Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

California DMV Loophole Allowed Jobs to Drive Sans-Plates

macobserver.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

111–120 of 135 posts

Re: California DMV Loophole Allowed Jobs to Drive Sans-Plates

#111

Post by cma »

jellicle wrote: post #68

Except there's no loophole. Registering the vehicle at purchase (or at beginning of lease) is required. Cal DMV will then send you plates. At which time your paper stickers expire. Besides, his vehicle wasn't displaying the temporary plates either. Look, MacObserver and all the rest of you fanboys: Steve Jobs just decided to disobey the law. There's no loophole. There's just a guy who thought the lines of his car wer…

>Registering the vehicle at purchase (or at beginning of lease) is required.

Not if you've properly backdated your stock options.

Re: California DMV Loophole Allowed Jobs to Drive Sans-Plates

#112

Post by ugh »

nlh wrote: post #78
ugh wrote: post #35

His decision to go with the lettering on the car (“SL 55 AMG”) seems much stranger to me. At least if you buy the (much cheaper) C-Class you can actually decide whether you want lettering or not. (I don’t have a car and don’t want one but my dad recently asked me whether he should go with or without the lettering. I told him to go without, that seems much classier and better looking to me.)

That's actually not an option from Mercedes. All MBs come with the lettering -- however the lettering is attached basically with a dab of (pretty strong) glue, and to remove the badges requires nothing more than a concentrated heat source, a pair of pliers, and some solvent to clean the residue. It's more of a "mod" (albeit a simple one) than an option - and most people actually consider _removing_ the lettering to b…

My parents bought the car from an official German MB dealer and it was an option.

Re: California DMV Loophole Allowed Jobs to Drive Sans-Plates

#113

Post by johnyzee »

jellicle wrote: post #68

Except there's no loophole. Registering the vehicle at purchase (or at beginning of lease) is required. Cal DMV will then send you plates. At which time your paper stickers expire. Besides, his vehicle wasn't displaying the temporary plates either. Look, MacObserver and all the rest of you fanboys: Steve Jobs just decided to disobey the law. There's no loophole. There's just a guy who thought the lines of his car wer…

There's an anecdote that he parked his car so frequently in the handicap spot in front of the Apple office that some jokesters one day changed the wheelchair into a Mercedes insignia. Reportedly Steve was none too pleased.

Re: California DMV Loophole Allowed Jobs to Drive Sans-Plates

#115

Post by jarek »

atmega10 wrote: post #110
hugh3 wrote: post #56

Earlier quoted context omitted.

More like $140K. Actually I think they don't make the SL55 any more, so the latest one would have to be an SL63. It doesn't look all that different to a $45,000 SLK, though, which makes it the insanely fast borderline-supercar of choice for the billionaire who wants to remain relatively inconspicuous.

What is an "insanely fast borderline-supercar" good for when all it does is get you to the next red light faster (unless you take it to the track)? I'm genuinely curious. I found that when I drive (relatively relaxed) I tend to be waiting at the next intersection next to the guy who changed lanes multiple times and raced around others. I'd rather spend my money to upgrade to a bigger boat.

What is a bigger boat good for? I'm not a vehicle guy, but a lot of people have different fascinations.

Re: California DMV Loophole Allowed Jobs to Drive Sans-Plates

#116

Post by getsat »

blhack wrote: post #102
getsat wrote: post #97

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The SL55 AMG is a mid-range Mercedes. It's modest compared to what he could have had. (Rolls-Royce Phantom, Bugati Veyron, etc.) > That's as much as a lot of us make in two years. It should be inspiration to hustle, if anything. I hustled for many years, and I was able to buy my first Mercedes last year.

>I hustled for many years, and I was able to buy my first Mercedes last year. Boy oh boy! Maybe if I work my little fingers hard enough, someday I can be on that level! /sorry for the snark, maybe it's the weather, or maybe it's the condescending tone of your post -- I sincerely hope that I never look at hacking as a form of "hustling"

My post wasn't condescending at all. I was just pointing out that instead of the typical reactions to affluence (jealousy, anger, etc.), you should admire it and strive to attain it while furthering your own skills and bettering yourself.

Most of my hustle has been in the form of serious hacking/side projects.

Re: California DMV Loophole Allowed Jobs to Drive Sans-Plates

#117

Post by gcb »

dangrossman wrote: post #18
gcb wrote: post #5

that's the most moronic thing anyone can do. pay extra to the dealer. pay registration of a new car every 6mo. hassle of dealing with it. i imagine how many iphone prototypes the dealer found in the glovebox of hundreds of returned sl55 over that time.

4 years / 6 months = 8. 8 cars, not hundreds.

you paid the 30% 'out of dealer' devalorization, of a SL55 AMG, plus leasing profits which shouldn't have been easy for this kind of arrangement, times 9, to have 4 years of car without plates.

do that math for that, smart guy, and i dare you to disagree it was moronic.

Re: California DMV Loophole Allowed Jobs to Drive Sans-Plates

#118

Post by gcb »

zach wrote: post #70
Anechoic wrote: post #66

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Now that's what I expect out of a multibillionaire. I suppose it makes up for him not living in a gated fortress.

The thing that's fascinating about people with that much money is that they have a lot of freedom to express themselves within their lifestyle. Cars are a very particular expression of that. So Larry Ellison has a custom all-aluminum roadster, Steve had his German sedans, and ESRI's Jack Dangermond is noted for driving a Taurus wagon. But just having a Mercedes AMG isn't the same as leasing a new one every six months…

what car does stallman drives?

Re: California DMV Loophole Allowed Jobs to Drive Sans-Plates

#119

Post by blhack »

getsat wrote: post #116
blhack wrote: post #102

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>I hustled for many years, and I was able to buy my first Mercedes last year. Boy oh boy! Maybe if I work my little fingers hard enough, someday I can be on that level! /sorry for the snark, maybe it's the weather, or maybe it's the condescending tone of your post -- I sincerely hope that I never look at hacking as a form of "hustling"

My post wasn't condescending at all. I was just pointing out that instead of the typical reactions to affluence (jealousy, anger, etc.), you should admire it and strive to attain it while furthering your own skills and bettering yourself. Most of my hustle has been in the form of serious hacking/side projects.

Your post is condescending because it assumes that mine is rooted in jealousy or anger, or that your version of affluence is something that haven't already attained.

Re: California DMV Loophole Allowed Jobs to Drive Sans-Plates

#120

Post by getsat »

blhack wrote: post #119
getsat wrote: post #116

Earlier quoted context omitted.

My post wasn't condescending at all. I was just pointing out that instead of the typical reactions to affluence (jealousy, anger, etc.), you should admire it and strive to attain it while furthering your own skills and bettering yourself. Most of my hustle has been in the form of serious hacking/side projects.

Your post is condescending because it assumes that mine is rooted in jealousy or anger, or that your version of affluence is something that haven't already attained.

Sorry. I should have said "one" not "you", and "one's self" instead of "yourself". Most people seem to get angry/jealous when they see affluence instead of having a more pragmatic reaction.

My version of affluence is being in the top 1% that the 99% hates. I'm not quite there yet. :)

Post reply on HN