daily driver sl's - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

PutPutPut · #1 10-06-2008, 07:14 PM

Hi,

I am looking for a little education - since I've been a kid, I've always admired the sl's, with the 300sl roadster (not gullwing) being my ultimate dream car.

I'm trying to find a new car that's "me" - recently trashed my modern british sports car (400hp), so I'm back at square one. I don't like my dad's s320, too darn big, and my 84 300sd is cosmetically shot (way too much effort to bring it back, with rust and stuff). My daily drive is about 60 miles round trip, almost all freeway.

Which car matches what I'm looking for? Classic styling, small, fun, convertible, mostly reliable. Speed doesn't get me going any longer after that brush with death.

I can afford to buy a "clean" 190sl according to pricing on craig's list ($40k sound right?), but.. do I want to spend that? I don't know... The 280 sl's are neat, too, but in clean condition, are they worth the $30k pricetag? The 450's don't do it for me, as do the later models from the 80's onward. The only modern bells and whistles which I like are heated seats, good hvac, and a decent sound system. Otherwise, just give me an engine and a comfy seat, and I'm all set.

Went so far as to consider picking up something stupid like a spitfire and swaping out the drive train for a japanese car or something to improve reliability.. but.. *shrug* And then we swap back around.. and I love the idea of luxury, the w140's are great wrt that.. all the modern bells and whistles, etc. I'm confused if you can't tell

THanks for your time.

Fulcrum525 · #2 10-06-2008, 07:23 PM

R129 (1990-2001) Get an SL320 if your a bit worried about fuel economy. I'm not 100% but it should have the same engine as your dads S320. Otherwise go for a SL500. You'll have a powered soft top and a removable hard top.

Have you considered the two door version of the W140?

iwrock · #3 10-06-2008, 09:57 PM

Get a R129. Look at the 500s as they are well rounded daily drivers, easy to work on, and get decent mileage. I think they get around 15-18 if you keep your foot out of it in the city.

If you are feeling brave, look at the 600s. They are plenty powerful, and fun to drive.

TylerH860 · #4 10-06-2008, 10:30 PM

X2 on R129...

Though not all R107 look like the awkward American 450SLs. My '85 500SL was my grandmother's daily driver for 15 years.

Strife · #5 10-06-2008, 11:26 PM

Painful as this is to admit, I'd get a 129 (read this forum because some years had FI problems, wiring decay, etc). Generally, the later ones are more sorted out. Dealers still know how to work on them. And the 107 is as safe as a car could be built in its era, but newer cars are safer (for you, but not for the car) in an accident. I might get flamed on this comment. I think that 129's are a real bargain right now.

PutPutPut · #6 10-07-2008, 12:12 AM

Thanks. I'm sorry, but I'm being seriously shallow and don't like the way the r129's look.. too flat for me and living in southern california that car is simply common (I'm so spoiled by my exotic coupe that's now on its way to the junkyard, boooo). That's why I was looking at the older styling, not many around even here, and I like curves.. I do see a few 450sl's here as well, but the model type for 1990 and onwards are an everyday sight.

The w140 coupe is an interesting option, but... oh, bother.

600sl.. heh, fun, but.. right now I'd prefer to stay away from fast cars, I think.

Is that it for the MBZ lineup? Am I missing anything?

iwrock · #7 10-07-2008, 12:21 AM

Theres the 107 SLs.

Do you just want an SL, or are you willing to look at other things?

The older ones like the pagodas and stuff are great cars, they just dont seem to be the daily driver type of car. Those are more of a weekend fun car.

Fulcrum525 · #8 10-07-2008, 12:26 AM

There was a Coupe version of the SL called the SLC, your call on whether or not you like the look of it

Or the Original CL (In this case the 560SEC)

Both should be pretty uncommon

TylerH860 · #9 10-07-2008, 02:45 AM

That Euro SLC looks a bit too tame... The roadsters have detachable hard tops.

London380sl · #10 10-07-2008, 08:22 AM

PutPut:

What were you driving before?

The 190sl would likely be way underpowered for the freeway and the brakes are marginal by today standards.

The 230-280sl is a better choice but they lack the safety features we take for granted today. Personally I would never buy a pre 1970 car for that reason.

How about the SLK. It's small, relatively good on gas, a hardtop convertible and well equiped with safety features

.

rocky raccoon · #11 10-07-2008, 01:20 PM

I have a 560SL that is literally a daily driver. I put about 12000 miles per year on it. In my opinion, there is no better combination of classic looks, power and (relative) modernity. I paid $10k for mine on e-bay and spent a few dollars and a lot of sweat equity to get it to this point.
The point of this is; you seem to have a lot of discretionary funds and are looking for a fun daily driver. There is no shortage of low to ultra-low mileage 560SLs out there. The highest price I have seen is in the neighborhood of $30k. This is for a virtually new car with mileage fron sub-20k to about 40k. Most of them range from $15k to $17k. My opinion is that you would really like a 560SL. They are lean and mean and are a fairly modern car that cost an unbelievable $62k plus 20 YEARS AGO. See if you can find one to drive and evaluate yourself. The older 107s are also fine but the 560SL is the last and best of the breed (I can almost feel the flames on my butt now) especially for a daily driver.
One caveat ... a 20 year old car with ultra low mileage is likely to have a few issues stemming from disuse. They are usually easily handled either yourself or in the hands of a good mechanic thoroughly familiar with those cars. You will have a difficult time finding such a mechanic at a dealership. You will have to search for a good independent.

Happy hunting at let us know what you decide.

per · #12 10-08-2008, 04:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PutPutPut

Thanks. I'm sorry, but I'm being seriously shallow and don't like the way the r129's look

WHAT??????????

Anyway, hope you get your dream car.

Roncallo · #13 10-08-2008, 06:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PutPutPut

Hi,

I am looking for a little education - since I've been a kid, I've always admired the sl's, with the 300sl roadster (not gullwing) being my ultimate dream car.

I'm trying to find a new car that's "me" - recently trashed my modern british sports car (400hp), so I'm back at square one. I don't like my dad's s320, too darn big, and my 84 300sd is cosmetically shot (way too much effort to bring it back, with rust and stuff). My daily drive is about 60 miles round trip, almost all freeway.

Which car matches what I'm looking for? Classic styling, small, fun, convertible, mostly reliable. Speed doesn't get me going any longer after that brush with death.

I can afford to buy a "clean" 190sl according to pricing on craig's list ($40k sound right?), but.. do I want to spend that? I don't know... The 280 sl's are neat, too, but in clean condition, are they worth the $30k pricetag? The 450's don't do it for me, as do the later models from the 80's onward. The only modern bells and whistles which I like are heated seats, good hvac, and a decent sound system. Otherwise, just give me an engine and a comfy seat, and I'm all set.

Went so far as to consider picking up something stupid like a spitfire and swaping out the drive train for a japanese car or something to improve reliability.. but.. *shrug* And then we swap back around.. and I love the idea of luxury, the w140's are great wrt that.. all the modern bells and whistles, etc. I'm confused if you can't tell

THanks for your time.

Would you like me to build you a car.

M120 into 560SL (With Pictures!).

PM me

Dee8go · #14 10-08-2008, 10:22 AM

I'd love to have one of those, John. . . .

cbdo · #15 10-08-2008, 10:37 PM

Mine's a 560, which is a pretty-much-daily-in-season driver. For that kind of duty, I'd say with regret that I wouldn't go older than a 107. The Pagoda is a gorgeous car and a sweet drive, but the safety technology is circa 1960, as is all the rest of the technology in the car. Supporting the 6-piston pump for the FI needs a level of understanding that's increasingly rare, and there's the every-3000-mile chassis lube that goes with the older suspension. Dad had a 1969 Benz that he bought new, and even as a new car needing routine care only it took comparatively a lot of shop time; it's just the way Benz built in those days. It's work a competent DIY can do, for the most part, but there's going to be a good deal of it.

My 1989 is already old enough that there's an ongoing stream of Stuff That Happens, albeit quite manageable, as will be the case with any car pushing two decades and older. On the flip side, a lot of the Stuff a 107 encounters is pretty manageable without needing professionals, and the electronic presence in the car is pretty minor, unlike the 129. And I'd second the mention earlier of the Euro 500SL version of the 107; my own dream 107 would be exactly that, with the non-automatic AC that was the usual system fitted Over There.

As far as what specific car to buy for your purpose, I'd point toward something under 100K on general principle but not ultra-low; a car that's been driven and has been well maintained will probably hand you fewer surprises than a garage queen with the problems that disuse allows to develop. Pay for a minimum-mileage museum piece if your intent is to own one and keep it that way, but why pay the premium for something that will then gain 12K miles a year and lose that value?