Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2005/06/04
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]My first Mercedes was a 1983 240Diesel Auto and although it was a very solid car, it had almost no acceleration and at 110,000 miles, the engine blew! My second Merc was a 1976 240Diesel and it ran for a long, long time before I decided to make a change....it had over 250,000 miles before needing an engine. Since cost was a factor, I decided to go with the ever dependable reliable Honda. Growing up, I learned to drive on a manual Toyota...my college vehicle was a manual VW and my first "adult" vehicle was a manual VW diesel. I also drove a manual pick-up truck (very, very economical) when in graduate school. Now, the Hondas are great.....very reliable with fantastic durability. 165,000 on my wifes car and 95,000 on mine.... BUT....just can't stay away from the performance end of things (I have a BMW R1150 RT bike) so lately, we've been looking at the BMW 3 series....and it's gotta have a manual transmission! Just for me....my heart keeps going back to the Mercedes but I don't want to part with the funds necessary to get "just what I want!" I am renting a Mercedes for a week in the south of France this summer so I'll have to get my fix there. Robert Clark Lancaster, PA ----- Original Message ----- From: "Frank Dernie" <Frank.Dernie@btinternet.com> To: "Leica Users Group" <lug@leica-users.org> Sent: Saturday, June 04, 2005 4:15 AM Subject: Re: [Leica] Car Prices > Hi Mark, > I bought my first Merc in the 80's and have had one ever since. The best > of them, and the only one I have kept, is a 1991 500E, the best car made > IMHO, and I've tried a few. I have owned a BMW M3, which had a good > looking but uncomfortable seat and a stuffy ventilation system, the > engine was great but I got rid of it after a few months as I was never > comfortable in it, particularly in winter. I borrowed a M5 once and it > was a great car but not up to the 500E standard on manufacture and less > suitable for every day use. > I do now do work for a company for which BMW is a sponsor and engine > supplier but I have not bought one, nobody gets one given! > Frank > > > On 4 Jun, 2005, at 08:51, Mark Rabiner wrote: > >> On 6/4/05 12:27 AM, "Frank Dernie" <Frank.Dernie@btinternet.com> typed: >> >> >>> Hi Mike, >>> I think different cars appeal to different people. One thing I have >>> noticed, as a long time Merc owner, is that Mercedes have had to >>> lower quality to keep their prices competitive with other brands, >>> some of which have gained a good reputation by marketing despite >>> being very cheaply made. >>> >>> Another point about gearboxes. The Merc cars do not particularly suit >>> manual gearboxes, they have foot parking brakes and their latest auto >>> 'boxes give away no performance and little economy to the manuals. >>> BMW's OTOH are much better as manuals, firstly it suits a sporty car >>> well second the BMW autos kill the performance and economy. >>> Frank >>> >> >> Frank I'm amazed you go for Merc over BMW am I the only one?! >> >> Mark Rabiner >> Photography >> Portland Oregon >> http://rabinergroup.com/ >> >> >> >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Leica Users Group. >> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information >> > > > _______________________________________________ > Leica Users Group. > See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information >