My feature article came out today...misquoted 15 minutes - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

TylerH860 · #1 12-27-2008, 04:22 AM

Quite a few errors and misquotes, unfortunately, but I understand its difficult keeping 4 cars straight. My biggest worry is with grandmother, who calls the Benz "an extended loan then inheritance when she dies"

, and while the Lebaron story is true, that's not exactly how it happened.

Also, the 83 300D needing a head gasket??? Nope... That was the 95 E320 which is a gasser... not a diesel. The 500sl was not my first car given to me at 16. It was a very nice Dodge Dakota at 15 which I kept through high school. Of course, he maid the rookie mistake of failing to differentiate biodiesel and WVO as well. Good article overall, I suppose.

He should be posting pictures with the online article sometime soon, and I will see it in print later this morning.

http://www.kansas.com/126/story/643681.html

Jeremy5848 · #2 12-27-2008, 11:14 AM

If the press didn't make you sound like a total criminal then you made out well.

JimmyL · #3 12-27-2008, 11:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TylerH860

Quite a few errors and misquotes, unfortunately, but I understand its difficult keeping 4 cars straight. My biggest worry is with grandmother, who calls the Benz "an extended loan then inheritance when she dies"

, and while the Lebaron story is true, that's not exactly how it happened.

Also, the 83 300D needing a head gasket??? Nope... That was the 95 E320 which is a gasser... not a diesel. The 500sl was not my first car given to me at 16. It was a very nice Dodge Dakota at 15 which I kept through high school. Of course, he maid the rookie mistake of failing to differentiate biodiesel and WVO as well. Good article overall, I suppose.

He should be posting pictures with the online article sometime soon, and I will see it in print later this morning.

http://www.kansas.com/126/story/643681.html

Not everybody will know which details are incorrect, and the overall vibe of the article is awesome! I thought it was also a nice touch to tie in Colin's purchase of Norm and his senior class project trip.
Seems like I even remember reading about "starship-like mileage"!

The only thing is they make Ol' Turbo sound like a Super metallic pickle [repainted metallic green]
As so often is the case, they just needed more pics, and really should have used your signature collage.....
Very nice!

charmalu · #4 12-27-2008, 11:27 AM

News people never get it right, but is good.

That is a nice fleet you own and very well maintained. all it takes is $.
Do you get fleet insurance>

I have that same Nardii wood steering wheel off a W109 at PNP, just needs a little touching up.

Charlie

Chad300tdt · #5 12-27-2008, 11:40 AM

Nice article Tyler.

They posted some good pics too.

TylerH860 · #6 12-27-2008, 12:44 PM

The last picture is the most horrendous mug shot I've taken in years.

TheDon · #7 12-27-2008, 12:49 PM

what I have learned with reporters is that they usually screw things up and get stories wrong all the time.

JimmyL · #8 12-27-2008, 12:54 PM

Whoops, I missed the pic gallery in my first viewing. Doh!
Does that first pic scream "Risky Business" or what.....

captainmonk · #9 12-27-2008, 02:03 PM

eye h8 guys dat still have hair
eye m hooked on phonics

Actros617 · #10 12-27-2008, 02:18 PM

Great article...and he never mentioned Ol turbo, was a turbodiesel

and do you have "two" diesel wagon??? according to the article it mention you have sold one for the 2 diesel wagon

...

TylerH860 · #11 12-27-2008, 02:38 PM

Yup, he assumed the Excelsior was a diesel too.

BodhiBenz1987 · #12 12-27-2008, 07:13 PM

Cool article ... even if there are errors in it, they don't affect the overall vibe of the story. It reflects well on you, as well as on old MBs. It's nice to see an article about pure appreciation of older MBs that isn't just about alternative fuels.

But go easy on newspapermen, guys. As a teenager I worked in a horse stable, and shoveled you-know-what for a pittance ... that was easier, and more dignified, than a lot of what I've done at a newspaper. It's hard to be an expert on everything ... imagine writing a feature on, say, vintage Ginny dolls, and trying to get all the years, models, names, etc., straight ... and doing it while being required to churn out articles under harsh deadlines. I used to love doing this kind of story ... I would have loved to have a subject like Tyler, and not just because I love MBs ... it's always fun to write about someone's passion and to learn about the various things that make people tick. I was always very careful to get details right and to learn as much as I could about the topic at hand, even if it was something I knew nothing about. Unfortunately that's a large part of why I didn't cut it as a reporter. You have to get it done. You have to get it done fast. Most of the people who are "successful" reporters are the ones who learn how to breeze through stuff and not sweat over details ... which, again, is why I quit writing. I thought this reporter showed that he made an effort and put care into composing the story ... the writing style was lively, he didn't make you sound like an idiot, and he didn't make himself sound like an idiot to the outside perspective.

But Mercedes-Benz should be hyphenated. That would never have gotten past ME on copy desk!!!