Ben, our 280s' share the same birthyear!!

I'm a Singapore citizen, and over here, hardly anyone owns a 500SEL and above. 280s' and 300s' are the norm, with the occasional 380. The reason is clear: we have road taxes on engine capacity that goes astronomically high, regardless of the car's age. Almost exponential it seems. So hard as I would like a 420 or 500, it is really beyond my means. It just doesnt make sense (cents!) to pay taxes more than the upkeep of the car itself. Sometimes I envy you other guys with your 500E, 500SEL and stuff like that.

Back to the original topic. Many thanks to everyone here who has gave a piece of their mind, it has really been a great learning experience. I have began to drive my 280SEL harder, and I am having fun! Too bad we do not have Interstates or Autobahns here, but when there is an opportunity, maybe I'll try Malaysia's North-South Highway.

Till then, all the best to everyone, cheers!!

Mervyn

Hi Mervyn, like you I am also bitten by the high costs of motoring here in Singapore.It pains when you get to hear of them 500's & 600's zooming around in the US. I drive a 9 year old 300SEL and having read the posting on Flooring the Accelerator I have been doing just that for the last 2 days Sat n today. You know what I have been having a Jolly good time except trying not to get a ticket!!!!!!And you know what I seem to be getting more mileage than just going easy on that pedal. Maybe that's how the car should be driven and like Jim H said it just floor the pedal and the engine system takes over. Hey the only set back is try very hard not to get a ticket or worst be suspended!!!!!!!!!!Have fun.

Oh No .. with such passion that goes on in this thread, I fear those with much faith might just attempt to break the law and get a ticket for stepping on that pedal.
Perhaps this is a just and rightful case for the Mohderatohs to censor the comments??
JUST KIDDING.

ps. the new logo for Nike @ Mercedesshop.com :
"JUST DRIVE IT!"

__________________
... Kerry

126 tailed by a 203, 129 leading the pack.

This time last year I drove our 190 SL 9,000 miles from Virginia to Alaska and back. Driving through Montana, which had no speed limit but now has a 75 mph speed limit, I ran the tachometer up to 5,000 rpms and asked my wife to video tape a few of the mile post markers as they flashed by every 30 odd seconds. I kept sort of hearing her in the background saying something about slowing down, and before I knew it I passed five Montana State Patrol cars parked one beside the other along the shoulder of the interstate. End of story.

Later when I stopped for fuel I mentioned this to the attendent and he said the troopers were looking for trucks with safety violations. BTW I averaged 23 mpg in Montana and Nebraska compared to 17 mpg the rest of the trip. I could cruise all day long and never had to slow down ... no traffic on the highway. Of course, there was NO traffic on the Alaska Highway that time of year either. The drive was spectacular. Its worth shipping your car over doing the drive. If you travel in April and early May you will be on the roads before the road-slugs (RVs) hit the highways.

Robby