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The Future of Mercedes-Benz?
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Comments
Rocky
P.S. They are nice.
Wow, even MB slid slightly :surprise:
Rocky
http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/News/articleId=117654
Rocky
M
The new S550 is about 90K, which is almost exactly where a S500 would have been 10 years ago. But that new S550 is really a beauty, and I still have yet to hear about any glitches, and it's been on the road in NA for almost a year now. So I am optimistic that some bugs might be behind them.
A W126 with euro lights is an excellent looking car in my book, too. They still turn my head. And a show quality 560SEL is worth maybe 10K...
W120/W121 1953-1962. Also known as Ponton.
W110 "Heckflosse / Fintail", 1959-1968
W114/W115 "Strich-8" 1967-1976
W123, 1976-1985
W124, 1985-1995
My personal favorite of all time so far, the car I saw so much growing up. It was also the "300E" from this model series that started my love affair with Mercedes-Benz. I plan to have one of these one day, either a 500E/E500 or a 300CE/E320 Coupe.
W210, 1995-2002
W211, 2002-2010?
Some special E-Classes through the years:
W124 500E / E500 with the R129 500SL V8, 326-hp
This car is likely the most exclusive sedan Mercedes has produced in the last 20 or so years. It had a Porsche engineered chassis, exclusive interior and the engine from the 500SL of the day, unheard of during that era. In 1994 it stickered for about 80K and a good example can go for 30K still today. Today, the E550 and SL550 sharing the same engine is no big deal.
582-hp W211 Brabus E-Class
W124 Stretchlimousine
The weakest gasoline engine in the W120/W121 had 72-hp. Now, the weakest gasoline E-Class has 163-horesepower (a Euro model of course).
M
One little goof though...W110 fintail was introduced in 1961, the W111 is the version from 1959. I like the tires on that car too.
Yes there is one for the S-Class too:
W136 / W191: 1951-1962
W189: 1954-1957
W121: 1954-1960
W111 / W112: 1959-1971
W108: 1965-1972
W116: 1972-1980
W126: 1979-1991
Another Mercedes forever etched into my mind when growing up. Loved the 560SEL to death.
W140: 1991-1998
The sheer size of this car was unbelievable when I first saw it in the fall of 1991. One of my favorite S-Classes.
W220: 1998-2005
Without a doubt the "prettiest" S-Class ever made, dowwright stunning with the AMG package. It didn't live up the legendary build quality of previous models though.
W221: 2005-2012?
The new and largely improved kid on the block. This model seems to be a vast improvement over the W220 in every way. It is built better and is proving to be very reliable.
M
About the W110...the lowline pontons remained in production through early 1961, when the lowline fintails replace them. I think a lot of people just see a fintail as a fintail, and get the dates a little off. There are many 1960 and 1961 pontons out there. But for the others, yeah the earliest year given is the first year of Euro market production, which will usually predate NA model years by 1 or 2 years.
Beautiful W126 shot, yes. Great colors, timeless design. Probably my favorite car growing up too...not many 10 year olds would have wanted a big heavy sedan so much, but the design caught my eye from a young age. There's not much you could do to improve the design, it is still very handsome and elegant.
Funny that the W221 used has Japanese plates, too.
Rocky
Here is a through the years look at the SL:
W198 1954-1963 (300SL Gullwing / Roadster)
R121 1955-1963 (190SL)
W113 1963-1971 (Pagoda)
R107 1971-1989
This is the first SL I ever remember. I remember it being called something akin to a German Corvette, but of course with a lot more polish.
R129 1989-2001
This was my favorite Mercedes for 10 years or more. This car put the "tank" description in Mercedes' cars for sure. Back in 1989 it was so ahead of anything else on the road it wasn't even funny. The engine, safety systems, build quality and style had no equal in the class.
R230 2001-2011?
Today's stunner and still head of the class and improved to perfection for 2007. Arguably Mercedes' greatest car.
M
I 100% agree
However, the competition has caught up or passed by Mercedes, well at least from my perspective.
Rocky
P.S. Those were some nice pics Merc.
The SL has perhaps the most consistent heritage of any mass produced modern car. Some have been weaker than others, but there are more similarities than differences.
Rocky
P.S. I still like the looks of the XLR, over the SL. Only slightly though.
The XLR just looks a little disjointed to me, too edgy, and the top lowering sequence is inelegant. SL keeps advancing, XLR needs to do so as well.
Rocky
Rocky
Fin, now is your chance. In the Autoweek classifieds there is a 1994 E500 with only 8K on the clock! It was supposedly owned by Al Unser Jr. I'm sure they want big money for it especially since no price is listed. That is about as perfect a E500 as you'll ever find.
M
M
I remember when the 129 came out and demand was so steep, they were bringing 100K! It seemed insane then. Today you can get a new SL for less.
I can't believe Caddy was even in those comparos. Not their best day!
Just be sure to find one that's been cared for...they are falling into less than careful maintainers more and more every day.
Phone pics, so they can be a little washed out
M
I wasn't seriously looking for a new car, but I couldn't pass up this deal. It cost 10K more than I paid for the C43...and it is half as old, has half the mileage, and is much more comfortable, not to mention can actually fit 4 people comfortably. That's how I rationalized it anyway.
They actually gave me private party book for it, and that combined with the sales tax savings made it attractive, as I couldn't have got much more than that total, and who knows how long I would have had to try to sell it.
Is that a S-class you bought ?
Rocky
Rocky
P.S. BTW nice car. I love Black Benz's.....
Thanks. It's actually a semi-dark grey. 'Tectite' is the official color name. It's a one-year-only color on W210s.
0-60 in 4.?
Rocky
They have a good unrestricted top end, too
If you don't mind me asking fintail, how much did she set you back pal ?
Is that make/model year pretty reliable ?
What kind of stereo does it have ? does it have those "bladder" inflatable seats ?
Rocky
W210s in general are known to have quite a few bugs, especially the 6cyl models, but the AMG cars seem to perform better. There are enthusiast forums for these cars where people claim to have ran them to high mileages, and say they haven't had many problems, no more than any other car.
It has a Bose 6 disc changer, and I think you can play an audio CD in the nav too. I don't know the stereo specs otherwise. And yes, it has the inflatable seats, as did the C43.
Rocky
I am optimistic, but still a little scared of the electronic complexity. I bought the 48 month warranty though, so hopefully that will be long enough to sort out any issues. Other than the dead LCD pieces in the clock, everything works as new.
I even have all my plans in order for making it the concours/driver I like to have. Tomorrow the wheels go in for polishing out the curb rash. Next month it will go in and have the little trunk dent removed. Maybe in Feb I will take it in and have the LED issue fixed (warranty claim). Then it should be pretty much immaculate.
Rocky
http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/Features/articleId=118926?tid=edmunds.il.ho- me.photopanel..3.*#10
Rocky
Rocky
http://www.detroitnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061222/AUTO01/612220336/- 1148
Rocky
"For driving over 100 mph + 4 psi". I was like what! Only a German would have such a sticker! I've driven 120 mph or so already though, rock solid at those speeds.
I'm sure you having an AMG, which is well capable of passing 100 mph in a few eyeblinks, you have this sticker?
M