[Michael Pillay]

I guess I am one too. Look at the post below (#31). First time I have seen a w126 associated with being poor! He must not have bought parts for one of our cars or gassed up!!!!!

http://www.benzworld.org/forums/gen...199-new-non-chick-mercedes-convertible-4.html

 

[AxelWulff]

Rule #1.

When you're in a hole, STOP digging.


Just get the foot out of your mouth and start apologizing.

 

[AussieBenzes]

W126's are one of the finest engineered cars Benz ever made, they benchmarked these against the W221 S Class, same as they used a 190E against a C Class. Thing is, i'm not that fussed on the new S, but theres plans to have a 300SEL in the garage in the next few weeks. Had a 190E a few years ago, nice, but couldnt get out of the way of itself, safe a bank vault though.

Poor? Us? obviously he hasnt owned a W140 then...

 

[janos_z]

amusing. i kinda get the guy's point, but it's not expressed very well. i think all he means is that a mid-to-late-80s benz isn't a way to flaunt your wealth, so that's not the kind of car one would drive if they wanted to rub money in the face of others. what such a car does imply, though, is class.

but then it devolved into a pissing contest of whose used car is cooler, which is really funny given that all of the cars in question, including the boxster and CL500, are available on used car lots for about the same money as a new toyota camry, if not less.

which is why trying to prove your personal worth through material means is a losing battle

btw, michael, very true about those fill-ups. just two days ago i jumped at the chance of putting $4.15/gallon gas in my car, as it was lower than the $4.30 or so premium has been running in my neighborhood... sigh.

oh, and also very true about the boxster's handling -- i've autocrossed in a boxster before and it does handle exceptionally well...

 

[graftdesign]

I think its safe to say that we are all rich in how we think by driving our old 126's. Why wouldn't anyone want to drive what's considered to be one of the best engineered cars ever... for a fraction of its original cost? That's why I drive a 126.

And BTW, some obscenely wealthy people I know drive around in very unassuming 10 year old vehicles... it's part of the thinking that got them rich in the first place. A lot of folks with tons of money don't feel the need to impress.

 

[NKJohn]

And BTW, some obscenely wealthy people I know drive around in very unassuming 10 year old vehicles... it's part of the thinking that got them rich in the first place. A lot of folks with tons of money don't feel the need to impress.

True enough. One of the wealthiest men in our area drove a 10+ year old Chevy pickup around and was proud of it. At the urging of circle of friends to get a new car, he went to the VW dealership and bought a diesel Bug because of the MPG's! This is a person who gave $10 million to the YMCA for their new campus.

I dare say he would have bought a 190e in 1990...

 

[V12StealthHunter]

There are mixed feelings on this topic.
You guys might as well see my last post on that topic.
The one who laughs last, laughs the most

PS: I know you guys are not "poor suckers", actually it might be quite the opposite in most cases.

 

[flavio81]

I think its safe to say that we are all rich in how we think by driving our old 126's. Why wouldn't anyone want to drive what's considered to be one of the best engineered cars ever...

RIGHT ON. Quality has no obsolescence. [Hey, i've just invented a new slogan!]

for a fraction of its original cost? That's why I drive a 126.

Well, here in Peru, with gas prices effectively equivalent to US$17/gl, driving ANY big mercedes, or any car with a 5000cc V8 for that matter, is luxury. 90% of the cars here have inline-4 engines with less than 1600cc.

And MB parts prices here are obnoxiously expensive. Actually, the older the S-class is (assuming is well preserved), the more expensive-looking it gets...

 

[luvmy240d]

It's all realitive.
From ones aspect.
Its a known fact that
THESE CARS ARE DAMN SEXY!!!
:thumbsup:

 

[AndreiRN]

Hmmmmm ......
Tou get turned on only by a car??!!!

 

[90_300SE]

Im assumming most people who buy a new $110,000 Benz probably finance that. If thats true, thats not wealthy. Thats giving the impressoin of weath. Now say you walk in the dealer and count out that cash with out blinking, thats wealthy. Sam Walton of Walmart drove a pick up around town. I just turned 34 last month. I guess if wanted too I could write a check for $110,000 and impress every one, but in 7 years I will be semi-retired. You dont retire ealry by FINANCING your brains out. I have one of the best cars built, and I will retire young. I cant figure out why people spend thier money and life trying to out-do the "Jones". But its a free country. I will just keep chugging along in my 18 yr old 126, but in 7 yrs guess what I will tell my boss?? LOL...

BTW thank God my Dad drilled this into my head.

 

[rph74]

Im assumming most people who buy a new $110,000 Benz probably finance that. If thats true, thats not wealthy. Thats giving the impressoin of weath. Now say you walk in the dealer and count out that cash with out blinking, thats wealthy. Sam Walton of Walmart drove a pick up around town. I just turned 34 last month. I guess if wanted too I could write a check for $110,000 and impress every one, but in 7 years I will be semi-retired. You dont retire ealry by FINANCING your brains out. I have one of the best cars built, and I will retire young. I cant figure out why people spend thier money and life trying to out-do the "Jones". But its a free country. I will just keep chugging along in my 18 yr old 126, but in 7 yrs guess what I will tell my boss?? LOL...

BTW thank God my Dad drilled this into my head.

Well said man. Like you, my Dad drilled these ideas in my head. The Dave Ramsey radio show cemented those ideas. I sit in a similar position as you, with 10 months left to having my house paid off. I will be 34 when it's done, with a great income and not a payment in the world. I don't think I will semi-retire or even retire early, so long as I'm still enjoying my job.

You're right, keeping up with the Jones's is why many Americans are broke.

 

[janos_z]

i think that, on some level, we all try to keep up wth the joneses. it's just that some of us are more successful than others.

congratulations to both of you for your financial prowess. just remember to occasionally stop and smell the flowers; money isn't everything.

 

[rph74]

i think that, on some level, we all try to keep up wth the joneses. it's just that some of us are more successful than others.

congratulations to both of you for your financial prowess. just remember to occasionally stop and smell the flowers; money isn't everything.

You're correct on both points. Finding balance is the key (and very difficult). After several years of being normal and trying to keep up with the joneses, we realized that we were just like rats in a wheel. Earning to spend, earning to spend. Though luckily, my father instilled in me to save and invest for retirement from the beginning, we spent the rest fairly unwisely. We changed all that a little over 2 years ago when we decided to work like hell to pay our house off. We pretty much cut our lifestyle to nothing. No vacations other than visiting parents, less eating out, no more credit cards, budgeting, budgeting, budgeting. In fact, among my circle of friends, the competition is "who's cheaper?" rather than who has nicer stuff.

The end goal for all this sacrifice is to be able to live comfortably, and enjoy money later. When the house is paid off in 10 months, we will have a lot of money to save, invest, give and spend without any guilt. Work will feel different since I will be working because I love what I do rather than because I HAVE to to pay the bills. Cutting our lifestyle certainly hasn't been fun for now, but we realize that it is temporary.

 

[Haku]

Poor? Us? obviously he hasnt owned a W140 then...

Ooh - ouch!

 

[bielefeld280se]

It's all down to the sort of person you are and the sort of image you want to project. I bought my 420 for £650. I didn't buy it because it is a cheap car but because I have always loved the W126s. Its about the best value for money you can get and ticks a lot of boxes: well built, looks elegant, parts are reasonably priced, fairly rare, nice to drive, etc. I wouldn't feel out of place rolling up anywhere in my car. A well kept older Mercedes always commands respect. I think driving something a little different, rather than the usual fords, etc, makes us all more interesting in a way. I'd be more excited to see another W126 or W116 around town than seeing a brand new S-class or similar which I would give a second glance.

I think its a cool car and that's all that matters.