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#1
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65 Coupe As Daily Driver
About 6 months ago I bought a 1970 250C euro car with a stick to use as my daily driver. I have slowly been repairing everything while putting 300 plus miles a week on the car. So far everything has been great, my problem is that my teenager has laid claim to the coupe. My wife thinks it's a great idea because it is a safe car, my daughter thinks its a cool car, and I think it's great because it was cheap and I get to get something else. I have a line on a clean 1965 coupe which is what I really wanted to begin with. I was wondering if the early w111 cars will be as dependable over the long haul as a daily driver or are they better suited as trailer queens and weekend toys? I always have another vehicle available but I don't want something that is going to frustrate me in the long run.
Last edited by magnumrick; 11-21-2006 at 03:55 PM. |
#2
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Never keep and MB as a piece of furniture. Run the heck out of them. When it dies get another one. These cars are like trains there is always another that comes a long.
I am always amazed at people who get a car which is great and fun to drive and hord it and think it will last forever. And they never drive it. Drive the piss out of it. Like us they are flesh and bone, plastic and steel very mortal. When it crocks you can have fun getting a new one. Regards Tom Scordato 1979 240 D |
#3
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Yeah but magnumrick you understand it aint gonna be anything like the 114. Instead of light and agile you've got kingpin suspension with zero flex and roll. This means the 111 coupe will ride like its on rails, straight and precise as an arrow in flight. And the entire vehicle will feel like its carved from one solid piece of iron compared with the nimble ball-joint suspension 250C. And everybody in this room will agree that if you get used to driving a kingpin Benz 110, 111, 108 then everything else pales in comparison as flimsy and featherweight.
Lifetime potential as well-maintained daily driver in SoCal rust free climate, if you're asking me. But the same as any car more then 40 yrs old, it would probly be wise to get a professional assessment on compression, suspension condition and general roadworthiness after judging the cosmetics for yourself. None of the fiddly bits will give you trouble because ther aint alot of em. |
#4
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As with most vintage cars, rust is the killer of many an old Mercedes, so try to avoid rain and snow. A W111 in good shape can make a decent daily-driver, but I wouldn't have one as an only-car. In my opinion, the fuel injection on the W111 coupe is less DIY friendly than carbs, so be prepared to locate a shop in your area that can work on it if needed. Also, unlike the 250C, the W111 has numerous grease fittings in the suspension and driveshaft that require periodic lubing. Otherwise, the car is about as simple and easy to work on as your 250C. The early automatics tend to be jerky and rob power, especially with the smaller engines, so I prefer a stickshift on these cars.
Happy Motoring, Mark
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DrDKW Last edited by Mark DiSilvestro; 11-23-2006 at 10:05 AM. |
#5
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111 daily driver
I think a 111 would make a great daily driver. Given proper maint it will be very reliable. I would recommend replacing all belts, hoses, subframe and rear axle mounts, starter, water pump and alternator as a minimum if you intend using it as a daily driver unless your car has maint history. There is not an inexaustable supply of these cars as the 111's are rare and getting more difficult to locate so choose wisely and plan on keeping your coupe for a long time.
Tony
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Tony H W111 280SE 3.5 Coupe Manual transmission Past cars: Porsche 914 2.0 '64 Jaguar XKE Roadster '57 Oval Window VW '71 Toyota Hilux Pickup Truck-Dad bought new '73 Toyota Celica GT |
#6
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Second several of the above points. I personally like the early MB automatics; they had no torque converter and surprising efficiency, being rather similar to the much earlier original Hydra-Matic. Think of the tranny as a self-shifting manual; it's surprisingly controllable through the throttle. The injector pump is basically pretty reliable, but not that many folks know how to work on it any more. The suspension lube points need attention every 3K miles, but the comments on the kingpin MBs are spot on; there's an incredible sense of being in a rolling bank vault, and you feel the suspension and seats soaking up everything before it gets to your bod. Dad had a new '69 108 and it remains the best car I've ever driven, like nothing else I've driven since including newer Mercedes.
The 111 coupe is moderately rare and therefore the value supports some degree of restoration, though a full frame-off approach probably wouldn't be supported in the market. Get it up to the level where it drives right and looks good if not concours, then drive it whenever the weather's right and keep it for a few decades--but have something else for the rainy days.
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Craig Bethune '97 SL500, 40th anniversary edition '04 Olds Bravada (SWMBO's) '06 Lexus ES330 '89 560SL (sold) SL--Anything else is just a Mercedes. (Kudos to whoever said it first) |
#7
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take a very hard look at the front suspension. if not lubed regularly some of the joints can sieze up and cause serious problems.
personally i dont think they drive much different from any other mercedes. they all feel very similar to me. tom w
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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC] ..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis. |
#8
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Rick, if you deside against the purchase how about shooting me the particulars on the 111. I am looking for a Cali car hopefully and do not mind some work. Thanks and good luck with the decision.
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64 European Coupe Brilliant Silver with Red interior 4 Speed Sunroof 87 TDT 286k 87 SDL 195k 83 SD 202k 83 SD 201k 83 D 286k 02 R1150RT 32K 00 122HP FLSTF 07 KTM 250SX "Danger takes many forms" |
#9
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I have been out of town for the holiday's and havn't had a chance to go see the car yet. I will be happy to pass on the info if it doesn't pan out for me. Thanks for all the great insight, it sounds like it would work fine for me.
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