r/Cartalk 1d ago

Showing my ride off What does my car say about me?

[deleted]

31 Upvotes

124 comments sorted by

27

u/JohnDeere 19h ago

screw the haters, it’s a clean merc. Keep up with maintenance and enjoy

5

u/ZookeepergameDue2160 10h ago

Funnily enough it so far in its entire life has not once needed anything in terms of maintenance except a routine oil change...been one of the most reliable cars in the entire family.

3

u/Hayabusa_Blacksmith 9h ago

do the transmission fluid, and consider new suspension bits/bushings. maintenance is preventative. beautiful car btw. i love CLKs.

1

u/GoonieStesso 2h ago

I can’t tell whether no maintenance done is really a good thing here. At 60k miles you should have done break/trans/coolant flushes.

1

u/ZookeepergameDue2160 1h ago

I should have worded my sentence differently, It has not needed any repairs but it has had it's neccesary maintenances done to it.

11

u/Dinglebutterball 21h ago

You’re either 19 or 90

14

u/zakolo46 1d ago

You make sacrificial decisions based on appearance.

-2

u/jbrady33 12h ago

Sacrificial? Like a burnt offering?

Superficial is the word you are looking for

2

u/zakolo46 11h ago

No, I meant sacrificial. He’s sacrificing reliability and affordable service costs by getting an old Mercedes

5

u/Eldermillenial1 11h ago

It’ll look great in the shop at least 🤷‍♂️

17

u/Chandlo 22h ago

All the haters are jealous. I see it as some baller with good taste.

4

u/ruddy3499 22h ago

That you are my best friend from high school’s little sister. That’s what she drives

9

u/1972FordGuy 23h ago

You love expensive repairs and driving the dealer's courtesy mini van.

1

u/ZookeepergameDue2160 10h ago

It never once in its 25 years of life has needed a repair, and if it ever would then my dad's a mechanic and I can do 99% of things myself aswell so no need.

22

u/Mortimer452 1d ago

To me it screams 45yr old recently divorced dad deep in midlife crisis but that's just me

0

u/[deleted] 1d ago

[deleted]

2

u/meverygoodboy 1d ago

Why are you giving your life story?

2

u/osco753 21h ago

Was the Poor guy trying to seek counseling on reddit?😭

4

u/anno1040 1d ago

What engine?

2

u/ZookeepergameDue2160 10h ago

230 Supercharged.

1

u/Appropriate_Strain94 8h ago edited 8h ago

Must be a euro only offering as that generation CLK was offered as a CLK320 as the lowest end. The 230 Kompressor was only used in the SLK, C class here in the states. With that being said the M112 series was extremely reliable in the C/E/SLK/CLK/ cars they were put in. Modest power but they were reliable.

1

u/ZookeepergameDue2160 1h ago

I'm in the Netherlands, the lowest option here is a 200 NA, this is the 4th engine option, after this a V6 and at the highest the 3x as much costing V8 AMG.

-1

u/osco753 20h ago

The same engine that powers Fred Flint stones stone car

3

u/Callis_tow 19h ago

You're a broke (or soon to be broke) hairdresser

1

u/ZookeepergameDue2160 10h ago

Camera Operator, Sound Engineer and Guitarist 👍

3

u/CycleUncleGreg 18h ago

Haters gonna hate. Nice, really nice thing. Careful with the roof, change the oil in the gearbox (better flush it), check the compressor and it will run forever. And rust, beware of it. But looks great, have the same one.

2

u/ZookeepergameDue2160 10h ago

Careful with the roof

It belonged to my dad before me, who bought it 25 years ago, but he's basically only had the roof open like 20 times in all those years because my mom couldn't stand it when he had it open, and him alone he rarely ever used the car except to go on vacations but then again, with the roof closed, so it's in quite a good condition and mechanically still works like new!

1

u/TheFifthNice 4h ago

I just got an old SLK. I love it and I’m trying to stay on top of the maintenance. How do you check the compressor? What am I looking for?

3

u/Keroit 18h ago

Jesus, you people are something else... I see a lot of crybabies jealous of someone's lifestyle. Is it a money pit if you don't keep up a good maintenance? Yes, but you're also the second owner after your dad. Best way to own this type of vehicle.

I also have owned a T-bar convertible since I was 25. I didn't give a flying bird about the ones that told me I was too flashy. I knew it was jealousy. Now, 6 years later, I still own it... i do regular maintenance and runs like clockwork.

2

u/ZookeepergameDue2160 10h ago

Is it a money pit if you don't keep up a good maintenance? Yes, but you're also the second owner after your dad.

Exactly, and to add to that My dad is a mechanic and has worked alot with Mercedes'es so he knows alot about these and the car is in litteral mechanical "like new" condition, Besides that It's never been driven hard, I know basic maintenance and repairs and can do those all myself if it would be needed, but the car has never in its life needed any repairs or whatsoever so it's quite literally just a 25 year old car that is pretty much the same as the day it was bought.

3

u/gringo--star 12h ago

Very feminine.

8

u/myacidninja 1d ago

Congrats! You now own a luxury car with all of the downsides and NONE of the upsides so either you dont know enough about these cars to know they are ABSOLUTE money pits or you know and just dont care.

3

u/ZookeepergameDue2160 10h ago

Funny how this car has never once been in the shop and never once in its 25 year life has had anything ever break on it.

1

u/myacidninja 5h ago

knock on fake wood

10

u/ShatterProofDick 23h ago

You make rubbish decisions.

Enjoy the money pit. Those are beyond trash to keep and live with.

Have fun selling it for a loss on FB marketplace after you have to dump 5 grand into it in the next 16 months.

4

u/shotstraight 21h ago

$5k will not even cover all the oil leaks that are coming in the next year.

-1

u/ZookeepergameDue2160 10h ago

Hahah, Bro it in 25 years has not had a single repair needed on it, it hasn't cost me anything else and mechanically it is excellent lol.

6

u/dapribek 1d ago

Old school, classy!

1

u/spkoller2 21h ago

Happy cake day!

6

u/shotstraight 21h ago

Low level weed dealer making weekly payments with no credit. First break down, and you're walking because you didn't think a luxury car would come with luxury repair bills. Typical of most used Mercedes and BMW 7 series owners.

2

u/osco753 20h ago

I like this 😭 super spot on.

-1

u/ZookeepergameDue2160 10h ago

She's never broken down in all 25 years of it's life, I'm a camera operator in TV and film, So no drug dealer, and I'm pretty good with some tools myself and my dad's a mechanic so most to all repairs can be done by myself.

2

u/azbrez 22h ago edited 22h ago

Well at first, I’d think “that kid smokes a lotta weed”... a compliment, by the way. It’s nice to see these on the road, to see someone upkeeping an older style. I would not assume you’re trying to look rich. It’s a classy car but I think most know it couldn’t have cost a tenth of what many throw at a new Mercedes.

1

u/ZookeepergameDue2160 10h ago

“that kid smokes a lotta weed”...

Well I am a little boring in that regard, I don't drink and dont do any drugs.

I would not assume you’re trying to look rich

Not at all, I just love the way it drives and it is a very comfortable way of getting around, I've tried everything for Corvette's to Cadillac's to Opel's to Toyota's and even some BMW's but this one just resonates with me the most.

2

u/jdgrazia 19h ago

"Hes actually gonna say it"

2

u/Itchifanni250 17h ago

Mid life crisis, slightly balding and not shy of a mirror.

2

u/jolle75 15h ago

You have a gold bracelet, hanging of your wrist with a bit of slack.

2

u/txbill101 13h ago

Midlife, Hey let's go to Hooters

2

u/Beneficial_Comb_1214 13h ago

Legally blonde or Tanya from white lotus

2

u/surgicalhoopstrike 13h ago

Your taste in wheels is questionable.

1

u/ZookeepergameDue2160 9h ago

They are temporary, Lended the car out to someone once and they fucked the original wheels, Now i'm just using these for a while and will eventually replace them when I find a nice set.

2

u/Blue_146 12h ago

Too poor to buy a newer model

2

u/Busy-Emergency-2766 6h ago

either you are turning 80 and you're driving your dreamed car, or your grandma let you drive her car. Oh and you're either in Florida or South Cali. but by really looking at the picture, you're 50 y/o and this is what you drive in the coast of France during the summer. or your grandma from the states married an european guy and she is letting you use her car.

2

u/caddyax 5h ago

The divorce is final but you’re just getting started!

4

u/spkoller2 1d ago

You’re short

3

u/shotstraight 21h ago

In two dimensions.

2

u/spkoller2 19h ago

You can say that again

4

u/sIoppywombat 18h ago

In two dimensions.

4

u/Mental_Armadillo7940 1d ago

It screams bitch trying to act rich with her/him pink turtle neck driving with the top down but windows up so her hair stays on 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

-3

u/ZookeepergameDue2160 1d ago

I'm a dude...

1

u/shotstraight 21h ago

If that's your chosen gender, ok.

0

u/ZookeepergameDue2160 10h ago

Bro, I'm born male, i'm straight.

2

u/spkoller2 1d ago

You’re short

3

u/browneyedlassie 1d ago

😂 yea! They’re short

2

u/spkoller2 1d ago

You see that ride and think ‘That’s short guy who is compensating.’

0

u/Boundish91 16h ago

He's probably Dutch so that's not likely.

2

u/VonBrewskie 21h ago

That you prefer something flashy to something reliable. Speaks to your youth and possibly your financial situation. Young people from means that I've met and who have access to familial wealth anyway, don't have a sense of appreciation for the things they have. I don't know you, so I don't know if that's you. But I have known a lot of people who fit that mold. So there's that. You should almost certainly sell that while you can still get a decent price for it and get yourself a nice Honda or something. Something that looks nice but is cheaper to fix and maintain.

2

u/ZookeepergameDue2160 10h ago

Actually she is extremely reliable, Nothing has ever broken on it in it's 25 year existence, Yes she drinks alot of fuel but in terms of maintenance it's pretty much none.

1

u/VonBrewskie 8h ago

That would be one unicorn of a Mercedes then. I assume your pop took care of regular maintenance, then? Up until you got it?

1

u/ZookeepergameDue2160 1h ago

Yeah he did, And he also still helps out with it now if I ever need any help with it or If I have any questions.

2

u/BlueProcess 21h ago

It says that you aspire to be rich but have not yet arrived. And that the reason you want to be rich is to be seen as better than whatever you currently believe that you are seen as.

You want this bad enough to buy a 25 year old car that is going to eat you alive in maintenance which is going to run counter to your goal of being rich.

But you won't care, because you want to be seen as being rich more than you to be rich. Because the perception is what matters to you.

Who made you feel so bad about yourself OP?

-1

u/sIoppywombat 17h ago

The car probably cost him 5-10k. i really don't see how he is trying to look rich.

2

u/BlueProcess 12h ago

It's a luxury brand

1

u/staringatsaltflats 23h ago

It means you are doing just about OK at life, but only with money.

1

u/anonomoniusmaximus 20h ago

looks like an older gentleman's car. some wheels and lowering springs are all you need.

1

u/sIoppywombat 18h ago

Are you sure those people calling you that are serious? We also used to call my brother a drugsdealer because he drove a nice car at a young age. We weren't serious though.

1

u/Kiekerr 16h ago

The wheels make it look very ghetto. I'd put on some OEMs, will make it look way more classy.

1

u/ZookeepergameDue2160 9h ago

I originally had the original weels on it but my mom borrowed it once and she hit a curb so hard she messed up the entire rim and blew the tire, so I had to replace all 4, i'm glad my mom was alright tho and luckily she didnt trigger any airbags.

1

u/imatumahimatumah 13h ago

So many clueless haters. W208 CLK is a solid choice. Prone to rust in areas where roads are salted. Otherwise a pretty damn nice car.

2

u/ZookeepergameDue2160 9h ago

I'm in the netherlands so no salted roads here!

1

u/[deleted] 13h ago

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1

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1

u/Super-Elevator3283 12h ago

ypu have very good taste👌

1

u/Shienvien 12h ago

It rains/snows less where you live. Have fun!

1

u/Important-Ad3820 11h ago

Bottom that can’t host.

1

u/mygrandfathersomega 11h ago

68, retired pensioner, with a little bit extra elsewhere.

1

u/ottrocity 11h ago

Makes me think you're a history teacher who thinks turning the radio up past level 8 on the weekends is "letting loose."

1

u/InsidiousZombie 10h ago

As much as I’d love to say it’s a midlife crisis car, I’d be damned if I weren’t kicking my feet and giggling to have one. Very clean look

1

u/Recent_Estimate3088 10h ago

I see older female trying to look successful

1

u/CultOfSensibility 10h ago

Depends, V6 or V8?

1

u/ZookeepergameDue2160 10h ago

It's the supercharged Inline 4

1

u/the727guy 10h ago

As 30yo male, I think it’s brilliant

1

u/KittenVicious 10h ago

It's so funny that OP asked our opinion of what his car says about him, then argues with everyone that isn't saying they think he looks super cool.

1

u/ZookeepergameDue2160 9h ago

I'm not, i'm simply answering the guesses with who I am, and if they are wrong about maintenance then I say that.

1

u/KittenVicious 9h ago

That was a lovely example. Thank you.

1

u/Hayabusa_Blacksmith 9h ago

what do you think of the 230 kompressor? ive always wondered

1

u/ZookeepergameDue2160 1h ago

Not going to lie about it, It drinks more fuel than you should expect, the engine is quite nice as the kompressor helps it have plenty of low rpm power, But overall a turbocharged engine would have been nicer overall for the added economy benefits of it.

1

u/breynnmike 8h ago

That you have no taste in cars.

1

u/Appropriate_Strain94 8h ago

In my parts, this is driven by a young black male in their 20s that bought it second hand from a buy here pay here lot with 30% interest rates cruising down Crenshaw looking for hood rats.

1

u/ContributionDry2252 8h ago

You live somewhere with no winter

1

u/ZookeepergameDue2160 1h ago

Funnily enough i'm in the netherlands and it rains here like 70% of the time.

1

u/thomas1126 7h ago

Wannabe

1

u/Edenwoman 7h ago

Your lucky your Dad sold you it at a good price. Your parents have money and you are just starting a job or college

1

u/Louis2759101 6h ago

Man that is one clean clk. If you keep it clean and rust free, it still looks good. If you let it get rusty, people might label you as "tokkie"  :P

1

u/ZookeepergameDue2160 1h ago

Ah nog een nederlander, ik ga hem zekersteweten geen roest laten krijgen!

1

u/Financial_Recording5 6h ago

You are a local rapper.

1

u/huangxg 6h ago

Let me guess, you are a 43 years old single male.

1

u/Mommys_steps_r_loud 6h ago

I have a hard time believing people are calling you wealthy in a 2000s car

1

u/Professional-Fun-431 5h ago

It's salmon, not pink

1

u/hettuklaeddi 4h ago

leather-faced nail salon enthusiast

1

u/iMakeBoomBoom 4h ago

It says that you took a photo of a car in a used car lot.

1

u/ZookeepergameDue2160 1h ago

No, at my old man's garage, Because I rarely ever take pictures but the sun was good so before I went back home I took a picture.

1

u/britishrust 4h ago

Although not my personal taste, it's a decent car with relatively low KMs and a known history. Far from a bad purchase. Don't listen to the yanks that think these are horrible because they don't understand properly servicing a car. The wheels do drag it down to a bit of a 'tokkie' look (us Dutchies know) but that's easy to solve. If you enjoy it, that's great. And any car with an open top will bring a smile on your face when the sun is out. Enjoy it, screw what others think and remember to take off your shoes before stepping on the white carpet in your 'woonwagen'.

1

u/Candid-Shape-4366 4h ago

You're trying to look like you're in the movie belly. The illist cat in nebraska

1

u/Initial_Savings3034 4h ago

Over 60 degrees, you're one of the happiest people alive.

1

u/lov3fashion 3h ago

It says you have parked your old blue chevy behind that merc

1

u/boost40ozz 3h ago

1990 player who can't let it go, you ain't who you use to be, step aside

1

u/redditforusingatwork 22h ago

Gotta be honest with you bro. It’s hideous. If it says anything about you, it’s that you have more money than taste. Like you want to be cool but just can’t seem to make it click