About 10-15 years ago, my son and I stopped in Temple Pa. to look at some Reading railroad locomotives that are being restored. I was driving on old, beat-up Pinto. I ask one of the people working on the loco if my son and I could see the cab. We where told no and that we better not touch anything. When we arrived I had picked up a donor card with the intent that I would send them a small donation. I threw that card away before I left that day.

About 5 years ago, my grandson and I pulled into the same parking lot; this time in my 300D. We walked around and took a few photos and was about to leave, when one of the workers came over to my car and ask if the boy and I would like to look inside of any of the locos, I was invited to an invitation only picinic, and given a donation card; and reminded that restoration costs money. Anyone else have a similiar experience?

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Thank you, Jay
83MB 300D 241K "The silver coffin"
10 Prius lll 1K
95 MB E300D 120K Mable
02 Saab 9-5 Areo 131K
Cannondale SR500
www.thecornerstonefamily.org/

Not me, but it could just be that first time ya went there the person who you asked was just being an ass, or it could be that the second time you were in a benz, its tough to say.

Alon

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'92 300CE - Sold
2004 C240 - 744 - C7 Wheels - Android Radio
2002 C320 - 816 - Sport Wagon

My wife & 3 kiddies in tow once went to a beach in a ritzy town on the CT coast. The only parking lot nearby was "residents only"; all others were asked to park about 1.5 miles up the road! However, when I pulled up in my (spotlessly clean at the time, as luck would have it) 300TE, the attendant explained their policy, then put me up front! Car paid for itself that day....a 1.5 mile walk with 3 kids and a ton of beach paraphernalia was hardly looking attractive!

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"If God had meant for us to walk, why did he give us feet that fit car pedals?" Sir Sterling Moss

Michael
2014 E63S Estate
2006 SLK55
1995 E500
1986 Porsche 944 turbo

In the hotel in Jasper this last week, we had the luxury of heated underground parking. Unfortunately, that did not keep the car from getting VERY dirty reaching some of the areas of Jasper's wilderness.

I parked the car in the hotel parkade, and we hit the pool. Later that night, I went to the car to retrieve some items, and found it SPOTLESS. Someone had very carefully handwashed my car.

All the minivans and SUV's were still caked in muck.

Each morning we came down to find my car immaculate. Not another vehicle touched.

I asked the parking attendant about it as we were leaving.

"Hey, man, THAT is one nice car. A Mercedes should at least start it's day clean.."

Tip? You betcha.

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John Shellenberg
1998 C230 "Black Betty" 240K

http://img31.exs.cx/img31/4050/tophat6.gif

haha that's classic!

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2003 E55 AMG
2007 FJ Cruiser

Not me... I get *****ted on no matter what I drive.

My two W123 diesels aren't new enough to create envy, and after 20 years give off auras of being well cared for rather than arrogance. Do I get treated better? About on a par with wearing a good suit (no matter how old) or more casual clothing.
I live on the cusp of a "rich area," and many families with actual positive bank balances have W123s as second cars.

My "old car" is a Packard sedan born the same month in '49 as I was. Not a super-restored old car, but people seem to react to it the way they react to Irish Setters. Once while driving to a movie the parking guy blew off people in a new Cadillac but waved my Packard into the last space left. "I used to get rides to school in one of these," he said.

Parking garages are on the city suddenly are open later, police are more likely to give me a warning. No doubt about it, people treat me better in my Benz.

Of course this in comparison to the '87 Honda Accord I used to drive with 237,000 miles on it.

Ha ha... I get *****ted on everywhere, even in restaurants. Maybe I will try tipping more.

Not to self, keep sunroof closed while in forested areas

Ewwwwwww...

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2009 ML350 (106K) - Family vehicle
2001 CLK430 Cabriolet (80K) - Wife's car
2005 BMW 645CI (138K) - My daily driver
2016 Mustang (32K) - Daughter's car

Perhaps a wind deflector would be better solution than closing yourself off?

It works for me....

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...Tracy

'00 ML320 "Casper"
'92 400E "Stella"

I believe the threat of bird poop was more of a concern. A wind deflector is ineffective against the vertical trajectory of the aformentioned "debris"...

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2009 ML350 (106K) - Family vehicle
2001 CLK430 Cabriolet (80K) - Wife's car
2005 BMW 645CI (138K) - My daily driver
2016 Mustang (32K) - Daughter's car

Well it was really a metaphor for changing the way you do things. If someone is getting frequently pooped on, either literally or figuratively, often the approach the person uses is the core issue, or perhaps just dumb luck is the core issue. Either way, a wind deflector – which amounts to a slight change -- will change the air flow over the sunroof. Not only does it reduce noise, but it will reduce the amount of stuff that enters the cockpit. Even if stationary, it leaves a smaller opening. At speed it substantially changes the airflow over the sunroof....

Paul, it sounds a little like you found a crow that shares your sense of sarcasm!

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...Tracy

'00 ML320 "Casper"
'92 400E "Stella"

how about going the other way - it is safe to say that you can get preferential treatment from driving your benz. how about getting treated badly because you drive an MB?

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joE
1993 300e-2.8 - gone now <sigh>
"Do not adjust your mind, it's reality that's malfunctioning"
http://banners.wunderground.com/bann...L/Key_West.gif

I must say yes in this case. When I was 24 years old I was stopped for stretching a red light while passing through a rural SC town in my brand new '74 240D. The officer was so polite and could not stop calling me "Sir" in the most respectful way. He cautioned me about stretching the light and sent me on my way.

This was quite the opposite from what happened to me just two years previous in another rural SC town when I was stopped driving my '66 Mustang Fastback 289, 4-speed, glass-packs and Red-Stripe Firestone Wide-Ovals... (Why did I sell that car..?)