I live in a small New England town in a quiet neighborhood with people that do okay financially. There are plenty of neighbors with new BMWs, Audis and another MB (although it is an R-class)

Since I got my car a couple of weeks ago no one makes eye contact and no one comes over to see what my new toy is all about--when I got my CLK500 years ago, multiple neighbors came over to check it out unprovoked by me.

I have not been driving wildly or doing burn-outs so I just don't get the haters
I actually had a neighbor put her hands up and down in the slow down motion as I drove down the street at 25MPH

Is it the exhaust that turns people off or the fact that I just brought home a brand new shiny MB in this economy?? Jealously?? Puritan New England values??
My wife and I probably make the most money in the neighborhood by a long shot (my wife's a high level corporate lawyer and I own my own business) and we could afford a house twice as much without a problem (and this is a nice upper middle class neighborhood), but we decide to invest in our retirement accounts and spend some of our money on indulgences like cars and multiple vacations every year.

What's your experience with your neighbors?
Is it just me?

 

I have a similar situation to you, but my neighbors usually give me the thumbs up and ask a lot if questions about my toys. I live in a great neighborhood (best school district in the area) that is comprised of mostly 1st time buyers. Most neighbors are young (30's to 40's and have young children. Most of the parents and their kids are excited that someone has nice cars " on the block". Maybe a lot of your neighbors are older and hence "put off" by your "show of wealth". Not sure.

 

Part of it is probably your neighbors and part of it is probably just you.

 

exactly

when I bought my *used* S55 my neighbors asked questions and were excited and happy for me. Even the gear head across the street (restoring a 60's Cougar frame-up), who accidentally one-up with the new"fastest car in the neighborhood" stopped by to check it out. When another neighbor bought a new Acura I asked questions, and was excited and happy for him. Why? Because he's a nice guy (even though his gift for my son's birth was a ball cap from my hated college rival ).

If they didn't like me, I could bring home the Hope Diamond and no one would say a word. Sounds like what is happening to you.

 

I think the C63 exhaust makes it seem as if your going faster than you really are...from inside we cant really tell, but have someone drive it with you outside and you'll hear its pretty loud, and somewhat obnoxious (especially to a normal person that drives a regular car). Personally I dont give two sh*ts, I wish it was louder.

 

I think its because non enthusiasts don't know what a C63 is. They just think its a plain jane C class. Which in my case is perfect.

 

yeah maybe it's me, but why did the same people have interest in the CLK, but not the C63--I always check out the neighbors new rides when they get them--anyone who knows me a little bit knows I like cars.

I'm just surprised that I wouldn't get more positive feedback from people--I really think it's the noise it makes and the flash of the shiny star in the grill

who knows--just thought I'd share my observations, better get back to I only got about 500 more miles to go before I hit the 1000 mark!!

 

+1

 

Nothing makes me more angry when old people make the slow down motion, Im like "do you really think I care what you think?" if I cared what other people thought I would have bought a Prius and married an ugly woman

 

remove your resonators, then report back on reactions

 

My neighbors dont like me at all. Ever since I parked a Maserati Spyder in front of my house they dont seem to like to talk to me. When we have alot of people over I park the Mercedes and the guest Mercedes infront of the house so no one bunks them(Show park sideways on the front lawn) I own the second biggest home in the neighborhood and like yourelf I could buy a bigger one. I am not the type to compete with others. If that was the case I would have to build a home larger then my neighbor of 6,000 sq feet. Yikes. I do understand the OP 100%. Back in October of 2009 I needed a new DD to drive to work with. I purchased a 4 year old C Class to buy and of course the neighbors could not believe it and it was the talk of the neighborhood

"OMG Why does he need another car?"
"OMG In this economy? He does that? Wow I couldnt take a vacation this year and my kid is in law school and things are tight.. Must be nice"
"Wow well it must be nice to have a car for everyday of the week"

Yes people these where some of the response I herd around here. Sick isnt it. People have nothing better to do then to be in your buisness. I dont get why no one ever comments on other people who live in my neighborhood like the 75 year old lady who has a S500 and a SL600 and another $1.2 million home on the lake 5 miles away. Or the lady next door who installed a home movie theater in her home and then wanted her husband to buy her a custom ML500(European Delivery Program). Or what about the guy who purchased a BMW 325 for his sons sweet 16.

My point in all of this is that other people have nothing better to do and envy you for what you have. To be honest I dont know 98% of the people in my neighborhood so I could care less what they say or think. I believe let people think what they want and let people envy you. The more time you spend wondering what other people think it will end up driving you nuts at the end of the day.. "Live your life" To the OP. I wish you 100 more new Mercedes

 

I just don't care. I drive slowly through my neighborhood because it is the right thing to do. I have no interest in the opinions of my neighbors on my purchases and life.

 

very funny

I really don't care what they think either, but I was wondering if it was an a common reaction to this car--wait 'til I hit the 1000 mile mark and I leave two perfectly black strips down the road at 2am!

I'm glad I'm not alone--people are funny I guess.

 

me and my girlfriend live in a luxury townhome sub division that goes around kind of in a circle but has many curves almost like a race track, i m 23 and my gf is 21, we have 3 Merc's on the driveway and everybody around is older than us, they all drive decent cars, and i see them all walk the dogs around and saying hi to eachother and chitchatting but none of them talk to us, almost like they try to avoid us or give us dirty looks when we pull in the neighborhood and the beast is roaring.

 

My neighbors are actually pretty cool.

 

i hate wen old people cross the street in front of you and hold out their hands mtioning for you to stay stopped as they cross in front of you

 

We live in a cheap run down 1970s home so we can afford to drive nice cars. I hate you ballers.

 

old people love CLK's in my experience, convertible forget about it.
Also most people have no clue what AMG, you would get the same reaction in a c230.

Maybe has nothing to do with the car. They got to know you with the CLK, and simply dont like you.

 

I am sure that I am old by your standards and I would just pump a few rounds into your grill

 

It's probably the loud exhaust, when I drive on the small streets to get to my house, I normally take it easy on the gas pedals not to **** off anyone.

 

Just take more vacations.

 

Neihbors that walk around my house seem to be on some "zen trip" so I don't use the pedal shifters/console shifter coming up to stop signs anymore and that has seemed to help.

 

Canada and California, interesting you have to make such efforts to keep others calm and worry about their "feelings", me I figure / Live and Let Live also means Live and Let Die, If I think the speed is a prudent and safe one Im going it and I can make all the noise I want, if they dont like it they can move. Neighbors stopped talking to me when I got my 911, BFD. (well maybe my illegal fireworks on the fourth also did upset some old people) Somehow Im noisy, yet the old guy behind me can idle his un muffled Harley in his drive at 8am on sunday with that bleh bleh bleh bleh sound for 30 minutes and that "cool" I didnt get to this point in life worrying about the feelings of others, I dont plan on starting. Mercedes new ad campaign "Die Beste oder nichts" I think thats a good motto for life

 

Get new neighbors

 

It's "Das Beste oder nichts" ....... you could use "Die Beste" when talking about a girl with high performance skills