PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum - View Single Post

Nate Stanley · #10 09-18-2007, 05:22 PM

I've had both, and i guess it depends on 3 main factors:

1) long or short trips
2) straight or twisty driving
3) your height

I'm 6' and prefer the SD for its overall feel and interior size. It's a great highway cruiser and feels like 55 when you're doing much faster than that.

The 300D, on the other hand, can be tossed thru the corners with more enthusiasm, though both cars exhibit some body roll but track straight and true, and it's a gas to drive thru long, fast, swoopy roads.

Both have great fade-free brakes. Part costs are reasonable for both types.

The SD is much quieter due to its second firewall, and due to the wider body, there is more room under the hood except for the master cylinder-but it's still workable.

I agree with toomany about the interiors. My SD has more rattles and squeaks that either of the 123 bodies I have had. Somehow the designers really got body integrity really right on the 123 series; they are VERY tight cars.

Suspension: I haven't sorted out all the gronks and such on the 126, but it seems from what I've seen on the forum that the 126 front ends require more work to become totally silent over bad roads. OTOH I have a friend with a 123 with 300K+ on original suspension bits (except shocks), and it's tight as a new car.

Climate control: Problematic for both types. Try to get one with the A/C working.

Best answer I can give is-- try to test drive both types, and get the nicest one you can afford, you'll be way ahead if you don't try to make a silk purse out of a beater. You won't lose with either one, both are great cars that will give excellent service with proper maintenance. If you don't do your own wrenching, start now and save big bucks- and make friends with an independent mechanic in your area (check the forum) for any big stuff you may not want to do yourself.