Cool Article For 107 Owners

[airedale]

Cool article for 107 Owners http://www.oursl.com/NewsLetter/NL0701/BlackBlack.htm I knew I liked my USA Bumpers for some reason.

[lynns]

Originally Posted by airedale

Cool article for 107 Owners http://www.oursl.com/NewsLetter/NL0701/BlackBlack.htm I knew I liked my USA Bumpers for some reason.

Yes, if you have been fortunate as I to own both of these cars I think you will appreciate this read.

http://www.oursl.com/NewsLetter/NL0701/BlackBlack.htm

"After all my ranting, you're probably wondering which car I really prefer? Contrary to market trends, I'll take a Sport edition SL500 over any 560SL ."

[al76slc]

He's offering both for about $30K???? What's wrong with this picture?

I like my 107, but I'd swap in a heartbeat for the 500SL.

[Roncallo]

The facts

30K for a 560SL is rather high at 55K miles. I did a search on 88 and 89 560SL's with milage between 50 and 60K. 14 listings on AutoTrader from $13K to $35K Second highest was $27K, Most of these were in the upper teens and lower $20's. Therefore I put the average ASKING price for these cars at 20K

30K for a 2000 SL500 is an average listing price. I did a search on 2000 SL500's with milage between 50 and 60K. 17 listings on AutoTrader from $22.5K to $37K. The prices were pretty much spread evenly across the range. Therefore I put the average ASKING price for these cars at 30K

Kelley Blue Book Private Party Sale results for a 2000 SL500 with 55,000 miles and a 1988 560SL with 55,000 miles

SL500 Excelent - 28,500, Good - 27,000, Fair - 25,000
560SL Excelent - 14,500, Good - 13,600, Fair - 12,500

Esentially according to KBB there is a 2 to 1 price difference. Also this is for the CT area, where people have little tolorance for old cars.

My personal feealings on the 560SL vs the SL500.

The 107 just looks better

Both have all the power and handeling you would ever want for everyday driving but the 107 leaves you wanting more for the stress relieving occation when you feel the need for speed.

Things the 129 has and miss in the 107
I like to see the following in a 107, Radio controls on the stearing wheel. Tilt wheel, especially one that moves out of the way when you get in and out, even the 129 doesnt have that. A sound system with at least 4 good speakers. A keyless entry. Electronic Stability Control. And last but not least the thing I really long for in the 107 is the availability of a honking 6 liter 4 cam, 48 valve, V-12 engine with breaks and handeling to match.

Things I like about the 107
I like analog gauges, I like these alot and miss them in all new cars. I like the manual seats, why would I want to move the seat in a car that only I drive, same for seat memory, and it's not hard. I usually like the mannual top for it's simplicity but the electric does have its good points.

Other points are that the 107 is more affordable to own and maintain in that the 129's level of technology has put the car out of the capabilities for the average DIY'r

Now hear is another interesting comparison. Again using KBB in CT. A 87 to 89 560SL vs a 90 to 92 500SL all with 75K miles

1989 560SL Excelent - 15,125, Good - 14,225, Fair - 13,075
1988 560SL Excelent - 13,925, Good - 13,075, Fair - 11,975
1987 560SL Excelent - 12,825, Good - 12,075, Fair - 11,025

1990 500SL Excelent - 12,775, Good - 11,975, Fair - 10,975
1991 500SL Excelent - 13,300, Good - 12,500, Fair - 11,450
1992 500SL Excelent - 15,450, Good - 14,600, Fair - 13,450

Obviously people prefer styling over performance

John Roncallo

[lynns]

Originally Posted by Roncallo

My personal feelings on the 560SL vs the SL500.

The 107 just looks better

Tilt wheel, especially one that moves out of the way when you get in and out, even the 129 doesn't have that.

Obviously people prefer styling over performance

John Roncallo

John,

Since I've been fortunate to own a 107 for the last seven years
http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/lynnsorensen1/slideshow?.dir=/bbfcscd&.src=ph
and a 129 for 6 months
http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/lynnsorensen1/slideshow?.dir=/52d4scd&.src=ph
I give it to you for taking the amount of time and consideration that you have put into your response. I can only say that it has been a pleasure driving both cars but I truly enjoy the improved styling and significant performance that I now enjoy in my 2000 SL. I passed on the SL600 for several reasons.

R107 279 ft. lbs. 227HP
R129 339 ft. lbs. 302HP "You can feel the difference"

The only thing I have to disagree with you on is your statement, "Tilt wheel, especially one that moves out of the way when you get in and out, even the 129 doesn't have that."

Since the 129 has the ability to program the position of the mirrors, seats, and steering wheel in three separate positions I have chosen position one as my drive position, position two has my nighttime position, and position three as my exit the car position.
I push position three upon exiting the car, the steering wheel goes up and the seat goes back therefore allowing me plenty of room to get out of the car. It's a joy.

The one thing I do miss is that "107 thunk" when I close the door!

[Bondavi]

"R107 560 279 ft. lbs. 227HP"


What I don't understand is the torque figures...why the euro 500SL has 297 ft/lbs torque while 560's have only 279?

As the adage goes....There is no replacement for displacement

Either that or the 5.6 is grossly understressed (cams/induction. etc). In fact I have seen understressed used quite often in reference to these SOHC V-8's.

Would be nice to have someone redesign the induction on these engines so they BREATHE!

[Roncallo]

Originally Posted by lynns

John,

Since I have been fortunate to own two 107's for a total of 11 years and a 129 for 6 months I give it to you for taking the amount of time and consideration that you have put into your response. I can only say that it has been a pleasure driving both cars but I truly enjoy the improved styling and significant performance that I now enjoy in my 2000 SL. http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/lynnsorensen1/slideshow?.dir=/52d4scd&.src=ph
I passed on the SL600 for several reasons.

R107 279 ft. lbs. 227HP
R129 339 ft. lbs. 302HP "You can feel the difference"

The only thing I have to disagree with you on is your statement, "Tilt wheel, especially one that moves out of the way when you get in and out, even the 129 doesn't have that."

Since the 129 has the ability to program the position of the mirrors, seats, and steering wheel in three separate positions I have chosen position one as my drive position, position two has my nighttime position, and position three as my exit the car position.
I push position three upon exiting the car, the steering wheel goes up and the seat goes back therefore allowing me plenty of room to get out of the car. It's a joy.

The one thing I do miss is that "107 thunk" when I close the door!

I think you will find two groups of people. Some that like the styling of the 107 and some that like the styling of the 129. I think the main reason for that is while the 129 is a very nice looking car, its basic lines are not as unique as the 107. The 107's lines share commonality with cars like the 113, and the early 50's T birds and vetts and as of late the new T bird's. These are still a fairly rare sight on the road. The 129 while having superior styling to its counterparts in my opinion, does have commonality in lines with such common cars as the Cammaro and Firebird.

I think the same for the way the car handels, The 129 is a display of technology but it takes the driving away from you. The 107 you drive with your foot. As one 129 owner said to me the 107 feels more like a race car.

As far as the programed seat feature acting as a tilt wheel. No way. I've seen many 129 owners show me this, but I have never seen them use it. It just takes too much time. My 1969 Cougar had a tilt wheel that moved out of the way when opening the door. It was totaly passive, you opened the door and it moved out of the way. But my biggest reason for wanting it on a 107 is that the 107 actually needs this feature where as for the Cougar it was just a gimick.

John Roncallo