A. Rosich-
Let me ask you a question........If you had a w 140 and a W220 in a lot for sale and both were S 500's with the same equipment except the newer one comes with the navigation system and the price was the same........which one would you buy?

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Tabasco

2002 Mercedes S 500 with AMG Sport Package Silver with charcoal interior
2003 Acura MDX Sage Green, touring package & Navigation
2001 Saab 9.3 Convertable Red exterior with camel interior

That's a silly question in that they would never be the same price. Unless the guy who owned the lot would be a total moron.

To clarify my post about W126's being a nice choice, I just want to point out that the W126 was a design that was acclaimed worldwide and that it's a stellar vehicle even today. In talking to my mechanic who is a MBZ specialist, he basically told me to run far away from any W140 older than a '96 and that he'd rather have my car than any W140 !! That's just his opinion but he says they're high maintanence and he would know. I'm sure they're nice, but I prefer the older lines of the W126. The W140s look too "boxey" to me and to own a W220 is moot point since I can't afford one.

I don't need GPS, self closing doors, microwaves or refridgerators when I drive somewhere. I do like the dual airbags, ABS brakes that my car has. Comes in handy when you're doing triple digits on some deserted highway.

You can toss a new stereo and a tasteful set of W140 style 8 hole wheels on a W126 and you get this. Take the $40K or so you save on new one and buy some stock or something.

122K miles. Midnight Blu/Blk leather
Kenwood MPV 619 CD/CDR/MP3/Sirius SAT radio

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1990 420 SEL / 151K mi.

the question is not 'realistic'! But if you added one other modifier: ". . .if the two cars had the same milage", then I buy the W140!

BTW, my W140 has a navigation system!

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Regards . . . . JimF
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'94 S500 Cpe

Visit my Mercedes Web Page

Dear Tabasco:

Based on all my views expressed throught this thread, you may think you are throwing me a "trick question" in which I should answer: "The W140" (based on your assumption that both, the W140 and W220 are both equipped with identical engines and features). This way, I will be truthful to my convictions and also "look stupid" for making such a choice (monetary wise).

Well my friend, in such an scenario, my real answer would be:

I will buy the W220, SELL IT inmediantly (making a nice profit). Then, I will COME BACK to the lot and BUY THE W140 and use the left over money to take a long vacation either in Nepal or Mozambique with a nice new set of Gucci luggage. I may even have some money left to fit an aftermarket GPS system to the W140 (or I could always ask for directions, no shame about that).

This way, I will end up with the REAL GROSSER MERCEDES (not the CHEAP spin-off) and have the opportunity to take a vacation for free in one of the most exotic places on earth.

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A. Rosich
CL 500, 1998
S 500 L, 1998
E 320 T, 1995 [Sadly sold ]

Here's the real deal S-class. This thing is to DIE for !!

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1990 420 SEL / 151K mi.

interesting point..as I have heard the same thing about the 140,124,210..etc..etc

the self closing doors are nice..as the 140 has some very heavy doors..are they absolutely necessary..?....no..but they are nice to have..as are the reversing rods and the electric fold in exterior mirrors...and while you are doing triple digits I am suer you would enjoy the ride and handling if the 140 over the 126 hands down

as for the 8 hole wheels, I personally don't like those on a 126 and the stereo mods will not match the the interior lights etc of the 126...as I like to have my car remain looking very stock



Warren
1992 300SD 160K
Columbus Ohio

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1990 420 SEL / 151K mi.

you got me there the 140 only lasted for 9...as for repairs yes indeed more expensive..as there is a LOT more to the car than the 126..so it stands to reason..but with that same rationale(of cost of repairs) you could always buy an accord...has ALL the features that you have(plus a much better stereo) and what your car would have lost in resale the first few years would have paid cash for the Honda

ANYONE would tell you the 140 is a better handling car..not a BMW by any means..but better than the 126...and the 220 btw is even better handling than the 140...as with Mercedes tradition the newer generation typically is more refined


why did you update the wheels...was there anything wrong with the stock design of the 126?

as for the stereo I like to keep the factory look..which is one of the reasons I like MB so much anyway..the finish and look of the interior..I don't want to mar it with something that doesn't fit the look...as for the CD changer my 10 disc doesn't take up much room at all..its in the left area in its own compartment and franky I like CD quality music much more than MP3..while its takes more space to store..the sound quality and clarity make a HUGE difference to me

I am not crazy for the 140..I think its a great car...does it have issues..yes..but the ride,solidity,attention to detail and handling make it in a class by itself..I have owned a 126,124 and now a 140...I actually think I preferred the 124 to the 126...based on its handling for the most part
And as for repairs...franky the 124 could not be beat..much better than the 126
but you know I have driven the 220..great car..almost handles like a BMW with the ride of a MB


just my .002

Warren
1992 300SD 160K
Columbus Ohio

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......actually it's what the original owner "lost" in resale. I wouldn't buy a new car on a bet. It's one of the worst investments you can make. I make no apologies on having less than $10K total invested the '90 420SEL you see above. It's in very good condition and is mechanically sound. And yes, I'm crazy about it which means I think it's a great car ( semantics ).

I personally don't think the W140 is "alot" more car than the W126. I do think it's alot more money and will cost 5x to maintain. To say a Honda accord has all the features of a W126 is simply ludicrous. Your logic is skewed. However if you are in some way trying to denigrate the W126's due to their lower repair/maintanence requirements, you're actually helping me make my point.

Here's a quote you made in an earlier post in this very thread....

"....my personal example has had over 20K in repairs in the last 3 years"

Yikes !! You could prolly get a good Accord for that too !

You have your right to your own opinion. So we'll just have to agree to disagree.

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1990 420 SEL / 151K mi.

I will agree with you on that one....the only reason I brought up the Accord is the fact that you mentioned the maintenance on a 140 versus a 126..as a HUGE selling point...I merely stated the fact because I got the impression that 99% of your buying decision was based on that
Trust me I knew that repairs were going to cost more on the 140 when I bought it....everyone has to realize that..but yet they still sell..anything that complicated and expensive has to be expensive to repair...thats common sense
not 5 times as much...double yes..but then the used cars are bringing substantially more.. its kinda like remodeling the 100K versus the 250K house...you make different decisions


True statement...BUT were they all absolutely necessary..who knows..the Mercedes Benz dealer(much to the dismay of the warranty co) thought they were...some of them could have been done at a much more reasonable cost...I am sure
A person who does not a car in warranty faces some different issues...but when the car is in warranty...who cares...as far as I was concered the MB dealer could have replaced every element in the car as long as it was not at my expense
why?..do you say..because after the warranty I have a car chock full of MB parts that I will probably never have to worry about again...were they necessary... again who cares...they were newer than the parts that were taken off...hence should last through my ownership of the vehicle and be a selling point when the time comes
and by the way Todd..you need to ask someone who has had a starmark warranty how many $$ in repairs they have had..no matter what model I am sure the figure will astound you...why is that?..because the dealers never repair,they replace and they constantly look for things that are "about to go" and replace them while you are there...heck evertime I took my car in they always replaced something that was "about to go"..usually to the tune of another 1500-2000 dollars

Warren
1992 300SD 160K
Columbus Ohio

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Both are excellent cars by any standard. The W140 has a nice comfortable ride. The W220 has a nice firm ride, if you compare it to the W140.

I agree....I think anyone would say that anyMB was an excellent car especially in the period that it was built
I have driven the 220 and frankly I like it...it will handle circles around my car...almost BMW like...but I think my car car handles much better than the 126....so each generation bears many improvements



Warren
1992 300SD 162K
Columbus Ohio

The "power headrests" in my 1994 S420 (assembled 9/93) had only the one-way power. The headrests had to be manually pulled up, but the touch of a button causes then to fall (quite literally). Also...look how long it to for them to put an automatic trunk release on the car. Amazing.

Having said all of that...I agree with all of you that it will be a long time before MB finds a suitable replacement for the 140. The 220 is not that replacement. I'm always amazed at how dignified and important the face of the 140 looks. Why its as if we have interupted an important meeting the car was having and it had to take the time to glance at you! What a car...the 140.

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Jim Sehl
'80 350SL
'80 300TD
'84 190D
'86 300E
'92 600SEL
'94 S420

I would consider buying a 220...but right now that is not in my price range...when the cars get to say 30K on the used market maybe I will start to look.
I can honestly say for a car that size it handles incredibly


Warren
1992 300SD 162K
Columbus Ohio

Jim: what you have installed in the rear headrests of your 1994 W140 is a pneumatic realease (same system installed in the W124 sedans). This was the standard realese system for the rear headrests at all W140s (except the 600SE/SEL - S600).

To get the full power up and down rear headrests you had to specify the rear electrically adjustable seat bench (power recline) -which the 600SE/SEL / S600 had as standard equipment - OR the individually adjustable electric rear bucket seats (power recline + bottom seat distance).

The automatic release took such a long time to be installed in the W140 because this feature is basically a liked by the U.S. market only. Even when this feature was installed, the rest of world W140s would not get a dash mounted trunk release. The only way to remote release the trunk was by using the infrared remote control.

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A. Rosich
CL 500, 1998
S 500 L, 1998
E 320 T, 1995 [Sadly sold ]