Does you car define you, or do you define your car?

[SammyB]

Hi guys, as my next car I have been considering a few options with a W113 being one of them. Whilst doing my research into this car, and the other cars I am considering by joining and looking through their respected forums, I have really had my eyes opened to something which didn't occur to me before. This being the type of owners you tend to find associated with certain cars. Let me clarify, looking through another forum, of a particular gull winged car, think "back to the future" and not a 300sl gull wing (I wish!)  I was quite put off with the users comments, I mean they were not particularly bad but with profile pics consisting more of female cleavage then of cars, It actually put me off ownership of this car a little. Where as after joining this forum and reading through the posts I want a W113 more then ever, and not because of the beautiful pics of your cars (although that helps  ) , but because of how the owners (you guys) represent yourselves and thus your cars. So from what I can gather being a w113 owner means being a rather distinguished, knowledgeable, well healed, humorous individual who doesn't follow the pack. Or am I way off base

ps hope you all had a wonderful christmans 

[Jordan]

distinguished, knowledgeable, well healed, humorous individual

Yes, that would pretty much sum it up, although you might want to add dashing.

I too hope you all had a wonderful and safe Christmas.
Marcus

[Bonnyboy]

Mr SammyB

I too have been watching the people and the cars only because I had to have the car and didn't know what to expect.  The MB people in this neck of the woods are great.  They fit my personality pretty well.   I'm sure most thought I was a poseur as I hung around for three years and told people that I had a car but I hadn't seen it  yet and that I didn't know when I would see it - its complicated but its in my garage now (finally) on my hoist and I'm hosting a local club event in a few weeks.

I have been involved with the BMW cluib and they were a bit snobish and didn't know much about their cars,  the british bike club was sort of elitist but I am a member for parts accessability, the vintage bike club is great and only too hard core for me when they do the weekend rides in the rain and camp in the mud(I don't like riding in the rain anymore) so I come and go on nice days only, the Jaguar club is a hoot once you find the people who know what the lucas smoke is all about and then there is the MG group - we definately have the most fun cause everything is so damned cheap.   

I'm hoping that once I get my car running the MB club will be all that I want.

Your list of items that defines the people is accurate based on what I have found but I expect that there are less very well healed than one would first surmise.  These are just really fun cars that can be had for the price of a Harley.  Oh yeah - the Harley group did not fit my persona at all - I only like to dress up like a pirate on Halloween. 

Ian in North Vancouver

[Darren]

Interesting post and question....

As a former vintage Ferrari owner (250 PF Coupe and GTE) I used to frequent www.ferrarichat.com quite a bit.  Whilst i miss the cars (and they were fabulous machines and I trust one day my kids will understand the concept of private termly school fees or I would still have them !!!) I certainly don't miss the sniping and negativity of that board in the Vintage section. All anyone ever had to say was what is WRONG with any car that was posted or discussed. Very strange collective ethos. And mostly from non owners I would hazard a guess. I found it a genuinely quiet draining experience actually....like just say something positive people will you. This board is a very different proposition...fellow owners mostly comment with understanding and mostly insightful observation or constructive advice.

Not sure what that tells you about the owners or the respective brand....but it has been my personal experience. These days I wouldn't swap my 230SL for a GTE to be honest with you (German engineering versus Italian will it or won't it start today being the primary reason).... but i would happily have both in my garage :-)

Best

Darren.

[Peter van Es]

I think one of the main reasons that this forum works so well, is because most of the more prolific members have indeed met one another in person, at either the Pagoda University Blacklick, or one of the other events organized around the world (US, Europe).

Secondly, there are a number of very knowledgeable, practical members, or those with amazing cars and amazing photographs, and a few with historic knowledge and a couple with parts lists under their keyboards, who all share their knowledge freely. Just have a look at this page and check out the Top 10 posters, their profiles, and their contributions (Sorry - please do not feel offended if I did not include you in this short summary...).

It's actually easy to see all the posts by one member... just click on their name and then select Show Posts from the menu on the left (This one shows Naj posts... and see how often he quotes a part number or knows what tool or gadget to get).

Finally, we are a group of real people with real cars. We hope, that once members become more comfortable with this site, and it's anti-spam and non-commercial policies, that people open up, and publish their real names to other members... and share their location in their profile, and their cars in their signature.

All of these things make for a great group of people, that I'm proud to be a part of!

Peter

[douglas dees]

Being an owner of 1969 Mercedes cars since 1969, these cars set me apart from the "same old same old" things that people buy. It sets you apart of being interesting, you don't run with the crowd, you have your own tastes that transcend time and temporary fads. It represents today an era of quality and good taste that appreciates in value yet is modern in function.
I also find that people that owns these cars are interesting as well with interesting life stories and careers.
Doug Dees
1969 280SE coupe
1969 280SL

[SammyB]

Fabulous and interesting responses! With the W113 I dont class it as a eccentric choice as the average joe may see it, that I set aside more for cars such as  Bristol's, or a Facel Vega, but rather a connoisseurs choice. I would hazard a guess that most W113 owners have a lot more in common, then they realise, and as such share other passions, hobbies, and interests. Which I suppose become apparent at Pogoda meets and events. Personally when I do spot a Pogoda driving down the street I always think that's my kinda guy, purely from their choice of wheels, and just know that I would share a lot of things in common with them, or well that's what I think  and after joining this forum I think I maybe correct gents! 

[49er]

 I, like Doug, have owned this beautiful car for seemingly forever (1967 for my short lived 250SL and 1968 to the present for my 280SL). When the car new I only knew one other person that owned an SL and we worked for the same company. After a few years we went in different directions and that was it. Most of my friends at the time were fans of muscle cars but I liked the Pagoda for many reasons. Style, the fit and finish, and the dual personality (Both Hardtop and Soft top). Also there was a certain distinction in owning a Mercedes for sure:-).
 After all these years it has now a pleasure to be part of this Forum and be among friends of this great car. I have only been a member for a little over a year but have had the good fortune to meet a few other members in person (Doug from Toronto, James and Dick from nearby Grass Valley and Peter over in Enkirch along the Mosel in Germany). I have also shared stories and experiences with many other folks here and I am always happy to oblige any question that comes my way. I have also found this to be true for questions that I have asked. The answers are always quick in coming and very helpful. Like the car, this certainly is a good group:-)

John

[GGR]

Intersting question. I own 2 Citroens DS, two Mercedes W111 Coupes, a Pagoda, a BMW 3.0CSI and a Jaguar MKII. Some are in Europe, some in the US. I did find quite some differences between people owning these cars, and also differences between Europe and the US.

In general, I have found MB owners to be the most conservative. This also varies depending on models. The rarest and expensive the model, the more conservative.

Another interesting comparison is how much a car is representative of the culture of its country of origin, at least for the era we are intersted in. Comparing engineering solutions between a DS, a MK 2 and a W108 is quite an interesting exercise. In short, the French put three springs and two cables  where the British would put 12 pop rivets and the Germans 97 bolts and nuts.  

[Cees Klumper]

I've always thought that this car tends to attract the same kind of people: mostly men of course, with a refined and elegant taste. I've met many members, in both the US and in Europe, and they do seem to have that in common.

Different countries do have vastly different approaches to building cars GGR; my French neighbour who is currently working on my '73 El Camino and I were just commenting on that a day or two ago. Then the Japanese build cars different again.

I've also often wondered what the most popular 'other car' is of the Pagoda enthusiast. I think it's Porsche.

[SammyB]

Lovely story John, and couldn't agree more about the forum  GGR wow great car collection, i'm very partial myself to the 3.0 CSI a stunning car! Two Citroen DS's interesting, I have always had a bit of a thing for the Citroen Maserati, a strange collaboration indeed but oh boy did it produce a beautiful result. Cees interesting point, i wouldn't be at all surprised if many of the members second favourite car from another manufacturer was indeed a Porsche, and I would go as far as saying the 356 ??  thats if we are talking in cars in a similar-ish price bracket to the W113.

[thelews]

i wouldn't be at all surprised if many of the members second favourite car from another manufacturer was indeed a Porsche, and I would go as far as saying the 356 ??  thats if we are talking in cars in a similar-ish price bracket to the W113.

[Neil Thompson]

Sammy, I think you need a 113 asap! You're very active on the forum before you own a car so I look forward to your posts once you own one! I'd be interested in what got you interested? My obsession started after seeing a lovely black Gullwing in London less than a year ago, decided I couldn't ever afford one so got hooked on the next best thing, and now own two!, the forum and car club scene has never been my thing but now find myself on this fab forum every night and putting my name down on next years euro club event!, Cees, fair assumption I think, I've had 911 after 911 for as long as I can remember, all being newish cars but I can honestly say for the first time that I'm looking forward to Spring more than ever to get back in my Pagoda.

Happy New Pagoda Year to all

Neil