Has Mercedes Always Been This Bad?

Well i’m into my second day this week driving a 450 Merc , its on a 68 plate and it’s dreadfull . I have permenant neckache from stooping to see out of the windows and the gearbox at roundabouts is , in this H & S world a lottery. I was going to start smoking to see if i could roll a cig up whilst it decided whether it was going to set off or not. I’ve never been a fan of auto boxes in lorries but these could be deemed dangerous.