Something i've perceived while driving my '79 240D in affluent NYC suburb community where new MB's abound.

Owners of newer models, especially the ML series, cannot look me in the eye when stopped along side at red lights in traffic, etc.
Meanwhile am getting waved at by anybody driving a pre-84 MB.

My '79 240D poses no threat to any vechicle on the road, yet am sensing deliberate defensiveness on the part of new car owners. This might be attributable to their own insecurity, i dunno.

Do owners of newer cars envy those who drive vintage classic models? Its like we know something they dont know, i guess.

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'80 300SD/ w116
'79 240D 4-spd
'71 750cc Guzzi

previously owned:

'83 240D 4-spd
'77 280SEL 4-spd
'74 280/8
'72 250/8
'65 220Sb 4-spd
'63 220Sb 4-spd
'63 190c 4-spd
'61 220Sb 4-spd
'60 190b 4-spd

It's pure snobbery -- after all, you COULDN'T have paid as much for yours as they did for theirs, and everyone knows the only reason for buying a Benz is to prove you have the money to do so (and are too cheap to buy a Royce....)

Peter

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1972 220D ?? miles
1988 300E 200,012
1987 300D Turbo killed 9/25/07, 275,000 miles
1985 Volvo 740 GLE Turobodiesel 218,000
1972 280 SE 4.5 165, 000 - It runs!

Agree w/psfred. Strictly a class thing. New owners who paid more than $50K or who are paying more than $600 a month to park their [ insert MB model here ] figure anyone in an old Benz is a wannabe.

Such snobs are mostly new money. Old money generally could care less, and such owners hang onto their cars longer as a result, IMHO.

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'91 300D 2.5 Turbo 330K
'00 VW TDI Golf, 190K
'67 BMW R50/2
'73 Norton Commando Interstate

I think it's a matter of enthusiast versus status seeker. If you look at other forums for BMW, Jaguar, Porsche you'll notice that there are others like "us" who for the most part own the cars because we genuinely like them for what they are and can aquire them because have depreciated to a point where "we" can afford them. These cars are dropped by the status seeker as soon as they newer models come out because the older models are no longer "the thing." Realize that this is my observation in Los Angeles...could be different else where.

I'm not saying that ALL who drop the cash to drive the newest cars are not genuine enthusiats, it's just my observation that most enthusiasts buy used. Or maybe some of us are not as wealthy because we spend our extra time with our cars instead of putting that time towards earning more money?

When ever I see a "vintage" Mercedes I wonder if they are cheep and just bought it, or rich and bought it new.

A nice 15 - 30 year old Mercedes says "old money" and shows you have experience with nice things and can take care of them. Same way a wooden Herreshoff sloop scores more status points than a new fiberglass cabin cruiser.

I grew up in an "old money" Baltimore suburb, and in the '50s and '60s more than one family still had a 20 year old (or older) Packard, Buick, Chrysler as part of their auto fleet...because the "crust" bought quality cars NOT to show off, but because they LASTED. Buying stuff so good it never wears out is one of the economies once favored by the well-to-do.

Personally I hate new cars..all of them.. they all look the same to me. If I wanted to spend $60k on a car I'd go for a 60's mb cabriolet.. a car with actual class. Instead of an SUV or HUMMER I'd get a UNIMOG and then I'd like to see who'd play a game of chicken with me in their daisy crushing sports utility vehicle! Wannabe's are people who buy 4x4's and never actually take them off road. Unfortunately in LA that's probably the majority of people driving SUV's.

I'd really like to retro fit a classic MB with electric.. that would be cool.. I'd like to see more vintage cars with electric or hybrid power but the weight is too much of an issue currently.

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MB 72 250 M130.923 114.011 170k The Beauty

Is that sacrilege on this board?

I had a '72 2002 for a daily driver for a few years. Other drivers of old BMWs would flash their lights, but anyone in a 80's or newer would look at you like the car didn't deserve the Roundel on the hood. I think alot of the newer cars did not even know that it was a BMW.

Peter

My $0.02 for what its worth.

I drive a 2000 E430 so I guess it is sort of new. I also bought it second hand, so hopefully that puts me out of the snob category

I always take a good look at the older MBs I see, especially the ones in good condition, because some day I want mine to be like that. I have minimal technical or mechanical skills (I wear slip-on shoes 'cause tying my showlace is a technical stretch) so having an older vehicle I have to maintain is not an option for me. I also have minimal garage space so having a older "special" MB is also not an option.

I think the older MB vehicles are great and when I see them, it confirms to me that I made the right choice as I believe that quality will endure and that I have bought quality.

So please, don't condemn all of us who drive newer vehicles.

Scott.

Peter:

Pure snobbery, again! That 72 2002 was the nicest car to drive I've ever had the privilige of operating, except maybe the one time I drove a 633 (or was it a 733?) coupe -- pure pleasure. Ah, the good old days........

Alas, the vast majority of Benz and BMW owners only buy them because of the price tag -- we do live in that happy place where status is everthing, performance doesn't count -- and the 'burbs are the WORST. I have the dubious privilige of living in a rural area rapidly suburbanizing,and I see it every day--- nearly collided with a woman in a bright yellow SLK this morning. She appeared to think that an expensive car and being in a hurry entitled her to ignore the "right turn only" markings (have to zigzag approaching a light). Naturally, I'm sure she thought my 72 280 SE was a piece of junk since it isn't brand new and I don't live in her "exclusive suburb"!

Peter

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1972 220D ?? miles
1988 300E 200,012
1987 300D Turbo killed 9/25/07, 275,000 miles
1985 Volvo 740 GLE Turobodiesel 218,000
1972 280 SE 4.5 165, 000 - It runs!

You would find that those other newer BMW owners will refer to their cars as "Beamers" instead of the genuine, more informed term of "Bimmer" -

Again a case of status seeker versus enthusiast.

Twasn't always thus. Dad's first MB (280SEL) happened in 1969, which was also my freshman year at college. He'd bought it not for what it said, since most folks here in MI didn't know much about them, but for what it was. The first several years he had the car, other MB drivers were rare, but those one saw would often flash lights in greeting (which is how I'm sure of my recollection that the headlight flasher worked!).
By maybe 1975-6 or so, other MB's were much more common, but the practice of greeting was much less so. They'd become popular in suburbia and the enthusiast-owner had become a minority. Good for DB's balance sheet, but something gets lost at the same time...

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Craig Bethune

'97 SL500, 40th anniversary edition

'04 Olds Bravada (SWMBO's)
'06 Lexus ES330
'89 560SL (sold)


SL--Anything else is just a Mercedes.
(Kudos to whoever said it first)

I often wonder what upper-echelon MB owners are thinking as I drive by in my meager "C."

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2003 Hyundai Santa Fe, Silver
1999 C280 Sport, Black
1997 Ford Escort, Toreador Red

In my experience with British rides (MGs and Healeys), everyone waved to each other, Triumphs, MGs, Healeys, Alpines, etc. Everyone except for the Jag owners. Thus, the snob theory above holds true.

I've been driving MBs for 15 years and never experienced the camraderie of those driving British. This is probably due to the pains of British car ownership and th mutual experiences of working on them. (Actually financed my first MB with the sale of an AH 3000 MkII, BJ7).

I'd rather drive an MB and forego the waves!! I don't think it matters what year or what class. After I bought my first MB, a wise MB owner told me: "what's important is you've got one!"

Granted, I love new MB's. But I'd much rather have an OLD benz from the 30's than a newer one (not like I could afford either )
I appreciate my beautiful car for what it is, and MANY other people do as well. If new MB owners don't like it, that's THEIR issue. My car is mine, theirs is theirs. If they want/need to get a new one every few years, let them waste the money. IF I get money in the future, I'll buy a Viper, not a new Mercedes, and get a fully restored cabriolet (or restore one myself)

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Current:
2021 Charger Scat Pack Widebody "Sinabee"
2018 Durango R/T

Previous:
1972 280SE 4.5
2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited "Hefe", 1992 Jeep Cherokee Laredo "Jeepy", 2006 Charger R/T "Hemi"
1999 Chrysler 300M - RIP @ 221k