Driving ‘Chedeng’
The last time I stepped inside a Mercedes-Benz was when I was five years old before my parents sold our 1968 Mercedes-Benz 200 w115 when my father’s lumber business and toilet bowl factory shut down. My father won that car after buying the last P500 ticket from a raffle.
Fast-forward to 2021. My generous boss at the Daily Tribune offered me his MB e240 Elegance 1997 model for a song! Of course, I did not hesitate to say yes when he gave the offer.
I first learned that my boss wanted to dispose of his old Benz in December last year since he rarely used it after purchasing a couple of new rides. Knowing my boss, I knew then he would sell it at a price much lower than its current market value. I knew it would be a bargain. And with only a little over 58,000 kilometers (km) on the odometer, I knew it was a steal!
The first thing I noticed with the car was the key. It was a key fob that was made famous by Mercedes-Benz famous. Although the 1997 edition key fob is not yet a smart key and has limited functionalities — like keyless entry and lock — I found several tutorials on YouTube, claiming that key fobs can be upgraded into “Keyless Go” to allow a keyless engine start. You can even close and open your car windows effortlessly via remote with the “Keyless Go.”
In fact, Mercedes-Benz introduced the
“Keyless Go” in 1998 with the W220 S-Class — the first vehicle to have that smart key.
The drive
Honestly, driving a Mercedes-Benz E-class is not cheap. With its six-cylinder V-engine, the e240 burns fuel faster than your standard sedan.
But the German car manufacturer made up for it by greatly increasing standard equipment across the range, including a more luxurious upholstery and trim, better air conditioning, sunroof, power for the steering, windows and mirrors. The 170-hp engine delivers improved performance and economy compared to its predecessors.
Also, handling is precise. With the car’s handling, corners turn with crisp fluidity which immensely helped through weighted power-steering that is capable of providing just the right amount of assistance. If you love driving a car that can respond like a thoroughbred, the E-class is for you. It can gather speed deceptively that cruising at 100kph feels like 80kph. I can cruise past cars even on curves with ease.
They say the car you drive says a lot about your personality. When a car dealer tells you that your car is really you, the dealer means it.
There is also an all-round feeling of safety with the car’s powerful, progressive brakes.
Although — curiously — the parking brake is applied by a pedal on the left side of the driver’s footwell that can be released with a fascia-mounted handle.
While the car’s interior might look austere for an E-Class model, the engineers at MB tried to brighten things up by adding a shiny polished wood or carbon fiber interior. The firm seats offer comfort particularly on long drives, but it is less impressive on short hauls.
The drive itself is what luxury and comfort are all about!
The first thing I noticed with the car was the key. It was a key fob that was made famous by Mercedes-Benz.
‘Takbong pogi’
Driving a luxury car has its perks. One of them is people seem nicer to you. I noticed that the other driver would always give way to me at intersections, tight spots (singit) and even traffic enforcers are more courteous when my car passes by. Perhaps they are afraid to be involved in a vehicular accident with me or maybe they think an important person is behind the wheel.
(If they only knew, I am just this small, lucky person who is likewise worried if I can afford the upkeep of the car).
Chick magnet?
Definitely! Actually, here’s a weird story. This one time, I just parked my car in front of our house around eight in the evening to pick up my kids for a late dinner when a woman in her late 30s or early 40s — with a slim body, wearing only a pair of shorts and white t-shirt — greeted me and said, “Nice car.”
Unable to recognize her because the street was not well lit and she was wearing a medical mask,
I first thought that she was our neighbor, so I replied, “Thank you,” then proceeded to the gate to call my kids.
But then, she lingered at the back of the car and eventually engaged me in a conversation. Again, because I thought she was a neighbor, I decided to be nice and entertained the exchanges. She said she just came from a party with friends just a few houses from ours and she was on her way home.
Then she uttered, “Unless you want me to go with you.” I told her I can’t as I
have a date with my kids. Despite this, she still continued, saying that she is already separated and doesn’t want to go home. Again, she offered that I take her with me. What’s weird is that she also asked me to go to a private place with her.
At that point, I already asked her to walk with me, with the objective of moving her away from our house to about two blocks from our residence. Just to mislead her, I then told her to wait for me at corner as I will just buy something from a nearby convenience store.
There, I stayed for at least 20 minutes. And when I went back, she was gone. Mission accomplished! I ditched the girl.
Is it really me?
They say that the car you drive says a lot about your personality. When a car dealer tells you that your car is “really you,” the dealer means it.
There is also an all-round feeling of safety with the car’s powerful, progressive brakes. Although — curiously — the parking brake is applied by a pedal on the left side of the driver’s footwell that can be released with a fascia-mounted handle.
I’ve always driven “big cars.” The first car I bought when I was 24 years old was a Ford Fiera that served as a service vehicle for my business. Then, I had a Toyota Revo, Isuzu Crosswind, then a Kia Sportage — with the last car I bought being a 2018 Honda BR-V. I even drove a 4x4 multi-cab for my water refilling station then. The only sedans I acquired were a 2012 Kia Rio and a 2013 Hyundai Eon, but those were for my wife and my kids. Stepping behind the wheel of a luxury car is something new to me. Psychologists say people who drive luxury cars tend to be profit-oriented, workaholic, achievers and independent individuals who make plenty of money to enjoy the luxuries of life without worrying about gas prices.
Well, I worry about gas prices and I don’t make plenty of money. Perhaps, I’ll just aim to be independent and an achiever.
I noticed that the other driver would always give way to me at intersections, tight spots (singit) and even traffic enforcers are more courteous when my car passes by.