So I get the phone call at work. “Honey…I uhhh…am buying a new car…”
I think to myself…well it’s your decision. No big deal! I liked the Jetta, you know German engineering and all… But then she says something I am not prepared for.
Then in a really fast voice she says…"It’s a silver Mercedes Benz C-Class C-320. "
I am not sure what to say. Ok I guess was the proper response. I wasn’t sure. We have never been extravigant people, and it is only a car. But it’s a Benz.
Are Benzs’ stigmatized in your opinion?
I drive a Chevy Avalanche. I like utility. I guess leather, heated seats are more important to some people. What say you?
I like overall size and design of the Cs , but the apparent lack of reliability puts me off.
I drive a Subaru, that I bought new for about 16K. Around the same time, a good friend bought a two-year old C-class Merc, for about $25K. In 45K miles, I’ve had to do nothing but regular servicing and oil changes (it’ll need a set tires soon, though). The friend has accrued more than $6K in mechanical repairs on her car, although about $4K ended up being covered by extended warranty.
Haven’t got a cite handy, but apparently Consumer Reports rates these cars rather poorly for reliability.
All that said, I think the idea of people stigmatizing Merc drivers is childish and silly. I’ve got no problem with someone getting a nice car if they want it. Frankly, I’d consider the OP’s Avalanche a lot more pretentious than one of Mercedes’ smaller models.
I drive a white E-150 cargo van! Utility and style; the best of both worlds!!!
Of topic…a common road rage phrase I often end up exclaiming while driving…“You don’t wanna fuck with me! I’M IN A VAN!!!” I’m not a defensive driver, and I’m not a lunatic on the road, either. Let’s just say that I’m efficient, and having a large van often permits me to get any lane I want!!!
I’ve had the same Benz for about 8 years now, an SL. I’ve found it to be extremely dependable and quite utilitarian. Just because something’s expensive doesn’t necessarily mean it’s lavish. In the case of the Benz it’s my opinion the extra expense has just gone in exceptional engineering. Some models may differ but I’ve been pleased with my choice and think my family and friends that also drive Mercs feel the same way about theirs as well.
Lieu, you never struck me as a Mercedes man. I was figuring you for a mid-sized pick-up truck. Go figure.
Me? Well, we’ve got a TransAm (“Big Red”) and a four-cylinder Ford Ranger (“Little Red”). My husband must – simply MUST – drive a car that he considers cool. I am quite content with a reliable used vehicle that has air/heat/radio.
I don’t consider a car pretentious if you can afford it. We may well have a used Mercedes in the next couple years. Whoop-di-doo sez me…
Eh, it’s a car. It’s an expensive car. Big whoop. As long as you’re not going around pointing out your expensive car to lesser mortals in a manner that indicates having an expensive car makes you somehow special, I don’t see what the fuss is about.
Personally, the idea of spending that kind of money on a car just boggles my mind, even if I could afford it. That kind of thing just isn’t a priority for me. If other people’s budgets and priorities lead them to want an expensive car, it doesn’t affect me at all, really.
Well, El-Marko, I think they’re probably in a situation where that expenditure isn’t as big a deal to them as it is to, say…ME. I’d have to consult long and hard with the ol’ man about that. We’d have to do financial adjustments and all kinds of stuff. That’s why we’re looking at a used one. And down the road.
Well I was thinking the same thing but I think she was wanting to surprise me with this she wasn’t being malicious at all. I mean it is a very nice automobile. The navagation system inside is pretty neat too.
Well every expenditure is a big deal, yes my wife and I both make a good wage, but we are humble enough to know how we got to where we are. HARD ASS BALL BREAKING WORK. We worked our ass off to get where we are. I’ll be happy to pass that thraight onto my children one day…And no, they will have to work for their first cars! Just like I did.
IMO, it’s not pretentious unless you start babbling about the cost and comparing other cars disparagingly to yours because they cost less (not for handling/reliability/crash-worthiness/etc.) and thus simply can’t be a good car. A sister-in-law of mine did something like this at a family get-together, complaining loudly about how she couldn’t find a decent car for $30,000. Our jaws hit the floor. Out of her siblings there, none of the family incomes compare to what her husband makes; two or three of them are probably only a couple paychecks ahead of worrying about eviction. I’m not sure if she even realized how what she was saying registered with everyone else there.
Right, noted, not least because you could mash my little Subie flat with that thing if you wanted to. I don’t hate them, actually, but the daily routine of nearly getting bunted off the road by such vehicles here in Houston tends to make me a bit cranky. Sorry.
I could not imagine driving around everyday in my truck in a city the size of Houston. However, I am very respectful of other drivers, I know how big my truck is. It’s funny watching people give me wide birth…I paralellparked the other day when I got to campus, and upon completion there were several of my students walking by…they applauded it was funny.
A point can also be made that paying more for higher quality and reliability up front can actually reduce the total cost of ownership in two ways:
-lower maintenance costs.
-longer life, so more years/miles for your buck.
Assuming, of course, that you’re willing to drive the same car for a long time, and that the claim of higher reliability is true, which El Kabong’s experience casts in doubt.
I wonder if Mercedes has done the same thing that VW, relocating production of some of their models to cheaper labour countries. VW moved the production of the Jetta to Mexico, and has been experiencing major quality problems…
Or perhaps the Chrysler culture is spreading accross Germany… On a related note, a car salesman has told me lately that Volvo has recently experienced its first recall, after having been bought out by Ford…
I like my car manufacturers to be annal-retentive bastards with a poor awareness of costs, thankyouverymuch…
I have to side with those who say if you can afford it and want it, go for it. The only time driving a high-end car becomes a problem is when it was an ego purchase. I am a performance driving enthusiast. It’s all about having fun on the journey, not getting from point to point, so I have owned several German, American, and Japanese performance cars (all but one purchased used, so not exactly the same as your situation). In my opinion, the initial cost is justified in lower long-term maintenance costs because the German cars were more reliable. And their parts were not significantly higher than the American and Japanese cars. In my experience (YMMV obviously) you get more car for your money when you buy European (particularly German or Swedish). Hope you enjoy it!
I’m not too keen on Mercedes Benzes. It seems as if their drivers are always trying to kill me when I’m on the motorcycle. There was a period when practically the only people (and yes, I took a tally) who wouldn’t let me pass (lane splitting is legal here) or would change lanes right in front of me were driving Mercedes.
To be fair, recently I have not run into (heh) any of these bonebags. Some have even moved over to let me pass. But for a few years most of the Mercedes I’ve encountered have been driven by idiots. Even now, if a car is holding up traffic, changing lanes without signaling, or driving down the middle of the car park aisle, it’s as likely as not to be a Mercedes.
This is not to disparage all Mercedes drivers, but I’ve seen more than my fair share of them who used poor technique or were discourteous. So I’m a bit soured on them because of the drivers I’ve encountered.
I’ve never really thought of Mercedes drivers as bad drivers. I’m bitter about four wheel drives since I live near a school and there are so freaking many around that block up our service lane, but Mercedes have never blipped on my register.
If it makes you feel better, I know a couple of families who have impulse bought expensive cars more than once (!!!). My uncle bought a Lexus, then a Mercedes on the spur of the moment (which according to my cousin is odd, because he drives all around the city comparing prices on smaller purchases like power tools), and my boyfriend’s dad has bought their last two Beemers on impulse. Both of their families found out on the day the cars were brought home. I’m hoping to introduce my uncle and my boyfriend’s dad because I think they’ll get along swimmingly.
