having lots of (drivable) cars - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

JHZR2 · #1 02-06-2004, 12:27 PM

Hi,

I was thinking... I am single, 23 and have three vehicles that I drive. is that weird? granted the truck I got with a $6000 off rebate from the GM card, and the other two were only $3000 each, but still, 3 cars?
its not like Im rich or need to show off with my fine german cars. But I really do enjoy them. They bring me joy, and Id give up sell phones, cable tv, etc. Im happy with heat, an internet connection and my cars (girlfriend too, of cource, so long as she helps me keep the cars up) Still though, I live in an apartment, take up three parking spots, and must come across as weird.

However, i see lots of folks on here that have multiple cars. maybe they are for spouses and kids, but I have to believe that cars are a very personalized item, and to have a wife or child that wants to drive a w123, etc. proudly is somewhat of a rarity.

So how do those of you that have more cars than drivers in your household justify it? I ask this because I am going to be graduating from grad school and be employed as a chemical engineer. And i am thinking how nice it would be to buy my first new car myself... Hopefully a pontiac GTO or a C230 kompressor sport sedan.

But there's no way I could make myself sell any of my three cars, because Ive made them from ok to great cars (the MB and BMW), and the truck is just awesome anyway, its a blast to drive around. but am I ABSOLUTELY CRAZY to have 4 cars with 1 driver, and live in an apartment? Insurance premiuums arent an issue, by the way, I have a great deal.

Help me justify if I should look at cars and feed the fire, or if im just being stupid, because I dont need another car... \

hope this post doesnt sound too dumb...

JMH

rickg · #2 02-06-2004, 12:29 PM

You're just a normal car nut

I have 2 trucks, 3 Audis, a Chrysler, VW bug, and the Benz. All that for just 3 drivers in the house.
Collect away!

Rick Miley · #3 02-06-2004, 12:40 PM

Two of us share the cars in my signature, plus a Jeep pickup that I'm too embarassed to list. My partner is a flight attendant, so he is gone much of the time and I end up driving all 4 vehicles. If you have the space and can afford it, then collect away!

Regarding a "brand new" car, you might want to search out one of the (many!) new car quality threads on this board and do some reading before plunking down the money.

DieselAddict · #4 02-06-2004, 12:46 PM

I think there's a lot of us like that. I have 3 MB diesels just for myself. My fiancee has her own car so we have 4 cars and 2 people. I had the same dilemma as you when I was buying my 3rd car, I felt 3 cars were too many. Well I still feel 2 is the best number, but I just can't bring myself to sell any of my cars so I have 3 and I'm fine with it, though at times the maintenance was overwhelming. But it's more exciting this way because I feel I'm driving a different car every day.

I wouldn't want to have more than 3, but that's just me. Have as many cars as your wallet and brain will tolerate.

JHZR2 · #5 02-06-2004, 12:53 PM

Good point, Rick. Ive read those quality threads before, and they hve kind of made me sick... like there is no hope after our w123s rust through or hit >500K.

I have to say I was impressed with the mazda protege, which is now discontinued. It had a quality feel to it that I dont think even the MBs thatI sat in at the dealership could match. yeah it wasnt leather and fancy gadgets, but it was the feel... it just felt like the quality was top notch.

I dont think Id get an new car without an extended warranty anymore even. It seems that so many things go wrong, I dont want to pay for them before 100k, and it seems that a LOT of the time these warrantees can even pay for themselves, once a radiator or electronic part goes.

But the GTO is an australian-made car. havent heard about their quality, but australia isa tough place to live and a tough place to have cars... So Id guess they are put together well.

However I think i agree with dieseladdict that 2-3 cars are the right amount. Otherwise they dont get driven enough. But at the same time, that GTO is oh so nice...

JMH

BigMikeT57 · #6 02-06-2004, 12:58 PM

There is nothing wrong with have a large stable.
All the vehicles in my sign. are current (although the Jeep & Packard are ongoing resto. projects).

My wife and I commute to work together, no kids. So techically, we only "need" 1. But I "want" more.

Enjoy!

#7 02-06-2004, 03:34 PM

If only I had the cash...

I would have to buy a dedicated barn to hold all the diesels I want.

jas2wa · #8 02-06-2004, 04:54 PM

Don't feel bad- back in high school, I had my 70 280SE and then a VW Jetta diesel for bad weather/salt/snow driving etc (in MA).

Then freshman year in college I added to that a 77 300D to use year round b/c I hated the brakes in the VW, never felt safe in it blasting through Boston traffic.

About 18/19 years old with three German cars, kinda crazy.. By the end of that first year in college, I had downsized to the 77 300D only, in the interest of economy-

Getting rid of the 280SE was dumb, only last year I rectified that by buying my 73 4.5...

Everyone should have 3 (old) cars, at least!

DieselAddict · #9 02-06-2004, 05:12 PM

jas2wa, so why did you get rid off your 77 300D? I think those early 123's are kind of cool, don't really know why. Maybe because I don't have one yet.

diesel don · #10 02-06-2004, 06:07 PM

Look at.....my signature.....

5 daily driver's and 3 parts cars. I would love a pole barn with about 12. I think that is about the right number. Same price as one or two new ones.

Don

whunter · #11 02-06-2004, 06:09 PM

Hello JHZR2
Only my wife and I drive.
(Own) (1) 1985 1985 300SD Diesel straight 5
(Own) (1) 1989 Jaguar XJ6 straight 6
(Own) (1) 1990 Dodge Shadow straight 4
(Own) (1) 1993 Dodge Shadow Sport V6
(Own) (1) 1995 Pontiac Grand Prix Sport V6
(Own) (1) 1945 Cadillac V8
(Own) (1) 2002 Pontiac Grand Prix Sport V6
(looking at) (1) 1966 Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow V8
(looking at) (1) 1952 Bentley Mark VI straight 6

Its not like we are rich or need to show off the cars.
We enjoy them.

Multiple cars; that is us.
Just normal car nuts.
Have as many cars as your wallet and brain will tolerate.

Some of the cars I have owned:
(sold) (1) 1960 Rambler V8
(sold) (1) 1961 Cadillac Fleetwood V8
(sold) (1) 1961 Cadillac Deville V8
(sold) (1) 1966 Ford Ranchero V8
(sold) (1) 1966 F350 steak bed V8
(sold) (1) 1966 F250 steak bed V8
(sold) (1) 1966 F350 box bed straight 6
(sold) (1) 1966 F250 steak bed V8
(sold) (5) 1970 Ford Pinto straight 4
(sold) (3) 1970 AMC Gremlin straight 6
(sold) (2) 1971 Ford Pinto straight 4
(sold) (2) 1971 AMC Gremlin straight 6
(sold) (7) 1972 Ford Pinto straight 4
(sold) (3) 1972 AMC Gremlin straight 6
(sold) (1) 1972 Cadillac Coupe deVille V8
(sold) (1) 1973 Oldsmobile Delta 88 V8
(sold) (5) 1973 Ford Pinto straight 4
(sold) (1) 1973 Ford Gran Torino V8
(sold) (5) 1973 AMC Gremlin straight 6
(sold) (4) 1974 Ford Pinto straight 4
(sold) (1) 1974 Ford Mustang V6
(sold) (1) 1974 Ford Mustang straight 6
(sold) (2) 1974 AMC Hornet straight 6
(sold) (2) 1974 AMC Gremlin "X" straight 6
(sold) (1) 1974 Cadillac Eldorado V8
(sold) (3) 1975 Ford Pinto straight 4
(sold) (1) 1975 Ford Mustang V6
(sold) (1) 1975 Ford Mustang straight 6
(sold) (2) 1975 AMC Gremlin straight 6
(sold) (2) 1975 AMC Hornet straight 6
(sold) (2) 1976 AMC Gremlin straight 6
(sold) (1) 1976 AMC Hornet straight 6
(sold) (1) 1977 Ford Mustang V6
(sold) (1) 1977 AMC Gremlin straight 6
(sold) (3) 1977 AMC Hornet straight 6
(sold) (1) 1978 Ford Gran Torino V8
(sold) (1) 1979 Pontiac Monte Carlo V6
(sold) (1) 1980 Chevy Citation V6
(Own) (1) 1985 1985 300SD Diesel straight 5
(Own) (1) 1989 Jaguar XJ6 straight 6
(Own) (1) 1990 Dodge Shadow straight 4
(Own) (1) 1993 Dodge Shadow Sport V6
(Own) (1) 1995 Pontiac Grand Prix Sport V6
(Own) (1) 1945 Cadillac V8
(Own) (1) 1989 Jaguar XJ6 straight 6
(Own) (1) 1990 Dodge Shadow straight 4
(Own) (1) 1993 Dodge Shadow Sport V6
(Own) (1) 1995 Pontiac Grand Prix Sport V6
(Own) (1) 1945 Cadillac V8
(Own) (1) 2002 Pontiac Grand Prix Sport V6
Still have 45 vehicles missing from this list.
Should I count parts cars, it would tripple the size of this list?

JHZR2 · #12 02-06-2004, 06:22 PM

Alright, thanks for the support.. keep it coming. That GTO is looking real nice

(I know, talking about a pontiac on an MB forum, but at least its an Australian model in reality... Do I get some points for that?)

This is fun, lets keep this thread going

JMH

JHZR2 · #13 02-06-2004, 06:24 PM

whunter: living in a metro area, how do you deal with insurance, which Im sure is high? Im lucky to have a good deal, but have to wonder if theyll want to insure 4 cars (provided I actually get another to satisfy my urge

).

Thanks,

JMH

h2odiesel · #14 02-06-2004, 06:34 PM

Hi, My name is Bob And I've got a Mercedes problem.

It started slow just a car here a truck there, but now i can't help myself.

There are two licensed drivers in my home and we have six cars and five trucks It is getting so bad I'm even starting to bring home non Mercedes strays. I was offered two running XJ6s and it was all I could do to say no. Sometimes it gets so bad I can't say no even if I can only work on the car. A friend has offered me a chance to restore a 57 Bugatti, and I'm thinking about quitting my job.

Stop now and get help before it is too late for you too! There must be a twelve step program out there some where for this.

Bob D.
Parrish Fl
83 SD
84 SD
87 SDL
82 D
88 Unimog 407
84 Unimog 416 Doka
72 Unimog 404.0 VLF
67 Unimog 406
72 BMW Bavaria
90 E350
88 Safari Wagon
http://photos.yahoo.com/h2odiesel

oilslick · #15 02-06-2004, 06:44 PM

a good start to recovery!

But who really wants to recover?

Two Driver household- I use the word driver loosely in regards to my wife. LOL

Daily Drivers
2002 VW Jetta TDI
1982 MB 240D (300D installed)
1981 VW Rabbit LS Diesel- 5-SPD
1984 Chevy Silverado- gotta have something to haul cars with and pull the boat

Parts Cars
1980 VW Rabbit Diesel
1983 MB 240D
1980 MB 300D
Coming soon... another 1980 MB 300D!

Kevin