Letters.(Letter to the Editor)

VW beats M-B, provokes double takes

How embarrassing for Mercedes to have the S-Class break down before finishing the DoubleTake comparison test (July 26). First Mercedes loses quality because it's busy trying to make small cars. Then Volkswagen starts to make big cars and its small-car quality suffers. That's followed by Hyundai jumping near the top of a J.D. Power new-car-quality rating. What's next?

David Yu, Erie, Pa.

I like the DoubleTake format and I look forward to future comparisons. But I didn't care for the staffers' incomplete and unfocused comments on the cars. And some of the performance numbers are so close that I'd suggest the morning vs. afternoon temperature differential stated may have played a role. If some of these tests were run in tandem, I bet the numbers would look a lot closer. But there's no getting around the Volkswagen's hefty curb weight.

Ed Kellock, Colorado Springs, Colo.

After all the naysaying when Volkswagen announced its entry into the ultra-luxury market, it hit a home run in its first at-bat. With Mercedes' quality slipping, it was a matter of time before it was knocked off. As one who roots for the underdog, I find it gratifying and ironic that it was VW that did it.

John Vermeal, via e-mail