As a Mercedes Owner...
 

Any interesting experiences or things you've noticed about being in public ever since you bought a Mercedes (assuming yours is nice enough:rolf:)?

I know I have, even though the Merc is a common car brand around here I notice that tons of people look at the car driving by, near grocery stores, gas stations, etc. I remember one time I was driving to pick up a few friends of mine at a restaurant and I got a very intense look from a gentle coming out of the establishment :nix: definitely as a result of the car.

Perhaps I feel too elated driving a Mercedes now - your experiences?

You're probably keeping your new baby clean and shiny. People notice that. However, I went with a W211 because of the design of the front end, especially the headlights. It makes the car stand out from all the others in it's size class. With the W212, Mercedes joined the rest of the herd of undistinguishable midsized sedans. Keep it clean and you will have a car that people will notice and immediately recognize for years to come.

Yeah, the w211 is definitely one of the more recognizable models outside of the SL that really just grab peoples' attention. Keep it clean and with any exterior mods and people will break their necks.

However, an interesting thing I've noticed (espcially since you're young like I am...er...younger actually) is the negative connotation people take on when they ask you what you drive and you say "a mercedes". It's like they immediately just go 'oh...you're a little rich boy huh' in the back of their minds. It's whatever though, they can enjoy their kias :)

though I will say I love the looks I got this past winter in my 4matic when I was blasting by pickup trucks and SUV in 6 inches of snow haha

W211 reeks of class. The front end and the lines of the vehicle look fantastic.

Whenever i drive past shop windows i just stare at the reflection!

I remember when i had mine parked out the front of the local newsagency and coffee shops, i heard an older gentleman say "thats the most beautiful car i've ever seen". This was back in about 2007 maybe 2008, made me smile a little bit!

However I do get more looks in the S350 :P

The car used to get a lot of stares when I bought it new in November 2002. There were very, very few back then with the new model. I paid over 1K extra for the special paint, black opal, which really made the car look good. From far away the black opal looks black, when you get close it has a mixure of navy blue and black. It drew a lot of attention with it's elegant looks. I still believe it's one the best looking sedan ever made, much better looking than the current model!

Certainly the most beautiful sedan in the world to me, though perhaps I'm a bit biased ; ). And I think the same way as you Jcat, I have received criticism for it at my age but you find out who your true friends are by it all. I had the option at one point to get a Camaro SS and later an STi for even less, more popular among adolescents here for sure, but nothing compares to the class and elegance of the W211. And they can use their "Mercs are for old men" percepts when I claim victory at the track hahaha.

I'm a pretty young guy too, it def has to do with ur age. When i take out my dads S550 I get a lot more stares. It makes me feel like i'm an outcast loll. In my E class I feel a lot more comfortable, but still i feel eyes watching me every time i come to a light. I feel most grounded when driving in my friends 98 corolla, cause thats when i know they aren't looking at me because of the car

One gentleman in parking lot almost had an AMI when he saw me in a freshly waxed Merc haha don't know why that strong of a reaction but hey it works for me. Let's all admit that these cars tend to... attract the woman on occasion lol - my theoryas to why the doors are so thick and robust... keep excess females out hahaha

If im going to buy something i make sure they dont see my car because people assume your loaded for bear when they see that friggin star. Funny thing is ..... i have an 04 with 45k and i paid 17k for it a few months ago and my neighbor has a 2010 Sonata and he gets treated like hes poor yet he spent almost twice the price i did.:nix:

Buying any luxury vehicle is never cheap compared to what you can get domestically (not to mention maintenance and such)... but one thing that is great about German imports is that they depreciate in value very very quickly - bad for new car owners but excellent for those on the used market. So I consider many of you quite intelligent :naughty: But yeah... I have noticed that too, I was touted as a "rich kid" by the son of the former CIO of American Express at school... enough said haha, but that stigma is there to stay.

Another singular thing that happened tonight was in regards to the (perhaps) wonderful sheriff's department we have here in Highlands Ranch. I accelerated quite hard, not at the point of straining my engine but enough, at a stop light to get into the right lane that soon merged into a turn lane due to some other traffic around at 10:30 at night. Proceeded at about 53/54-ish in a 45 in a low traffic area to realize the car behind me was a police unit. Maintained the same speed, made the turn at the light, and was being followed by the policeman. He accelerates to pull up next to me, looks a bit confused, realizes it looks like a 13-year-old is driving a Mercedes (lol me...), tips his hat, and merges off. Now considering (and I kid you not) a friend of mine received a ticket for 4 MPH over a month ago (officer Christopher H. felt like he wanted to "prove a point" ) and my mother a ticket for 7 MPH over about 8 months ago within the same district/county, I would like to think this rich kid stigma entails a "potentially has a copious amount of lawyers" or "he did something right" precept that made it not worth his time. A long shot, yes, would I like to think so... you bet.

really? people give a **** about 5 year old e550s?

I'm 28, look maybe 22, and nobody gives me any looks.

You can't throw a rock in my area without hitting a benz...nobody cares, women included.

its because your nj oliver !! lol

Wow...apparently the cars not at fault for your situation...I can't imagine why women don't flock to you (/sarcasm)

Lollllll. Actually I have received the comment from those unaware about Mercedes model years that it "looks brand new to me." Perhaps it's just me :naughty:

Anybody can drive a Benz. Simply lease one in December during the Winter Event... they give them away.

Looking rich & successful entails much more than driving a clean MB... How you dress, speak, where you dine (not eat), your education, your job, and where you live. Anybody who jumps to conclusions without taking into account all of the above is an idiot... or a child who is dazzled by shiny objects.

well said

I cannot agree with you more. "Class" is not something that can be obtained by driving a certain car or being part of a certain socioeconomic background. It is a result of many facets of refinement including education, ability in discourse, . However, you cannot deny that a Mercedes-Benz is an important symbol in the world of luxury as is Armani et cetra - and this is something that many people will directly relate to it when they see you driving a Mercedes. So, in a realistic world, many will jump to this conclusion.

The point of this thread is not to be elitist or pretentious, but rather to hear about others' experiences with this precept and people's reactions to nice cars that we are all blessed to have.

wow yourself chief.

I don't use a car to try to attract women...its pathetic to do so.

I didn't buy my car for attention, so I'm perfectly fine with my situation.

Dude, what are you talking about?

I got my E55 a few weeks ago and I have done many WOT launches. What is this engine strain?

Your sentences give me the impression that English is your second language but you're trying extremely hard to get the grammar down.

I suppose my car turns a few heads when I stomp on it, or when I'm around gearheads that know what it is. Otherwise it's a pretty incognito sedan.

His English style is a bit formal, but to be honest, I spoke like that also when I was his age. I learned to dumb it down and speak eye to eye with the given audience. But give the kid some slack, he is just excited about owning his w211, it's not everyday a guy gets a car, let alone a Mercedes.

On to the topic tho, the e class is one of the most common mercs out there. What sets them apart is the mods or small details done to a few cars that really bring out the characteristics of the body style. Of course having a freshly cleaned whip also helps :naughty:

If you really wanna stand out tho, check this out... Got it from another forum. Not everyone is gonna like it, but it definitely stands out

http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphot...20903548_o.jpg


http://a7.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphot...34886146_o.jpg

but i digress...

a milf stopped me outside of dunkin donuts today and told me i had a nice car, that made my day lol...

you cant walk 5 feet in my town without seeing an s-class, e-class, etc... I suppose my car does stick out from the other benzes rolling around in my town, and at wot its kinda loud. Personally i think 99% of the people staring at my car think im some sort of a**hole or something lol.. i just turned 21 btw

Yeah, good point. Sorry if I came off like a jackass in my comments.

To that end, we're just people, and the people who see us, smile, wave, or assume that we're pretentious douches....are also just people.

My E55 is by far the nicest car I've ever had. I did have a 3 series and a 5 series in the past though. I bought both of them with over 180k but shined them up and enjoyed them. I guess I'm pretty immune to other people's opinions when it comes to the car I'm driving.

English is not my second language but my parents are not from this country... thank you for judging. It was just about experiences we have had with our Mercs - this thread - and as you have seen, some people have had the same which is interesting to hear. But it now serves to judge the way others talk, criticize immigrant families such as mine, and put others below you :confused:. If you didn't have any experiences to share than why comment like a condescending douche and then give a hollow apology? Get off your high horse. Is this more ethnic for you? I TRY SPEAK ENGLISH IT HARD FOR ME THANKS YOU FOR CORRECTERING THE ENGLISH OF I YOU IS NICE, SIGN-ED AMGAFFALTEЯBACH

guilty however ;) and you make a lot of valid points

Like that around here too, but I can relate haha. You ask her to get in lol? :bow:

i should have but i didnt have the balls lol mainly because she had a kid with her

It is absolutely true that people look at you differently in whatever car you pull up in. My high school teacher years ago even told us a time when he pulled up to valet his Chevy Corsica beater, he got **** treatment. When he pulled up in his Jag type-S R, they treated him completely differently. I've come to find that my w211 gets a lot of attention though. People literally stop and stare as I drive past. At the end of the day, did you buy your car for yourself or for everyone else? I bought my car for myself, so I will enjoy it regardless of what anybody thinks or how they react to it.

While the W211 it is a very nice car (I love mine), here in OC they are also very common. Looking out my office window here in Anaheim, I can see four in the first few rows of the parking lot. The driver of a nice E-class will be treated with respect by the valet, but the front rows of the valet lots around here are populated with Ferraris and Aston Martins. In my experience, you can tell more about a man if he wears quality, well polished shoes than if he drives a Mercedes. A better grade wristwatch also sends a message long after you have left the parking lot.
Mike

Always a Movado on my wrist haha:p:

They are common around here as well but very distinguishing still

@the red S63: *Drrrooooooollll. So sexy. I usually don't like Mercs in red but that is soooo nice :bow:

Definitely have gotten the "man this guy probably is a real douche" look and feel from people before. In law school I used to get people telling me "ah man your ballin' rolling around in an 80K car" little did they know I paid less than half that out the door back in 07 with only 23,650 miles and CPO :D (which was almost less than what some of them paid for they're new cars).

The best is with girls though. Some girls won't even give you the time of day, but the second they see you in a Merc or BMW, all of a sudden, your now in they're peripheral vision :rolleyes: don't get me wrong do, they won't flock to you, no way, not around here where I live. There's 19 year olds around here with 911 Turbos, C63's, etc etc. But that's not what I bought my car for. Sure I enjoy some of the attention, and the once in a while "short term" results and advantages of my car with valet, girls, etc hehe :D but I'm not like some of my friends who think they can "buy" they're way to a girlfriend. In all honesty, I wouldn't want to be with someone who's first thought of attraction towards dating me was because of my car.

haha...gaazmon, you had your E in law school too? people thought my parents bought it for me but I was 26 at the time and had been working for 5 years since undergrad. I think I paid something like 28k for it and it had 22k on the odo. anyway, i've been on the forums forever but finally came back to post after being able to buy a new transmission.
"what'd you do with your first billable? fixed my benz..."

I think he means something like, audemar, rollies, pattys, and panerai :)

100% agree. On first dates take the subway like a working class man to get a feel for what shes looking for. Then whip out the car to seal the deal. nothing more disappointing then reeling in some seaweed, when ur trying to catch some tuna :naughty:

but seaweed is good for you once in a blue too

I love their craftsmanship however, they aren't as famous a name but older than Rolex. Also you know my age :p: haha best I could come by as spending over $5000 on a watch right now... well I will stop there :smash: One day man, one day.

But I have no respect for women that look only for monetary value in a man, when you first pull up in your car you can tell by people's reactions that were once nice to you or once despised you whether or not they are genuine. The same people that respect you regardless are the only ones worth relating to imo.

To perpetuate off topic conversation, if you don't mind me asking, what kind of law do you practice? I've been involved in the Colorado Bar Association Mock Trial competition for the High School level and I absolutely love it! I know much more is involved in real-world law but they try to make it as close as possible. Real judges and magistrates, real courtroom, a full weekend of criminal defense law. If I don't go into medicine as I am planning, that is certainly one of my top choices.

Anyway @desired_speeds the W211 even in an area like mine wheremy subdivision is surrounded by three luxury gated communities and a little up north is Castle Pines Village (those houses....) it definitely gets some stares. It's more that Mercedes has made a lot of timeless designs and beautiful cars in general, so if you take care of it people recognize that even if they are not car aficionados. Regardless, no matter what they think I am truly amazed by the W211 even after a month of ownership just with its build quality and craftsmanship, engineering details and intuitive drive - I hope it continues this way.

lol ya i was 23 when i started and had been working since i was 17 (still am in the same industry). but ya in the beginning people were out for blood with all the gossip and back talking they would do (common thing in law schools, lot's of drama, think like high school). automatically everyone (students, professors, and faculty alike) assumed i was the biggest douche when i walked into that building (the black lacoste tshirt and porsche aviators didn't help lol) but i'm glad i proved them wrong throughout the year. i paid about 35k out the door, 23,650 miles, CPO (only 4 more payments left :) yay (great especially since i had to start paying these law school loans back)). law school had to take a break though because of some "technical difficulties" (i will explain below).

ya out here in LA (especially out of the city) public transport is no good. so i'll usually just have them meet me wherever we're having the date instead of picking them up. lol usually hard with certain girls (especially from my part of the world) since you gotta do the whole "meet her parents" routine lol.

i had a friend who told me his dad told him once that back in the day when his parents started dating, his dad would pick up his mom in his work truck and before their dinner dates would stop by 2 or 3 of these apartments to drop things off or take care of something quick. she thought he was just a handy man of sorts. lo and behold she finds out 3 dates in that he actually owns those 3 apartments and he says he didn't want her to like him for the wrong reasons in the beginning.

but yes we are young so seaweed is definitely fun once in a while. but u don't want it to stick on too long hehe :D

the best is when people from high school see you (especially girls... you know which ones). all of sudden they wanna strike a convo with you. i actually love to go along with it too.

regarding the o/t law subject: i actually never finished. i passed my first year last may, but in june the school had it's ABA (American Bar Association) Accreditation revoked/suspended. so i took a year off, moved back home, got back into my old work, and am reapplying as we speak (attention: Gaazmon might be coming to an area near yooouuuu :) lol) we shall see depending on where i get in out of the schools i applied. i really wanna finish it, never like to stop in the middle of something.

Come to DU law school and expect some pizzas at your door haha =P but good for you I really hope that works out for you! Yeah luckily I still have that privilege of high school girls and to see their shift in interest after this car - see where it will take me for grins and giggles. Haven't started driving it there on a regular basis but the parking lot for students is but a minefield of door dings and accidents. Maybe I should park in the teachers lot lol and suffer the consequences later

yeah, definitely wish you nothing but the best and good luck with everything gaazmon. i can 100% emphatically back your experience with driving a nicer car than some law professors. being asian, i am sure they all assumed my family ran nail salons, laundromats, pho shops or all the above. i remember getting a weird look from my legal writing prof when i dropped a friend off at the library. the students were even worse with the gossip but i'm preaching to the choir here. of course you know firsthand.

and not to jack the topic, so i'll say owning not just a benz but the E-class draws a bit more eyebrow raising from people especially since i look like i'm 12. they expect a C-class or SLK i guess.

Ya in high school it's funny. I mean where i went to school you saw a lot of nice cars (went back about a year ago for something and it hadn't gotten even more "up there"). i can't really speak since senior year of hs i had a 94 S420 so lol i had comments made about me to people i know (the stoners at school had the most giggles with it since it said 420). ya high school... a magical and weird place :D

Ya the parking lots in high schools r dangerous. Dude i came out to my car once and found a burrito had been thrown against my windshield so got pretty paranoid after that (5 years later find out it was my close friend at it was complete accident and he didn't even know it was my car lol)

not jacking the topic either but... DUDE DUDE DUDE i can totally relate. my parents where born in the middle east so automatically i earned the title of sheik (the two other friends i mentioned with the acura tl and bmw m3 where persian and indian so ya they dubbed us the oil princes).

ya they would totally expect just a c-class or slk at most, basic 3 series or a4. but when they see you in a "bigger" model all of a sudden different level (kind of why i actually chose not to buy the back then new style 08 C350 when they came out (literally went the first day they were on the lots at beverley hills mb) and went with my 04 E320).

I always bought car's and trucks that fitted my needs.
That is why I have a diesel I like to travel and a diesel Benz its 700 miles or when I want to stop.
My Land Rover always gets more looks than my MB and if I have the window down I get "how deep can that go in the water?" I have a snorkel its to keep the dirt out of the intake but I just say " just up to the wipers".

I have a friend that went from a MB to a M5 and he did not change his driving at all and told me that with the Benz the police would give him a pass but not with the M5.

Quite a weird place at times but all worth it for the life experiences in the end. Yeah a lot of nice BMWs here including the teacher's M5s (wives are surgeons/doctors), but ultimately I will just have to take the plunge and park it in that hell hole of a parking lot lol.

And I can't disagree with that 2slowcdi.

Guber Encounter
 

A while back some guber (with his molars in front) pulled up alongside my SL at a traffic light and yelled over with "Hey, like how much did that little Kraut mobile cost? I replied: "20." He looked surprised and said, "Aw come on dude, you mean it cost only $20,000?" I said, "No, of course not, it cost 20 years of school." A moment later I drove away and in the rearview mirror I could see him still sitting there trying to sort out all the heavy math.

Ahahahahhahaha