How many of us have gone from a newer model to an older model?

Seems like MB is probably the only brand where people do not consistently upgrade to a newer model.

__________________
'90 300SE 298k
-300K and it gets put into retirement.
'80 300D 255k Purchased new by family in 1980.

Had a:
1973 220 (gas)
1980 300SD
1992 400E

Us old-school diesel drivers are a small minority as far as MB owners go. Most MB "owners" these days are actually leasers, who'll lease the new model as soon as it comes out. In Southern California there's handfuls of W211 E-Class being turned over because of the new CLS.

I'm cheap.............and I also do not have the problem of having too much money to get rid of.....so I doubt I will be upgrading to a more modern one....

Beyond a W126 that is.

__________________
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)
---------------------
Section 609 MVAC Certified
---------------------
"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

Agree with Speedy as far as the people here being a miority. Southern Californians are probably the most status conscious people in the country.

__________________
'90 300SE 298k
-300K and it gets put into retirement.
'80 300D 255k Purchased new by family in 1980.

Had a:
1973 220 (gas)
1980 300SD
1992 400E

The "highest" i'd ever want to go to would be a gas V8 W126 or R107. Then again im 17 and poor so my opinion here doesnt count for too much.

__________________
1985 CA 300D Turbo , 213K mi

I bet some of the locals here would give them a run for their money....

__________________
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)
---------------------
Section 609 MVAC Certified
---------------------
"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

Signature says it all. But I never got rid of the 300TD. Just went back to it as a daily driver

Got rid of the 99 E300 and now drive the 82 300TD and 88 560SL. The 240D is the Daughters.

Dave

__________________
1970 220D, owned 1980-1990
1980 240D, owned 1990-1992
1982 300TD, owned 1992-1993
1986 300SDL, owned 1993-2004
1999 E300, owned 1999-2003
1982 300TD, 213,880mi, owned since Nov 18, 1991- Aug 4, 2010 SOLD
1988 560SL, 100,000mi, owned since 1995
1965 Mustang Fastback Mileage Unknown(My sons)
1983 240D, 176,000mi (My daughers) owned since 2004
2007 Honda Accord EX-L I4 auto, the new daily driver
1985 300D 264,000mi Son's new daily driver.(sold)
2008 Hyundai Tiberon. Daughters new car

Recent article in Motor Trend:

The Asphalt Jungle: Means Streets
How can so many Angelenos afford to drive such amazing cars and eat?

By Arthur St. Antoine
Photography by Lionel Deluy
Motor Trend, June 2005

I have this acquaintance--to safeguard his anonymity, I'll call him "Homer"--who drives a 2004 Mercedes-Benz SL500. This fact makes me more than a little envious of Homer. After all, the SL500 may well be the greatest aphrodisiac since the diamond-flavored Valentine's chocolate or the Lenny Kravitz backstage pass.
advertisement


That said, I most definitely do not envy the price Homer has to pay to glide along in his SL500's rarefied cockpit. Each month, to cover his lease, insurance, and gas bills, Homer shells out more than $1800.
Illustration Troy Mendham

The thing is, Homer isn't rich. He inhabits a $735-a-month studio apartment in Burbank--a place so small that Verizon keeps trying to hang a pay phone inside. He wears cost-cutter suits that contain an alarmingly large percentage of unnatural fibers. And when he dines out, he's far more likely to drop into the local Red Lobster than to sup with Ashton and Demi at Spago.

Of course, you'd never know any of this if you saw Homer on the road. Out there, he's a master of the universe, ruling from the helm of one of the world's finest automobiles. Asked about this seeming lifestyle imbalance, Homer expressed himself eloquently: "You think I give a damn? C'mon. This is L.A. You either have a nice car here, or you are toast. I mean, I've had women beg me to take them out in this car."

Clearly, I was on to something. As anyone new to the city will tell you, the streets of L.A. are so awash with awesome automobiles that one's first reaction is to ask, "How did all these people get so bloody rich?" In truth, though, the parade of four-wheeled extravagance is largely an illusion--an example of life as Hollywood sound-stage facade. See, in this fair city appearances count. This, in itself, is not unique to L.A., of course. In New York, for example, it's possible to elevate one's status with any number of established hallmarks: a Burberrys trench coat, box seats at Lincoln Center, a gold-plated Mace dispenser. But in L.A.--that palm-lined jewel tied up in asphalt ribbons--the car is king. And many, it seems, will pay whatever it takes to ascend to the throne.

Also out on an automotive limb is "Bart," a 44-year-old computer-software developer. In most regards, Bart lives simply: modest house in Valencia, 20-inch Zenith, occasional weekend in Vegas. Open his garage door, though, and suddenly you'd think Bart has points in Microsoft Windows. On the right is an aging Chrysler LeBaron--"My chores car," Bart says. But on the left sits a blood-red 1988 Ferrari Testarossa. Purchase price, used: $91,500.
advertisement

Spying this stunning piece of Italian sculpture in such a setting is somehow unsettling--like finding a Picasso nailed to the wall of a Holiday Inn. But Bart doesn't see it that way. "I used to live in Minnesota, and with the winters and ice and all, you can't have a nice car there. But I promised myself if I ever got a job in California, I'd buy a great car. I've always wanted a Ferrari. Besides, it sure doesn't make it any harder to meet women."

Ah, a common theme. In L.A., clearly, a cool car is nothing less than an essential element in the mating ritual--cost be damned. I ask Bart if he thought about the possible "fringe benefits" before digging deep to purchase his Ferrari.

"Yeah, I guess you could say I did," he says with a smile. "Until I got divorced three years ago, the money was supposed to go for a bake shop."

__________________
'90 300SE 298k
-300K and it gets put into retirement.
'80 300D 255k Purchased new by family in 1980.

Had a:
1973 220 (gas)
1980 300SD
1992 400E

As I am now a broke college student I look forward to the day when I can afford a nicer car.

If I play my cards right and get a handful of rental properties to throw off ssay $1k a month I can let my renters lease me a new S class every couple of years.

Personaly I would never pay tons of money for a car I'd rather buy a boat.

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

i had two 124s and went back to 123s and 126s. on my 91 300d the blower went out. the blower cost 300 and the labor at my indy was 300. on a 123 the blower is about 100 and the labor was me doing it in 10 minutes. i decided that they had lost the idea of being able to work on it. i decided to sell for sure when the evap went out. i was going to have it repaired as a part of the sale and when it got complicated i took some money off the price and the buyer did the evap. i talked to him about 5 years later because he had a euro 280 sl i was interested in and he said the evap never worked after he had it replaced. so i am not too interested in 124s.. they do drive marvelously though... as do the newer models.

i currently own three 123s and two 126s and none newer or older.

__________________
[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 think the status thing just started to decline when car payment schemes were launched for the majority of people to some extent. I think the lease thing years later really put the finishing touches on it. Also I drive interesting cars rather than this keeping up with the jones thing. Another item that applys to me is the age factor. At my age do not think it matters what I drive as long as it is reliable, looks presentable and does not depreciate and is fun to own and drive. Think I have hit the age unfortunatly that if I asked a lady to get into the back seat she would probably respond but Barry I want to be with you. In fact some of my cars in heated storage are appreciating over time it seems. Another factor is they are all pretty easily repairable by myself when I get the time. Find I actually enjoy the repair thing as well. Also fits in well with my retirement at age 50. Strange if you have lots of assets and some money you are not a bum people assume you are just smart. If they only knew.

I think I'm a good example of someone who's gone from a new model to an old one. I used to be into sports cars and a few years ago I had a new Corvette but I was also more and more interested in old Mercedes diesels. Eventually I bought my 82 300D, my first MB diesel, with a busted rear window and some dents from a fallen tree but otherwise in good running condition for a $1000. A month later I sold my Corvette as it made no sense for me to keep making the payments on it if there was a 1000 dollar car that I enjoyed more. I've had nothing but MB diesels ever since. I just added a newer MB diesel (the 96) to my fleet, but I don't consider that an upgrade, just an addition. I think everybody should just drive what they enjoy and screw the whole image thing. I drive and own MB's not because I try to look good, but because I genuinely enjoy them.

__________________
2004 VW Jetta TDI (manual)

Past MB's: '96 E300D, '83 240D, '82 300D, '87 300D, '87 420SEL

I wish I had more time to complete my transition from an '01 VW TDI to my '85 300d project.

__________________
Rob M
Norwich, VT USA
1980 240D Euro delivery 4 speed manual silver/blue
~160K miles

California high finance:

Ben Stein (of Ferris Buehler and Win Ben Stein's Money fame) told this one:

He arrived in LA in the mid 70's and was trying to break into TV as a writer. It happened he was in hospital for root canal surgery when he recieved his first big check for a script he wrote - $25,000.

He showed it to a friend, who said "Great! now you can make a down payment on a mansion in Beverly Hills, then put a second mortgage on it and that's how you get your Rolls Royce!".

Stein said he got such a kick out of this, he didn't need pain killers for the rest of the day.

(P.S. he didn't move to Beverly Hills but shortly after, he bought his first house and a 380SL convertible)

Well I am definitely regressing back to older cars. In fact I am crossing out my future plans for a late model beemer or anything else for that matter. Times have changed so much so that older is better My tweny years younger wife agrees

__________________
Peter
1984 300D MB "Klara"
1996 4Runner SR5 "Toy"
1997 Impreza Outback "Subie"
80's Diesel PU Rig (to be purchased)