What's your age, SL owner?
 

Hi all,

I've sometimes heard SL's are an 'old man's' sport car - mainly because of its expensive purchase price and the fact only successful - and subsequently older - people could afford them.

So, just as a bit of harmless fun, I wondered what age range are the owners on this forum? Is the SL bought by the elderly, or young 'uns?

To kick it off, here's my physical age: 55 (but a mental age of 21!)

Ken Silver
--------------
~1993 SL500, glistening black/grey on black leather, now in the shop for facelift painting lower body. But maybe back tomorrow!
~1991 Daimler, shiny grey on grey leather, best in country!
~1991 Miata MX5, sparkling BRG on tan leather, wife's - (and my polishing)
~1992 Honda US s/wagon, black/grey
ex 350SL, 230E, 280E (and a lot of other makes not nearly as nice)

27. But nobody believes me and this morning I feel a lot older.

38 now. First SL at 36. First modern Merc at 25 (an immaculate '82 W123 300D which my brother kindly crashed for me). First rotten classic at 20 (just finished restoring it this month, 18 years later). Currently on number 13.

I ought to add that my pal who owns the R107 500SL you see next to mine in my signature is 28. So these are not necessarily cars for oldsters only.

57,,,, I've got to update my sig. some day.:cool:

59 the 18th of this month. Had my SL for 18 months and drive it daily, it helps me feel 29.

42 I got it last October.

Bought mine as a 50th birthday present to myself a year and a half ago, a couple months prior to my 50th birthday. I have had several British sports cars in the past, when I had the time and inclination to tinker, but wanted something fun to drive and bit more reliable.

I'm 49 but bought the car when I was 41, My midlife crisis. I didn't want a divorce ( love my wife way to much) and there is no way I wanted a 21 year old, at least not for more than 2 hours or so.
I was in the middle of recurrent training on my aircraft ( we have to go to training every 6 months) and had a feeling I needed to go by the dealer, and there she was. The 107 that I always wanted since I was a senior in High School.
I tend to find and keep all those things I fell in love with when I was in High School. My wife, My job ( flying), My car. Well not everthing, the long hair and bell bottom jeans are gone!!!!!!!. So are the polyester clothes. I've just kept the things that really matter.

Dave

Just turned 46. (Jeez, when you see it written down it seems so old). I've owned 47 cars and the 380SL is my first Merc. I've run allsorts of 'classic' cars as a hobby over the last 25 or so years. This time I thought I'd buy a proper car as a present to myself and my wife. Owned it for 5 months. As I'm sure every new owner has, I've established a 'jobs to do' list which I'm slowly working through as time allows. :)

--
bobw
1983 380SL
1991 BMW 735iSE

I'm 48, bought the '88 560Sl as a Christmas present for my wife this past year. Now I want a 129 for myself. This is the 35 car I've had and the 5th MB. Just bought #6 MB ('87 300E) for daughter.

Alternative formula for "age"
 

To me, the more interesting thing to know about a person is the difference between his age and the age of his main (or favorite) car.

The way I see it, for every year of your car's age, you can deduct a year from your own age. I'm 56 and my '72 350SL (5.6) is 31. Difference (56-31) is 25, so I'm still young.

Think about it - it's the only method I know of whereby you can lower your age just by buying an older car, and as long as you keep your car, you won't get any older!

I'm 34, bought my SL at 28 (1st Benz, 10th car overall at the time .. up to 13 now).

Using the "new age theory", having a 90 SL makes me 21 again ;)

First MB and first Convertible: 42

45. Bought the car when I was 41.

Age 63~SL is 19th of 20 cars, 2nd convertable, 3rd sports car, 2nd MB, one of 6 cars currently owned and operating.

And the average age so far...
 

... is 46.

The age/number spread so far is:
27 28 34 38 42 42 45 46 48 49 50 55 56 57 59 63

The median is also 46.

The fun factor is infinite.

The average income is $95,000 (OK, I made that one up!)

Ken Silver
--------------
~1993 SL500, glistening black/grey on black leather, now in the shop for facelift painting lower body. Waiting for phone call to pick up today!
~1991 Daimler, shiny grey on grey leather, best in country!
~1991 Miata MX5, sparkling BRG on tan leather, wife's - (and my polishing)
~1992 Honda US s/wagon, black/grey
ex 350SL, 230E, 280E (and a lot of other makes not nearly as nice)

Average age of car?

I am 36. My dad has always had MBs. A 72 220D, a 76 230, 79 300sd, and the 75 450SLC. I was allowed to drive all but the 450SLC and now my dad has given me the car. I have owned mainly Fords, a few 5.0 Mustangs. My daily driver is the F150 Super Crew Lariat 4x4. I have only had the 450 for less than a week!

45, bought the SL at 44. Second MB owned, first bought about six years ago at 39. Owned over 20 cars, a few trucks, one van and several motorcyles over past 29 years and would have had an SL in my teens or twenties, but couldn't afford one.:cool:

Age of self 52, age of Benz 14, therefore REAL age of self 38-which feels about right except between getting up in the morning and 20 minutes thereafter.

27
 

27, my dad gave me his 1989 560SL with 13,000 miles on it last year. The catch is, I can't sell it, I have to either keep it or give it back. I'm ok with that. I loove driving it. What a babe magnet.

I like the idea of being 17 again! 48 with a '72.

Inherited the 500sl a number of years back from my dad's estate. I am now 42. After dad died, I had the task of selling the cars he had accumulated: 1954 Packard Clipper, 1941 Ford Super Deluxe convertible, 1947 Lincoln V-12 convertible, 1961 Cadillac coupe de ville, 1936? Chrysler Airflow (actually owned by Walter Chrysler as the legend goes), 1958 Corvette, 1964 Thunderbird. There was a quick uphill learning curve on pricing these cars as my brothers were pushing for quick settlement. Probably gave some of them away but relied on dad's car buddys to help me out and think we did OK.

Anyway the Merc was dad's daily driver, he bought it from the guy who imported it into the country. I can't sell the car for sentimental reasons so it wil be an old man's car (again) one day. Until then, drop the top and take a few years off!

______________

Rich Weaver "greymarket"

1985 500sl "the rocket"

Um.
 

48
44 = bought it
==> "New age" 36

(Wife has been saying she is 24 for some time now. Looks that way to me. 10 and 8-year-old kids hard to explain.)

Momo

Bought it for my wife's birthday in 2000.

I'm 44...

I'm 41, but I usually feel like I'm 19. Bought my '83 380 recently. I also have a '72 MGB that I intend to sell, maybe, someday. (neither being my daily driver). Got the benz because I wanted a larger, sturdier more comfortable sports car, and I like air conditioning. Always loved their looks too, hardtop, ragtop, and no top. I've had the MG for 9 yrs., and am hoping the benz will be my final and forever extra car.

Age here is 51 bought this car from my brother's father in law while on vacation two months ago. Was not in the market for a new car but always did like the looks of the early SL's and it was in great shape.

My car

My 47 year old wife drives our 85 280SL during the week. But she lets me keep it runing and I get to drive it on weekends.
I am 54 and I have an 86 420 SEL.
I guess I drive the old mans car but it feels good!
I also drive a 10 year old schwinn and about 5 pairs of running shoes. They actually do keep me young.

Current age 42 but bought my SL at age 31. Current age of my SL is 15 years and still going strong!

Chiming in here....
I am 32 and always wanted a MB. At 28 I picked up a 300E that treated me good for a couple of years. Then finally last year I got my dream car, a 91 500SL. Just 3-4 months ago I was able to upgrade that to a 96 500SL with 50k, I've been driving that dream since then.

Im' 60 years old..
 

this November and I am not to happy about it!

One thing I have learned in life is "Zaino"!

Pathetic, Huh!

46 going on 15. Steve

bought my '87 560SL when I was 46, now 47 and enjoying every day of it!

I bought my first MB in Dubai in 1983. It was a 1976 280slc with about 15K miles. I brought it back to Texas, along with a '73 BMW 3.0csi, had them converted and sold both before returning overseas.

In Nov. last year I got a 1977 450slc in near mint condition. I use it as a semi-daily driver. I turned 60 last March and an now officially a menber of the Kellogg generation. Its call that because every time you stand up you go Snap, Crackle, and Pop.

Best I'd join in here too....

Bought my 190E 2.6 at 23 and started saving for a 300/320CE coupe, ultimately intending on buying an SL (more dreaming really).

But decided to miss out the coupe and went straight for the SL this year - now I'm 29 :-) - early 30th present I thought ;-)

Guess that makes me one of the 'younger' guys ??

61 I wanted to buy an older car to restore, and my wife wanted a MB. so we've got a 1982 380SL . That was 14 months ago. The car had a solid body and a good rag top and tires.I've been working on it for 9.The car ran rough and rich. After adjusting the C O it ran smooth, but 2000 RPM. After 4 hours of trackiung down wires and working upside down under the dash, I found a blown fuse on a relay. idles at 1200 RPM. Another 3 or 4 hours, I find clogged vacume lines going to the throttle control. Idles at 1000RPM. Wishing I had that 65 mustang I was looking at,hating all MB enginers with a passion you can't beleive. The timing chain had been changed ,and they pinched awire from the throttle contol when they put it together. I had to cut it and rewire it. Idles at 700RPM. CV boots were split so I had to re pace both joints. I don.t care want my repair CD says, you can't get those damn joints out with out unhooking the differential. Wouldn't have that problem on the mustang. Had to have the garage do that job. Cost $650 parts and labor,not bad. Huh, would have been $45 for the Ford. Front seal on transmission leaked. OK, so I'll pull the tranny and repace the $2 part. What do you mean the engine &tranny have to be pulled as a unit? OK so I do it and repace a few of the other parts that would be a bear to get at otherwise like the water pump and front seal and a motor mount. Car is now nikenamed "the money pit" and I have a feeling it is'nt the only MB in the world that is named that. only nice part is, the wife doesn,t say a word about the money because it was her idea to buy this dumb car. Had it paint and interior redone and it looks great, but it burns out ignition rotors every 60 miles.Replaced plugs, wires[oringinals]WOW they don't give those away,cap and a few other parts. It was the switching unit. [mustang doesn't have one] I'm sure that I've forgotton 20 other things that I've done to this car, and I'm sure that you'r sick of my whinning.
Now for the good part. We've driven the car since the snow melted[I found a hard top ] with out a bit of trouble. On nice days I can't wait to drive the 30 miles to work and I take the long way home. I look for back roads,the more curves the better. The 380 does't have the power,but it's all I need, and it sounds great. Drove from NY to Me for my wife's 40th class reunion and got 22 MPG. I stopped at a coffee shop today and the girl behind the counter had me take her picture withe her in the car. She said "get back so you can get the whole car in " After I got a thank you and a big hug. I might be 61, but i'm a kid again in my SL . Sun is out, we're going for a ride.
PS Keep your mustang

Now, Now Fredddd,
Do you really think the 65 Mustang is perfect?
My sons turned into a 2.5 year complete restoration.
Lets see, leaking cowl vents, R+R front frame rails, R+R front frame rail crossmember bolts IN the frame.
Glass (rear) you cant find because its not manufactured
Put in a T-5 5 speed, Opps the crossmember doesn't quite fit.
recovering seats, painting the dash after having to weld the ignition key opening to the correct size. Replacing the entire wiring harnesses. All of them, new heads, rebuild the carb, overheating problems, pertronics ignition burns out after 9 months etc,etc. $45 for CV joint to be replaced??? What CV joints? It a hard axel, Might even be an open end. And lets not forget the "exploding " gas tank, $700 for a racing fuel cell. Convert to front disk brakes with, This is an interesting idea, A dual bowl master cylinder. The safety differences between the two cars are night and day. One additional finding, I have NEVER had a bolt or nut on a Mercedes that I could not get off. In 23 years of owning them. The Mustang, The amount of rusted Items was unbelievable. The 2 most important tools in a Mustang restoration are a sawsall and a welder. We were extremely lucky. I didn't know about the cowl vent rust when we bought the Mustang. Ours were solid, but 40-50% of them require replacing the cowl vent sheet metal. 167 spot welds have to be drilled out, old sheet metal cut out and new cowl vents welded in, then the 167 spot welds button welded back. Additionally new floor pans are the #1 welding job on the car.
Go here if you want to learn about Vintage Mustangs, they are lots of work, 602,000 posts and this doesn't include the 900,000 on the old forum.

http://www.vintage-mustang.com/

Do a search on the word "rust"

I think you will see that the SL wil be more reliable in the long run. You had to buy a hard top?? All 107 SL's came with hardtops.

I know that you have been through a lot, but I own a 88 560SL and a 65 Mustang Fastback. We completely rebuilt the Mustang and we still have things go wrong with it, more than I have with the SL. Over time you will find the SL is quite reliable.

Dave

PS Keep them both, their both great cars. A luxury touring convertible and a classic Mustang, Two different worlds

I've admired the Benz SL since age 8. Only took 39 more years to buy my first. (do the math)

Bought my 1986 560SL 3 months ago on EBAY. Still love it! 44 when I bought my first MB - 1991 420SEL.

Me? 26. My 450SL? A month younger
(I gotta do my part to lower the average a little...)

27
 

I'm 27. I was a tender 13 when my 1989 560SL was manufactured.

I'm 31 and I brought my 82 500SL last year at 30, some younger friends ere supprised when I got it, but I tell them all I'm going through a mid mid life crisis and yes it is red..

I think they are a classic shape and suit people of any age..

Damian

I must be the young buck here!! Only 24, and have had my 450SL for almost 9 months. (7 of the nine the car was stuck in the garage being torn apart and put back together)

I was less than a year old when she rolled off the assembly line.

What a sweet ride!!!!!



Rich

'79 450 SL Silver 185,000 mi.

38
 

bought my: 78 280ce @ age 35
86 560sl @ age36
94 SL500@ age37
97 E300d@ age38

I enjoy all of them to the fullest!!

45 & car silly

I'd been driving an '88 Porsche 928S4 for the last five years as my 'fun' car but really wanted a convertible for the nice summer days here in Cleveland (both of them) - bought my second Triumph Spitfire (an '80) and while it's still fun, at my age it is more of a pain then I remembered from my first one back in '81.

Decided to get the SL because it had the same size engine and identical horsepower of the 928 - and because it's gorgeous - and because at this age I wear it much better than I do the Spitfire, which now sits pretty much unused in the garage.

- michael

'98 500 SL BLK/BEIGE
'98 Durango 4X4
'94 Infiniti Q45a
'83 F250 w/plow
'80 Spitfire

"nice summer days here in Cleveland (both of them)" :)

age of sl owners
 

Bought my 1977 450sl 6 years ago. Going to be 76 next month! I just replaced my waterpump on my 1963 split window corvette (bought new November 1962) Am Iwinning this quiz? Still do some light work on SL, But will take the Corvette anyday! Regards to all. Abe G

I'm 40 and still wishing to get a SL..trying to figure out what to get 450..560...???

Age of a SL owner
 

I bought my R129 SL when I was 22. I just turned 23 and am very happy with the attitude my car seems to project. I actually feel more confident in life just because of a hunk of german metal. It has a very respectful look and gets as much attention as I would want or need. Although my current obsession is with the '03 230 SL, I'll just have to wait until an affordable price is available. Bottom line the car clowns all corvettes, bmw's(except the z8), boxters, and some 911's; not to mention almost everybody else. All I need now is xenons and I'll be walking on air...
-CY

Hi Boys and Girls, Iam 79. My first Sl was a 1959 190 which I bought when I was
46. Had the car for 30 years and sold it
and bought a 1988 560Sl with 51k on the
clock. Runs like a Swiss watch. The 560 isn't as easy to work on as the 190 was,
but basically they haven't changed that
much over the years. Happy miles ahead too all.

Frank
560SLroadster