Or perhaps better titled;
"How the Star saved my life."
And I promise, this isn't some sappy testimonial to how great the airbags are. It's a great deal deeper than that.
After growing up in a constantly broke family surrounded by the mystique of the Mercedes product, I absorbed every single piece of media, every single written word and every single car I could cast my eyes on. By the time I was able to afford a MBZ of my own, it was a super clean 380se. Fabulous paint, excellantly maintained by a wealthy realtor in exclusive Coto de Caza, California.
I bought it for $3200 US and it was absolutely the best money I ever spent. Sure, it was the W126 BEFORE the facelift. Sure, it's motor was a ridiculed version of the 500. Yeah it didn't have the flush headlamps with wipers . . .
it renewed my passion and my spirit. It helped me get better jobs. It helped me take my girlfriend(s) out for many romantic evenings. It provided a feeling of warm safety for meices riding in back and it was maintained the utmost respect, and I earned several free washes for hitting 10 week after week.
I even named it Glinda. A $3000 car and I'm actually naming it!
This car had more character than anything on the road and whenever anyone'd see it, it was if it was an extension of myself.
When I showed up at the wreckage yard after it had been stolen--some lunatic had swiped my keys off of the counter of a TGI Fridays, rammed it 60 miles per hour into a parked car--it broke my heart.
I couldn't finance a new one at the time. I was asked to step down as sales manager at Capistrano Ford because my mood was so bleak.
Then my fiance . . . it's a long story I'll not go into. But she left me.
I'd never had such bad luck all wrapped into one. But 18 months had given me more value from that auto than anyone ever would be able to again.
A month later, I asked the city bus driver to let me out just a block shy of the Mercedes Dealer (THE largest one on the American west coast)
My knowledge and sheer love of the product won me a job. I've been here three weeks and though I'm no longer management I am the No.1 salesperson for October. And I've made a bit of money in that short amount of time too.
I fly up North in a couple of weeks. The nice couple who's letting me have their pampered and garaged 560SEL have the keys waiting for me.
FIRST,A FORD SALESMAN DRIVING A STAR? HOW DO YOU TELL POTENTIAL CUSTOMERS FORDS RULE? S...
FIRST,A FORD SALESMAN DRIVING A STAR? HOW DO YOU TELL POTENTIAL CUSTOMERS FORDS RULE? SECOND,DONT LET THAT FIANCE' KNOW YOU GOT A BENZ AGAIN- NOW THAT YOU GOT A "L", YOU HAVE AN EXTRA 5" TO PLAY WITH. SHE WILL WANT THAT............ACTUALLY, WE COULD ALL USE AN EXTRA 5"....................