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Author Topic: "Fat man, in a litt-tle car..."  (Read 2921 times)

Offline sirAQUAMAN64

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"Fat man, in a litt-tle car..."
« on: August 31, 2005, 12:06:15 pm »

I didn't see/read the full article, but that song instantly came to mind when reading this snippet. Being a rather 'largesse' guy myself, it's okay to post such things . Anywho, I would have thought the articles origins would be America, but Germany?!

"German court weighs in on Mercedes-Benz to keep fat man stuck in his car lease"  
A German court has ruled in favour of a driver who wanted out of his lease on a Mercedes-Benz car because of multiple breakdowns. According to today's Post (Reuters, FP3), the automaker argued against the release, saying the man was too fat for the car. However, the court disagreed, saying the car should have been able to take his weight.
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Offline AVToller

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"Fat man, in a litt-tle car..."
« Reply #1 on: August 31, 2005, 02:26:48 pm »
I shouldn't have to take any responsibities for my choices or my weight. If I buy a Smart and have to regularly transport 3 sumo wrestlers, it is M-B's fault that it doesn't work out well for me. Makes sense!
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Offline barrie1

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"Fat man, in a litt-tle car..."
« Reply #2 on: August 31, 2005, 02:28:18 pm »
So what if the man is a fat guy, they knew that when they leased him the car so its not a point for them to even raise. What if he had leased a tractor trailor tractor from them, what would their excuse be then I wonder. Thats blatant discrimination against this man and I hope he sues their butts off for doing it.
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Offline ovr50

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"Fat man, in a litt-tle car..."
« Reply #3 on: August 31, 2005, 02:44:04 pm »
Does the smiley mean you're joking, Barrie? I trust so....
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Offline kelefe

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"Fat man, in a litt-tle car..."
« Reply #4 on: August 31, 2005, 03:01:22 pm »
All in all though, if the car can't support his weight, the dealership that sold it to him should've told him (in what way, I don't know...). I mean, if you purchase a ski-boot that the ski shop deems to be too advanced for you to use, you would need to sign a waiver so you can't sue if/when you get hurt... kind of the same deal here isn't it?  

This is what I think should've happened:  

"Excuse me, I would like to purchase this M-B please"

"I'm sorry sir. I can't sell you this car, because you are way too fat for it. May I suggest the GM dealer across the street? They have a really nice H1 you can fit in"  

"But I really like this Benz, it has the perfect sized cup holders for my coke"  

"Sir, the structure of this car will not be able to support your fat-ass"  

"I don't care! I want this car!!"  

"(sigh) Fine, we will need you to sign this waiver..."



How much did this dude weigh anyway??
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Offline sirAQUAMAN64

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"Fat man, in a litt-tle car..."
« Reply #5 on: August 31, 2005, 03:02:48 pm »


Personally, I feel I should get my money back when I bust a button on a shirt directly related to the circumference of my girth.

No. Really.



(and now the necessary )
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Offline sirAQUAMAN64

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"Fat man, in a litt-tle car..."
« Reply #6 on: August 31, 2005, 03:05:41 pm »


It would be called discrimination if Benz DIDN'T sell the car.

It's just an item. Just like clothing. It's purchasable by anyone with money (licensing it requires more). Cars don't have a 'return policy' like a department store, and they only have one for goodwill and for reputation.

You're supposed to try it on for size before buying. Buyer beware. Forecast your future needs and take into account your weight. My goodness people are dumb and have nothing better to do.
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Offline kelefe

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"Fat man, in a litt-tle car..."
« Reply #7 on: August 31, 2005, 03:16:23 pm »
Maybe the guy is stupid for buying a car that can't support him. But maybe he test drove it, made all the necessary checks and it was fine? It would be unfair to him to have the car break down all the time after he bought it.  

What confuses me is how M-B can even make that claim. Was the guy so heavy that his weight exceeded the net load capacity?!?
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Offline tenpenny

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"Fat man, in a litt-tle car..."
« Reply #8 on: August 31, 2005, 03:19:45 pm »
I used to see a couple who each must have been 300-400 lbs, and they drove a Sprint.  It made me shudder...the car certainly did when they got in.

Let's see, you can't call someone obese; you can't refuse to sell them a car; you are at fault if the car can't handle them....makes sense to me.

People are dumb, that's for sure.
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Mdxtasy

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"Fat man, in a litt-tle car..."
« Reply #9 on: August 31, 2005, 03:20:31 pm »
A SMART car can hold atleast 400lbs.  I highly doubt a 400lb man can fit into a SMART car comfortably to drive it.  Anything else from MB?  Probably holds 800lb- 1000lbs or so...when's the last time you saw a man of that size driving?  

The defense is crock.  Too heavy for the car?  Engine strained?  As long as the man didn't exceed the load capacity, there's no ground for him being "too fat" to cause these multiple breakdowns.  Of course I'm assuming the breakdowns are mechanical.  If it were broken seats....maybe they do have a case.
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Offline ovr50

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"Fat man, in a litt-tle car..."
« Reply #10 on: August 31, 2005, 03:26:51 pm »
I agree with Mdx on this - this defense is a sham - there is something else going on here. Vehicles are constructed to carry 4 to 6 ppl and more for SUV/Crossovers; so how can this porker claim his weight is causing car problems?  

BS, plain and simple.
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Offline quadzilla

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"Fat man, in a litt-tle car..."
« Reply #11 on: August 31, 2005, 03:46:41 pm »
A German court has ruled that Mercedes must release a man from a car lease deal after a dispute over whether he was too heavy to drive the luxury vehicle, Bild newspaper reported.

Mercedes refused to release the insurance salesman from a lease agreement on his S320 CDI model, arguing the multiple car breakdowns caused by his weight were insufficient grounds to break the deal.

The court in the southern German city of Stuttgart ruled in favour of the salesman, named only as Frank S, apparently on the grounds that the car should have been able to take his weight.

Frank S was told that at 160 kilograms he weighed twice as much as the average driver, Bild said.

"They told me that I was too fat for the car because the seat was broken," he said.

"I could hardly fit behind the steering wheel ... then I had to take the car back to the shop for repairs 13 times for 21 different malfunctions in the first 20,000 kilometres."

The 37-year-old said he got fed up and wanted to return the car, but Mercedes refused to release him from his lease contract.

A court in Stuttgart ruled that DaimlerChrysler had to let him out of the agreement.Bild said the salesman, who switched to a Volkswagen, would sue to get back the leasing payments he made.

Source: http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200508/s1449945.htm

Well he is only 160kg.  Also notice that he switched to VW.
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Offline sirAQUAMAN64

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"Fat man, in a litt-tle car..."
« Reply #12 on: August 31, 2005, 03:49:46 pm »

Look-out Volkswagen!
Hehe, maybe he bought a Phaeton :-)

Sue to get back the lease payments? If he had the car for that duration, he should not get his payments back.  

Heck, I'm sure I weigh more than that! Someone, convert that KG to lbs for me, wouldja? (and to think I should be a metric kid).

(Message edited by sirAQUAMAN64 on August 31, 2005)
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Mdxtasy

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"Fat man, in a litt-tle car..."
« Reply #13 on: August 31, 2005, 03:49:52 pm »
Did he lease a "Phat"eon....

Damn....too slow.  You're good SAM....quick draw you got there...

(Message edited by mdxtasy on August 31, 2005)
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Sterling

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"Fat man, in a litt-tle car..."
« Reply #14 on: August 31, 2005, 03:51:49 pm »
Only 160kg!
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Mdxtasy

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"Fat man, in a litt-tle car..."
« Reply #15 on: August 31, 2005, 03:53:37 pm »
352lb.
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Offline sirAQUAMAN64

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"Fat man, in a litt-tle car..."
« Reply #16 on: August 31, 2005, 03:59:41 pm »

Okay, he's got me beat!

I could see how he might have been able to bust the seat. If you force things or just let yourself fall into your seat, it is quite a bit of pressure. Or if he leans against something with the motor working hard.  

Still though. It's like the McD's coffee burning. Tonnes of people have problems with their Benz's I'm sure.
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Offline Scaerio

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"Fat man, in a litt-tle car..."
« Reply #17 on: August 31, 2005, 04:09:38 pm »
Note to self.

"Phat-on"

Do not confuse with "Chub-on."

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Offline Wetson

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"Fat man, in a litt-tle car..."
« Reply #18 on: August 31, 2005, 04:11:19 pm »
325 lbs and he could still fit behind the wheel?  HOLY MOLY!
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Offline quadzilla

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"Fat man, in a litt-tle car..."
« Reply #19 on: August 31, 2005, 04:11:58 pm »
"I could hardly fit behind the steering wheel ... "

But why did he lease this car if that was the case?  I guess fitting behind the wheel will be tough in a lot of cars but still.

I still don't understand what the car breaking down has to do with any of this.  If the seat kept breaking, that is another story but it sounds like the entire car was a lemon.
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