S600 Is this a good car?
 

I located a '96 S600 for $10K. Compared to a '97 for $17K, this sounds like a deal. However I wonder what could be wrong with it.

Is the S600 a good car and what should I focus on when inspecting one.

Thanks for comments.

There could be a lot of very expensive things wrong with either car. I would involve a dealer for an inspection.

I'd be too way too stressed from worrying all the time about what might break, and how much it would cost to fix.

Imagine having a trophy wife (via plastic surgery) and at any moment one of her enhanced parts could go back to it's original state, and would require immediate surgery.

For what it' worth, I know of a few people with earlier mid-1990's W140 V12s. No problems except normal maintenance and door hinges being replaced.

I've read of the electronic gizmos being a problem, however the issues cropped up more on the earlier W140's.

The V12 is a totally different driving experience than a V8. Rock solid driving at 120+ mph. Very few sedans can touch it.

Have the PPI done buy someone who knows the 12 cylinder cars... :)

What year is yours, Ted?

2003. I'm thinking about replacing it since I do very little highway driving. Not sure what to replace it with though. :confused:

2009 S750 Renntech/Brabus/Wurz collaboration.

How 'bout a blue and silver 300TD? I'll swap you . . . .

How about a newer one?:)

I have not been in a newer S600 until recently and don't know how much more you can get out of a sedan. I rode in the back seat for 2 hours and didn't want to get out when we arrived, when we returned the seat heaters warmed within a couple minutes...if that. It's hard to judge performance without driving it but it seemed like it would do anything it had to do in an effortless manner.

Dude, Nissan Skyline GT-R. 0-60 in 3.8 secs, 0-100 under 9 secs. Faster than a Porsche GT3 Turbo on the track!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hjwJl4t-DF8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XzEivL1Kruo&feature=related

I have one!! :)

Yeah, it's hard to improve on MB's premier fat-man's car. I'd want something smaller since I do mainly city driving. (Cough, Skyline!)

Ooh fast. Oh, 86 that idea. No fog light. :)

They are the best sedans in the world for any money.

They cost a bit more to fix than a regular MB, but you can't have everything.


I don't watch the W140 market to closely, but I have seen what I consider very nice S600's go for around $20k, and a lot of beat junk for much less. I'd try to find a one maybe two owner car, with a full service history, never hit, no stories, with under 50k miles on it. Then have a PPI done at a good dealer.

My friends 1995 has been dead nuts reliable since they got it in 2004. But when it was traded in, it was so nice that the Lexus dealer kept it and put it on the lot right in front.:D A 9 year old trade in has to be pretty damn nice to be put on the lot in the front row.

I saw a CLK63 AMG take off from a light full force recently in person and WOW are they fast. I had never seen a car move so quickly!!! :eek: It was just....gone, instantly. :o