Does your 300D W123 attract attention in the company parking lot? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Carrameow · #1 01-25-2006, 01:42 PM

Ironically I drove my 300D as a "banger" for a while becuase I was scared someone would hit my SAAB 9000 95 which I am selling and which is in wonderful shape. I figured until I get the 300D repainted, it can take a minor ding or dent
My company parking lot is filled with some cool cars, like 2003 Corvette's and that little BMW Sportster and a Porche 944.
But the otherday I heard some guys atthe coffee mess talking. "Who drives that old Mercedes?" I heard. "Thats a really cool car. It sure has some personality!!"
I was flabbergasted and stunned. Maybe i should be using the SAAB as a banger!

TX76513 · #2 01-25-2006, 01:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Carrameow

Ironically I drove my 300D as a "banger" for a while becuase I was scared someone would hit my SAAB 9000 95 which I am selling and which is in wonderful shape. I figured until I get the 300D repainted, it can take a minor ding or dent
My company parking lot is filled with some cool cars, like 2003 Corvette's and that little BMW Sportster and a Porche 944.
But the otherday I heard some guys atthe coffee mess talking. "Who drives that old Mercedes?" I heard. "Thats a really cool car. It sure has some personality!!"
I was flabbergasted and stunned. Maybe i should be using the SAAB as a banger!

Well not a 123 but the 126. It's mostly from the CFO "I can't believe we give you $850 month car allowance and you are driving a twenty year old car"

glenn1179 · #3 01-25-2006, 01:49 PM

When I rolled into the lot with my 81 300TD the girls in the office couldn't stop laughing at me. I guess they just don't see me driving a wagon. I am the only "car guy (or girl)" in the office. My motor head friends think it is kind of cool, but would never drive it.

My orange wagon definately turns heads, but I don't know if it is in admiration. Oh well, I like it, and that is all that matters.

Glenn

tscorda · #4 01-25-2006, 03:38 PM

Only when I drive around demanding a 110 volt outlet for my block heater
Tom

TheDon · #5 01-25-2006, 03:46 PM

id like to drive my benz to work but its currently not registerd.. plus when i do get to drive it ill park it right where everyone can see it..

kind of ironic girl i know has a 01 mini cooper and works at a mcdonalds like me.. she drivers a nicer car than her bosses.. like me.. mwhahahaha .. even funnier the owner of the 6 mcdonalds in my area has an SL 500 or something like that and he leases it.. i own a benz.. and he doesnt haha...

Old300D · #6 01-25-2006, 04:00 PM

I'm sure mine does, with it's chipping clearcoat and political stickers.
I just got a great magnet -- it's a yellow ribbon on a globe with an oil drop on one end and a blood drop on the other. "No blood for oil".

Just thought I'd share, since you asked.

pawoSD · #7 01-25-2006, 04:59 PM

People at work give me a hard time for parking in the absolute far corner of the parking lot by the curbs to protect it.

(biig parking lot) I think the fact I drive an MB bothers most everyone there in general, since I am the only one who does.

At school I get all kinds of interesting stares when I "growl past" people (3rd gear at 17mph....nice growl)

going down the inner campus roads. I enjoy it every single time.

300SDog · #8 01-25-2006, 10:09 PM

Better yet, agressively park the old w123 next to newer model MB year 2000+

Hell you might find owner of the company or upscale top management is quick to admit your old car is probly better than theirs, and it could lead to promotion.

superbeast1098 · #9 01-25-2006, 10:57 PM

I like some of the attention that my 300D brings at work sometimes. A few people at my job still have the notion that Mercedes Benz cars are expensive to buy and maintain. When I tell them that I got my 1983 300D for under 2000 dollars, and that maintnence is not that expensive, they think its cool.

Alot of them ask "why a diesel?"..... I explain to them that I like to be different, that diesel powered cars usually get better fuel economy, and that I can use an alternative fuel source (veggie oil, which I havent tried yet)

greasybenz · #10 01-25-2006, 11:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pawoSD

People at work give me a hard time for parking in the absolute far corner of the parking lot by the curbs to protect it.

(biig parking lot) I think the fact I drive an MB bothers most everyone there in general, since I am the only one who does.

At school I get all kinds of interesting stares when I "growl past" people (3rd gear at 17mph....nice growl)

going down the inner campus roads. I enjoy it every single time.

I do the exact same thing! At the adult school i go to everyone see's me revving by and makes faces at me. i park at the far end so no one can try to scrape or dent my car. and they always ask me why you always eating? and i say eating? what you mean? and they say well everytime you pass by it smells like food.

and i get a good chuckle

iwrock · #11 01-26-2006, 12:00 AM

There is a black 300D at my school in PERFECT condition. I am friends with the owner, and everyone always says that the 300D that is pristine would cost more that their (inser affluent automobile here).

Quite honestly, when I drove my 400E, they couldn't figure it out. The son of teacher drives a pristine 400E, awhie his father (who works at the high school he attends) drives an SL600. Hmm. I get more comments about "being rich" than I dollars for gas money.

I would love to get a W123 Diesel. That would be the ultimate car for me. If I could have one car from the past, it would have to be the dads old W123 300D Turbo. It was a nice sized car, with nice features for the age. Plus, I could park next to my boss's E55, and say I could smoke you (literally).

BenzDieselTuner · #12 01-26-2006, 12:15 AM

i'd say so.....

all the other delivery drivers have hondas/kias/toyotas/etc.....all crap cars.....

and i have the beauty sitting out front......

see the galleries in my link below.....

Maroon 300D · #13 01-26-2006, 12:16 AM

I work at a non-profit agency where no one is making a lot of money. When I bought my car people joked about how rich I must be, but in reality their cars, without exception, cost more.

86560SEL · #14 01-26-2006, 12:26 AM

Ironic that you mention this.

A co-worker of mine has a 1985 300D. It is dark blue, with the tan MB-Tex interior. It gets attention from me because I love old Mercedes, but some of the others may notice it because it is in rather poor condition. She also often also parks it right up front. Being a southern car (from Florida and Tennessee), it is rust free, but the dark blue paint is extremely faded and chalky. The interior also leaves more to be desired, as parts of the headliner are hanging down and it has scrapes all over the body. My 85' is also faded, but not quite as bad, but it probably still gets looks for the bad paint, but I park it in the lower end of the lot.

Hey, I still like her 300D, despite is cosmetic issues- they are great little cars and this one is very dependable. She had a problem with the ignition switch a few months ago. This has been the only issue she has had with it. I was here trying to find out information for her, but at the same time, I was hoping she would give up and sell it for me for about $200.

The MB I often see in the lot that I always notice is a customers 2002 MB S500. I know they have their problems (she has had it in for several recalls), but wow, they are beautiful sedans!

Carry on.

Lycoming-8 · #15 01-26-2006, 12:42 AM

Well, if I can extend the scope of the discussion, the 190D attracted attention in the mid to late 60's until replaced by the 220D/8 in 1970. Mostly because it was the only MB of any kind during that whole time, and a diesel to boot. The 220D was also the only MB or diesel for at least 10 of the 20 years it showed up at the lot. Most interesting comment usually came in early winter when several would ask when I would be putting on the plow. Several others would cup their ears as they walked by trying to hear the engine running. Yeah right!?! By the early 80's a couple of other 220D's showed up, but all were gone by 1990. By the time I got the 300D in 2002, it was again the only Benz in the lot. By now though it was way out-numbered by all of the flower-stroke and gummins trucks. A few of the hard core car guys commented, but no one else.