MERCEDES BENDZ cars

[desertrunner]

First, I am a truck guy, but use cars as daily drivers.

Second, over the last 30+ years, I only buy and drive Honda 4 cylinder VTEC cars.

BUT, I have always been a fan of the Mercedes Benz (MB) car line and kinda labeled them "the King of all cars".

I have never owned a MB and never will, but I really like the lines and styles of some of their models. Mostly late 90s and 2000s "C Class". I dont know why, but just a fan of them.

I also like the MB Sprinter type vans, they seem pretty top shelf when it comes to the smaller vans.

Lastly, in 1990, I had a friend named James and he bought a late model MB diesel sedan and it got crazy good mileage as he drove from the OC to TJ often, impressive.

Also, I respect the lines and style of the older BMW cars, but just not a total fan.

So what is your opinion on MB cars- Good or Bad and why? If I am wrong here, please educate me.


Example of a C320 sedan that I like-

I dont like the headlights that much on this model, but could live with it-

[Jayjami]

over the last 30+ years, I only buy and drive Honda 4 cylinder cars.

Tight life.

[desertrunner]

over the last 30+ years, I only buy and drive Honda 4 cylinder cars.

Tight life.

Ha ha, I dontr know if this is good or not. I am a BIG fan or reliability, dependably and good gas mileage and NOT flash, luxury and fancy. And those VTEC 4 bangers in the Hondas- legendary power like a V6.

[country978]

over the last 30+ years, I only buy and drive Honda 4 cylinder cars.

Tight life.

Ha ha, I dontr know if this is good or not. I am a BIG fan or reliability, dependably and good gas mileage and NOT flash, luxury and fancy. And those VTEC 4 bangers in the Hondas- legendary power like a V6.

Driving a Honda is one of the best decisions a person can make. Honda and Toyota have been the best cars for 40+ years and nobody else is even close.

[desertrunner]

Ha ha, I dontr know if this is good or not. I am a BIG fan or reliability, dependably and good gas mileage and NOT flash, luxury and fancy. And those VTEC 4 bangers in the Hondas- legendary power like a V6.

Driving a Honda is one of the best decisions a person can make. Honda and Toyota have been the best cars for 40+ years and nobody else is even close.

Thank you on that. Any feedback on the Mercedes Bendz cars? Like or dont like?

Thank you

[country978]

Driving a Honda is one of the best decisions a person can make. Honda and Toyota have been the best cars for 40+ years and nobody else is even close.

Thank you on that. Any feedback on the Mercedes Bendz cars? Like or dont like?

Thank you

They look nice but you won't catch me buying one. I drive an old Toyota that I bought new. 328k miles now and I'm still not close to getting a new one. Its become a badge of honor for me and I'm going for half a million. Its a good example to my kids of what happens when you take care of your things.

I'm planning on driving it to Florida this fall.

[Sanlmar]

The e220 was a popular taxi in Europe and I can’t erase that image when I see the 320 here.

I don’t know any serious person who had a Mercedes.

Except one. I have a close acquaintance, Mehdi, who had a V-12 S65 Coupe. Mehdi’s family were the leading auto manufacturer in Iran before the fall of the Shah. Swapped some stories with Krypt over the years. One of the most generous and unassuming guys I’ve ever met despite being wealthier than god. His backstory was incredible but I was always careful to let him tell me what he wanted to tell me and not pry.

I just nodded at his car and smiled. I think he was being humorous with the choice.

[desertrunner]

Any stories or opinions on long term ownership of MB cars? Anyone ever go like 10-15 on one vehicle?

A note about the Honda 4 cyc VTEC engine- it will give Druff's BMW V6 a very goog head to head run. Also, a Honda 4 banger is very loving on the Jew wallet, seriously.

[Cerveza Fria]

I have owned several Mercedes Benz vehicles over the years. My first was a C 320, which my first wife drove.

I had always driven Jaguar models myself, but then I lost my Jaguar in a flood. So, I wanted a SUV to be higher up off the ground. I had a ML and then another and then finally a GLE which is basically the same as the ML. Good vehicles, but then I switched back to a jags because I was tired of driving the same thing.

[desertrunner]

I have owned several Mercedes Benz vehicles over the years. My first was a C 320, which my first wife drove.

Just curious- What year was it?

[Sheesfaced]

Mercedes Bendz y’all

[Dan Druff]

I actually have a V8, not a V6. My last V6 car was my 04 BMW 545i, which I sold in 2013.

Regarding Hondas, while they have a fairly good record for reliability and value, unfortunately the company looks down on their clientele. Honda dealers see you as a sucker and a mark, and corporate gives zero shits how they treat you.

Try looking up the Yelp reviews of Honda dealers in your area, and you will likely see some really awful reviews.


My first experience with this was in 1995, when I considered getting a Honda. My dad went with me to the dealership, both because he had far more experience doing this (I had none), and also they weren't likely to take a 23-year-old seriously in the negotiating process.

I remember we got some Indian dude for a salesman. He seemed pleasant enough while showing us cars and letting me test drive one. However, he got nastier and nastier with my dad when it came time to negotiate, and finally stormed off in the middle of my dad's sentence. We left.

Dude was pissed he wasn't getting the big commission that he thought he'd receive when first working with us, and was taking it out on us for being smart consumers.


We went to another local Honda dealer, this time going straight to the sales manager. He was polite but unhelpful. When my dad tried to negotiate with him, he finally leveled my dad and said, "You're not really the type of customer we serve here. We're used to throwing in a few extra for free, maybe lowering the price a tiny bit. Anyone who shows up with blue book values and stuff like that, they're probably not walking out with what they want, or anywhere close to that."

Translation: "We only sell to uninformed dumbasses who can be tricked into thinking they're getting a good deal."


It was at that moment when we realized that all Honda dealers basically have the business model of selling to what they see as unsophisticated people, and thus they won't do any real negotiation with you. This differs from other comparable makes, where you can negotiate a great deal if you're skillful at it.

Over a decade later, my girlfriend had a Honda and I had an incredibly negative experience with a dealer's service department. When I reported it to the general manager, he said he'd "pull the cameras", but was just bullshitting and in reality didn't care at all. When I reported it to corporate, they kept saying, "We'll let the general manager know", and I kept repeating that I was looking for an investigation on THEIR end, not just informing one of the guys I was complaining about! Finally the phone rep said, "Look, I'll be honest. We don't have any power here. They have to do something really, really bad for us to be able to take any action against them. So the best we can honestly do for you is give you something on our end." I was sent a whopping $50 gift card, which I ended up later selling on eBay.


Basically the individual dealers have HUGE leeway regarding how they run their dealership. Corporate asserts almost zero standards upon them, which is why many Honda dealers are borderline scammers, and often treat the customer like shit.

At upper end brands, dealers get punished very easily, simply for corporate complaints existing at all. Honda is the opposite.

[Dan Druff]

Regarding Mercedes, my dad had one in the late 70s and '80s.

He made the bad decision to buy the new diesel model which came out, because gas prices were getting out of control due to the US issues with Iran, with no end to the situation in sight. Diesel was very cheap at the time, by comparison. My dad was mid-30s at the time, and this was going to be his first luxury brand car. My parents both came from very modest backgrounds, and neither were anywhere close to rich growing up.

Anyway, he bought a 240D model, which both lacked power and developed mechanical issues over the years. Diesel passenger cars basically disappeared after the '80s, as oil prices had come down and they (all manufacturers, not just Mercedes) were never able to make a reliable, well-performing diesel car anyway.

In the mid-80s, long after the warranty had expired, the car developed a mechanical issue and my dad took it to a local guy near my junior high school. He had never used this guy before, who on the surface seemed nice and competent. However, he called my dad back making all kinds of insane claims how expensive the fix was, and wanted something like $3,000. This would be close to $10k today, accounting for inflation. This was in violation of the 1971 California Auto Repair act, which requires a written estimate and the customer to authorize all repairs, but in the mid 80s, many shops were still in violation of that with little consequence, and this was one of them.

He told my dad that he was keeping the car until he paid up, which mechanics have the right to do in the case of unpaid bills (but not scammy ones like this!)

Rather than have no car as he wound this through the court system, my dad simply went there late at night to inspect where the cars were kept. The mechanic stupidly left the car sitting outside, in an unlocked lot. My dad simply opened it up with his spare key and drove it home. The guy never got a dime. He called and threatened to sue, but my dad told him he would report him to the state if he tried, and the guy just dropped it.

[tgull]

I know nothing about cars, other than if you a male and are buying a 4 cylinder car you are most likely gay or have gay tendencies.

[1dollarboxcar]

I know nothing about cars, other than if you a male and are buying a 4 cylinder car you are most likely gay or have gay tendencies.

unlike not knowing how to change the oil or change a flat tire...

[country978]

I know nothing about cars, other than if you a male and are buying a 4 cylinder car you are most likely gay or have gay tendencies.

if this was ever true its not anymore. The 2.0 liter turbo, a 4 cylinder, is an excellent engine. Toyota is putting them in the Tacoma now and its better than the previous V6. Many makes and brands come with this engine. Also, some of the only cars with a stick nowadays are 4 cylinder and that's definitely not gay.

[Cerveza Fria]

I have owned several Mercedes Benz vehicles over the years. My first was a C 320, which my first wife drove.

Just curious- What year was it?

Can't recall exactly, but it was around 2003 model

[Sanlmar]

Mercedes was his daughter’s name. Not masculine

[desertrunner]

I know nothing about cars, other than if you a male and are buying a 4 cylinder car you are most likely gay or have gay tendencies.

This is fair to say, please let me retort.

As a professional firefighter, most of us work 24, 48 and 72 hour shift and most of us live far from work. So for me, having a nice truck or SUV with a V6 or V8 just got expensive with gas. So in 1995, I got smart and bought a 4 cylinder Honda Accord for work commuting and it turned out to be a smart and economical move and investment. Add in that it was super reliable and dependable, total smart buy.

Do I care what people think of my commuter car, no. I have a nice truck at home. And ofcourse, its always nice having two vehicles in case one goes down.

Mercedes was his daughter’s name. Not masculine

But are they "the king of cars"?

[desertrunner]

I know nothing about cars, other than if you a male and are buying a 4 cylinder car you are most likely gay or have gay tendencies.

if this was ever true its not anymore. The 2.0 liter turbo, a 4 cylinder, is an excellent engine. Toyota is putting them in the Tacoma now and its better than the previous V6. Many makes and brands come with this engine. Also, some of the only cars with a stick nowadays are 4 cylinder and that's definitely not gay.

Do you remember the Toyota 4 cylinder engines in the 80s that had a Turbo, but it always broke?