So this 1997 S500 went and ruined my life. I was perfectly content with my 2010 Prius being my work car while enjoying my toys. The great thing about the Prius, other than the fantastic gas mileage and all the tech, was that I cared absolutely nothing about it. Park it anywhere, drive it through the mud. Look! there's another scratch, who cares. Also not a care in the world as far as maintenance and dependability. Then I went and did this...
Coyote jumped in front of me at night while I was going 80MPH. Didn't have time to even tap the brakes. Bumper, all the underbody panels, radiator, condenser, and front support toast. Limped the poor thing in electric mode to the closest exit. The timing was not good, as I was about to leave town for 2 weeks for the latest store opening and I had just sold my 2005 CDI. What do I take? All of my other cars are on a classic car policy and would worry me sick sitting outside of this seedy town for 2 weeks. I skipped insurance and chose to scavenge my own parts to fix the car with the help of my friend Bob who owns a salvage yard. Most had to be ordered; there was no way it would be ready on time.
While I was there, I couldn't help but notice a really sharp W140 out front. Bob had just driven it down from the Mercedes dealer. He bought it for parts, high mileage car with engine problems. Rough running and engine noise diagnosed as a bad motor by the local Mercedes dealer. The owner dumped it for a new S-class after fastidiously maintaining it since new. Just out of curiosity, I took the keys and started it up, and immediately realized their massive mistake.
I bought it quick. All it needed were oil tubes on the right bank of the engine and it was running perfectly smooth and quiet. Absolutely everything else on the car works like new. Took me 3 hours to fix myself; that's it. After a short shake down cruise, I decided this was the car I would live out of for the next few weeks.
The 227,000 car was flawless for duration, totaling nearly 2000 miles. In the meantime I fell in love. The comfort, quietness, power, and beauty. I'm turning around and looking at it as I walk away. When I returned from my trip for a quick stop at home, I went back to my now fixed Prius. I was in agony. The cardboard seats that leave me sore and legs numb. The horrible ride, noise, performance. The cool tech and fantastic gas mileage can't overshadow how big of a turd this car is.
I named the S500 blackbird, and like a moron, taking out a nearly 20 year old, 23MPG, 227,000 mile S-class out again this week to make my 1,000 mile rounds though Kansas and Missouri. Even got a vanity plate for it. These are supposed to be sale pictures but I can't bring myself to do it.
