benzes don't seem to get me any more architectural jobs.

i'm pretty sure it is my good looks.

maybe that is why it is a little slow now.

tom w

__________________
[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

I bought an 85 300D two weeks ago that looks really nice for its age. So far some friends have made jokes about how successful I must be (funny, since they all paid more $$ for their Hondas, VW's, etc.) now that I drive a Benz.

The only difference I've noticed so far, though, is that when I pulled into the same gas station I always go to, the guy called me 'sir.' I don't think that ever happened when I went there in my 89 Mustang or my girlfriend's pickup.

I live in Oregon, by the way, so it is not out of laziness that I have the attendant pump the fuel.

Speaking from personal experience, a Benz can be a curse if you are a contractor or otherwise self-employed and the decision makers, or persons with access to resources you need, resent it.

I have been denied conracts, access to resources, and have dealt with pissy attitudes. If I drove a BMW, Lexus, or other luxury vehicle, nobody would care. But Mercedes has a "Best and Costliest" pedigree that people cannot get past, and assume they you are a highfalutin snob for driving one.

What amazes me is that mine is now 17 years old and I still get attitude because of it. I can only imagine what S55 owners must endure.

Ever notice how people never refer to it as "you car"; it is always, "your Mercedes" with that undercurrent of contempt or envy.

__________________
2008 E350 4matic / Black/Anthracite

------------------------------------
Gone but not Forgotten:
2001 E430 4matic, 206,xxx miles, Black/Charcoal
1995 E320, 252,xxx miles, Black/Grey
1989 260E, 223,00 miles, Black/Black

More likely a disgruntled (former?) auto worker. Vandalizing foreign cars is a common thing in Detroit.

Also, speaking from personal experience, those "welfare brood" folks are far more courteous and respectful of other people's property than wealthier, "privileged" folks are.

The dings and damage to my car all occurred in very wealthy Fairfax County, VA. Once, I observed someone who worked at the same company as I, whip open his car door hard enough to put a half dollar-sized dent, and chip the paint, of the car next to him. He thought nothing of it and simply went about his business. He was *not* a welfare case, or Mexican or Black.

The worst that has ever happened to my car in the "ghetto" part of Washington DC was finding half a waffle below the wiper motor, and for all I know a sea gull could have dropped it there. (Interestingly, nothing at all happens in New York.)

__________________
2008 E350 4matic / Black/Anthracite

------------------------------------
Gone but not Forgotten:
2001 E430 4matic, 206,xxx miles, Black/Charcoal
1995 E320, 252,xxx miles, Black/Grey
1989 260E, 223,00 miles, Black/Black

Ditto.

__________________
2008 E350 4matic / Black/Anthracite

------------------------------------
Gone but not Forgotten:
2001 E430 4matic, 206,xxx miles, Black/Charcoal
1995 E320, 252,xxx miles, Black/Grey
1989 260E, 223,00 miles, Black/Black

I hate the mercedes status symbol.


I worked hard for a car thats 5 years older than me. Being in the suburbs South-Eastern Detroit kinda scares me now. The Hood ornament was stolen before I even bought the car. I've never seen a car with such great OEM companys, and a great look. Sleek, yet boxy.

and to think in europe some mercedes cars are used as taxis. (as another member has brought up)

no none of those.

who am i kidding. there are thousands of them over there.

tom w

__________________
[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

Funny thing about the MB is how mechanics treat you too. I've seen independent mechanics break down and cry like babies because its a Mercedes that rolls into their garage.

At first the muffler shop panicked in terror about building a pipe system for the 240D. I had to practically punch em to get them to put it on the lift after they stopped sobbing and weeping from the initial shock. Ended up with a darned fine custom muffler system with aluminized pipes for less than $200.

It's funny because Mercedes are actually easy to work on, lots of room under the hood.

maybe they're scared?

__________________
-1983 VW Rabbit LS Diesel (5speed, VNT/Giles build)

and a tendency in this country to hate folks with money and disrespect them in a personal way. sort of a reverse snobbery.

and for many ownership of the benz brings an assumption of wealth even if the age and condition of it does not warrent any such assumption.

tom w

__________________
[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

i dont find a lot of room under my 16v's hood, especially when trying to loosen the top tranny bellhousing bolts. Many knuckles got scraped. =)

I have a long journey to work and home each day in my classic 74 240D, 124 miles from Spring City to down town Chattanooga (TN) and back every day. I respect others right of the road, if some one comes up behind me or I come to a steep hill, I play right lane. I try to play fair! Most of the time I don't have any trouble at all. But sometimes I find that Mr. Lincoln wants to ride my a+2s', so I end up with my foot on the floor giving him the old
D - smokescreen (HA HA!!!). Also some people say "Thats one of those HIGH
DOLLAR cars, when they are driving a 05 or 06 something or other. I don't
have the hart to tell them that it only cost me 1/10th of what they will
be paying the next 5 years. Just to sum it up I LOVE MY OLD OIL BURNIN'
SMOKE BOMB and don't care what anyone thinks!!!!!!

The Shopboy
74 240D - Daily Driver

What it means Doc, is that you live in a nice clean house, and drive a car, and wear the type of good clean clothes, that the jealous peckerhead who did that to your car, could never hope to have.
He doesn't comprehend that you chose to work hard and attend school, and build a practice, or even a life, while he sat home watching Jerry Springer to see what his relatives were up to, drinking beer, shooting whatever into his arm, all the while expertly explaining to his friends (in great detail) what is wrong with the world. "It's them rich bastards who have the money. They have it all so we cain't git us none. that there's the problem."

I just can't comprehend the mentality of someone doing that. I don't get it. WHY? What good does it do?
What have you done (the perpetrator) to change your situation in life? Do you get joy from the thought that you upset the guy who owns the car? In what sick way does causing him anguish or inconvinence give you pleasure? What if someone saw you and you went to jail for it. Will that help your situation?
What if I saw you and shot you in the F'ng face, or smashed (into powder) every bone in your ignorant sub-human body?? Would that be worth it for you?
I want to do that, I have it in me to do that, but I know better than to do that. I ask myself first about the consequences and I realize as much as I feel like you derserve that, the repercussion to me, my family and friends, and to a society which may not necessarily agree with me, is not worth it. You are not worth it. And thats what seperates me from you.
Are you so stupid you don't even ask yourself these questions before you do something? Good god man! Kill yourself. You're not fit to live with people.

I watch that show 'cops' on TV once in a blue moon, and I swear they should allow the cops to just shoot 90% of those people dead. Do us all a favor. You want a balanced federal budget? Stop wasting resources on these low-lives. They aren't even human anymore. They're mutated, chemically altered, genetically challenged, unintelligent scum. Kill them.
I know the critiques, don't bother posting them. I just needed to get this off my chest after reading what happened to this man's car. I'm done now. I'll shut up.

it would definately piss me off too, but......it isnt even your car and you are killing him and all the other low lifes in the country!

you may need to look into getting your medications adjusted.

tom w

__________________
[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

I got my 1st benz in 1990 it was a 1989 190E 5sp.. I loved that car.
I had it parked in my driveway and the neighbors started to look out the windows and thought I was selling dope or something like that.. little did they know I gave less for that car than most of the cars on the block.. I never had the car egged or rocked.. (kept it in the garage at nights..) i did notice the
rude behavior of other drivers on the road..

So what did I do.. told the neighbors I needed to move to a new area so I bought a new house and got a E420..
I just would out run anyone that thought about getting beside me..
The E420 has a kick that I was totally shocked..

I've driven nothing but Mercedes for over 15 yrs now..

So Long live the Mercedes Benz owners and down with the Haters..

We work hard for the finer things in Life and Mercedes are as Fine as they come!!