96 SL500 - "First Car" choice? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

G-Benz · #1 02-26-2008, 01:20 AM

Daughter posing beside "potential" purchase...a 96 SL500.

112.6K miles, AMG alloys, typical options akin to the R129 series. New ragtop, accident free. Body is straight, paint is original, with rock chips and small dings reflecting a car driven for over a decade.

Only real issues were bad front rubber shock mounts and a persistent SRS light.

Those items will be corrected prior to delivery...including replacement of front tires, which suffered some abnormal tread wear due to the worn mounts.

Picking up for about $13.5K incl TTL.

This is an early planned purchase for the kid, who will be of driving age shortly. So the less-than-perfect body keeps me from being nervous about it being parked at a high-school lot.

No paperwork signed yet so I can back out of this deal at any time.

Is this an obnoxious choice for a "first car"? What would you guys get for your kid?

I figure I could do worse with a mediocre Camry or Accord for the same $$$ and not have the safety or technology. The M119 has a bulletproof reputation, and I know much about how to tinker with the R129 as my wife owned a 95 for several years.

Note: This is the same kid who has been riding dirt bikes since age 5...and maintains a healthy respect for horsepower.

PaulC · #2 02-26-2008, 01:44 AM

Price the insurance before you buy.

iwrock · #3 02-26-2008, 01:51 AM

Insurance will be a deal killer.

#4 02-26-2008, 01:55 AM

Quote:

What would you guys get for your kid?

I wouldn't get my kid ANY car. They should have enough responsibility to get a job and earn their own money to buy their own car. Daddy shouldn't have to buy them one.

Jim B. · #5 02-26-2008, 02:34 AM

I drove Justin's '96 SL600 and granted, the SL500 is probably waaaaay too slow, compared to it, but the SL600 is a Rocket Ship, and it was so fast to accellerate, I almost screamed in delight.

And I have driven cars for over 40 years too.

I could not think of a worse choice to give the keys to a car like that to a lovely young girl, with respect for horsepower or not.

The problem is there is too much of it, for a beginning driver. It is the INEXPERIENCE she has that puts her and others at risk.

If you are buying, (which to me is another bad idea, but then, when you pull weeds at $1.25 an hour to pay the insurance to get to drive a 1964 6 cylinder Ford falcon, you see where I am coming from......

If it is handed to you, you don't appreciate its value, all too often.)

Then you should buy her an old Volvo 240 Station wagon, or an old Ford Crown Victoria or Mercury grand Marquis, big, safe, slow, solid cars that will protect her precious life.

She might resent it, but when she grows up she will praise your loving concern for having done it, and appreciate what it means to get a better car of her own efforts later.

Not to mention, the insurance will be a killer cost for a young driver like that, and the reason of course is that young people with cars like that are like babies playing with loaded guns.

AND TELL HER SHE IS GROUNDED INSTANTLY if she is EVER caught driving while talking on a cell phone.

Doing that almost GUARANTEES she will have a bad accident as a new driver.

Ara T. · #6 02-26-2008, 03:21 AM

I'd not feel comfortable giving my kid a car capable/designed for doing 140+ mph. Not to mention these are a pain in the ass to maintain and drink gas. Insurance will be pretty crazy too, though at least it wouldn't be for a teenage boy. If you're willing to spend 14K for a first car for your kid (that is way too much IMO!) get her a new car and one with 4 less cylinders.

On the plus side, a two seater means she can't haul big groups of her friends around, which means less distractions, and well, I remember how stupid I could be when I had a car full of unruly friends.

Pete Geither · #7 02-26-2008, 05:38 AM

Not no how,,, not no way. Mine still amazes me and can get you in trouble REAL fast. And I believe it is just as quick as the 600.

Dee8go · #8 02-26-2008, 06:28 AM

My daughter has always been very conservative, cautious, and careful. Once she began driving, I saw a WHOLE new side of her. Get her a 240D. The insurance will be more bearable and you'll have removed a tremendous amount of temptation.

Then you can buy the SL for yourself.

G-Benz · #9 02-26-2008, 06:55 AM

Wow! Really BAD idea...I GET it!

And yeah...my first car was a used VW (see sig)...back in the days when I could fill the tank for $5! I flipped burgers at McD's to pay expenses.

Unfortunately, the little miss is heavily involved in athletics, music, and pre-AP courses...she loves it that way, but has practically precious little free time, much less time to hold a job. The car was my way of "dangling a carrot" to get her to stay on the straight and narrow (she IS a teen, after all).

Weird thing though, when I was an adolescent, the guys held jobs to pay for their rides, but the girls got cars from "Daddy"...I guess I don't see a problem with that.

I know insurance is probably the deal killer, but I guess I SHOULD find out how that will turn out...

BobK · #10 02-26-2008, 07:22 AM

There is an '80 300D 116 needing a starter in Atlanta for $500. Get that car and dump the other $13k+ into a college fund. New drivers should be in tanks;diesel tanks! Besides, a 116 is a sleeper. Good handling and brakes. Great ride, classy design.
I count myself lucky that my youngest WANTS to drive the SDL. He loves the car. (He's wierd) (so am I, I love it too).

Kuan · #11 02-26-2008, 07:28 AM

Jeezuz she's 16 already?

Time flies.

I dunno G, I think you should let her make the decision, help her, but don't make it for her.

SwampYankee · #12 02-26-2008, 07:49 AM

Hey G, want to adopt a married 38yo with 4 kids?

It'll be tough turning back now since you already seemed to have dangled that carrot. Are girls any more responsible than boys at that age? (I'm assuming they are). Insurance might be interesting as others have said. You know your daughter, and from the sound of things she definitely seems to have her stuff together, if she can handle it why not. It's one thing to buy a kid a car who doesn't do anything after school and has the time to work but doesn't. It's another to buy a kid who takes on all kinds of extra-curricular activities and does well in them.

I'm not sure what I'll get my now 10yoS. It will be on the larger side, relatively slow and not particularly expensive, though. The time is coming fast!

Ara T. · #13 02-26-2008, 07:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SwampYankee

Hey G, want to adopt a married 38yo with 4 kids?

It'll be tough turning back now since you already seemed to have dangled that carrot. Are girls any more responsible than boys at that age? (I'm assuming they are). Insurance might be interesting as others have said. You know your daughter, and from the sound of things she definitely seems to have her stuff together, if she can handle it why not. It's one thing to buy a kid a car who doesn't do anything after school and has the time to work but doesn't. It's another to buy a kid who takes on all kinds of extra-curricular activities and does well in them.

I'm not sure what I'll get my now 10yoS. It will be on the larger side, relatively slow and not particularly expensive, though. The time is coming fast!

Statistically the girls are more responsible...

most teen drivers really arent that bad until it's Friday night, they've got 3 or 4 friends in the car, thats when the crap can hit the fan

E150GT · #14 02-26-2008, 08:13 AM

Statistically girls are more responsible, but I have found that my 86 420sel has to teach me a lesson in respect every once in a while, and it is waaaay underpowered compared to that. Heck, my 145hp van has taught me lessons to never be forgotten. Do her a favor and get her a 240D.

LUVMBDiesels · #15 02-26-2008, 08:44 AM

I have to agree on the get her a diesel tank idea. My daughter loves my 1974 CJ and wanted one like that for her first car. I was grooving on the idea that the thing would be a 232 six cylinder with 4wd and a three speed transmission -- read slow, needing constant attention so no cell phone calls or God forbid texting, and have a roll bar but the guys here convinced me that it is still a death trap for a teenager.
I will be getting her either a nice 300D turbo or a 300SD. I would not go with a 240 or NA 300D for a teenager as they are too slow, slow enough to be dangerous to somebody who cannot judge oncoming traffic accurately yet. She is NOT geting the BMW!!

Not in the old days anything went. My first car was the 1963 Corviar convertible. If you don't think you can go fast on 102HP, you did not know me. Learned a BIG lesson when I had the tires rotated and the pressure was not adjusted. First fast right turn I did the rear tire slid out from under me. The car spun 360 degrees but did not hit anything. Made me always check any work a garage does for me BEFORE leaving the shop.