Cars, cars, cars

[Moderator1]

I hate them but they are kind of a necessary evil.
Looks like my beloved 1992 BMW - got it used for less than my wife's new Honda and it lasted longer and ran better - may be toast.
My brother-in-law has offered me a phenominal deal on a two-year-old Mercedes C230. I'd never considered a Benz before because, well, I don't roll in that crowd but this deal brings it back into my league.

So the question: Are they as good as advertised? The BMW was much older when I bought it and served me quite well.

 

[Flying Headbutt]

That's rich. You're asking sportswriters about driving a Benz? All we know about those cars is that we curse them whenever some snobby, pretentious asshole shows what an idiot he is by being unable to park his car without taking up two spaces, or unable to drive down the road without ****ing up traffic for the rest of us.

Come back and ask us about a '94 Toyota Camry or something instead, ok, chief?

 

[playthrough]

Pretty tough to go wrong with a Benz, all flack aside.

 

[Moderator1]

That's rich. You're asking sportswriters about driving a Benz? All we know about those cars is that we curse them whenever some snobby, pretentious asshole shows what an idiot he is by being unable to park his car without taking up two spaces, or unable to drive down the road without ****ing up traffic for the rest of us.

Come back and ask us about a '94 Toyota Camry or something instead, ok, chief?

Hey, I was 44 when I got my first BMW and someone else had to drive it for seven years first. I'm 51 now and have a shot at a Benz for about what a new Accord would cost (actually less). So excussseeeeee me. Lots of people here know about cars, even if they don't drive said car.

 

[Flying Headbutt]

Man, my sarcasm isn't so sharp in the morning, huh?

 

[wickedwritah]

Ask sportsnut, he was rambling about his Mercedes breaking down on the way to Palm Springs.

 

[playthrough]

Might be worth finding out first if there's a reputable mechanic near you who specializes in Benzes. Not all of the oil-stained wretches know their way around them, and you won't want to go to a dealership for regular maintenance.

 

[Moderator1]

Man, my sarcasm isn't so sharp in the morning, huh?

Naw, it ain't you - it is me. I did wonder about starting this thread because I don't want to be that asshole. Trust me, I could not do this new and without significant family help. I'm blessed with a great brother-in-law.

 

[Boom_70]

Go for it Moddy. Every man should have at least 1 benz and 1 bmw in his life.

My experience has been that the Benz is a more duriable car in terms of the non essential parts - trim / swithches / molding ect . BMW interiors tend to break down quicker. Things that look bad but you are not apt to fix. Benz is more austere in design and holds up better.

Overall though I prefer the sportier feel to BMW.

 

[Moderator1]

That's what my son said - you are going from a cool car to an older guy's car. Well, I'm an older guy.

 

[Boom_70]

That's what my son said - you are going from a cool car to an older guy's car. Well, I'm an older guy.

Moddy - you could drive a dodge dart and still be cool .

 

[Frank_Ridgeway]

That's what my son said - you are going from a cool car to an older guy's car. Well, I'm an older guy.

Moddy - you could drive a dodge dart and still be cool .

The Dodge Dart was cool. A '69 Dart was my first car. It had a sporty interior and every gearhead in town would always yell, "Slant-Six engine! Can't kill 'em!" Although, somehow I managed to do just that.

 

[BTExpress]

So the question: Are they as good as advertised? The BMW was much older when I bought it and served me quite well.

Benzes are among the least reliable cars on the planet. Jaguar was invented just so M-B would not always be in last place.

 

[Jack_Kerouac]

So the question: Are they as good as advertised? The BMW was much older when I bought it and served me quite well.

Benzes are among the least reliable cars on the planet. Jaguar was invented just so M-B would not always be in last place.

And they are expensive as hell to fix when they do break.

 

[lono]

Moddy:

Only if it's got low miles and been meticulously maintained . They do break and they do cost a lot to fix.

 

[Moderator1]

17,000 and well, my brother-in-law is pictured next to "meticulous" in the dictionary.
That was the thing about the BMW. Every car needs routine maintenance but there was nothing routine about that ****ing bill.

 

[Michael_ Gee]

Get it Moddy. We have a Mercedes station wagon (!!) we got on a real deal from my folks when they downsized to one car. Talk about an old person's ride, but it's really a good car, and should last until we're ready to downsize to one car.

 

[Inky_Wretch]

The only drawback I see is buying a car from a family member. As the son of a car dealer, I can you that can be dangerous territory.

 

[part-timer]

This reminds me of the scene from "Lost in America" where Albert Brooks is trying to decide to by a Mercedes and the salesman is hounding him on the phone.
"It's not a car, it's a Mercedes."

 

[PCLoadLetter]

This reminds me of the scene from "Lost in America" where Albert Brooks is trying to decide to by a Mercedes and the salesman is hounding him on the phone.
"It's not a car, it's a Mercedes."

"The seats are 'Mercedes Leather'? What is that?"

"Very thick vinyl."