superangrypenguin

This board is owned by Internet Brands - and is one of several boards I participate in. In many other boards (owned by IB), there is a subthread for each major forum topic which is one where members can just chill and talk about whatever. Nothing is off topic and it's a place where forum members (in this case - members who partake in the W204 discussion) can talk about anything.

One of the things that I used to do in other boards was to host location specific "Dos" (British term for parties). I don't really think this is possible as this board is focused on a car as opposed to traveling (which is the other board that I'm stealing this idea from).

If the mods are OK with this, if I may pose an innocent question to kick things off (other than make an offhand comment about how AWESOME the Daffy Duck thread is! ),

what do you do for a living?

I work in the technology industry, in a firm that is known worldwide, and I love what I do because I get to spend quite a lot of time in my car driving everywhere (a change from my old job at the same firm where I flew everywhere (trust me, it gets old quick)).

You?

(I hope this thread takes off!) The only real rules proposed that we follow is to not flame others etc, but I hope this thread can turn into a lounge thread where members can post whatever is on their mind. I'm slowly starting to learn the many different personalities on this board and hope to continue a fun conversation in this thread!

Cheers!

Oh and before people ask what's the point behind me starting this? To build a sense of neighborhood on this online board among people who share a passion with W204s!

MB Marko

off hand enough?

ezshift5

Nice looking mallard, amigo.


ez (USNR (Ret.)

superangrypenguin

2018 Subaru Legacy or to keep what I have? Fully loaded 2012 C300 with warranty until 2019 (2018-2019 is powertrain only)

Car's been good to me, but the thought of crazy expensive MB bills scare me a bit. I'm leaning towards keeping the C, but I'm curious what other folks' opinion are..

MB Marko

I'd get the Legacy, I mean ya its brand spanking new... DON'T get me wrong I love my W204 I still smile driving it, its fun and has been a great car but you can't beat a new car. The technology will be/should be better, the warranty will be better and the cost to own will be better in the long run. Plus the Legacy looks to be bigger so thats a plus if you have a family or travel a lot.

After the $4700 headlight, the $500 roof moulding the $3000 bumper repay and rebar... I'm thinking long and hard about keeping this thing. I really really want a W204 C63 507, I will get one after I buy a house but I'm defiantly thinking about getting something else. Just so I can get a good value for it while I can. once you get over the 120,000KM the value drops a lot, issues will mostly happen and you'll need to do the all the major services.

I love my W204 but I'll eventually get my dream W204 C63 507 and will need a winter car anyways so now might be the time to jump into a 10K Honda Civic and keep the other 10K(plus more saved) for a good downpayment on the C63 when I find one I want. Plus honda maintenance is dirt cheep.

I know the cost to own of the C63 is going to be a little more than it is to own the C300. YES i do a lot of my own work oil, brakes and that stuff. Parts online are pretty decent so I'd rater put the money into my dream than the C300, that I do love but settled for at the time.

as of now the W204 C300 has been the best car i've owned the experience, feel and all over performance.

dieseldoc

I am a pulmonary/critical care physician. In my spare time, I am a landscape and nature photographer. I love to take pictures of live Ducks. This Mr duck is looking for a Benz to ride in.

Just204

Lmao.....

I'm a rebellious out-law who awaits my countries demise.

Hobby wish I love driving to the local pond and taking pics of ducks in their natural habitat ....

superangrypenguin

Fair points. I think for me though, there's a few items that I will respectfully disagree with

1) The technology is not better on the Subaru as they are still a solid 5-7 years behind MB. (even with what is expected to come in the 2018 model)
2) Subaru paint...well, blows.

On your other points, your bang on. Projected TCO may in fact be cheaper as you alluded to, and it is a new car. Sigh.

Oh well, times like this I'm reminded of the fact that this is a FWP!

Yes, for me too, the W204 has been the best car I've owned.

Just try and avoid birds eh Marko? That'll drive down your cost quite a bit methinks (at least the headlight was covered under warranty tho!)

MB Marko

haha thats why i said will be should be better I wasn't sure I mean yes MB is way a head of any manufacture my 2012 was much better than the 2016 audi Q5. I guess i was being to generous with the Subaru.

It's going to be hard to let go of this car but I know the day will come for many of us. Look at the new tech in the 2018 MB line up its pretty nice and makes our cars look dated lol... even though we are a head of many other brands in the w204.

CGC

I sold a Subaru to buy my w204. I also owned a Subaru tuning shop for years. My thought is the Subaru is an all around great car that will never leave you stranded and they are very good cars if you keep them maintained (like most cars). But the Mercedes to me is just on a whole differnt level. i would think driving them back to back would answer all questions.

Nice lounge in here btw

MB Marko

I came from the Volvo family, heavy sold cars. I would consider a new V60 polestar wagon, super comfortable, lots of power and a monster in the snow. I should add cheaper to maintain a volvo theres lots of aftermarket parts ect. and its not super expensive to buy.

I mean look at it!

superangrypenguin

Yikes. Volvo! I was looking at the S80 or whatever their flagship line is. Man - who the Jeff invented the interiors?! Volvos used to be fun and quirky, now they are just plain weird!!! (I dislike them)

I've been looking at the Lexus LS (2017 with the D4S engine) -2018 is stupid ugly inside, the Merc E (only DI engine I worry about), the Audi A8 (dual injection 3.0TSI engine) (had the A4 and that was a CRAP car) and the Legacy.

D4S/dual injection required because of DI engine concerns.

I like nice cars, but don't get me wrong, I'm not willing to sell my 3rd leg to drive one

We'll see how the 2018 Legacy turns out. If my C behaves between now and then (since I have 1.5 year of EDW left), then maybe I'll keep it.

@Marko, where did you see the 2018 tech in the MB lineup?

Adi-Benz

I have many occupations lol.

I love volvo's. The v60 polestar and the new xc90 both look amazing to me, and I wouldn't mind having both of those in my lot. I'm strongly considering the new Alfa Gulia for my next car, but being an Alfa/Italian, eventually out of warranty, I can only dread what the repair costs would be like. Also while it is cool, looking at stuff like the C43/C450 etc. make me wonder if its a good choice. Plus it doesn't come in manual which, come on, it should have.

xEryx

Information Technology.
I am very good with technology so that led me to learn about my car and now I pretty much do everything to it so it is very cheap to own. Except for gas since I am always red lining it and getting 12 MPG.

Andriy242

Man I love those volvo wagons, and almost every well designed wagon. The polestars are so sick!

Anyways for me, I am also in Information Technology, but more the client facing side. I love the whole technical world, but if I can lead my team and nurture them into being awesome IT guys, then that's even better.

The car world, I love my w204, and I would be happy keeping it but I think the next thing, is either a nice wagon, e-class sized sedan or suv. Recently I have been looking at Cayenne Turbos or the ML63, but selling my car and then financing close to $40k, would be an idiotic move right now. One day.

superangrypenguin

Yup, same boat.

My car is also paid off so it's nice not seeing $ being taken out of my account on a monthly basis. I might wait until MB introduces dual injection (PFI and DI) or when VW's bull**** finally clears and we can get diesel sedans again.

I'd do the BlueTec delete and bypass all of that crap. Penguins are dying anyways, who cares about the environment?

Andriy242

I feel like enviroment is one thing. Sure I will be more than happy to cover my place in solar panels, and have an Tesla. But I do love that roar of the engine. It's nice not having monthly payments for a car right!

Yea I know what you mean. For me though if the e63 drops to around $50k CAD(for a 14+), I will be jumping on that. But then there is a side of me that says "Hey for $50k you can get a 15' Porsche Cayenne Turbo! Or find a Panamera. I feel like Benz is getting some what stale.

superangrypenguin

Interesting. I have the polar opposite view of where MB is going.

I find that Benz is trying to be too hip and dying to win over the younger crowd.

Remember in 2015 when the W205 came out? There was the C300, the C400 where you can get airmatic and the lux version (here in Canada). Then they gutted the C400 and replaced it with the C43S ?<--I think. No more airmatic can be had AT all on the C class in Canada.

Then there's the E. Two HUGE screens in the dashboard, etc. Suspension is now tuned to be more "sporty", etc.

I dislike that MB is chasing after BMW. I prefer the old stodgy old man's Benz. Sigh.

Maybe I'll drive a Buick next.

dieseldoc

I would agree with you. I like the old man's benz but I do not know about a Buick.

Adi-Benz

I think a typical 3 series is trash compared to a w204. Between bmw, audi, and benz equivalents of this generation, the benz definitely looks the best, has the best interior; as far as power/mpg wise, they are [generally] similar.

That 3 series looks the same as it did in 2005.

superangrypenguin

Same can be said about the A4. I do agree with you that between the three from an exterior standpoint, the C wins.

Direct injection turns me off of the new C - as is a turbocharged DI 4banger (have owned an A4 so never again will I own a 4 banger DI engine - too many things go wrong not that they are the same car).

The main other reason I haven't bought a W205 is the interior. I don't like it (I know, I'm weird), and I dislike screens where it's like some engineer forgot to put it and then attached an iPad like device on the console.

Erm, no, not my cup of tea. The E's interior is funky but I don't consider it elegant. I actually prefer the interior of the A6 (or even the A8 > the new S).

Maybe I'm just stuck b/c i'm old fashioned. My car (2012 C) is fully loaded with the interior burl walnut wood trim. I like it that way

superangrypenguin

Well the stock market took a dump today.

Sigh, basically wiped out all of my 2017 gains.

GOSHDARNIT.

Carsy

We are lucky it did not do more with the Russians saying Trumpeter can do no wrong

MB Marko

I really need to get into stocks but I'm so ****ing lost with it lol..... but ya i've been following some and it really dumped today

dieseldoc

Trump took a dump! We need to dump him. I wish we could get rid of him. I am ready to move North.