Opinion on owing an MB

[pcsessler]

Hi,

I am working on a book on Mercedes Benz SLs- from 1954-2011 and I would like to hear from owners why they bought an MB:

Why do you like MB?

Is this ownership experience better than others you've had or?

Is it worth the extra cost?

It could be all a matter of making a statement- you've arrived- but I could be wrong....

Thanks!

Peter C. Sessler

[jplinville]

I finally came to the point in my life where I wanted a better looking, better performing, and safer automobile than the ones I have previously owned. My R107 fit the bill perfectly.

There's nothing quite like cruising in the evening hours through the canyons of Utah with one's better half, enjoying the views and fresh air. The enjoyment my wife and I have had with the fine automobile is more than we have had with any other we have owned.

[coleyjf]

Originally Posted by pcsessler

Hi,

It could be all a matter of making a statement- you've arrived- but I could be wrong....

Thanks!

Peter C. Sessler

Actually it's not so much the statement that you've arrived - It's actually " the getting there" - in the MB that is.

Someone on this forum made a quote some while ago which I have used myself in the past.

"It's not the Miles per gallon - It's the SMILES per gallon that count"

Especially with a 107 - there's a feeling of solidity ( feel the weight of the doors for instance) and a sort of long lasting'ness ( invent words - why not) - it's why we cosset, repair, drive, polish and love our motors

Cheers

Jim

[MattBelliveau]

There just something about driving a car that is 20 years old, that has no squeeks, feels very solid, has tight suspension, etc. MUCH better than any American car with half the milage and age, which I always can pick out all the dashboard squeeks, etc whenever I ride in them.

[300sdToronto]

This is an interesting question. For me, the answer is different depending on the age of the vehicle. If it's an MB built on or before the late 1980's then the motivator to me is the pride of ownership in owning and maintaining a well designed vehicle that was built to last. And the vehicle was engineered to be reasonably simple to maintain.

Plus there is that affinity of being part of the diaspora attached to the wonderful MB heritage.

For MB's built after some dividing line around the early 1990's I have a different view. In my personal opinion, the cars became too complex for their own good (a trap shared today by many other vehicle designers) and quality for a time was very poor. I am very doubtful I would buy a modern Benz for these very reasons, even if I could afford it.

[Aquaticedge]

It's not so much as Owning a Mercedes, it's The knowledge that you own a car that was built to last by people, who put their pride into every weld, every piece of that car, and the knowledge that it may be on the road for a hundred years or more, As far as ownership goes, Was it worth it. yeah, I bought mine used and it's by far one of my favorite cars to have, maintenance is not bad if you take care of things when they should, Deferred maintenance and lack of maintenance will lead to bigger bills in the future but over all I find that owning a Mercedes is about on par with owning any other type of car, you'll have some high bills, and you'll have some low ones but in the end, it averages I think pretty close to the same,

[Steve Gutman]

I bought my 1985 SL because it is so solid, for a convertible. Most old convertibles are creaky, leaky and flimsy, especially compared to the Mercedes. It just rides great.
I also fell for the sinister look of the blue/black paint (#199) and the AMG appearance package.
I didn’t know that they last so long but you really have to maintain them. That can set you back a bundle, even if you do your own service. I have spent about as much on the parts as I have on the car.
Steve

PS:The old Mercedes are built to maintain forever. EG: I just changed the trans fluid and filter (again) and the old MBs have a drain plug on the torque converter. You can change about 99% of the fluid. No other company has a drain plug on the torque converter.
If you change the fluid every 15,000 miles and the fluid and filter every 30,000 miles the transmission will practically last forever. Now they are sealed for life. BTW, how long is that lifetime anyway? The old ones can be maintained to last forever if you perform all the maintenance.

[Jack M]

I own this car because a woman that I knew had a 107 . I don’t remember if hers was a 450 or a 560. Same color, Diamond Blue metallic.
I remember her.
I have had the 560 for 7 years, probably longer than the relationship with her would have.

Yes, I also agree with Aquaticedge. Read the Owner’s Manual, follow the schedule for maintenance, read this forum, and your home free.

[qsprn]

I have 3, all more than 20 years old and no longer that pricey because....


It's not how you get there, it's how good you look on the way!

[pcsessler]

Hi,

I am working on a book on Mercedes Benz SLs- from 1954-2011 and I would like to hear from owners why they bought an MB:

Why do you like MB?

Is this ownership experience better than others you've had or?

Is it worth the extra cost?

It could be all a matter of making a statement- you've arrived- but I could be wrong....

Thanks!

Peter C. Sessler

[Tony H]

Hi Peter,
I do not have a SL but I do have a opinion. I purchased my 111 because I wanted a vintage car that was very well engineered and built, substantial, comfortable, relatively powerful, attractive, roadworthy, luxurious, has decent brakes, could be used for traveling with 4 passengers, has a sunroof, and has unparalleled factory support. No other car of that era could meet those standards.

[Yak]

Isn't there an SL forum?

[JimFreeh]

Back in the sixties, I can remember getting into some of the old pontons my Uncles owned.

These cars were very used and abused, and I was forever impressed by the way the switches and the doors still had that classic "snick" when you operated them.

As I had my first MB, a 59 190SL, it also gave me the same satisfying feel I enjoyed in those pontons.

Over the years, I've had MB beaters, and nice cars, and both still imbued me with that hard to quantify quality of operation and design I've never seen in any other make I've owned.

That being said, I feel that MB lost it's way with the W140 and the W210. The feeling of a design that was driven by engineering excellence, not cost was lost with the W210 series. The insane complexity of the W140 also seemed to be a wrong turn.

As a result, I've sought out fine examples of the W126 and the W124 chassis for long term ownership until I can feel assured that the newer cars have regained the engineering focus.

Do I buy a MB for it's status? Not really, that's a side benefit. I enjoy having an older car in very nice shape, whether it's a MB or one of my other vintage cars.

Jim

54 Chevy 1/2 ton stepside
55 Ford Sunliner
64 Lincoln Continental convertible
68 MGB roadster
plus 3 moderns not worth mentioning..

[rmadja]

We have an 88 560SL.

I had been bugging my wife for years to get a two seat convertible just for fun. A friend of ours drove into our driveway with a 560 and that is all it took. I did the research and found an 88 with only 46K miles. All original, and super shape - not a scratch inside or outside - the dealer for the pre-purchase said "Wow - it is the best car of that vintage I have seen". We have changed all the filters and fluids, but that is all in three years and 7K miles. We take turns driving it to work and drive it around for fun on the weekend. Reliable, tight, fun, a modern car that you can drive, and unique. That is why we have the 107.

Rob

88 560SL
07 Audi A8
08 Lexus 400h

[Tomguy]

As there's an SL forum, I am moving this thread to the SL forum since that's what your study and question is meant to focus on