The back seats of these cars are a bit of a marketing hoax. You can do it...but nobody really does it. Just like the off roading chops of some SUVs

 

Mercedes and others invest millions to make LWB versions of their SWB flagships to promote a "marketing hoax." lol, okay.

 

I thought you liked the GLE…

 

It is a marketing hoax, very few people get driven around by a chauffeur. However, there are some that load up their car with four passengers so the long wheel base makes sense. All those extra features and things back there are for marketing.

Ever see the movie Parasite? The family lives in Korea, they have a Mercedes S-Class and are chauffeured around...that doesn't happen very much in North America or in Korea...but the marketing departments wants you to believe otherwise.

 

Yes, "marketing." lol. Chauffeuring is extremely popular in Asia, especially in China which is the largest market for LWB flagships. So much so that even compact cars get LWB versions.

https://asia.nikkei.com/Business/Cha...hrive-in-China

Writing objectively false contrarian statements doesn't defeat facts- these vehicles were designed for chauffeuring.

 

China is different. I had said North America

 

You said North America and Korea. Which is in Asia.

In the U.S., we get the LWB versions because the U.S. has bigger roads and prefers bigger vehicles. The U.S. market is tiny for flagship sedans compared to China or the rest of Asia. But in the rest of the world where SWB versions are sold alongside LWB versions, those who drive opt for the SWB while those who get driven buy the LWB.

 

Americans are bigger and they like larger interiors. That is why.


I only referenced Korea because it was shown in Parasite. Can't think of an American film that portrays it other than Driving Miss Daisy But the reality is that it does not happen very often even in Korea. I would rather not discuss China so I have no comment .

 

Dude. I own a LWB A8 exec.....the front seats are better to sit in. The ride is also better in the front, that's what I'm talking about. I'm not talking about driving I'm talking about just sitting while someone else drives, the front seat is still better for comfort and adjustability vs the rear unless you go to the cars I mentioned.

 

America doesn't even register on the tallest countries in the world.



And chauffeur driving absolutely is common in South Korea, hence why even the G80 gets an executive rear seat package there. And it doesn't matter if you don't want to discuss China, you can't ignore them when they are the primary market for LWB flagship sedans.

 

There is no way any LWB flagship sedan has less adjustable rear seats than front ones unless it's the poverty spec.

Objectively, these vehicles are designed for rear seat passengers. This is a fact and it's amusing how you continue to dispute it.

 

BIGGER as in fatter. Americans are simply Bigger. Wider. Heavier.

https://www.forbes.com/2007/02/07/wo...h=18a1824464f1

This is not an attack on America. Im a dual citizen. 1/2 my family lives in the US and are Americans. You should see the size of my sisters 1 year old, he is 30lbs..and its not just fat..its BONE and pure size. Americans simply like larger interiors.

America is why Sequoia and TUNDRA are Made for the USA

Bringing it all back to the ES...this is why the ES is as larger as it is....it really is Made for the USA first and foremost.

 

The LWB doesn't matter since you won't sit back there in terms of driver comfort. The back seats are only nice for passengers relative to other options. If you drive alone there is no real point to LWB, I only have one since it was the only option unless I paid for an S8 SWB. Sure, some want a bigger car for the sake of a bigger car and that's why they don't bother to offer SWB here anymore for the most part. Hard to even attempt to convince someone to buy a sedan vs a full size here......

The back seat simply doesn't have the same adjustability, massage effectiveness, overall controls, and again the ride is not as good since the rear suspension is still sport tuned in my car. It's intended as a drivers car. The V12 M760i my neighbor has, also is again more comfortable up front vs the back seat but it's much closer. 0

 

Width doesn't translate to wheelbase, all flagship sedans are the same width regardless of LWB or SWB. Wheelbase translates to height.

Yes, Americans like bigger vehicles, but that's because we have bigger roads than Europe.

 

Again. Have you owned one? Ever even sat in one? I have one and have sampled all of them and I can tell you unless you max a LWB out to the extreme the front seats are better. My A8 was $127k new and the front seats are better in every way.

The rear lacks adjusting mid seat back, lower bolster, side bolster, has a worse massage, doesn't have a powered headrest on both sides, and the ottoman is only in the absolute max version that is pointless since you can buy a real LWB (4 inches longer) for that money. Controls are also tighter, and again the ride is not as ideal.

You are the amusing one having no direct experience yet you are trying to explain it to someone who literally owns one.