The owners are not only the low end folks. Lots of SUV or at least E class people. Very popular with the Asian and African population. Not many Latino in a Benz. We do not have many rich latins, so it is economic discrimination. The Owner of the Stealership downtown and to the north is Arab, and peddles his wares to the Asian market (main as well as South). He purchased the shop from a long time White family business who had the BMW concession as well. The old guard was huge on local support for charities and causes. Boy Scouts, childrens hospitals, economic development in many neighborhoods. They even commissioned a mural that made it onto the cover of of the MBCA rag. New owner destroyed the mural and has had no involvement with any local issues. They advertise heavily in the Asian language rags and in the land of the Lotus Flower.
Our local section is actually really superior. We have traded the overlord position from provincial PDX to VAN. Now all the PNW sections play well together and support each other with interesting events for various tastes. Sometimes there is a drive, or a meal date, if not a tech session or visit to a real hardware heavy event. I am not big on the social events, which the dames like. The interesting drive or shop/collection visit are my cup of tea. We are lucky to have many independent shops that work on our cars, as well as some car loving types who collect interesting examples. There is bound to be something to do between BC/WA/OR/ ID and MT. Earlier in the SLK era there was a bunch of female interest in the brand. Now this population has evaporated. That leaves the old farts and their wives. The white boys get together to visit wrench twisters and lifts. We have no trans members that I know, but AC/DC boys just love getting their cars on a lift or getting to drool over an interesting collection of cars. The women are more interested in social events like a drive or visit to a place to gobble victuals. For some reason these events do not appeal to the ethnic of family friendly owners. The few kids that show up are eyeball glued to electronics, so gain no value or love for the marque or hobby. clay 2002 s430 - Victor, a Stately & well tailored chap 1974 450sl - Frosch - Two tone green 1976 300D - Blei Vanst - it looks silvery 1972 220D - Gump - She was green, simple and ran 1995 E300D - Gave her life to save me against a Dame in a SUV POS 1987 SDL - Beware Nigerian Scammers On Feb 11, 2016, at 2:53 PM, Dan Penoff via Mercedes wrote: > Interesting that you say that about new owners, as I never thought about it > until now, but you’re right - most of the owners I see at my dealer are not > WASPs nor Anglos. I hadn’t really thought about that, but now that I do, > you’re right. > > However, in all fairness, with the Cheap Class being well within the average > car owner’s price range, especially when leased, it doesn’t surprise me. > > As for the local section, that has always been the issue with the Tampa Bay > Section. It’s the geriatric crowd who thinks a cool get-together is a drive > to Mount Dora (central Florida small town known for antiques and quaint > houses) for brunch. They have no interest in the cars themselves, especially > older stuff with the exception of the occasional R107 owner amongst them. > It’s a purely social club, you could pretty much hang anything on a shingle > and take the cars out of it and it would appear no different. > > No “Cars and Coffee” events, nothing with any of the local dealerships, > nothing tying in to service or technical stuff. > > When I got MBoT to try and set up a cars and coffee event, they were really > pumped and were going to assign a couple of techs and 3-4 service bays for > free inspections. The marketing guy I worked with to make it happen was > stunned when they ignored him. I wasn’t. > > Dan > > >> On Feb 11, 2016, at 3:18 PM, clay via Mercedes <mercedes@okiebenz.com> wrote: >> >> Not sure how many of the newer owners actually join the club. MBCA. From >> the many hours I wasted at the stealership over the past month, the brand >> has become aspirational. The bulk of the service center users were ethnic. >> It could be that shop's marketing, but I am thinking it covers the regional >> dealers. There are four within a 30 mile radius. Most in well paid (tech) >> ethnic areas. Could be Lease car, but probably CPO owners. On the road the >> drivers are many shades of cafe in the newest models, and sun challenged in >> the older examples. >> >> The club events make the Oscars look like Ellis Island. AARP has nothing on >> our membership. And our selection of vehicles are past warrantee. We have >> taken time to learn and know our cars, unlike those who just came to the >> brand and show no excitement in owning fine examples of German Engineering. >> Then, again, it could be the cars they are driving are far less than >> exciting to own and drive. The current crop of models are more Asian with >> a star than German magic >> _______________________________________ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
