Alas Lexi, I am going to have to disband some of my collection. Buying them in poor condition, & doing most of the restoration my self has enabled me to acquire them, however keeping them is not so easy.

Registration & insurance, even for low mileage classics is getting prohibitive today, on my far from high income. The hardest thing will be deciding which one to let go. This is why I didn't really mind when the kids took a couple. They took the expense, without me having to part with them, if you know what I mean. They are still sort of mine.

I'm not sure you would like my life style, grease under the finger nails may not go down too well in the library.

If you promise not to tell any one, I'll let you into a little secret. I have taken to disposable surgical gloves, which keep the nails cleaner, & protect the thinning old skin a bit.

Don't tell anyone. I might be excommunicated from the bush mechanics club.

Mr Opinion,
First, what do you mean by ordinary people?
Do you mean - not rich? Middle Class?
Second, how do you know that so many of whatever category you're referring to actually do own Benzs?
Data source, please.
Third, if what you assert is in fact true, maybe they just like Benzs.
They're are, after all, a fairly good car.
Anthony
http://www.observationpoint.com.au

Dear Pericles,

The import duty on European imports here in Oz makes
them very expensive and therefore desirable for
people who want to impress others. Why do they buy
designer labels in clothes, glasses, and other
fashion accessories. Why do people want to live in
"expensive suburbs?" Keeping up appearances is important
to some. While others want vehicles that they consider
strong and reliable as Poirot pointed out.

Dear Poirot,

The buses in my neighbourhood are also Mercs as are vans
and other "working vehickles."

To each his/her own.

Dear Hasbeen,

It is sad that you're going to have to get rid
of some of your collection of classics after
all this time. Still, keeping some in the family
is a great idea.

Not sure that I approve of gloves in mechanical
work. I would have thought that you need to
feel the problem in order to fix it. Try picking
up a small object with gloves on - unless of
course you're talking about surgical gloves.
Dirt under the nails comes with the job doesn't it.
Just as librarians and novels go together.
(Librarians -being novel lovers). ;-

I happen to own a 1980 classic gold 280 SLR which is currently undergoing a mechanical overhaul which will give it another 30 years of trouble free, very comfortable driving.
I guarantee you that if any other post 2000 vehicle were to run into me not only would they have a hefty insurance bill to pay their 'plastic' car would disintegrate.
The "L" in the badge stands for limousine and that it what it is.
A well made piece of history.
CG

Possibly a slip of the pen, chrisgaff1000

>>I happen to own a 1980 classic gold 280 SLR<<

Not sure I recognize that model.

Perhaps you'd better have another look - you might find it is a Polish knock-off. That would be a shame.

Feel free to link to a picture of it, though, I'd hate you to think I don't believe you.