Did you ever get the feeling that pick-up trucks are out to get you? Around here they tend to be driven by guys who try to intimidate the few souls who are not in SUVs by tailgating (well not my trusty diesel) with their high beams on and by passing at every opportunity, even on crowded highway on ramps.

Well, this morning I was driving to work behind a big ole pick me up truck and bunch of s*** flew off the bed and cracked my windshield. The crack started as a small chip, but then as the day progressed it grew to about 10" in length. What a bummer! I finally got the transmission adjusted so it doesn't flare anymore and now I am grounded until I can get the windshield replaced.

Sorry about your windshield. Around Boston, many, if not most, people drive like the pick-up truck drivers you describe around you.
As for me, I have driven pick-up's for the past 21 years; I drive like an old lady , look at my signature......for fun I drive my 220 diesel!! (The 50 HP really make me happy )

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1992 500SEL 25K
1995 E320 40K
1995 SL600 120K
2002 JX8 Sport 43K
2005 Volvo S40 95K
2006 Isuzu NPR 304K (Frankencamper)
2007 Crown Victoria 150K
2014 Smart Electric 20K

Around here they are not happy unless they are flying on the highway. I tend to drive the speed limit around town or a little over. This seems to piss people off because they feel that every street is 40-50. 30 in a 25 zone will get someone camped on your bumper.

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1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

Seriously, a 10" windshield crack keeps you from driving the car? I've had better than a 12" crack in mine for well over a year and i continue to drive, even passed safety inspection like that twice now.

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TXBill



Former owner of a few diesel MB cars
1998 Lexus ES 300 In Chicago We Trust

Whenever I follow a truck with a load, I do one of two things:
1) keep a distance enough to react if something fall off
2) Pass it

I never tail gate a truck.


my $0.02

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1989 300E, 152k miles
1988 300E, 172k miles


"There is nothing more expensive than a cheap Mercedes-Benz" -unknown

Well here in Texas, most of the vehicles on the road are Trucks, and most are large. Most Truck owners feel as though they own the highways and biways here so get out of the way in Texas.

I sure didn't mean to offend anyone. I am talking about the suv-type pick-ups where the owners have them more to show off then for any useful purpose. The crack is in the driver's field of vision. I know I could drive it that way, but I also know that the police like to write tickets. So, I am driving another car in the fleet until I can get it fixed. I took it to a windshield repair place but they said the crack was too big. Harmon quoted me $300 for a new one, so I plan to shop around a bit to find one more reasonably priced.

Pickup trucks should have regular cabs, long beds and a tow hitch; they're made for hauling stuff, not for coddling the occupants.

What really scares me is when those drivers cut between cars and zoom at 90 mph up to the next car, then cut some more. They risk killing people just to save a couple minutes. At best, they're burning gallons of extra gasoline and polluting the air that much more by driving that way.

Anyhow, best of luck with your windshield. Will you be able to get some sort of low-cost hazard warranty with the replacement?

If you have glass coverage your insurance company will cover that.

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1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

How do you know what useful pirpose they have or not have? For instance, When you look at my SUV, you might think it drives around town for no purpose. However, I have 4 dogs that sit in the back. Sometimes I take the shiny tow hitch cover off and even tow a boat or ATV trailers. You never know.

Besides, so what if they do? You telling me that we drive S classes because we have a need? IE, if you don't have an S class, nothing else will work. These days, a vehicle is not just 4 wheels and a gas pedal. People show it off like they do houses. What is the issue with that?

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01 Ford Excursion Powerstroke
99 E300 Turbodiesel
91 Vette with 383 motor
05 Polaris Sportsman 800 EFI
06 Polaris Sportsman 500 EFI
03 SeaDoo GTX SC Red
03 SeaDoo GTX SC Yellow
04 Tailgator 21 ft Toy Hauler
11 Harley Davidson 883 SuperLow