Polar Bear

For me, I drove a friend's moms 3 or 4 year old at the time 1986 300E. I had been into typical youth oriented cars like Mustangs, Camaros/Trans Ams, Corvettes, Grand National's, etc and didn't give one look to a Mercedes one time (I was in high school). I had to follow my friend somewhere and had the pleasure to drive his moms 300E and absolutely could not believe how well the car was made and how well it drove. It was amazing. How well the doors shut, how the car felt at higher speeds, how quiet it was, an airbag in 1986 (when everyone else got them around 1990), etc. Then I had to have one. It was several years later, but my first was a 1982 300D Turbo Diesel. It was far from nice, but still had that Mercedes feel nonetheless. Have owned 6 since then.

That same 300E is still like new today - garage kept with 42k miles.

rhino89523

I am a junkie for anything with a motor, hell I love a well tuned weed eater. I have had one of everything. In high school I got offered a 1963 190 for cheap, I am one of those if its free its me type of guys, or used to be. The doors were what really hooked me, every MBZ door always closes nice. People always take good care of MBZ so they seem to age pretty good. That old car was quiet and drove nice. I have liked the build quality since. I ended up crashing that car into an old man that pulled out in front of me. What a tank, I was unharmed and the car faired well. I am now a father of two. I love play toys but the only thing in the world that I really care about is the 3 women in our family auto, my wife and 2 daughters, why not surround them in safety. I have only had the w211 a short time but love it and this is my wifes first MBZ experience and I am pretty sure she is hooked. Thats good with me I love driving it or driving in it.

pinebaron

I needed an excuse to buy a second vehicle for myself since I was doing a 153 miles daily round trip to the office. All my friends suggested I buy a hybrid. I thought about it but no hybrids appealed to me. Then I accidently read an article about the new Bluetec just released in the US; that was it. I read all about the engine and I was hooked on the new diesel technology. Having previously built/owned a large SUV in another country, retrofitted with a Mercedes Truck 6 cyl engine, I knew this was the way to go. I love what I have and thoroughly enjoy every moment I drive my Bluetec.

JRAMGV8

My experience was when I rode on the S-Class for the very first time. My friends father to drop us off at a concert years ago and it was those W220 S-Class. The smooth ride, quietness and comfort is what got me hooked on these cars.

SPNJHockey

My wife and I were looking for a new family car. Since she didn't like the exterior stylng of the Acura RL, we tried the A6: very hard ride, as were the seats. Too bad, because there were lots of bells and whistles.

We took the E350 for a spin, and knew right away that we found what we were looking for: great suspension, and unbelieveable seat comfort. Now, if I can only get my heat fixed...

cjf_moraga

Yes its the doors! I was living in the UK in the 1980's and my very first car was a Citroen... (BX) Now it certainly had a lot of character! (hydro-pneumatic suspension and all) ...but it had the structural rigidity of a tinfoil box... My then manager had a 190E which I spent a lot of time in... OK, it was only the original baby benz but it was built like a battleship compared to a Citroen... It's all about contrasts... Needless to say at the first clunk of those doors I fell in love... The affair is still going strong.... just bought an S600!

It is easy to forget (those of us old enough to remember) how flimsy many 1980's mass market cars were and how enormous was the difference between MB's of that era and everything else...

Chris

Polar Bear

Yes - it is easy to forget. It also is after one drives a Mercedes for a while - my ex-fiancée and I were bored one day so we were wondering what the hybrid thing was all about. We got into a Camry Hybrid (test drive) and couldn't not believe the build quality difference. Getting back into her CLK350 with the wood trim and nice interior was night and day - not to mention the door thud! Japanese cars have always had that "cheap" feeling to them for some reason to me...

The 1980's Mercedes were unbelievable...

MB Fanatic

My first Mercedes was a W210 2001 E320 and I have been hooked since then. While my father has had Mercedes in the past I never had one of my own and that car just did it for me. I got it to about 100K and it was still solid as a rock and as a result I have been hooked since. Not only are they reliable, but they are safe and built like tanks.

My other Mercedes of the past:

2004 E55
2006 E350
2008 GL 550 - totalled by the wife but waiting for the MY09 to be delivered

My father has had:
300E
W220 S600
W221 S600 (most reliable)

My Mother:
W221 S550

Vik888

My first experience must have been in the early 80's when I was probably 4 or 5. My grandfather lived in South Africa and had a brand new Benz with a "power antenna" which I played with constantly. He also had a fleet of Mercedes trucks.

His car eventually had 500,000+ miles on it believe it or not and still ran with little maint. issues.

My father bought one in 1989 which I still drive. It now has about 200,000 miles on it and everytime something goes wrong, the mechanic is suprised its still the original part from 1989!

A friend of mine has a 1989 190E with 350,000 miles on it as well.

I just bought my first Benz in Sept 2007 .. 2008 E550 .. and I love it. I don't think its like my Dad or grandfather's car in that I doubt it will be worth it to keep it beyond the warranty. My total warranty is 7yrs/100k miles, so it'll be awhile before I get rid of it.

I'm already hoping the G-Wagon gets updated for 2009 and gets the newer, lighter, more effecient 5.5L from the S550/E550 or the 320 CDI engine. If that happens, I'll be the first in line for a built slot.

I fully recognize MB had at least a 10yr period where there were a lot of unhappy customers. I'm glad that period is over and cars from 2007+ are more reliable and better built. I don't think we'll return to the reliability of a decade or more ago because we are now a gadget based society and I for one love gadgets even though it means there are more things to fail.

Lastly, I wouldn't mind if MB up'd prices 25%-30%, built fewer cars, and increased quality. The way things were back in 1989 when my Dad bought his 420SEL.

Polar Bear

You make a good point - it doesn't seem like their prices have increased like other cars. My 1983 300D sold new for $34,000 USD in 1983. That was a chunk of change in 1983.

spclagent7

When I was 4 years old my parents got a 1977 Beige 240D. It all started then. It was a smelly smoky diesel. But other than that, it was what a car was supposed to be. Indestructible, great gas mileage, well-laid out, well-organized and clear manual...

That car is still running today. The odometer unfortunately stopped at 292k miles.

Germancar1

Great posts.

Two experiences for me. First one turned me onto Mercedes and the second one sold it. First one was seeing a 300E on the expressway and how it looked so effortless, the second was riding to school in the back of a friend's whose mom had a 190E. Cramped as hell, but the ride was so soothing and quiet compared to anything I'd ever been in up to that point. I knew then that one day I'd have a Mercedes. There still is nothing quite like it, no matter how hard others try. Ditto for BMW.

M

Vik888

My dad paid something like $85k for his 420SEL back in 1989. New S550 isn't much more .. S550 should be around $125k.

ruffrob

My partner Theo had a White 1994 C230,and to my surprise ,he let me drive it around my Brooklyn neighborhood. I was so careful with it,I doubt i could really feel how great the car was due to my 'kid glove' treatment of his car. Besides ,he rode 'shotgun',so Iknew better to try any 'gymnastics' with his car. But in all,it was a great experience...

raymond g-

Getting it on with Prescilla in my brother's E320, circa 2002. But in all, it was a
great experience. Bought an E320 a year later.

('sup, Ruffrob?)

jallison12

Gawd, my brother had one of those, I think. Thats the one with the hand brake in the middle of the dash board, right? And the funky brake peddle that doesn't move.

Those frenchies

cjf_moraga

...but did it have character! You did not really need brakes at all... as my car had a vast 96 hp it could not go fast enough to need them... I would just wind down the windows, stick my hand out, and let the air resistance slow me down...

I recall the handbrake in the traditional center seat position but there was this party trick lever next to it that would raise and lower the car on its hydro-pneumatic suspension which was great when you needed to recover it out of a field or someone's front yard.... (No brakes remember) There is an MB connection as Citoren actually licensed the technology to MB for the S-Class at the time!

http://www.answers.com/topic/mercedes-benz-w124

Gotta love the company that called its station wagon version a "brake"... (Or "break")

Chris

MBNUT1

Climbing into my Dad's new '59 180 at 6 years old. One look at the emblem in the steering wheel and the rest is history.

Germancar1

Why? The 560SEL in 1991 was only 75k or so? Why would a 420SEL be 85K?

M

Vik888

Maybe it was 70K? .. I'm just guessing based on what I recall from 1989

Germancar1

I would hope so. 85K would have bought a 560SEC by back then.

Those cars (126) were the greatest, I grew up admiring them.

M

baxterdown

I remember my brother, cousins and friends spending their afternoons playing outside in the neighborhood. I instead would head to my aunt’s garage and spend hours playing “car” in her 1971 250E. I still remember the huge white steering wheel with the MB star in the middle and the unmistakable “Mercedes smell.”

As I grew older, many of my parents’ friends drove Mercedes and very often I would tell myself “one day.” I took me almost forty years to get my first MB. But, it was well worth the wait. Whenever I drive my ML or my partner’s E350 I smile and remember the kid behind the wheel of Tia Annie’s 250E. It puts a huge smile on my face, every single time!

Jose

gaazmon

The first Mercedes that made me fall in love with Mercedes Benzes was my first car, a 1994 S420 (W140).

My father had given me a choice with my first car: either get a BMW 330i (I think it was a 2003) or I get his car and he buys a new car (he wanted the Chrysler 300). So being the wonderful son that I am , I accepted the S420. My God... what a car that was, in every way. Handling, accelleration (I could imagine the 500's or 600's), comfort, quiteness, space, all those buttons that did everything, the vacuum doors. It was everything in one. Man, the looks I would get in that high school parking lot. Every week I would find out something new about the car. There is so much. I'm getting tears in my eyes just thinking about her.

No car has ever, and I mean, ever, been the same.

I lost her when I rear ended a mini-van. My father did not want to fix it and just wanted to get rid of it, so he sold it. Till this day, I regret selling it. I wish I still had it. Never gave me problems, just paid for gas (she drank a lot) and regular maintenance (which actually wasn't that much).

R.I.P. 1994 S420. Long live the W140... The car that forever changed my life.

Polar Bear

It's always interesting to hear these stories... A Mercedes-Benz is an amazing car. No matter how hard they try, the Japanese will never be what a Mercedes-Benz is.

Barry45RPM

I don't know about "No matter how hard they try..." If they want to do it they will. There's no mystery to building one. Its a sales philosophy, that's all. If it were a secret, BMW Audi & VW wouldn't be able to build cars with such a "German Car Feel" to them. I assure you MB isn't telling them how to do it.

Right now, the Japanese & Americans want you to replace a car every 34 months, tops... The Germans overbuild a car to last longer... and the balance in philosophy between Overbuilding & the need of MB for MB buyers to lease & replace their cas at 36 months are in direct conflict with one another so something's gonna give in the next few years.