YSE Car of the Week: 2007 Mercedes R-Class

by Justin Crenshaw

Published: August 1st, 2009

yse car of the week 2007 mercedes r class

Your Shitty Economy (YSE) Car of the Week is the 2007 Mercedes Benz R-Class. Mercedes attempt at a minivan, er crossover thingy has been a huge failure. The ugly, slow selling R-class—a rif on the equally ill-fated Chrysler Pacifica—is as popular as a pet rock at a dog show. Buyers purchasing fifty thousand dollar family haulers are looking for a little more style than this not quite a wagon (which you can buy from Mercedes anyway). But the cliff face depreciating Mercedes R-class does its job as advertised: it provides three rows of luxurious seating, safety amenities, and decent MPG. The R’s configuration sheet reads like a Silverado’s: V6, V8, AWD, diesel, and for those really late to soccer practice, the 500+ horsepower AMG version is an . . . odd choice. This certified 2007 V6 4Matic model is yours for only $22,888. Or choose from 1100+ others on Autotrader.

Justin Crenshaw

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4 of 36 comments

Durishin on Aug 02, 2009

I rmember the first time I sat in one I though: "Whole lot of nauggies gave their lives for this interior." I mean, that was a lot of plastic!

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Psarhjinian on Aug 03, 2009
I got to take the 3 kids in the Mazda5 instead of the Sienna to Costco the other day when the Sienna’s battery needed replacement. The kids have a nasty habit of playing with the reading lights and draining batteries in all our cars. Doesn't that just drive you nuts? My son does this constantly, so much so that I'm tempted to lock the interior light switch in "off". It's made worse by the fact that the van sits idle very often. Each time the battery's been flattened its' been after several days. Oh, the R-Class? Nice vehicle, but it's caught between affluent minivan buyers who would forsake the hood ornament in favour of the virtues of a top-trim Sienna/Oddy, and Mercedes intenders whose self-esteem can't handle the shape and pick the GL instead. Other than the R63 (which is awesome, and expensive) I could never figure out who, in North America, they thought would buy this car. Even new they're available cheap.

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TRL on Aug 03, 2009

I understand I am in a minority, but I really like these things. Awkward styling from some (most) angles, but not frugly IMO. Great looking interior with huge glass roof option. Same carved from granite feel as any MB. For 60% of the price of a Flex (which is completely frugly) this could easily be my next buy. The huge depreciation makes these a real bargain. Looking at all the not-mini van, not-SUV 6 seaters this seems to be top of the picks. Drives like a sedan which is a big plus.

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Johnxyz on Aug 06, 2009

'a rif on the equally ill-fated Chrysler Pacifica' 'It is not a collaboration with Chrysler… it is based on the ML, GL platform including engines' HELP Which is it? Is it 100% Mercedes - no Chrysler parts whatsoever, built in Germany? Or it it simply a rebadged Pacifica? Are ML's & GL's assembled in Alabama? Are all Mercedes engines from Germany? Can it be just a coincidence that it looks just like a Pacifica but actually does not have a single iota of Chrysler DNA? Is it related to the A & B Class MB's in Europe?

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