My experiences are the same as LarryBible. Although, personally, I feel safer in my German tank (1985 300D), I haven't been treated any different. A few colleagues have remarked "wow, I get to ride in a Benz" when I've given them rides, but other than that nothing. Actually I'm surprised since I'm in the Detroit area, but now that Daimler and Chrysler are synonymous (not really) I bet I'll be seeing more and more MB's on the streets of SE Michigan.

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FrankieZ
84 500SEL EURO 87K
85 300D 267K (and still goin' strong)

[This message has been edited by fz500sel (edited 08-16-2000).]

I don't know why people haven't brought this topic up before! I totally feel awkward when people ask me what car I drive. I usually say "An Old Mercedes" but by the time they see it, they think it's pretty new (which it's not.... 13 years+) Anyway, I do think people have stereotypes, and I live in Saratoga where the average house costs 1.4 million and there are benz's everywhere. I actually didn't realize how many there were until the new '00 e class came out and i noticed that almost EVERYONE upgraded. I don't even see the old ones anymore, which have had like a 5 year lifespan. My friend has a bmw m3 and people don't have a problem with that. It cost just as much as my car when it was new! I haven't had my car vandalized though (knock on wood) and my friends who have Japanese cars have been. My friends "riced up" Civic gets its emblems stolen ALL the time and the other week, people bashed in his body kit and his windshield. Also, my other friends with a new accord got keyed. I would CRY if my car got keyed.... but actually, a new paint job would be nice.. hehe. I think it's worse in other places but yes, I do feel like people have some kind of automatic reaction to people who drives benz's. It's a shame really.

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Phil Ly

1987 300E Midnight Blue
Remus Sport Exhaust
European headlights
Clear corners
AMG 17in Monoblock IIs (hopefully soon)
Eibach Lowering Springs

See, this is why I drive a beat-up, rusty old diesel everyday. I see where all of you are coming from, and how people tend to stereotype MB owners but anymore I don't give a damn what anybody thinks. Let them look at the odometer in my 300SD and see how many miles are on it! I gurarantee more than they'll ever see in any other car! I used to work at a Cadillac dealer as a mechanic (while ago) and I'd laugh to myself when all the customers driving their Devilles and Eldorados would see me pulling by in my Turbodiesel. Funny how people driving expensive Chevys expect you to kiss their feet. By the way, after I left Cadillac I went to the MB dealer and found the overall "qualiity" of the customers to be greatly better--which I expected. But it was funny to see those big Eldorados come in for service with steer horns on the hood!

Getting back to Mercedes people, I have never had a negative comment when I take the 250 Cabrio out, and most people--even the muscle car boys recognize it as a well-built, classic car. When I drive the Interceptor, the most common words to come out of a person's mouth are "nice Aston Martin" or "what the hell is that?" And of course, the DeLorean is recognized immediately by the '80s generation for it's incredible time travel capabilities, but the flux capacitor question gets old real quick. Out of all the cars I own, I am most careful (and paranoid) about driving the DeLorean, as body panels are no longer available since the British government sunk the original body dies in the Atlantic ocean. And nobody is making replacements and nobody is even going to think about re-working a stainless fender---even to remove a tiny door ding! Can't be done! So the only source for body panels for this car is DMC in Houston, Texas who owns the remaining parts supply from the factory and they want $2,700 for a front fender. OUCH!!

But to conclude fellas, don't be worried about what people think of you or your car. Most importantly, YOU know why you own it and you shouldn't be the least bit embarrassed to show everyone you have sense when it comes to choosing safe and reliable cars! 'Nuff said.


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Rgds,
Aaron Greenberg
MB technician
Precision Motorcars, Cincinnati, Ohio
'67 250SE Cabriolet
'77 450SL
'80 300SD
'85 380SE
'86 420SEL
'89 420SEL
'93 300E 2.8
'74 Jensen Interceptor Mk.III
'81 DeLorean DMC12
'84 BMW 745i Turbo

Aaron,

Here, Here!!

Larry

I live in the Land of MB in Montvale NJ (MB headquarters) so everyone drives a MB and I mean everyone. The chances that you get a MB hater is rare or none. I'm real sorry to hear your story though. I'll definitely keep that in mind if and when I drive through your neck of the woods.

HI,
THis is a very interesting topic and id love to share my rather limited experiences driving my 1983 300D-T in the last 3 months. I decided to buy a benz after i had visited France in Febuary and drove one as a rented car and rode in a few as taxi cabs. I loved the cars understated beauty, class, and it seemed as they aged the more beautiful they became.
M-B are pricey cars, and they are imported.Which makes them a sort of rarity here. They are manufactured in a county which has a rather dark history and the M-B brand has a lot of snob-appeal in this country. But so what!!! Cadillac dosen't? BMW dosen't? Every single M-B that has ever been built is a work of art. Not everyone can appreciate that. As for keying a benz or stealing a hood orniment, this is jeliousy. Thieves assume that a benz owner is rich, so they break into them. As for senceless defacing a benz, i cant even explain, only that its a damn shame a person cant enjoy a fine automoblie without fearing that it would be trashed in their own driveway!!! Sick!!!
My benz is 17 yrs old, yet my co-workers love to take a ride in it, for most it was their first time in one! I paid $1500 for it. Yet, i get more looks and respect on the road than anyother car i have ever owned. Yeah, it is a major babe magnet! he he! My friends get in and love those circular air vents ( i have to smack their hands because they start playing with em), the power sunfoof,and they never touch the climate control because they can't figure it out anyways.
I have had nothing but positive from friends and co-workers about the car so far. Except for maybe my neighbors, when I wake them up in the mornings starting it and the people that ride my tail when i floor it.:O)

Thats my 0.02.

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I just bought my first MB, a '87 300TD. I've been somewhat suprised at the reaction that people have made to hearing about it. The perception is that I am now wealthy and self indulgent in luxury.

Friends who take the time to ask me about my decision come to understand some of the utility I get from my choice in vehicles:

1) I've reycled a whole automobile rather than had a new one manufactured. The value of that on the environment is tremedous.

2) It's a diesel which matches my long distance driving needs, providing economy, reliabilty, and longevity.

3) The combination of features I have in this wagon can not be purchased new today (in the usa for any price), 6cyl turbo diesel, third seat, all the options like leather, sun roof, built in phone.

4) Enjoying discovering the beauty of design and engineering as I maintain this car. As in the "Art of Motorcycle Maintenance".

5) Safety for myself and family.

It took me nearly two years of research and waiting to find this car. And I think that it will be well worth the wait.

I have teased some friends that visit by pulling out the 1987 prestige MB catalog for the 300 series and saying this is the car I just bought. "Oh wow, how can you take the depreciation on a new MB!" I can answer that question.


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-Mike
'87 300TD Turbo

This is a GREAT book. I think about it sometimes when working on the MB.

__________________
86 560SL
With homebrew first gear start!
85 380SL
Daily Driver Project

http://juliepalooza.8m.com/sl/mercedes.htm

quote:

---

Originally posted by spinedoc:
Dont feel bad, my Benz has a big Swastika keyed onto its hood! I dont know what this was supposed to mean, but it is funny that I am actually of Latin descent.

Go figure.

---

Well, I don't think it's because you are latin, but during WWII, Mercedes was a big backer of the Nazi movement. And they contributed alot of their technology in to the war effort.

Then again, Charles Lindbergh was a big supporter of the NSDAP as well, and so were GM, Chrysler and Ford.
German Panzer MKIIs rode on a Ford V-8.

Anyhow, not that people know that or care when they scratch a swastika into a hood.

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John J. Meadows
'85 190E 2.3L 99k mi.
'83 300D Turbo 268k mi. (sold to Mom and Dad for a song)

1L - TCW Law School, U. of Richmond

Boy, and I thought this was all just a myth! My family have been driving German cars for decades. From BMWs, Porsches, and M-Bs. But I have to agree there are a lot of stereotyping on MB owners.

I didn't realize the "anti-Mercedes Benz" till I was a Freshman in high school, at the time we owned a 190E 2.6, xxxSEL and I get a lot of sarcastic comments when I get dropped off from school. By the time I was a Junior, my parent has bought a brand new SL, and boy those sarcasms had gone to new heights! Jealousy too! I remember my mom coming home in rage. 2 Weeks after driving her SL, she got 2 indented key marks on each side of the door.

At that moment, I knew I better just stay off the benz trend in the family, and just get a Japanese import for my first year of driving, and I told my self "benz weren't cool".

After a while, and developing a family of my own, I realize the M-B did offer more than just "bragging rights". M-B truly has the luxury feel and German engineering. Of course I still get the "wow, you rich boy" attitude from friends. However I'm never hesitant to speak of my vehicle, as I shouldn't have to be ashamed of it.

I currently own a 1998 E430, 1999 CLK430...and planning to purchase a 2001 ML430 once it comes out. And yes, I get a lot of rude drivers as some of you might have experienced.

I guess I've been fortunate to never experience the I Hate MB syndrome. The only comment I ever got, was how nice it must be to have money to get a Benz... from a guy who spent 15K more than me on a pick up truck???


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Darko Vusir
1994 C220

After I bought my first Mercedes, a '73 450 SEL that I paid $1500 for, a friend of mine said to me "so now you think you're an elitist". I responded by saying "I paid fifteen hundred bucks for this thing", and the response was, "well you are still an elitist!" , so go figure. One nice thing that has happened, is after I bought my 240D, I noticed other 240D drivers waving at me.

Sigmet

73 & 80 450 SEL
82 240D

what bothers me is the door dings....what is the deal with parking lots...the further away I park my car the more likely some guy wants to park 12 inches off my door.whaz up wid dat????

Stuff like the door dings etc. makes me think of a saying I heard a while back:
"Please grant me the wisdom to understand that God did not see fit to evenly distribute the gift of intelligence"

This explains many of the things I see.
That, or some people are just a#%holes.