Need Advice To Assure The Misses...
 

My 560 SEL has the chance to accompany me and the misses and my 11 year old on a road trip to New Orleans (from Atlanta) for the holiday.She only sees it as an old car that may strand us on the highway.I've explained that any car can break down whether its new or old because I've surely passed a few new cars stranded on the road but that's another story.

Admittedly,she does have about 230k miles on her but has NEVER given me any trouble on the road.As a matter of fact, she LOVES the road and I don't see paying a few hundred bucks for a little bitty car with no room and uncomfortable ride... I'd like YOU GUYS' advice on whether you think this is a wise thing to do.This is for my fiance's peace of mind and I'd like to show her the results of the "poll" to ease it as much as possible. I'M not worried about her because I know she'll make it with no problem.

Any suggestions are welcome and please...HELP me out on this one! Thanks guys. :)


By the way- I've just changed the oil about 2 weeks ago and still looks like honey.She starts every time I ask her to, has new Beru wires,plugs are cool but I've got another set that I'm considering installing, I've got a new dist cap that I haven't installed because she is alright but will have it on hand, new cold start valve (that it didn't NEED, along with OVP-ditto) new 205/60/15 yokohamas this past Friday which greatly improved the already smooth ride. I'm contemplating changing my trans fluid and filter but... Whadda ya guys think? ready?...set?...GO!

I'd take it, the mercedes is a reliable and safe car. I would have no problems driving a car with that mileage any distance. MErcedes taxi's in Europe go well over 500,000 miles.

The car is extremely well built and over engineered, In my opinion, it can handle the drive without a problem.

Alon

Shoot, I see no problem on a 1K mile jaunt. Did that myself at the start of November without so much as a hiccup. A couple days after Christmas I get to go on an all expense paid month long vacation :rolleyes: to the beautiful Sonoran Desert of Southern Arizona, plan on taking the 560.

If you set the cruise to about 82 or so, expect to get about 20 MPG. At 90 you'll net about 17 MPG.

Ya'll take the 560. Based on some of the stuff I have read around here it is probably more reliable than some of the new MB's. I have not long ago done a 700 mile roundtrip in the 300TD and that car did not miss a beat.

I used to make the trip from Halifax to Toronto (roughly 1200 miles each way) several times a year in my 420SEL that had mileage as high as your 560, and it never left me stranded. I used to have my mechanic give eveything the once over before each trip. I would drive it in, tell him I was going and he spend about 10 minutes checking fluid level, belt tension and hose connections and never charged me. I know having this done always gave me a great deal of confidence.

There is not problem with the car, it'll make it, but with my experience of having been married for 24 years, drive the car she wants. You can't win this one. Remember, if the misses is happy, then you're happy.

Call me a wimp, or smart.....either opinion is probably correct.

JCD

why not take it? besides in an MB you can never be 'stranded' due
to mercedes roadside assistance service. altho by the looks of it you won't be needing to call 'em!

i wouldn't hesitate to jump in my '84 and drive 1200 miles to florida (i might check the oil level beforehand!)


enjoy your holiday!

You and the your fiancee will appreciate the extra space, comfort, luxury and safety in your 560SEL. You DO NOT want to be in a 'tin-can' rental on the highway for that distance.

She'll experience, first hand, MB quality at the highest level and never want to travel in anything else once you have completed this trip and she sees the car run flawlessly. You already have peace of mind driving your Benz. She will too :)

You can also spend the extra $ you save on the rental on a nice evening out....that'll help the cause! :cool:

Thanks so far guys! This will be a pretty good printout by Monday evening I'm sure. Of course if El Presidente would part with the "rocket" I could test it out on the road for him and make it to N.O. in about what--4 hours tops? :) Who would care about room? Hell then I'd only worry about .... now that I think about it, I wouldn't worry about ANYTHING!:)

I think engatwork has first dibbs on the rocket over the holidays :p

NOT even in the equation...for one my baby wouldn't do that to me (the 560) and two my baby wouldn't do that to me (the misses). Niether situation is in their character which gives me confidence in them both!;)

I am presently in Memphis, 500 miles away from home, in my 75 240D (unknown mileage). Ran like a sewing machine coming up here, and I'm sure it will run just as well on the way home. I could have taken a newer car, but this one is simply more fun on the highway.

Rent a new Lincoln Town Car, and beat it up! There is always the issue of any car, old or new, may break down.

I would never consider taking one of my cars on long trip, rock chips, weather, etc.,

It just makes the odds better to rent one. You have fun, she is happy, and you won't care in a couple of weeks if you run over a skunk!

PaulC, good point!

I always get a white one.

Well, thanks a lot guys! We will be taking the 560 to New O. tomorrow evening and I'll take that advice Mike T about the cruise at 82 mph to squeeze out as much mpg as I can get!;)

I washed,polished and waxed her over the weekend but that's about it. I checked the oil and it looks fine,water level is okay,brake fluid and hydro fluid fine, tire pressure is cool. I did however put my new set of plugs in the spare tire well next to the tire, along with a quart of Castrol oil. Trans fluid and filter (I may change it when I get there with the father in law (to be) :) I've got my jumper/ booster cables (the heavy @$$ battery thing with the light and cigarette lighter type connections), extra dist cap and rotor,coolant, and my extra OVP.

I'm wondering if I should purchase a set of all of my belts because I did notice that they don't look all that "new" although they don't look like they'll break either. I'm always like "you never know" and figure it couldn't hurt. I've also got my hydraulic jack in the trunk.Of course all of this is packed neatly on the SIDES of the trunk in the well with PLENTY of room to use the whole trunk with room to spare! Any thoughts or suggestions before we embark are welcome so please don't be shy... Wish us luck and have a great holiday:D

Alan