W203E35

It's all good. Everyone has different taste, some like modded cars and some dont. I do respect peoples' opinions. I know Matt (LILBENZ) doesn't like modded cars and I respect that. I'm just teasing the guy.

LILBENZ230

The standard CLS55 looks so classy, elegant.. like Jeremy Clarkson said "thug in a silk dressing gown." where the modded one looks so ridiculous.

And Tommy - my rims are OEM stock W203 rims. Of a different year, yes, but it looks completely stock.

TruTaing

OEM+ ftw

mskembo

In my opinion, wheels aren't modding, that's just fixing what the manufacturer screwed up on (most of the time), except on my '07... they got them right.

tommy

I'm not trying to be an a$$, but the only way a car is "stock" is if it has whatever it came from the factory with. Otherwise, it's modded.
Just accept it.

mskembo

Lilbenz is a modder, Lilbenz is a modder! LOL

BTW, every time I read the thread title I think "All your bass are belonging to us"... is it just me?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AWnNP...embedded#at=77

tommy

I corrected it, and yes, I think the same thing, too. I remember when that was everywhere on car forums. Ahhh, the good old days...

mskembo

I just thought it was funny.

So Moose, I've actually spent a couple of brain cycles thinking about why the modding bug doesn't bite as hard Down Under, and I think the explanation is more than price. I have a little bit of a unique perspective since I did live in Adelaide for about a year.

America has a very unique society. We tend not to be satisfied with anything. This can be a very good thing (think of all the innovative products that came about due to American ingenuity) it can also be destructive (think ashleymadison.com). Austrailians tend to be a lot that makes the best of whatever they have. It's not just Mercedes that don't get modded down there, not even Haydens or Hondas get modded. I think more than anything it's a cultural thing.

phister

Saw a CLS55 today. Some 50 year old lady was driving it. I was admiring how awesome the brake calipers look on them. I want them on my car now.

EZKO750

modded all the way..One thing i learnt a long time ago, cars are not an investment. and as for losing value.. i have always been able to sell my modded cherry cars faster and for what i wanted than my stock cars .

FrankW

neither...the CLS is ugly...

draz.amg

Not feeling the modded CLS. Those tail lights don't contrast well..

It's a shame the markets for cars are so different in other regions of the world, though.

C230 Mulac

i respect both, but i am(obviously) for modded cars, seeing as i have one.

it all depends on your view of what a car is, say for example, someone who drives a toyota prius views a car as nothing but simply a way to get from point a to point b, no love or passion for the beauty and engineering behind a car.

then you have the guy who drives a c 63 amg and keeps it stock either because he is afraid to mess with it, or he respects another person's design and accepts the design of the car as someone else's contribution to society

then you have people who think similarly to me, who view the car as a hobby or an expression of themselves. i like to make the car "my own" so it is unique to me and what i like. not only is it a hobby, but i love cars and respect all of the engineering that has developed them for the past century. some people go all performance, some go all for looks, i like a combination of both.

but whatever you choose just remember that as long as the owner of the car loves it, then nothing else should matter.

anonymousmoose

Australia pretty much a 'I want it now' throw away society too. Perhaps Adelaide is a bit more laid back.

anonymousmoose

Also another point, a Mercedes is viewed here in Australia as an 'old mans' car, not something a younger chap would drive. Perhaps the sports ones are viewed different but they are usually owned by people in the financial prime who tend to be a bit older (unless its very old). The C class is defiantly seen as an 'old mans car' over hear. Maybe mine with the sports package will be seen different but I couldnt care less what others think. The general stereotypical Australia isn't the most cultured person. BMW is viewed as the 'young executives' driver. Even if its a 4 cly 320i with less guts then a C class.

How's the C class viewed where your are from?

mskembo

I can't speak for anyone else's experience, but in Dallas a Mercedes is so normal, that mine doesn't get a second look. However out in East Texas where I am for work, people see the star and think I must be Donald Trump! I had a very attractive lady in her 30's hitting on me tonight hard, and I don't think it's because I looked good leaving the gym...

giannidy

Where I'm at, I only see old people driving Mercs besides the single modded w203 in this whole area (besides mine). For me, I like to mod my car because I like to have a car that is both luxurious while at the same time look sporty and one of a kind.

havoc_vulture

Did she give you thumbs up like Xhale got

C230 Mulac

i can see from this forum that California is definitely where the most modded C class cars are in the states. Here in DC, there are a sh*tload of MBs around but most of them are stock and many driven by old rich people. I live in the Bethesda, MD area which is supposedly "high dollar" according to people I've met around here so I see plenty around. I do occassionally see some with a few mods, actually last night I saw another w203 with wheels and a CF lip on it pass by going the other direction

Glyn M Ruck

In SA Benz is the third best selling brand after VW & Toyota. Tends to be viewed as having something for everyone as long as you have the bucks. An aspirational brand as in Asia. They sell most models here from the A Class to the top AMG's with most engine options. The W204 has definitely attracted a younger buyer into the fold as has the B Class. Generally viewed as robust tough vehicles that run high miles/Km's in SA conditions.

The C Class is by far the best seller.

MiamiAMG

When i first read the title to this thread, the first thing that came to my head was all your base belong to me. lol

C230 Mulac

very nice looking car AMG