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  #1  
Old 04-10-2008, 12:39 AM
AHH,What's up Doc????
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 1,212
Overheard about my Benz at a temporary jobsite!

OK, well I am a contracted truck driver and I can go anywhere in the city where I'm wanted! So I park the Mercedes for a few days in the employee parking lot since I'm going to be here for a week. When I came out to my car last Friday, I hear 3 of the guys talking about my car, so let's just kick back around the corner of the building out of sight and listen in!

"Who's car is this? I don't remember seeing a Mercedes here before!" " I don't know, it sure is pretty though! Look at that interior, it's flawless!" "Is that a wood dash?" "Naw, it can't be!" "Why not? This is a Mercedes after all! Do you really think they would put fake wood in a car like this?" "Doug! What are you doing? Get your hands off of it!" Geez, he's got a car phone in there!" "A what?" "A car phone!" "You got to be kidding me I thought that those things went out years ago!" "No, this ones one of those new Motorola's, the ones you see in the movies!" "Let me see that!"

Another car drives up. Kid pickin' up his dad after work.

"Dad, what're ya doin?" "Lookin' at this neat Mercedes!" "Kid, this was probably the best car ever made. It was durable, safe and dependable as hell, probably the best thing put on the road"! "Is this what I should get for my first car?" "Sure, if you get lucky enough to get someone to buy it for you besides me"! "Get your hands off of it! Don't even touch it, you can't afford it, especially when their in this kind of shape"!

OK, now here I come across the parking lot. "Hi guys, anyone going out to have fun this weekend?" I pull out my keys and open my door.

"Well ,we wondered who the high roller was! Man, that's a real beauty. Does the car phone really work?" "Sure, I'm a contracted driver and have to be in touch at all times, the car phone's a lifesaver. Keeps me from having dead cell phone batteries all the time!"

Overheard as I left for the weekend...... "You mean the Mercedes Benz belongs to the temp driver? I need to renegotiate my contract"!


Big grin's all the way home! Another reason to go and buy another Mercedes Benz, Priceless!

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  #2  
Old 04-10-2008, 01:15 AM
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We all wait for moments like that, I think.
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  #3  
Old 04-10-2008, 01:18 AM
AHH,What's up Doc????
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bustedbenz View Post
We all wait for moments like that, I think.
Yeah, and sometimes they happen when most needed too!
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  #4  
Old 04-10-2008, 01:25 AM
pawoSD's Avatar
Dieselsüchtiger
 
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Grand Rapids, MI
Posts: 15,438
I've had three different people on separate occasions ask me if they could buy my car from me. The creepiest was when a guy followed me home, walked over to me in my driveway and asked if I'd be willing to sell my car. I said "no way"...he looked sad, and wrote his number down and gave it to me "in case I changed my mind" Wow.

Another time I found a ripped out page of someones car-owners manual with "I would like to buy this car!" and their phone number, written across the page....stuck under my windshield wiper Crazy.


My dad has had a few people approach him on the same subject. Twice at a gas station, and once in a parking lot.

My favorite one is when a guy next to me in traffic motioned me to roll down the window, so I did....he yells over "what year is that!!!?" I say "an 82!" he goes "Wow, thats a nice looking car, can't believe its that old!" I say "thanks!" he gives me thumbs up and drives away as his light had changed.

Ah, the joys of driving a W126.

I just recently added a neat euro-plate to the front of my car too. It was my grandfather's (in Germany)....he passed away in January, and now we have his (custom, with his initials) plates on our cars.
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  #5  
Old 04-10-2008, 02:41 AM
AHH,What's up Doc????
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 1,212
I have had several offers for both my 300D and my 240D. The 240D only has 124,000 on it and with a new paint job and restoration work, it looks great!
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  #6  
Old 04-10-2008, 03:05 AM
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I haven't owned my Benz for too long (about 2 months) and already I'm not sure if I like the kind of attention it attracts... seems like EVERYONE thinks I'm some kind of loaded millionaire eccentric or something. I've gotten to the point where I just ignore people's smug/jealous comments... :\

I guess people don't realize that you can buy a decent W126 for like 2 grand?

Maybe I should elaborate...at a mechanic the other day (took the 126 in for an alignment) the mechanic explained to me that his alignment rack was broken...and that the "economy" is so bad right now, that he can't afford to get it fixed, as nobody has any money to spend, so his business is slow, but you "have lots of money because you drive a Mercedes-Benz"...

And another time, when I brought the Mercedes to a Supra meet, because everyone on the online forums wanted to see my new "daily driver" one guy smugly said "I had no idea you were so rich" and "Enjoy the maintenance costs on that thing".

It's amazing what your car says about you...especially when the truth of the matter is that I'm an unemployed college student.

What have I gotten myself into here??
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Last edited by johnathan1; 04-10-2008 at 03:14 AM.
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  #7  
Old 04-10-2008, 03:21 AM
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Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: SD California
Posts: 153
I've always appreciated the engineering behind these cars, A lot of people even say these cars are OVER engineered & I must agree, will be looking at a 1982 300D Turbodiesel tommorrow afternoon who knows this maybe my first W123 & 4th diesel mercedes ( after 3 W201 Dsl )

UPDATE Bought the 300D Turbo Diesel on the spot! I had a good feeling on this one will sell the 94 C280 & keep the Turbo Diesel.


97 C230 OZ Racing Wheels, Sport Pkg interior.
94 C280 Brabus Mono 6Wheels, Oem Bose sound sys

Last edited by sdpartz; 04-11-2008 at 09:06 AM.
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  #8  
Old 04-10-2008, 03:25 AM
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Location: Cameron Park CA
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The best thing about a mercedes is that their always classy, no matter how old or beat up. if i were going to do business, I would rather show up in my mint 300d than a brand new lexus. Even the sd. They just have class, and if you choose a mercedes benz, people think you must have class too

I think
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  #9  
Old 04-10-2008, 06:20 AM
KarTek's Avatar
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Location: Bahama/Eno Twp, NC
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Quote:
Originally Posted by johnathan1 View Post
I haven't owned my Benz for too long (about 2 months) and already I'm not sure if I like the kind of attention it attracts... seems like EVERYONE thinks I'm some kind of loaded millionaire eccentric or something. I've gotten to the point where I just ignore people's smug/jealous comments... :\

I guess people don't realize that you can buy a decent W126 for like 2 grand?

Maybe I should elaborate...at a mechanic the other day (took the 126 in for an alignment) the mechanic explained to me that his alignment rack was broken...and that the "economy" is so bad right now, that he can't afford to get it fixed, as nobody has any money to spend, so his business is slow, but you "have lots of money because you drive a Mercedes-Benz"...

And another time, when I brought the Mercedes to a Supra meet, because everyone on the online forums wanted to see my new "daily driver" one guy smugly said "I had no idea you were so rich" and "Enjoy the maintenance costs on that thing".

It's amazing what your car says about you...especially when the truth of the matter is that I'm an unemployed college student.

What have I gotten myself into here??
I think the original poster's experience was great! Really brings out the pride when you get GENUINE compliments.

On the other hand, I totally agree with the above. My car has pretty much crossed the line from being a "cool, older, nicely restored car" to being a one where the owner can be percieved as a "jerk flaunting his (non-existant) wealth in other's faces".

I'm careful about where I park and who sees my car. If I go to a junkyard or a shop or anywhere I have to pay a somewhat variable amount of money for a service, I park away from the door so they cant see what I'm driving.

So far, I've only gotten positive reactions from people, mostly at gas stations and whatnot while I'm filling up. I think it's really important to be as nice as possible to people when interacting around the car and to drive courteously. Otherwise you can feed into that "rich bastard" stereotype many people have.
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  #10  
Old 04-10-2008, 07:22 AM
daw_two's Avatar
diesel enthusiast
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Germantown, TN
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other vehicle.....

Quote:
Originally Posted by KarTek View Post
I think the original poster's experience was great! Really brings out the pride when you get GENUINE compliments.

On the other hand, I totally agree with the above. My car has pretty much crossed the line from being a "cool, older, nicely restored car" to being a one where the owner can be percieved as a "jerk flaunting his (non-existant) wealth in other's faces".

I'm careful about where I park and who sees my car. If I go to a junkyard or a shop or anywhere I have to pay a somewhat variable amount of money for a service, I park away from the door so they cant see what I'm driving.

So far, I've only gotten positive reactions from people, mostly at gas stations and whatnot while I'm filling up. I think it's really important to be as nice as possible to people when interacting around the car and to drive courteously. Otherwise you can feed into that "rich bastard" stereotype many people have.
Yeah....I also take the 1995 Dodge Dakota truck with peeling clearcoat to the junkyard and ALSO when I'm looking at someone's old, discarded 300SDL parked in the grass with expired tags.

Guys (and gals), you are not going to believe my latest find......a one owner, 1987 300SDL with a perfect dash (I think, it was dark). I only saw one blemish on the paint. A spot about 4 inches in diameter where the paint is fading. The owner drives an 92, 300D now. I'm hoping he has ALL the receipts. Have to go back when I have more time ---- like THIS weekend.
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Sold last car --- 05/2012 1984 300D Light Ivory, Red interior
Cluster Needles Paint
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04/2010 1965 190D(c) "Ben"
& many more
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  #11  
Old 04-10-2008, 11:36 AM
AHH,What's up Doc????
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 1,212
Quote:
Originally Posted by johnathan1 View Post
I haven't owned my Benz for too long (about 2 months) and already I'm not sure if I like the kind of attention it attracts... seems like EVERYONE thinks I'm some kind of loaded millionaire eccentric or something. I've gotten to the point where I just ignore people's smug/jealous comments... :\

I guess people don't realize that you can buy a decent W126 for like 2 grand?

Maybe I should elaborate...at a mechanic the other day (took the 126 in for an alignment) the mechanic explained to me that his alignment rack was broken...and that the "economy" is so bad right now, that he can't afford to get it fixed, as nobody has any money to spend, so his business is slow, but you "have lots of money because you drive a Mercedes-Benz"...

And another time, when I brought the Mercedes to a Supra meet, because everyone on the online forums wanted to see my new "daily driver" one guy smugly said "I had no idea you were so rich" and "Enjoy the maintenance costs on that thing".

It's amazing what your car says about you...especially when the truth of the matter is that I'm an unemployed college student.

What have I gotten myself into here??
Yeah, I haven't heard any negatives yet from others and jealousy gets ugly when it shows up. I used to get these kind of remarks when I lived in Seattle and I'm totally convinced it's because Seattle was so liberal, er libocritical, that everyone trying to be so special is really miserable and can't deal with it!

I'm sorry you had a wierd experience. It makes me so glad I moved away from libocrites! I service mine myself and made friends with my local mechanic so this isn't an issue, but the work ethic and life ethics are different here.
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  #12  
Old 04-10-2008, 01:52 PM
patbob's Avatar
Its a Whatsit
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Portland, OR
Posts: 839
[QUOTE=johnathan1;1820082..seems like EVERYONE thinks I'm some kind of loaded millionaire eccentric or something. I've gotten to the point where I just ignore people's smug/jealous comments... :\

..

It's amazing what your car says about you...especially when the truth of the matter is that I'm an unemployed college student.

What have I gotten myself into here??[/QUOTE]

It is intersting what assumptions people make about you based on what you wear, how to speak, what you drive, etc. What you drive up in can be the first impression people get of you since it is the first they see of you.. and you already drive something that says you are successful and have money.

You may be neither right now, but you can appear to have the intelligence to have spent your money wisely on a lasting vehicle that won't need replacing simply for style reasons as you become that, even if that isn't even remotely close to why you bought that car.
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  #13  
Old 04-10-2008, 02:25 PM
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Location: Northeast Indiana
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I always referred to my cars by brand or model, such as "let's take the TR6", "should we drive the Jetta?", "I'll be driving the gray bimmer" et al.

When I bought my first Mercedes, it was because it was the safest station-wagon / minivan in the world, period, regardless of what it cost. Many people would raise their eyebrows when someone would say "let's take Jeff's Mercedes" etc., something I started to refer to as reverse snobbery, got some cold looks and some "ooh, he has a Mercedes" kind of reactions, so it became referred to as "the wagon" or Ruby. I didn't like the attention. On the road too, some people just want to show you that they can keep you out of their lane etc., some wierd anomosity on the road in the 'Benz sometimes that I don't get in the other cars.

The diesel is different, wish it actually said diesel on it somewhere, tells most people that the car has a purpose other than to be seen with a hood ornament. Plus the ones I have now are older, maybe that's part of it.

I think that Mercedes diesel owners are more of the traditional Mercedes buyers, less likely to have a big star mounted in the grille and a gold star keychain. Mercedes gas people are a mixed bag, some from column A, some from B, hard to tell if they don't have 22" wheels and gold emblems.
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  #14  
Old 04-10-2008, 03:19 PM
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Location: Long Beach,CA
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I have noticed when I drive the Benz people seem to stay out of my way more (they actually see you) than if I drive my other cars. I think it is because people are afraid if they ding my car there could be a hefty rapair bill for there insurance Co. topay.
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  #15  
Old 04-10-2008, 03:21 PM
AMH AMH is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by babymog View Post
I think that Mercedes diesel owners are more of the traditional Mercedes buyers, less likely to have a big star mounted in the grille and a gold star keychain. Mercedes gas people are a mixed bag, some from column A, some from B, hard to tell if they don't have 22" wheels and gold emblems.
You forgot to mention the curb feelers, chain license plate frames, chrome exhaust tips, neon undercarriage, subwoofers in the trunk, CD's in the visor baked by the sun and "I can't afford child support, but I gots to have that new ding dong CD".

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