Gas Prices Hurting? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Strife · #1 06-12-2008, 12:48 AM

Alright, no one wants to talk about this...but I basically parked my 560SL because $4.25/gallon premium for 15 MPG is starting to hurt. My 380SL is somewhat better, fortunately. I've worked out the numbers, and I'm still good money ahead compared to buying a new car, but still, the psychological effect is there.

My wife and I joked that when I retired (and maybe there would be no more affordable oil) we'd just sit in the 560 in the garage and go "voom voom", perhaps with a flat screen TV in front of the windshield playing videos of trips past.

Maybe this will happen sooner than I thought...

How is everyone else with this? So, I get the car I always wanted...and then I can't drive it as much as I'd like!

I've got to believe that the value of double-timing chain 380SL's has gone up...I know someone who is putting a 2.8 6 in a 450SL. That should be good for 22+ on the highway. 450SL gas mileage is really grim, with their 3-speed trannys and simpler fuel injection.

Pete Geither · #2 06-12-2008, 05:51 AM

After just returning from Europe and paying around $8.50, American dollars, for diesel, it makes you think we are not that bad off yet. And diesel is cheaper than gasoline over there. The quick rise in the price of fuel here is what has everyone in a state of shock,,,, it will be a long time accepting the current prices, but it truly looks like they will go higher,,,, hang on !!

Mistress · #3 06-12-2008, 06:04 AM

Strife- You crack me up, I'm doing the visual of you and the Mrs. parked in your garage with the big screen t.v. and pretending your at the drive-in! Seriously, with the price of gas it makes me appreciate all the more what a pleasure it is driving my Mercedes. In Germany it's 9.00 a gallon!

tecqboy · #4 06-12-2008, 10:35 AM

My 91 300sl is my most economical vehicle: 19 city / 26 hwy. ( Usually avg about 21 mpg per fill-up ) It's my Jeep Grand Cherokee that I park in the garage all summer (13/18mpg). I too am retired. And the cost of fuel is going up much faster than income. It means more judicious use of the car. The days of relatively cheap driving are past. But I'm never going to trade either of my vehicles for a Yaris.

To cope with rising gas prices, non-affluent Americans will have to adjust there comsumption patterns. Forget the premium pay cable TV and lose the $100 per month cell phone plan. Is it really necessary to play $79 games on a Playstation with a 60 inch HD TV? I can't believe the things ( expenses ) my younger friends consider necessities that didn't even exsist when I was their age.

Dee8go · #5 06-12-2008, 10:38 AM

My Benzes are a hobby, not transportation, so I look at fuel for them kind of like a movie ticket. They're both overpriced, but if you enjoy them enough, they're worth the money.

UT_Tech · #6 06-12-2008, 11:06 AM

450 mileage doesn't have to be grim. Your 380SL should be getting mid 20's on the hwy. You can tune the 560SL to get far better mileage but I wouldn't because it would drive like a 380SL and you already have one of those!

JimFreeh · #7 06-12-2008, 12:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Strife

My wife and I joked that when I retired (and maybe there would be no more affordable oil) we'd just sit in the 560 in the garage and go "voom voom", perhaps with a flat screen TV in front of the windshield playing videos of trips past.

Makes me think of Bruce Springstein's song "Pink Cadillac".

Jim

Dee8go · #8 06-12-2008, 01:27 PM

I was thinking about Fred Flintstone's car with holes for our feet to stick out to propell the car. . . . Fred and Wilma cruising down the highway at about 1/8th MPH.

dugald · #9 06-12-2008, 02:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by UT_Tech

You can tune the 560SL to get far better mileage....

How do you do that?

plink49 · #10 06-12-2008, 08:31 PM

When I was in the market to buy an SL, all I kept hearing was: "Don't settle for the 320 go for the 500". I'm sure the SL500 is an awesome driving machine, but I'm forever glad I opted for the 320, especially when premium gas is at $4.25 and going higher. My wife and I took a pure pleasure drive a few weeks ago of about 350 miles around rural NM with the top down (and therefore horrible aerodynamics) and averaged 28 mpg! We're almost talking economy car here. Even around town it's still giving me 20-21 mpg. If I'm not mistaken, the SL500 used the M119 V-8 which is the same engine I had in my W140 500SEL which only got 10 mpg on a good day...beautiful automobile, but had I not sold it, it would be sitting in the garage collecting dust!

Strife · #11 06-12-2008, 09:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dee8go

I was thinking about Fred Flintstone's car with holes for our feet to stick out to propell the car. . . . Fred and Wilma cruising down the highway at about 1/8th MPH.

I work with a 50ish year old woman whose husband restored the Triumph they had while dating in college. I suggested that she do this with the Triumph but she swears that it can get 40MPG on the highway. That car is so light!

meltedpanda · #12 06-12-2008, 09:44 PM

well I just took a spin in my 450 with the top down , 85 degrees, sun going down, cool breeze, never thought about the price of gas.....

rocky raccoon · #13 06-13-2008, 08:14 AM

My daily driver 560SL easily gets 19 mpg to and from my rural workplace. Pay attention to your "economy" gauge and keep the needle in the black while accerating and climbing hills as best you can. This is not an economy car but I am satisfied since it is a pleasure to drive it.

My Dodge truck gets 17 mpg albeit regular instead of premium and my wife's Bluetec gets an incredible 37 diesel mpg. The Bluetec is our economy car. Even with the high cost of diesel, it is one third cheaper to drive 1000 miles in it than anything else we own.

BUT the 560SL is my choice anytime.

donbryce · #14 06-13-2008, 08:16 AM

If my math is correct, 1 gallon is 3.785 litres, and here we are paying almost $1.41/litre for high test, which is what my SL needs. I believe that's about $5.34/gal.

I'm almost done replacing my softtop, summers right around the corner, I worked on this car all winter.....DAMN THE TORPEDOS, FULL SPEED AHEAD, I don't care what the price is, I'M DRIVING!

Pete Geither · #15 06-13-2008, 08:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by plink49

When I was in the market to buy an SL, all I kept hearing was: "Don't settle for the 320 go for the 500". I'm sure the SL500 is an awesome driving machine, but I'm forever glad I opted for the 320, especially when premium gas is at $4.25 and going higher. My wife and I took a pure pleasure drive a few weeks ago of about 350 miles around rural NM with the top down (and therefore horrible aerodynamics) and averaged 28 mpg! We're almost talking economy car here. Even around town it's still giving me 20-21 mpg. If I'm not mistaken, the SL500 used the M119 V-8 which is the same engine I had in my W140 500SEL which only got 10 mpg on a good day...beautiful automobile, but had I not sold it, it would be sitting in the garage collecting dust!

I have never had a 140 with the 119, so I can't comment on THAT mileage, but my SL gets 23 to 25 on the road, at around 75 to 80 mph. I am sure at 55 to 60 it would be in the 25 to 27 range.