Quote Originally Posted by Resident Loser
...here's where we get into those "gray" areas...

By all accounts, Mercedes has a financial interest in Ilmor and it would seem by their own account they have been(since '95), and are still, using various permutations of the Mercedes-Benz FO 110 engine...the "Q" suffix for '04...it's sorta' like the debate about what is an import and what is domestic...
I disagree. Daimler Benz bought a company that designs and builds their own engines in the UK that have little in common with those designed and built in Stuttgart. Why are they still Ilmor if not? Place of assembly is different from original company that designed and built something. Yamaha designed and built DOHC heads for the Ford Taurus SHO. Similarly, that is NOT Ford engineering.

Quote Originally Posted by Resident Loser
... if it's major components are of M-B design or production...
I believe they are not. Mercedes has financial control of an independent group of Brits who soldier on designing and building engines for CART and F1. Interestingly enough, they also partner with Honda in the IRL.

Quote Originally Posted by Resident Loser
With re: to your wife's vehicle...if she's taking hairpins at extraordinary speeds I would answer yes...if she's just going through the daily drudge, a deep resounding NO!...
I don't limit myself the way you do. The analogy would be that if I owned a race track (my dedicated listening room) and can appreciate the vast performance envelope between the BAR and the Honda, (high rez system vs. $350 combo) then that is the real world. There is no such practical limitation on hearing really good gear vs. budget systems. I have that capability 24/7.

Ralph