Long trip coming up-opinions welcomed - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Gary Ganaway · #1 12-28-2006, 05:14 PM

Ok, turning in my Cadillac SRX at lease end in January,. We are going to Florida for a month in February and I plan on taking the 85 380SE for this trip. Car has 107K and everything, and I mean everything, is up to date plus I will have the chain, tensioner and upper guides replaced before taking off. The car runs beautifully, just had caster joints replaced, and I can;t think of anything else to do before leaving. My wife is skeptical by taking the 380 on this trip but I would trust it better than the Cadillac I am turning in. For example, on my last rip to Houston to visit my daughter, the transmission lines sprung a leak and if I had not been pulling in my driveway at home when this happened I would have been stranded. This is a 2004 SRX by the way. I figure I could drive the 380 for a few months until we decide what car she wants to replace the SRX and save a few months car payments to boot.

Have others taken their older W126's on extended vacations and what have been their experience? thanks

S-Class Guru · #2 12-28-2006, 06:12 PM

I have the same concerns with my '91.
It has never left me stranded; the problems seem to develop
slowly, like a weeping water pump or a failing AC dashpot.
However, I did have an alternator die about 10 miles from home, and that could have been catastrophic if I had been in Hobbs, New Mexico or somewhere like that.

My biggest concern is getting parts/repairs if something on a 20-year-old MB fails. Any older car, even a beautifully maintained MB, is susceptable to a failure at any moment. If the alternator failed in New Mexico, and you were in a 1985 Chevy pickup, probably no big deal. But getting a part for an old MB could take a few days possibly.

I try to head off some of the risk by carrying a few vital spares, such as a belt, hoses, voltage regulator, etc. And I try to make sure the running gear is in great shape (hoses, electrical, accessoriy bearings, seals, flex joints, fluids) but I still hesitate to take it more than a couple hundred miles from home.

Ha, guess I'm losing my sense of adventure as I get older.

DG

TX76513 · #3 12-28-2006, 06:12 PM

I have complete confidence in my cars and (if I had to) drive them anywhere there was a road. Not a big fan of long road trips anymore

You sound like you have a good technical understanding of the 380. Pack a few essential hand tools and hit the road!~

pastmaster · #4 12-28-2006, 06:32 PM

I think you will be fine! Take a few day drives or trips and how the car behaves. Take a re-built alternator, starter, H2O pump, etc., if you think parts may be a problem. NAPA has these parts, sometimes in stock, but an overnight wait, usually better than the dealer. Hoses and belts you have.
MB Road Service 24hrs. a day, what more can you do to prepare?

Gary, your tires may give you a bigger concern. Their age and condition?
Go, enjoy!!!

Jackd · #5 12-28-2006, 06:48 PM

I made the round trip from Montreal to Florida (3,200mi) last spring with my 1989 260E with more than 400K on the clock.
Since I had not made a long trip with my W124 in a very long time, I did not hesitate to leave my newer Benz home.
Not-a-single-problem, not-a-single-sign-of-old-age, not-a-single-strange-noise.
The old faithfull cruised along the newer cars on the road, never loosing a beat.
Have a nice trip.

Brian Carlton · #6 12-28-2006, 07:42 PM

I'll take the '84 or the '86 on a 600 mile trip on a moment's notice.

Sure, sometimes you'll have some issues, but, they normally won't strand you. On the last trip with the '86, it cracked the #6 injection line and eventually lost all pressure to #6. Had to drive it on 5 for about 150 miles and order the injection line from the dealer in Raleigh. Two days to get it.

I agree with the problems of obtaining parts.........sometimes it's difficult.

sokoloff · #7 12-28-2006, 08:10 PM

I take my '59 on long trips all the time. Any car that is properly serviced and runs well around town ought to do just fine on a trip.

Len
'59 220S Cabriolet - been to Tampa, Orlando, Atlanta, Birmingham, Jacksonville, Raleigh, Knoxville, Indianapolis, Columbus, Pittsburgh, Baltimore, Philadelphia, New York, Boston among others

Hatterasguy · #8 12-28-2006, 09:52 PM

I'd drive my SDL anywhere anytime. I have been doing one or two long trips(500+ miles)a year for the past couple of years. Always ran perfectly.

fj bertrand · #9 12-28-2006, 10:35 PM

After I bought my 71 220D and changed all the consumables: belts, hoses, filters, tires, shocks, motor mounts, brakes, etc. I went on a 300 mile trip to a MB event. It was great, cruising at 75, running with the current cars, and getting stares. It was wonderful with vent windows again. I'd jump in the car now and go anywhere, I consider it that dependable, as it is so simple....

t walgamuth · #10 12-28-2006, 10:58 PM

i would not hesitate to hop in my 84 500sec and head for california tomorrow. my tires might be a concern, but that is all.

a newer car can break down too.

tom w

Tomguy · #11 12-28-2006, 11:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gary Ganaway

...but I would trust it better than the Cadillac I am turning in.

As would I. I am of the opinion that the cars that have proven themselves, day in, day out are the ones I want to take on long trips - not the ones that haven't.

When I drove my 4.5 daily, I didn't hesitate to go anywhere. Even a last-minute trip to Atlantic City. Not an issue, not a hiccup at all - not even in the heavy snow that seemingly came out of nowhere about 10 minutes after I left and quickly resulted in the whole trip being in a minimum of 1" of snow. If you have faith in it, then you - knowing your car better than anyone else - are the best judge of all. Go for it

ProV1 · #12 12-29-2006, 12:21 AM

i've taken 2 roadtrips (1300 miles, and 600 miles) in my 'new-to-me' 1997 E420 with 108k miles, she drove like a dream!! great gas mileage, very comfy, and i love how the big 4.2L just purrs when cruising at 80mph. My S2000 runs at 5000rpm at 80mph!! LOL!!!

pastmaster · #13 12-29-2006, 01:19 AM

[QUOTE=fj bertrand;1370841]After I bought my 71 220D and changed all the consumables: belts, hoses, filters, tires, shocks, motor mounts, brakes, etc. I went on a 300 mile trip to a MB event. It was great, cruising at 75, running with the current cars, and getting stares. It was wonderful with vent windows again. I'd jump in the car now and go anywhere, I consider it that dependable, as it is so simple.

VENT WINDOWS!!! True Classic Motoring without equal!!!

blueeagle289 · #14 12-29-2006, 06:13 AM

I took my 420SEL to PA in 2005 for a total of 3000 miles including local driving there; no problems at all. I also have driven this car on some 500 miles round trips, again with no problems. If the car is in good condition, it is just as dependable as any other car ... parts of some types could be hard to find tho. I also would not hesitate to drive my 92 300CE anywhere; in fact will probably drive it to PA in May 2007 for a vacation trip there. It only has 90K on it and has been well maintained.

All of my Mercedes have new tires, which is one thing you definitely need to consider if your tires are pretty old.

Bob G · #15 12-29-2006, 06:41 AM

I see lots of older Mercede Benz still on the road. Yesterday I saw a 1966 280SL Pagoda orginal conditon, not pampered by the looks of the body & chrome but it
owner around town and my be beyon.
I have a 1992 300-E solid as a tank rock steady on the freeway a pleasure to drive. Ya I think I want a new car some day, but fail to see how I can live with the computer hardware they put in , I keep telling my self people don't buy these cars they lease them. When the computer go hay wire you better have deep pockets and most of the mechnics I have meet have not studied up on the new CAN computer electronics systems, nor have they made an investment in new equipment because its so expensive.
I think the older Mercedes-Benz are more reliable and will get you home even in limp mode.
Bob Geco