what's funny is that these sorts of comments do come from the lower end owners...simply because it's their foot into the MB's... and they believe it makes them exclusive... hell no.. the price is so cheap that any recent grad can buy this car without a problem.... face it.. you just got the civic of benzes.... so expect the civic treatment...if you don't like it.. buy a S class or something else that is not modified as much....

 

I think it's safe to say there are a good number of folks amongst us that didn't exactly ace the verbal portion of the SAT. Particularly the reading comprehension portions and the portions where one has to read a passage and identify the issue.

 

Internet formal grammar - ummm, yeah.

Internet communications are more in the nature of informal speaking, not formal writing.

But failure to be able to identify, argue and attack an ISSUE is the same whether typing on the 'Net or not.

You actually seem reasonably intelligent. I'd think that you would be able to see that an attack on the model of car that I drive has nothing to do with my rant on what has become an unfortunate after effect of MB's scheme to market a low priced Hatchback i.e. - the ricerfication/ghettofication of so many MBs.

My rant is "like McDonald's saying that Burger King is for commoners"?? Umm, no. That analogy has no application whatsoever to what I said. None at all.

I welcome attacks, but at least make them somewhat relevant and on point.

 

I live in the Atlanta area, and I see lots of higher end Mercedes that have been "ghettoized" for lack of a better term. So I'm not sure that someone's desire to ruin a perfectly good car necessarily depends on how expensive it is. But, beauty has always been in the eye of the beholder-at least for the moment he/she is is looking at the object. Time and history tend to straighten things out a little, and that is why people restore old cars to original. Not that I really think a C230K will really ever be a collectable car, but you never know. Plus I don't really think that Mercedes will import enough coupes to really give them "Civic status".

 

Cant we all just get along....

 

listen everyone, im sry if you didnt like it, i didnt mean to raise anyone's stress levels by putting a neon underbody on my car.

but u gotta remember, its my car, and i've always liked a nice sleek setup, u wont see a megaphone 6" exhaust, u wont see yellow stickers, even tho they give you 5hp if they're yellow ya know

i love driving my car, thats what its all about after all is said and done anyway. peace.

 

HEY! I'm a recent grad, and this is MY first step into a MB, but not my last step hopefully.

I don't mind having the Civic of Benzez but here's my $0.02:

The C230K is going to become "rice", but at least its not suited to become "ghettoed" or "pimped" like so many other MB sedans I see. By releasing an affordable 2DR hatchback MB has just opened a market to socalled "ricers", just wait until you see a 4ft aluminum wing on the back of a C230K.

Just cause your S-class costs more, doesn't mean it can't be "riced". Remember, these "ricers" sometimes dump $20-50K into a car, just wait till they can start affording the S-class and the "rice" will fly.

 

OK, let me try again. I am typing slowly.

1. I have followed BMW, MB and Porsche for over 20 years now, having owned those makes almost exclusively over those years - including membership in BMW CCA, MB CCA and PCA. I am around the cars a lot.

2. Long history of ricerizing/ghettoizing MBs? I don't think so. Until the last 6 months, I've never seen neon lights under an MB. Or a carbon fiber hood on an MB. Or a 3 foot Pep Boys aluminium wing. Or so much talk about cutting coil springs, etc. etc. etc. All those things I see on that Ricer show sponsored by Pep Boys on Speedvision on Sundays.

3. Yes, I agree, the new C sedan is for some reason being almost as abused as the Hatchback.

Now, back to my original point, the new C (both in Hatchback and sedan, but particularly in Hatchback) has brought a new level of ricerization/ghettoization previously unseen by MB. I don't think that is in dispute. And that has been the effect of MB making the conscious decision to move down-market. (And, yes, in the US the Hatch is part of a strategy to move down-market). That was my point.

Did the W202 C class board have large discussion about cutting coil springs, carbon fiber hoods, pics of 3 foot Pep Boys aluminum wings, neon lights under the body???? C'mon, 50% of the discussion on this board deals with the standard Ricer mods, change the name and this board could very easily be mistaken for a Civic board, based on the abuse being heaped on these cars.

That was my point. And that has nothing to do with what model car I happen to own. Upon re-reading my posts, I think you now realize that (at least that is my impression after your last post).

Am I being a snob? I don't think so. I don't think that it is unreasonable for a life-long automobile enthusiast to voice disagreement when people start outfit the entire JC Whitney and Pep Boys catalog on their brand new MBs. We're here to talk cars, and that's the expression of an opinion. If all we ever say is "cool" or "its your car, do whatever you want" (which is self-evident and adds nothing to a discussion), then this board would not have much value.

If someone can post a pic of their C Sedan with a Pep Boys 3 foot aluminum wing or a neon underbody kit, and NOT get any flack, something is wrong with this board (you want to see some REAL heat, I'll cross post some of the more ridiculous cars on this board to a couple of serious Porsche and BMW boards, that would be a real hoot).

 

i didn't understand what your point was... could you define rice vs ghettoed/pimped? i thought they could be used interchangeably (sp)

my whole point in my post was that it appears that the most statements being made on MB's being a status symbol and prestigeous are from the low end buyers... there is this stigma that mb's should be above all other cars when it comes to modding... which is not true because anyone that can afford an accord can afford an MB... therefore the people that make mods to accords will do the same to mb's...

at the end of the day.. it's just a ****ing car.... nothing more...

 

Rice and ghetto/pimped are quite different, come on, I hope that's what the (sp) was for.

I hope you can tell the difference between a ghetto/pimped out old Caddy and a riced out Civic.

I've never seen (until recently) a riced out MB, but I have seen ghetto/pimped MBs before.

So MB opened themselves up to rice, but the affordable and sporty C230 has opened MB up to a whole new set of buyers, including myself. I only dreamed of being 4 months outta University and driving a Benz... and in 4 weeks my C230K arrives!

 

Just like with any car ever built, whatever the owner chooses to do with it is entirely up to the person's taste. If that taste happens to be different from the norm, so be it. If that taste happens to cause the car to win shows, so be it. The owner of a car has the final say toward what goes into or out of the car, whether it be adding a wing, exhaust, chip, pulley, HU, amp, subwoofer, DVD player, shocks, cut springs, or otherwise.

The idea that an MB is a car that should not be touched by any circumstances is purely an opinion, and should be treated as such. Just because one person argues that cutting springs is good, and the other argues for only stock parts, it should be handled as a basic point/counterpoint discussion between people. It seems that a lot of the shots that people from one camp make towards the other are becoming increasingly personal, which defeats the purpose of the discussion.

The terms ricing, ghetto-ing, pimping, etc. are just a term that has been attributed to that particular group of people interested in making those kind of modifications to their car. But it certainly doesn't imply that they can't modify more expensive cars or at least be in the market for them. For years we have seen Benzs used in rap videos, for instance.

But in order to contribute my $.02 to the modification discussion, I perscribe to KISS (Keep It Simple, Stupid). My personal belief is that if modifications are going to be done to the car, they should be done in a relatively subtle manner, in order to keep a close-to-stock look while making it unique enough that people will still be impressed.

Exactly. No need to go crazy over someone else's.

 

Ok it's a CLK with an aluminum wing but I tried

 

yeah, don't worry about it.

some people will always be judgmental. but if everyone thought the same way, had the same idea of what beauty is, it would be a terrible place to live.

 

I actually like that MB, only thing is I'd replace the aluminum wing with a Supra style spoiler, or maybe just take it off completely.

The front bumper could use a bit more "class", it looks a little plain.

 

I'm not sure why you're being so condescending. Is it necessary?. It's actually just unpleasant!

 

one of my friends got a 800 on the verbal.

 

I don't get it either. I just graduated tiops in my class, and if I could get approval I'd be buying something better than a C230K and rice it out too! Maybe a riced out SUV!

Just kidding. Love the MB the way it is, needs nothing IMHO.

 

I dont think having the C230 available @ $25,000 has increased ghettoizing. Anybody who knows anything knows that to pimp out a Benz who HAVE to have an S600 (or at least an S-Class with S600 badging).

 

This whole thing is getting a little out of hand. Lets just say that not everyone can afford a C230.

I am 35, work in the mortgage industry and I did buy one, however, I went for the preowned (not still quite sure if that was a smart mover or not, but so be it. It is done).

I get a little miffed when people say lower end. Hey, it isn't a freaking hyundai we are buying. It may be lower end, but to some, it is still expensive. I for one had never bought a car that was over 18k before. Now I am driving my C230 and feeling pretty good about it however the price was up 10k over my previous cars. Hopefully it is worth it with the depreciation, free maintenance etc.

I do agree though that mods that are done should be subtle. I for one hopefully will end up with the CCS body kit eventually, but I plan on tinting the windows and getting personalized plates as my only mods right now.

I may have bought the least expensive car in the MB line, but to me and some others it is the best for us right now with all the safety factors and all it comes with.

I don't mean to start a war I just figured I would post my point of view.

Thanks for letting me put in my 0.02

Laura :-)

 

This is all i have to show.

 

I agree with Laura, it's my first MB and I wanted to see what all the fuss is about. My next car will be MB, C or E model. I agree with what MB is saying - they are introducing their cars to people that couldn't afford it before or were hesitant to spend more than $30K on a car, well, now they know that it worth the $...

 

anybody here ever think about just how racist a statment "ricer" is? or no

 

Yeah, it's very obvious who the word is pointed at, but me being asian (Korean, specifically) myself, I don't find offense to it. Some people who are called ricers find offense not because of the negative racial connotation, but because of the negative car-mod connotation.

I would actually define myself as a ricer who owns a rice-cooker. Given the opportunity (and money), I'd take a Japanese car and just mod the crap out of it, perhaps make it a show-level car, but for the fun of it. I'm planning on grabbing a used Prelude once I get a stable income, and just have fun. Oh well, call it what you will, I wouldn't care either way.

 

Basically, more young adults/teenagers can afford this car. Therefore, youll see more fixed up Benzes. Remember people arnt ricing just civics nemore...they're moving up...lexus's, beemers...even lincolns. As soon as the younger people (ricer crowds) can get a hold of a car, its bound to be riced out.....soon we'll see riced out jaguar x-tpyes.

 

hmm... of course it is offensive. go to your asian neighbors, doctors, teachers, plumbers, whomever and ask them if they're a "ricer". you think they'll get upset?