I don't like Lexus....and don't spend major coin just for some bling.

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Proud owner of ....
1971 280SE W108
1979 300SD W116
1983 300D W123
1975 Ironhead Sportster chopper
1987 GMC 3/4 ton 4X4 Diesel
1989 Honda Civic (Heavily modified)
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Section 609 MVAC Certified
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"He who fights with monsters might take care lest he thereby become a monster. And if you gaze for long into an abyss, the abyss gazes also into you." - Friedrich Nietzsche

Actually, it WAS a very good read, unlike I had expected.....particularly when you delve deeper into the other reviews. It, and all of the MB reviews, actually, have a common thread which I am sure was unintentional: The MB marque declined precipitiously in 1997 with the buyout of Chrysler, a decline from which they may never recover....at least to their prior stature. I do believe that MB is not alone, and that a huge percentage of premier European brands have suffered from the massive corporate buyouts of the late 1990's to today. Jaguar is a sad, sad remnant of what it used to be prior to ownership of Ford; Volvo is fast in Jaguar's tracks, and sadly Aston Martin will be a joke in coming years; Saab is a mere shadow of it's previous glory since GM. It is clear that it is the design of current and future automobile corporate culture is becoming more and more like government: Drag everyone down to a low common denominator and let no one excel.

So, if you are lucky enough to own one or more pre-'97 MB in good condition and are able to keep them maintained to their 30-40 year design life, then you very well may posess one of the last of the great Benz's. The corporate motto of Gottlieb Daimler's DMG was "Das beste oder nichts"....The best or nothing. Unfortunately, if the powers that be within the Mercedes Benz organization don't address the problems they currently have, than the latter part of G. Daimler's motto just may come to pass.

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1996 SL320 97K miles
1996 C220 130k miles
1992 500SEL 170k miles <---sold
1986 300E 216k miles <---sold

Don't know what to make of that statement since:

1) the 16 year old honda in my driveway (the oldest I own right now) is in about the same condition as the day it was made

2) the roads are crawling with 10-20 year old Japanese compact trucks (Toyota & Nissan) that seem to run for hundreds of thousands of miles even though their owners beat on them. I also see early 90s Hondas everywhere, looking just fine.

3) Why the hell would I want to daily drive a 27 year old car given the enormous improvements in safety, performance, etc in the last three decades? Its beyond irrelevant, its laughable.

I was referring to Japanese cars built in the late 70's and early 80's, not cars built in the 90's. I don't consider those old cars. Sure they run good, but have you ever seen a Japanese car with QQ plates? (perhaps a few rare examples) Also, I don't see people spending their precious time and money to restore them to their original glory days. They were built for basic transportation and were quite good at that, but thats it. By the time they qualify for "historic" plates, most have been run into the ground and are ready for the scrap yard. I would say the vast majority of the people on this forum that have 25+ year old MB do not use them as daily drivers and their cars have been relagated for enjoyment, and as a reminder of what the quality of workmanship and materials used to be like. You just don't get it, and as for your early 90's Honda, they are dime a dozen.

i beg to differ those of use that own old benz actually drive them as
daily drivers... i drive mine every day.....

I have owned newer and older benz... i recently had a newer one in the shop for nearly two years.... the only benz worth having is the 5 cylinder diesel...
The 300sd's dont rust so thats what keeps them on the road.... i have seen the 300d's and 240d's die of rust... and what kills every good honda and every good volvo is the rust....I currently have a friend going for 300k on his honda and you can see two rust holes already... i have a 1990 ford ranger
with 233k and it is a rust bucket...but the mechanics are still good...

the perfect car is the 5 cylinder diesel and in the sd version you get some aluminum in the body and it is almost rust resistant...i have no rust on my 300sd....and i drive it every day... 259 miles the only problem ever is the transmission...

In all honesty, I think most objective people reading this thread would come to the opposite conclustion.....

Let's say, just because you have made it clear you will never respect a car not built in the fatherland, that I accept your arguement that waaaaaay back in the day, in the time when dinosaurs ruled the earth, MB built good cars - so what? We live in the present time, and there is just no way their current cars are the best available. Do you even have first hand experience with a newer Mercedes or are you just arguing based on a car that is three decades old?

There was a time when a V16 caddy was the best car money could buy, but that doesn't mean squat if you are standing on a Cadillac dealer's lot today. Univac used to build the best computers, so what? That was then, this is now.

Odviously we should sell all our crap cars, and buy Hondas. Lets change this site to Hondashop.com.

Its funny if you go to any website devoted to a specific car brand you get threads like this. At Honda sites you have people screaming they are the biggest pos made because the tranny in their 3-4 year old van just blew. Or the windows broke. ABS going nuts ect.

Go to a Toyota site now, and see people screaming and threatening lawsuits because their mid to late 90's Toyota sludged the engine up. Defective crankcase vent. Killed a lot of late 90's Toyotas real young. Or the new Camry's that the dealer says flat out will chew front tires because the front suspension is screwed up.

Or a GM site, search "piston slap".

Couldn't find a thread like this at Jaglovers.com, maybe I didn't look hard enough.

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2016 Corvette Stingray 2LT
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

I'd love to sell my crap Mercedes and replace it with a Honda, but I can't find anyone ignorant enough to pay much for it.

Want to buy it?

Yeah right you could flip the C43 pretty quick.

$1

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2016 Corvette Stingray 2LT
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

Sure - for jack squat.




Check the current market value. My 16 year old Honda is worth about 45% of its original MSRP. The turd C43 is already only worth a third of MSRP. How well a car holds its value is a good indication of its quality and how it holds up mechanically over time.

If you really disagree with me, step up to the plate and make an offer on the C43.....

Don't want a W202, to small for my needs. If it was an S500 I probably would.

Not really fair comparing your NSX to a C43, different market.

Whats a 16 year old Civic or Accord worth? $500?

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2016 Corvette Stingray 2LT
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

Well, I know that a 92-95 Civic hatch or coupe in nice shape will sell here for $3,000 - $3,500 in a heartbeat. I believe that is about a third of the original MSRP. A 1986-1999 CRX in excellent shape is a $2,500 - $3,000 car, which is well over a third of the MSRP.

So, same staying power as the C43 with a decade more time to depreciate. How's that work for ya? ; )

Fastnsx why do you even participate in this forum? Your the one that wants to argue about his Honda on a Mercedes Forum. I was justing trying to say that a Honda Accord will never be a collectable car, justa dependable daily driver. As far as respecting none German cars I own a 2005 Toyota Tundra and a 2000 Mercury Sable as my daily drivers. Both are fine auto's that I enjoy driving and would reccomend to anyone. Yea, an American car that drives and runs great, it's reliable, rides smooth and quiet. The Toyota pickup is one of the finest p/u trucks I've ever owned and performs whatever tasks I request of it without effort. Sure my Benz is old but it's a beautiful car that has real chrome, thick leather, and none of those worthless luxury options that do nothing but cause headaches after a few years. I participate in this Mercedes forum so I can educate myself on resolving and fixing problems that do occur on my "Mercedes". You on the other hand appear to only want to whine and cry about your problem car. I've put alot of time and effort into restoring my car and I don't mind getting my hands dirty doing it, I consider it a labor of love. I don't need nor do I want a expensive flashy car, and If I did it probably wouldn't be a Mercedes or any other European car.

All I have been hearing about is The Japanese reliability, depreciation, bla bla. Ever look at the paint on most 16 year old Mercedes? Ever look at the fit, the tolerances, the lines? Come on people. Now look at that same 16 year old Nissan, or Toyota. The paint on my 1990 300E looks like it was applied yesterday. Original paint job, not a bubble, a flake, a fade, nothing. Its shines like no tomorrow. Granted the car only has 110,000 miles, but its still 16 years old. And spent most of its life in the geat midwest of the US. Salt, snow, potholes, you name it. I can drive my wifes 97 Maxima down the freeway, and I have to shout to speak with her from all of the wind noise. My Benze is like being inside of a coffin, I think. I have had the car three years, and replaced the front brakes, one headlight bulb, six plugs, and a new pine air freshener. That one killed me. $ 1.95 can you believe it?

Ya see, that's what I'm talking about. My 27 year old Mercedes also has the original shiny paint(two small dings and a scratch), doesn't need repaint. Leather is still nice (a few small scuffs just for character). Still something to be proud of....