What does Oppo think about this?

"404usernotfound" (404usernotfound)
07/10/2014 at 14:16 • Filed to: food stamp mercedes

I'm not usualy a Jezebel reader, but this article caught my eye. I totaly agree with the author here, but I'd like to know what the rest of Oppo thinks on this one.

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DISCUSSION (18)

For Sweden > 404usernotfound
07/10/2014 at 14:18

The lady was driving a 10+ year old C230 Kompressor Coupe. This entire debacle is manufactured outrage born from ignorance of cars.

RazoE > 404usernotfound
07/10/2014 at 14:20

Read it too. I was going to comment, but come on, it's Jezebel. Even when you agree with them, they turn on you.

That said, I agree with her not selling it. It's an 11 year old car that's been presumably paid off, they're familiar with the mechanics of it and what needs to be done, or what has been done. Selling a $4k Mercedes for a $2k Honda Accord with a shady past that could potentially cost thousands and thousands in maintenance/repairs just doesn't make sense.

RazoE > For Sweden
07/10/2014 at 14:21

It's the same people that answer with "A Mercedes" when you ask them what kind of car they like. "Oh, so you like that A-Class, huh?"

Diesel > 404usernotfound
07/10/2014 at 14:22

Sounds like a classic case of a 'welfare queen'.

/read the fucking article

//is of making jokes

404usernotfound > For Sweden
07/10/2014 at 14:22

Well, not everyone has Doug to teach them about used luxury cars.

http://dougdemuro.kinja.com/when-you-own-a…

zeontestpilot > 404usernotfound
07/10/2014 at 14:23

I agree with the author. The car was paid off, what's the harm in keeping it? You know it works, and if you buy a used car, there's no guarantee that it works properly, and has been taken care of. I believe the article said the car was new, right? So its a one owner car, their car, so you know its history.

Plus, with everything changing so rapidly for the lady, having the same car is essentially a static thing, it brings a bit of comfort that not EVERYTHING has changed.

Mercedes or not, keeping the car was the right decision.

AM3R > 404usernotfound
07/10/2014 at 14:24

it was a cheap mercedes. The last thing I would do if I had a cheap car that was paid off is sell it and buy a higher mileage cheaper car.

Alfalfa > For Sweden
07/10/2014 at 14:26

This.

This is what I have be telling almost everyone.

Sn210 > 404usernotfound
07/10/2014 at 14:31

Sounds similar to an experience I had in high school. We used to be able to volunteer to bag a truckload of groceries and distribute then to local people in need. I was carrying a bag out to an older lady's car and was listening to her tell her friend about the new car she just got. She pulled out her keys and popped the trunk of a Lexus. It wasn't brand new, but it wasn't old either. It was the current generation. This bothered me so much that it was the last day I volunteered. A little different from the Mercedes lady's situation, but I can relate to the haters.

404usernotfound > Sn210
07/10/2014 at 14:40

Well, this is where all the haters arguments come together. I don't know her full story, but one this is for sure, if you can afford a current model Lexus, you shouldn't be getting free groceries. But again, who knows, mabye she got it for free or worked at a lexus dealership.

Jordaneer, The Mountaineer Man > 404usernotfound
07/10/2014 at 14:43

when you can buy a 1970's rolls royce for 5 grand, this totally negates the point, i mean what is a 2003 Mercedes worth anyway, if it was like an Mercedes slr mclaren, that would be a little different. But a common beat up mercedes, no.

Bad Idea Hat > 404usernotfound
07/10/2014 at 14:46

It's logical, but it isn't even the base point, which is;

How fucked are we? I mean, our society is now based on being the most rightest person, not the best person. I hope the end times come and all the people who claim to be good people but aren't get carried away by winged rapedragons and all the while whine about why bad things happen to them.

BECAUSE YOU ARE A DICK. JUDGE NOT LEST YE BE CARRIED AWAY BY A RAPEDRAGON.

Sn210 > 404usernotfound
07/10/2014 at 14:47

yeah who knows, but it was all a little too weird for me

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > 404usernotfound
07/10/2014 at 14:51

As a car person - she should've sold it and bought something "nice" but reliable. Late 90s/early 2000s mercs are notoriously unreliable and expensive to repair and maintain. Especially the "Kompressor" models with the supercharged engines. Plus they depreciate hard and fast. Had they sold it the second things looked bleak, they could;ve had a very nice used lexus or acura and been fine. I don't at all judge them for needing the support, but that was a dumb move. They were risking electronics and mechanical parts going at any moment. Including on the way to a very crucial job interview. If it was a lexus or acura, I could see their point - lexus and acura built their reputations on being incredibly well made cars that were more reliable than the germans at the time.

Even in 2008, that 2003 merc was probably worth about 6-8 grand at least. Maybe even 10. A very nice, off-lease honda or toyota could be bought for that cash and be much less to run and repair.

mazda616 > 404usernotfound
07/10/2014 at 15:01

Yeah, her Mercedes wasn't that expensive of a car. People see the name Mercedes and assume expensive. They don't know that several models have awful resale value. I applaud them for holding on to a car with no payment. Not having a car payment is a good thing. And not too many people experience that now. Several just roll one car loan into another. Crazy!

samssun > 404usernotfound
07/10/2014 at 15:25

Cut them all off, regardless of how much pricier their cars are than mine or what color they are. Paying other people more than I spend on myself for food while obesity levels hit laugh out loud levels is ridiculous.

gmporschenut also a fan of hondas > 404usernotfound
07/11/2014 at 00:23

This story kinda hits home because a family member was going through a similar situation and I still have conflicting views on it.

The person had a great job, salary, lifestyle, cool car collection. I looked up to him. Most of it was a lie. The great salary had disappeared years but that didn't stop the lifestyle. Appearances had to be maintained. So some of the toys and percs went but the lifestyle remained and that was what angered many in the family. The situation was worsened when family members were asked for 0% loans. Then found out about the vacation trips. The symbol of much of the hatred was the vehicle that was kept. It cost about 3x more than any car my parents ever had. It was compounded by the brand and the fact that it was only ever taken to dealer, "god forbid he would get his hands dirty". Was it worth a huge amount "no". Could an reliable and more financially wise choice been found "easily". Eventually the loans were repaid. Later the vehicle was sold and another family member gave a hand me down car. Is the car great? No Is it reliable Yes. And instead being grateful for the generosity, all I hear is "this thing rattles, it sucks" and barely any care is given.

A person shouldn't be reduced to nothing. They should show some humility, and a desire that they are trying to improve their situation with wise financial choices. The Mercedes is a symbol of wealth. Although in the story keeping the car may have been the best case, you can't blame others for continuing to view your car as a symbol of wealth. Driving it is an expression "yeah I had money at one point" and here I am now. That the woman had a house, says she had an even larger asset that could have been put up.

There are people living on the street, who never had anything close to what you had and this person is complaining in having to take a slight downturn in her lifestyle and face the stigma of others.

This brought up a lot of feelings. Never meet your heroes.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > 404usernotfound
07/11/2014 at 11:13

followed your "recommended by 404usernotfound" list on the left to find this post from yesterday.

Like a lot have said, I agree with the author. It's insane to sell a well functioning (can't imagine how but apparently it is) reliable used car to take on a car payment for a different used car and you don't know how many problems it has.

If it was new or she even had a payment on it I would be on their side quickly though...