm not in the habit of assuming people are lying to me and asking them to take one apart and show me the differences. There is the ASA who get to do that and fine them it they are lying. Given they are both 7 speed auto boxes, the differences aren't going to be massive so its not like it would effect me purchasing decision. Not like the new V6 boxes which will be a big step up.

 

[Cowabunga]

You buy it from Mercedes - I’m pretty sure your Nissan dealer would be un intetested in doing warranty work on it if required

Yes, Mercedes have their own three year warranty, which they no doubt claim the claims from Nissan, the manufacturer. Nissan, however, give a five year warranty as standard despite being sold at near 50% of the price.

 

[Clive]

Mercedes are a car maker, its just they didnt make this one, other than post some badges to the factory.... maybe? Case is a brand of CNH, like Seat is a brand of VAG

CNH and VAG are parent companies, NH, Case, Seat, VW are manufacturers names and brands of course

In touring cars or world rallying / LMP or Gt3 :gt4 racing the “manufacturer” trophy is often fought between manufacture brands within the same group / parent company for example