MEMBER PROFILE
David Ochsman is Not Willing to Compromise
Many car purchases are an exercise is compromise: price, heritage, performance, features. Some are not. Few vehicles represent no compromise like a full-size Range Rover or a Mercedes E-Class Estate, and there is potentially no nicer way to transport a piece of furniture, a Christmas tree, or luggage for a very long weekend than in these two models.
We traveled to D.C.’s historic Capitol Hill neighborhood to meet the uncompromising owner of both, 5th-generation Washingtonian David Ochsman.
His 2019 Range Rover V8 Supercharged overdelivers and then some. Adaptive cruise control, 22-way heated, cooled and massaging seats, and a 825 watt/ 19-speaker surround sound stereo make this a very attractive place to pass time— while 518 horsepower and every imaginable off-road capability remind you there are few places in the world you couldn’t conquer.
A car enthusiast and long-time Land Rover customer, Ochsman was aware that the Range Rover today has more competitors than ever since its debut in 1970, but the almost 50-year heritage kept him loyal to the brand. “The dealerships stock black, white and grey,” he recalls, so a four-month wait was necessary to procure British Racing Green, resulting in an example that is indeed an icon.
This appreciation of the classic is what drew Ochsman to his 1995 Mercedes E320 Estate. The last of the W124 body type, this seven-seater was the no-compromise luxury utility choice for the mid-90s most discerning customer. Ochsman describes himself as “wagon-obsessed,” and he says the classic silhouette harkens back to his childhood in Maryland. He expects this will be the first of many classic Mercedes he collects.
Clad in its original smoke silver two-tone body color, the understated design inside and out is a refreshing example of less-is-more compared to modern counterparts. The Benz may not have soft-close automatic doors or dual 10” touchscreens like the Range, but slamming closed the heavy steel hatch or touching any piece of hardware inside the exceptional E320 interior quickly makes you question which model has the advantage. Likewise, though the Mercedes has a horsepower deficit of 301 to its garage-mate, the wagon’s straight-six leaves you wanting absolutely nothing in sound, refinement or real-world power. On the road, it is a near draw as to which is more fulfilling to drive.
But this isn’t a competition, and Ochsman doesn’t have to choose which is his favorite— simply which he will drive tomorrow. The only compromise is leaving one at home.
