How many of you will admit the prestige of the 3 pointed star
 

How many of you will admit the prestige of the 3 pointed star is one of the reasons why you own a benz?

Prestige is not one of the reasons I own a Benz.

Maybe because it's a 16 year old 190D. The prestige wore off several years ago, I'm guessing.

It is not THE reason, but yes, it's one of the reasons!

The prestige is the reason I bought my first Benz, it was just a side benefit on my second.

prestige, beauty and reliabilty;)

Prestige is why I bought my Jaguar.
Reliability is why I sold it!

I bought my MB because I wanted a reliable luxury car and I don't consider Lexus, Acura, and Infiniti as luxury cars.

Regards,

Don

I didn't buy my MB for the prestige. I bought it for reliability and comfort. But i'll admit that the presige part is a nice side effect.:)

Freestyler

Amen to that!!!:rolleyes:

We replaced a beautiful XJS V-12 for the SL500 for that reason! Repair bills started matching my mortgage payments!!! :eek:

My Dad owned at least one Benz throughout his life, so I feel at home owning one as well...

...I see too many MBs down here to feel as if it's prestigious to own one though...for every F-150 that drives by, there is an E320 not far behind...

I bought the first one for the mystique, primarily, and for a touch of the prestige (won't lie about that). Since then, I've bought them almost entirely for the mystique.

Mystique, in my lexicon, means the look and feel they've all had. There are now so many of them out of the road around here that the "prestige" factor is greatly dimished. Many fools (including me) can own a car sporting either the silver star or the whirling propellor. My W124 and my E34, while both still distinctive (just last week in our parking structure I was complimented on my E34 by a woman driving a brand-spanking new 540i...?), are simply too old to be all that impressive from a "prestige" standpoint. At this point, I couldn't care less anyway.

I wish I could bottle the mystique. It's certainly priceless, in my book.

I get a real kick out of driving around with that "3 pointed star" leading the way out on my hood!:D

I bought my 300D for five reasons.

1) It burns #2 diesel fuel

2) It has a cast-iron cylinder head

3) It does NOT have a timing belt driving the camshaft

4) It gets double the fuel economy that my old 6.9l E-350 van did

5) It was in my price range

I've had people laugh at me trying to tell me that any Benz is a money pit, but so far it's the lowest-cost-to-operate vehicle I've owned, and after all was said and done, I actually got slightly more for my van than I paid for the Benz. And I"ll openly admit that I love this car. :) But I'll admit that, if Volkswagen diesels had a cast-iron head and a timing chain (or better yet, direct gearing), I'd be driving that now.

I had always like Mercedes because of they way they were built. I do enjoy the fact that I own a Mercedes, but not the swelled head reasons. I don't act or dress different when I am driving it. It actually was 2 years before I bought any Mercedes merchandise. It was a hat and only recently I also ordered from "The Collection" a replica print of an ad for a Mercedes in the 1930's and a t-shirt. I have been careful not to fall into buying a bunch of "life style" products. I will have to admit I do like it when people ".....you own a Mercedes". Prestige really exists when there are only a few of them running around. I live in NJ, MB are very common.

Bought my first MB because of frustration due to the crappy previous car (new Jeep) and hopes for an end to problems associated with the ever-failing nature of the Jeep. Bought my second MB due to the ever-failing nature of my first MB :eek: Bought my 3rd MB because I missed the wonderful ride of my first MB :) I hope to not have to buy another MB until sometime in the next decade. Does that have anything to do with prestige?

My intent was very primitive.....
 

I saw the car with a "for sale sign" and thought, "Damn that thang's purtee",.... and I could afford it!!:D I have to admit though, that hood ornament does carry an "attitude". Thank heaven it's a civil "attitude"!!;)

Bill: between you and Engatwork, I'm begining to think that the ONLY MB's worth havin' are the "D's"!! :D :D :D LeBenz has me kinda wanting an ML, though. So I can drive in the snow!! Although I'd have to drive it somewhere else to do that!!:D

Were it not for lots o miles driving in the snow, ice, and slush, I would not bother with the ML or *any* SUV for that matter...even though when it is not snowing around here it is raining......well at least it used ta be that way. We only get rain now about once every two weeks. At most! Been that way since about last March. Really spooky, that! Hope we will get a winter this year....
Anyway, go with a D. That would be my next choice!

...O lord, won't you buy me, a merceeeedes benz.... (Janis Joplin)

Well the lord did not buy it for me, I did.
For front end look combo of radiator/star/lights on the W108/109 is hard to beat.
I was surprised at how cheap you can get one.
The other surprise is, you know it.. part$$$$ ouch!
This is why my prestige/Mystique benz is not rolling right now.

DAN

My first Benz is a 1984 307d motorhome in the UK. I live in the US but wanted to buy a motorhome in Europe via the Internet to tour for a couple of summers. The main choices were Ford, Fiat or Mercedes. I had to buy without driving or seeing the vehicle in person. How difficult was that choice? I knew nothing of European Ford trucks. I knew far too much about Fiats. I knew about Mercedes' reputation for reliability-particularly their diesels. Perhaps prestige factors into that.
I bought that about 9 months ago and have since bought a 77 300d and 85 300td here at home. I was so impressed with the quality and handling of that Mercedes truck that I decided their cars must be good also.
I view the choice of a Mercedes as an expression of awareness of quality in engineering and design. (I'm ignoring the issue of climate control) It's like appreciating a fine work of art. It's too bad that the only automobile in the Museum of Modern Art is a Jaguar XKE and not a Mercedes.

Actually, it makes sense. Having owned two of them, I can tell you that as a piece of art, it was a success.

As reliable transportation? Different story.

I heard when they put it in the museum, the curators were surprised to find the operating costs dropped by half. (Tongue poking through cheek.)

E-Type belongs in a museum.

Mercedes belongs on the road.

Not really...
 

Why a Mercedes?

I needed an inexpensive car that got decent mileage for long trips from NC to New England, and one that would last a while.

My 84 300 CDt was a two owner car that fit the bill.

I used to drive an '87 toyota and always marveled at how well it held up, despite being very poorly maintained by its previous owners. Eventually, though, it began to fall apart at around 150k miles. The doors were literally falling off the hinges. I still got 800 bucks for it :D

I always knew Benzes (and anything German, for that matter) were better made. It wasn't until I really started comparing reviews and personal accounts that I was sold on the idea of a Benz as daily transpo. If they came in manual transmissions, hell, I'd have paid attention a long time ago.

Parts can sometimes be expensive, but not bad if you know where to look (here!).
The nicest part about fixing a Benz is that

A) It's meant to be fixed, not thrown away (no disposable, one time manufacturing process like many automakers use); and

B) Once I fix something on this car, it STAYS fixed! This was a novel concept to me after owning so many different brands from different places (especially Dodges- ugh!). Some cars were obviously made to be assembled once and hope to God the warranty ran out before the customer came back for major repairs. Not so with my old Benz.

Prestige still carries through to people who think it's an expensive car, but I hardly see anything presigious about a sixteen year old diesel automobile with over 200k on the clock.

Still, I like it a lot and it'll last me a while. I would definitely buy another.

Gil

For me, I dont even think a MB is that "prestigous".

In middleastern countries and asia they are used as taxicabs. How prestigous is that? With the new mercedes marketing campaign, they are pricing there cars to compete with Honda Accords. Whats the new price now? $23,000 or so for a new C220 or whatever. There are plenty of high school kids driving MBs, I for one was one of them. How many high school kids do you see driving Ferrari, Lamborghini, Rolls Royce, Bentleys, etc.?

I been driving a mercedes since I was 16, so its just another ford to me. I drive it through rain, snow, sleet, mud, whatever the challange is.

People are right about one thing here, they are safe cars which is why i still drive on. And reliable and make good diesels too. Volvos do NOT look sporty or all that great for a younger person, so thats why I didnt like them.

My first drive was a 1959 220S. Took it from Atl to Savannah and back (around 1983), averaged around 75 mph and 25+ mpg. That sold me on MB's. I have noticed that all the later ones I have driven have pretty much felt the exact SAME way as that 220S as far as the way it drove/rides, etc... I had an opportunity to purchase it back then and now wish I had - it was a heckuva car with a 4 spd manual on the column.

Stephen - when you are in the area I will let you drive one of these diesels. You will never be the same.

The other reason I drive em is as follows:

http://www.macon.com/mld/macon/news/local/4408186.htm

not to say the same wouldn't have happened had he been in a Benz but it is my opinion that it would have turned out differently.

I think it's tough to not get caught up in the prestige of the 3-pointed star, but for me it's more a kind of pride. I enjoy the long, illustrious history of inovation, performance, and engineering excellence that is behind the cars. I know that living in America there is the 'snob-factor', but I differentiate that somewhat with 'prestige'. I am more proud of the fact that MB's are used as taxi's around the world than I am that they are percieved as status symbols.

I do get plenty of admiring/jealous looks from people, but if someone's willing to approach me about the cars, I'm happy to discuss they're more practical and performance-related aspects ad nauseum.

I've had fun edcuating my other car-nut friends about everything listed above, and a few are considering a Benz for next car because of it. I wouldn't say 'prestige' as much as appreciation of the design is what contines to give me that giddy feeling whetn starting up my reliable old W123 300D in the morning, or making that effortless jump from 60-100mph in the E420 :)

I guess i was about 7 when my father bought his first MB. he's had 5 in total. 230 6-cylinder from 1968, 250CE from 1972, a 280CE (W123) from 1977 (i think), 300CE (W124) from 1988 - that was the one i totalled. and now he drives a 420SE from 1996-7. I've grown up with MBs and i must say i don't think of them as prestige cars, don't get me wrong, they are but my father didn't have any problems with his MBs, so i followed in his footsteps. my car 300CE-24 from 1991 still turns heads. for me the star means quality. i grew up in Germany and like Johnson Chan said, they used them as taxis there too. BMW didn't get a look in. If you ordered a W123 200D in Germany from new, there was a 2 year waiting list!! My friends have bought cars that have been 3 years old and had problems with them. over the years, i've spent less on cars than they have and mine still looks better. that is what the star on my bonnet (hood) means to me -quality, nothing more and nothing less. :cool: :D

My first MB was the 85 190E, but buying it was the natural progression of a German car guy. My first was a 59 Bug and then a 1975 Opel Manta (the poor man's 2002). When I wanted to(could) buy a Porsche, the wife line item vetoed that one, hence the four door......

Never has prestige been part of my mindset, it's always been about German engineering!

my hood star was stolen about 3yrs ago, and I just smoothed off the base of the star. I have an extra hood star, but don't want to install it mainly because it will be stolen again.

but when my rear star was vandalized, I had to replace it because it looked ugly and if fully removed, will uncover the 3 holes in the trunk.

so I have the rear star to show people why I drive a Benz - when I'm overtaking them on the highway ...

Hey, I just thought it was an upside down Peace Sign, you think there is more to it?

Prestige - Not Really; Accident - Yes
 

I bought my '87 560SEL just about a year ago after having my previous car ('96 Chrysler LHS) totaled by a driver who ran a red light. I started out trying to find another LHS but had the W126 cars in the back of my mind as I've always liked the styling. When I discovered that I could get one for several $K less than another LHS, I jumped.

Here's a rough list of my priorities in car buying:
1. Large (5 or 6 passenger)
2. Powerful
3. Comfortable
4. Rear Wheel Drive (obviously the LHS isn't)
5. Fun to drive

Now that I have the M-B I must admit there are times when the prestige does occur to me. However if I really want to be noticed, I drive the old Dodge which gets comments nearly every time it is out of the garage. Nothing beats a lenghty conversation with someone who had one new in '67 and I love the idea of driving a car that is older than I am:D

jlc

Volvo (blah)
 

Hehe, i already knew this like u said and i was talking to my marketing teacher and he said if you like safe cars, why buy a mercedes, why didnt you buy a volvo instead. I said i didnt like the style, the image, blah blah, i never had and never will have a volvo.

If i was married and had kids i will buy a hummer to tow them around. I can picture a lamborghini diablo, rolls royce silver serph, bentley turbo R, hummer, maybe a s600 and a few other toys in my driveway. of course i will acheive this after i win the lottery. HAHA

Speed, handling, safety, comfort (especially those long trips, and sleeping on my ferry commute)(grew up with them around, so the familiarity is a factor). Not a BMW. Prestige, no.

Volvo?? I have a very clear reason why I am not able to own Volvo. Emotionally, If I have something Swedish, and it goes south, I will inevitably think Meatball Engineering and be dissatisfied.

I have innate trust (probably overly simplistic, but I can't help it) of German engineering and when something German of mine breaks I am satisfied it was either ready to break or my fault. And let's be serious for a minute. Germans are required by law to design to Autobahn and TUV standards. Swedish standards are not the same.

Hood Star?? I always thought it was a gun sight....JUST KIDDING.

I have always liked a large car for the safety factor. Dependability reputation is another reason for buying mine as well as getting an excellent deal with it, not to mention the comfortable ride and road gripping handling. But boy howdy did I get a shot in the arm today. I went to pick up my daughter from a friend of hers house, her friends brother saw the Benz and said "You must be rich".

I wanted a diesel car. After killing a VW diesel literally the same day that I got it home (damned infernal timing belt), I wanted a GOOD one. While that cherry cheap MB diesel has largely eluded me, I'm hooked. I love how they feel. I now have an awesome conversation piece in the driveway, and an ugly beater to pound into the ground with my commute. I'm happy. :D

One thing I've noticed, I do miss seeing the hood ornament when I've parked the MB's for one reason or another.

If I wanted prestige, I would've bought newer, fancier, nicer, and more expensive MB's.

Bought a Mercedes to make a dream come true.

Here..
 

In order:

1. Reliability-I am a sixteen year old. I don't want to be stranded all over the place. Simple enough
2. Economy- I wanted a car that didn't eat tons of fuel. Paying for a car that gets 20MPG sucks. And most cars that get 30+ MPG and are in the same price bracket are much less safe.
3. Cache- I wanted a cool car. Something different. Lets just say my other choices were a 1986 Toyota Van and a Peugeot 505 Turbodiesel Station Wagon (SW8 please) Well it seemed the 240D was cheaper (free) more reliable, and cheaper to run than the other two choices, as well as being safer. I still like those Toyota Vans though.....as well as the Peugeots. I think my choice of the MB was best of the three. My mom uses the 240D as a side car...the Honda Accord V6 has been dorment since August. She admitted she wouldnt be using the Toyota Van as a side car...:rolleyes:
4. Prestige- It is cool to own a Benz. Its more fun, you feel different while driving it. I myself think I am Helmut Kohl or someone like that. Its just more fun.

I grow up around these cars since I was six and my dad brought home a one year old '59 180a. Back then it was regarded as an ugly little car by my friends. So much for prestige at that time. I fell in love with the star and the quality that it represented and the love has never died. I have countless stories and fond memories of these cars.

I do wish they would place the star higher on the new C classes. It makes me sad not to be able to see the whole thing. But at least they still drive like a Benz. I guess I'll have to get another ponton

Paul,

Could I get a copy of the graphic you inserted to use as a screen saver?


My email is flygdchman@fuse.net

Thanks,



Fred

You know that I will be getting that movie now. Thanks