Why do you REALLY drive a Benz ?
 

We own a body shop and I went to pick up a customers Benz that was wrecked and drove it in. This was in the mid eighties, and the car was a big sedan,,, an S class not an E. Driving this wrecked car the few miles into the shop, I realized that even being wrecked, this car drove better than any car I had ever driven. Once we started tearing it apart, {this was the first major job we had ever done on a Benz} I became aware of the engineering that had gone into the panels and structure of the car. They still amaze me on every one we do. At that time I swore I would own a Benz one day. We,,, my wife and I,,, now own three, and I just love these cars. I consider myself very lucky to be able to experience the thrill of owning and driving a Benz.

I beleive you were in the W126 S-class that was the S of the eightties. Its the car thats in my signature.

Its a great car alright!!

Yes, nothing drives like a Benz.I bought the Turtle to drive while I restored my old Mustang,when I replaced the upper control arms and saw the way these cars are put together I had an easy decision to make.Now if I can just find someone to buy my Mustang I can start shopping for a diesel G-wagen:D

The ride. Nothing rides like one. Nothing.

Because I couldn't find any more Peugeots:D

I was looking for a new ride. I really liked my 92 Q45 (now the wife's) but I often have to park on the street and in my nieghborhood parking is at a premium. The extra size of the Q is nice until you have to street park it. So I started searching for a smaller size Q alternative (J30 I didn't consider an alternative, don't like the styling and it lacks the Q's refinement). That is what led me to the W124 400e. Much easier to park than the Q, yet room for my two year old daughter in the back. I also have to say that I considered MBZs after seeing how many people had such high mileage and were still going. I'm hoping that years from now I will be one of those high milage people!

I was checking out a 300TE for my brother-in-law, pre-purchase; what struck me, oddly enough, was the engineering that went into the fuel pump design. It's suspended by compliant rubber hangers, and even had a protective plate bolted to the underside to guard against errant debris strikes. Wow...for a fuel pump.

Within 2 weeks I had a 300TE, and a year later a 500E. I will not own another brand. Period (racecars excepted):)

I started driving them years ago because one of my friends has a MBZ repair shop.........it is the the most inexpensive car to maintain for me!

Plus all the other perks!

Because I think its better looking than most other cars on the road.

Craftsmanship
Engineering
Image
Reliability
driveability
road feel
you name it, mercedes is the pinnacle of it.

you just can't beat a benz, period.

Alon

I hate SUV's.

I hate Mini-Vans.

I love Sports Cars.

I need to carry people and stuff.

I love engineering excellence.

I want fuel efficiency and resonable curb weight.

Do the math! A car capable of carrying four people and luggage that handles well and is built to last without being over 3500lbs and can break the US30mpg barrier? Can you think of a better fit than the C230? Not me.

I like the quality and reliability of the Mercedes. I own a 1994 E320 station wagon - the second one I have owned - and it has been pretty much bulletproof in terms of reliability. It just makes me feel good to drive it.

I have a Mercedes because it burns #2 fuel oil and doesn't have an aluminum cylinder head or a timing chain (otherwise, I'd probably be driving a VW). I will admit that, since having gotten the car, I've come to really appreciate the amount of work and thoughtfulness that went into the 123 design. This car is probably the easiest-to-work-on vehicle I've ever owned. I have no intention of getting rid of this car anytime soon, and unless I hold onto this car for the rest of my life I'll probably always have a diesel Benz somewhere. :)

I just wish I could get cloth seats...

I have one (I mean, three ;) ) because I tend to keep cars for many years (see first car, VW on my sig).

My Dad had two. A 1959 190E that he bought new and kept for 14 years and sold for $1100!! It still had the original paint and looked great!

Then he later bought a 1971 280SE...he STILL has that one!

So I can attest to their durability and longevity...I know few other 10-yr old models other than MB that hold up and look as nice as my old W124.

And as previously stated...nothing like the RIDE!

That said, I took a ride in a 2003 C240 and was not impressed...felt like an Accord...:(

After spending many fun years driving Jettas and Golfs, I wanted a more classic, luxury european car that would be old enough to afford, easy-enough to work on and not break the bank as a daily driver.

....hmmm, I wonder how I ended up with a W115 240D? :D Couldn't believe that 25+ year old car had better brakes and suspension than my 20-year newer VW. The ease (and surprising affordability) of maintenace impressed me further.

Driving the later models was not only impressive, but downright astonishing with the perfect blend (to me) of safety, performance, longevity, etc, etc, etc....

I can say with confidence there will always be an MB in the driveway.

Regards,
- Ryan

Ditto just most everything that has been said.
My dad was an engineer, and taught me at a very early age how things SHOULD be built, and so far a Benz is the closest I've found that meets that criteria. They aren't perfect by far, but a close second place to whatever is!:)

This is impressive, and I hope it's representative of most Benz owners. The quality of the car is uppermost in their minds, not the fact that they are "seen" in a Benz.

I drive a Benz b/c the women dig it. OH and because it's a good car too. lol :P

Yep! 25+ years at Boeing. He was brought up from an aerospace company in LA to work on the 747 in 1966 as a subcontractor, and ended up staying on. He worked on power plant structures mostly. He did the design work on those turned up wing tips you see on a lot of the 747's, even though he always said they were too small to really do any good. But you give the customer what the customer wants!
Dad always said "if your going to do something, do it right, or don't do it at all." He really was upset over the way Boeing was going down hill the past many years. Felt all the old timers leaving and "dieing off" was a real loss to the company. His health finally forced him to retire when he was 70, and he passed away 2 years ago. Good man!:(

safety (a 2 door convertible weighs 3670)
reliability (the cast iron V8's are known to run over 300K)
performance (may be slow off the stop, but it's fun on the highway)
smoothness (the ride, and the transmission... you can barely feel it shift)
and as Dr. AMG would put it... "the women dig it." (red convertible.... 'nuff said)

I don't know to be honest.

Interior? (The older cars at least), design?

I like the 124 and 123 the most and that's why I got a 123. Women love it. Not necessarily. My car is just 'another old rust bucket' in a sea of brand new BMWs and Mercedes driven by the students who go to school here....

They are just so damned good at being cars.

I was thinking yesterday, as I took a 1998 SL500 for a test drive, that I don't need a better car than my C240. Already that day I had driven 200 miles in appalling conditions with total confidence. In 18 months I've driven 50,000 miles and never once have I had even a flicker of doubt about the car's performance. It just starts and goes, day after day, without complaint, and better than anything else on the road. I'll be sad to see it go when I find the right SL.

The body shop I use says the same thing that the thread starter says.

Wow! my dad flys a 747-400! he told me those wing tips are in a gray area "Probably don't do much good but its better to have them on" but they do look cool!:D

The big chrome grille and hood star! :D

Seriously, about 3 years ago, I was trading in a van that I had owned for several years (I had a van for strictly practical reasons--I HATED the thing!) and the '79 300 SD was on a local used dealer's lot...I looked it over, drove it, and couldn't believe what great condition a 20-something year-old car was in, and how well it ran and drove, so I was immediately convinced. I plan to keep this car for as long as it will hold together, and I will always own a Mercedes of some sort...the older the better! :D

Mike