Parts Catalog Accessories Catalog How To Articles Tech Forums
Call Pelican Parts at 888-280-7799
Shopping Cart Cart | Project List | Order Status | Help



Go Back   PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum > Mercedes-Benz Tech Information and Support > Tech Help

Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #91  
Old 09-21-2004, 02:42 PM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Motor City. MI
Posts: 73
Wrong end of the telescope!!!

i think many of you are too busy looking at the wrong end of the telescope. the term 'collectible' is as subjective as it is misleading. i would be using the term 'desireable' instead.
i'm an indy dealer. i can tell you this much about dealer auctions, whenever an older, clean, reasonable miles S-body Benz comes in the lane its a dealer feeding frenzy. based on 'book value', the older S-Class bring more proportionally than the newer series of MB's. i have seen dealers consistently pay 2-3 times book value on these older cars. why? well, there's still a lot of folks who can't shell out $40-80K to get world-class engineering.

and, there's no real mystery to it. as one poster said, some of this is due to wanting when you could'nt afford it. as many MB's were very advanced for their time, they still make excellent road cars even now. the S-class will always be a grand automobile no matter what and the long body runs help to blur the line of model-year. this, and more, add up to a 'mystique-value-quotient' that adds desire for the brand.

as a matter of fact, just today i bought an '85 500SE. i've always thought these cars had some wonderfully subtle styling features and they were leaner looking than the U.S. version cars. when i put it on my lot at $4-5K, there'll be a lot of prospects who will only be able to comparison-shop that price with a Taurus at 100K miles. what would you rather have?

Reply With Quote
  #92  
Old 09-21-2004, 04:02 PM
Jim B+
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
A number of four-door sedans are collectable...

I'd include Model A Fords, most Packards and many Lincolns. Some cars don't look right in a two-door closed configuration.

I had a friend who owned a Facel Vega (a "clamshell" four door design) in the '80s for many of the reasons you like your car.

To me the prime attraction of Mercedes models such as the SD is that they're amazingly robust, fairly cheap to buy and operate, and are likely the last cars to be built that you will be able to say that about. Be that as it may, owning and pampering a "delicate flower" Mercedes can be justified by this being a free country. Many of us had involvements with sports cars which we loved but which had running gear with the durability of chocolate. I have three Benzes also, but they're all low maintenance W123's, although the coupe was nice enough to be featured in a magazine.
Reply With Quote
  #93  
Old 09-21-2004, 10:09 PM
Hatterasguy's Avatar
Zero
 
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Milford, CT
Posts: 19,318
The S class Mercedes is a car like no other, sure Rolls cost more money and the BMW's can outhandle it. But once your behind the wheel all that doesn't matter. The big steering wheel fits the car as you look over the long hood to see the star you relise just how big the car is. You own the road and the highway is your playground. Depending on the engine under the hood it can either be an economical cruiser or a monster just waiting to be let lose. A 300SD can be run on a shoe string budget and at the same time projects elegance, while on the other hand an S600 is just an awsome machine. The big 12 sounds like a turbine, and it just pulls no matter what the speed. Maintaince cost's and fuel usage don't matter, this 12 will pull you to the door of 180mph in supreme comfort all day long. The S will out handle car's half it's size and out brake all but the best. Driving an S is a state of mind, you have to enjoy the ride.


BTW I don't think people should cross shop a W126 with a Ford Taurus, the W126 will probably cost 2-3 times as much to maintain.
__________________
1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200
Reply With Quote
  #94  
Old 09-23-2004, 03:28 AM
gerryvz's Avatar
"Unhinged Troll" - Jim B.
 
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: The Woodlands, TX
Posts: 1,268
Anybody who knows their stuff and is employed in some fashion in the Mercedes-Benz industry (I'm talking about qualified/knowledgeable dealer and indy mechanics, shop owners, partsmen, service managers, shop foremen, and so forth) will UNANIMOUSLY laud the W126/C126 cars over the W140/C140s.

The residual values of 126 coupes and sedans is quite high for the best examples. These cars continue to be in high demand because of their build quality, materials, industrial design, solid technology and engineering, ergonomics, safety features, parts availability, reasonable parts expense, and ease of maintenance.

140 values are dropping like stones, with no bottom in sight. Somehow I don't believe that the 140 coupes will ever be quite the "classic" that the 126 coupe is. That's just my subjective opinion, though. One is the original, the other is the 'plumped up' follow-on copy.

Cheers,
Gerry

Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is On
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On




All times are GMT -4. The time now is 05:54 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Search Engine Optimization by vBSEO 3.6.0
Copyright 2018 Pelican Parts, LLC - Posts may be archived for display on the Peach Parts or Pelican Parts Website -    DMCA Registered Agent Contact Page