I live in a small community out here in central Georgia where everybody knows everybody. Lately I have noticed several new 5 series BMWs popping up. I know most of these people and they can afford to drive ANYTHING they want to.
So why aren't they driving Mercedes? I think I have the answer.
Not long ago I was playing golf in Warner Robins, Ga. There was a lady on my team that is a well known business person from that town. Someone commented that they "saw her new Mercedes the other day". She replied that she had to sell it. When asked why she said "I got tired of people telling me how much money I must have". A local trucking company owner told a friend of mine that he bought a BMW because he didn't want people to think he was "showing off".
I'm glad I have an old one, at least people won't think I'm a rich snob!! Country people sure are funny about some things!!

You're exactly right about that. My first one was a 1986 190E 2.3 that I bought for $3500 in 1996. Everyone I knew said "Ooh, a Mercedes. You must be in the money."

The neighbors even said that about the $500 240D I just bought. They thought it must have cost at least $10,000.

I just smile and say "Yep, they're great cars."

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Rick Miley
2014 Tesla Model S
2018 Tesla Model 3
2017 Nissan LEAF
Former MB: 99 E300, 86 190E 2.3, 87 300E, 80 240D, 82 204D Euro
Chain Elongation References

"Nothing says money like a Mercedes."

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2003 E55 AMG
2007 FJ Cruiser

And nothing says "nouveau money" like a BMW...

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94 E320
71 350SL

I agree though...

I love the 123C as most people think it's just an old car! The fact that it's a diesel also helps it look humble!
I wish the 124 was the same. Unfortunately a lot of people still think I just robbed a bank. Sometimes I wish I had got an 87 300D!


yeah.. i've heard this before. Not gonna say I agree but.. somewhat true.. but so are some newer MB's...

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2008 BMW 335i Coupe

yeah.. i've heard this before. Not gonna say I agree but.. somewhat true.. but so are some newer MB's...

Yup, I agree (ML-class, anyone....?)

Really, these are just generalizations, but I must add that stereotypes must originate somewhere-

Please take no offense anyone-

Cheers,

JAS

PS- There's no more successful antidote to classificaction as "new money" than an old M-B diesel, this much is true!

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94 E320
71 350SL

Well the nouveau rich around here that had been BMW buyers are now moving on. And do you know why? The crappy coffee cup holders in BMWs!! My friend refused to buy another BMW for just that reason and she is not alone. She bought a brand new Jaguar. Funny story. She and her husband drive it for a few weeks. One 250 mile round trip. She is in her garage talking to her handyman who is doing some drywall repair. The guy is looking at the new car and asks "Did you know that you have different size tires on the two sides of your car?" Sure enough, the tires on the left were different size than the right! Dealer resisted some and was even suspicious that my friend swapped tires but eventually replaced all 4.

glenmore
1991
300CE

That's exactly why I sold the one BMW I gave a try, and now drive my 30 y/o Merc everyday. While fun to drive, the BMW was not as solid, didn't feel like it would last forever, and was way expensive to maintain.
Not to mention, I didn't like the (somewhat negative) attitude/responses it provoked in others. I never felt, or feel, that negativity in any M-B I've driven (about seven since I've been driving, with a VW and a BMW thrown in just to see if I was missing something- found out I wasn't)

JAS

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94 E320
71 350SL

My point is that these people, of whom most come from old money, visualize the new Mercedes as extravagance and possibly 'Gangsta' . BMW, while still a car that says money, doesn't scream look at me, I'm driving a new Benz!!! Another possibility is the boring exterior style of the new C,E and S types.

Having three of them doesn't play out very well whenever I bow out of certain things for financial reasons...

...as far as others are concerned, "you should be able to afford this or that...after all, you own a bunch of Mercedes Benzes!"

Never mind that the ML costs far less than their full-tilt Suburbans or double-extended cab dually 4WD pickups, I'm always "rolling in money" as far as they can see.

Eventually the myth will subside. I got coffee at Starbucks this morning, and the clerk asked me if I worked for MB (she saw the logo on my ID tag holder). I told her "no, I just like the cars". She proudly pointed out her spiffy new C-class parked just outside. So soon everyone will be driving one, and the aura of status will fade...

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2009 ML350 (106K) - Family vehicle
2001 CLK430 Cabriolet (80K) - Wife's car
2005 BMW 645CI (138K) - My daily driver
2016 Mustang (32K) - Daughter's car

While the Mercedes says money unlike any other, it has also been associated with older people for the most part. Why? Because only when you are older, can you afford a Mercedes, for which you have saved up all of your life.

You don't see old men driving BMW's, but rather Mercedes.

So when the cliche is messed up with younger people driving the Mercedes, people then think that the same adage of "I must have money to afford a benz" applies to them, and therefore will think you are loaded.

I got so much crap from people at school, outside of school, friends, cops etc...

Only close friends know what's up. But to some people I "must've sued someone for that car," or "daddy paid for it," or "What kind of drugs I sell."

And these people who make these comments are usually those with lesser money, and less education than the average joe.

And this may be mean and sensless, but because of crap like that, I just don't talk to poor people, because they'll just be jealous and give you crap. (When I say poor, I dont mean it entirely about the money, but about the person that they are)

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2003 E55 AMG
2007 FJ Cruiser

Yeah, I afraid that she's gonna do permanent damage if she doesn't stop!!

Eevryone at my work thinks I am rich, and can't understand why I work there. I keep telling them That I only paid so much for the car and it costs me very little, but the only other person with a benz who works there is the president of the company...

And some of these people are driving brand new cars that cost way more than what my car cost me 3 years ago.

Its funny how steroetypes regarding cars are still there, even when the car is old. My car is 11 years old, probably going on 12, since it was a 92 model year and probably originally sold in late 1992.

Alon

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'92 300CE - Sold
2004 C240 - 744 - C7 Wheels - Android Radio
2002 C320 - 816 - Sport Wagon

this thread sure hits a note.I live on a very narrow gravel dead end road way back in the Coastal Mts. of Oregon.With three MB's in the drive even though my 86 SE is the newest one and cost less than some outdoor barbeque cookers.
(saw a outdoor cooker in Eugene fo 6K) all my neighboors think we are rich and fibbing when we try to explane how I do all the repairs and buy the parts on line. Oh well its a good joke ,wonder what the response will be if I add a Rolls to my MB flock? I have been looking for a late seventies
Rolls with a bad engine to do a big block Chevy conversion on,as they used GM 400 transmissions looks like it might not be too hard.......
William Rogers.......

When I first moved here, I drove my 95 Benz and my neighbors as nice as they're, thought I was very rich. And later I added my mother's 86 560SEL and they went nut. Then after years, people changed cars, all my neighbors are driving newer cars and I am still driving a 8 years old and 18 years old one. They stopped saying that I am rich anymore. I thought at one time they thought I was a drug dealer or something along the line. LOL