Four Days in a Mercedes-Benz 450SEL 6.9

[Chris Bell]

Found this on the Car & Driver website.
http://www.caranddriver.com/features/11q3/golden_brown_four_days_in_a_mercedes-benz_450sel_6.9-feature

[tonkovich]

good article. fun trip. great car.

[boneheaddoctor]

I could only be so lucky.....Never had the pleasure to see one in person much less ride in or drive it.

[Pooka]

They look just like any other 116 but for the 6.9 badge on the back.

In the late 70's they were probably the finest car in the world and that would include the Rolls-Royce. They would do 0-60 in about 7.5 seconds but they only got about 16 mpg. They also cost $35,000.

Fast forward 30 years later to 2009... My wife's Pontiac G8 GT has every feature of the 6.9 except the air-hryd ride. It will do 0-60 in 5.5 seconds and gets 25 mpg. It cost $32,000 new, which adjusted for inflation is about $9350 in 1978 dollars.

But.... If you take the best Mercedes S-class today and put it up against the Pontiac I bet you would still think the Mercedes was the better car. GM has not stood still, but neither has Mercedes.

[Fulcrum525]

Good article. Glad to see that the 6.9 didn't fail him.

The bit about the dehydration was a bit scary though....wonder if Delibes ran into anything like that when we was driving through that area recently...

[boneheaddoctor]

Originally Posted by Pooka

They look just like any other 116 but for the 6.9 badge on the back.

In the late 70's they were probably the finest car in the world and that would include the Rolls-Royce. They would do 0-60 in about 7.5 seconds but they only got about 16 mpg. They also cost $35,000.

Fast forward 30 years later to 2009... My wife's Pontiac G8 GT has every feature of the 6.9 except the air-hryd ride. It will do 0-60 in 5.5 seconds and gets 25 mpg. It cost $32,000 new, which adjusted for inflation is about $9350 in 1978 dollars.

But.... If you take the best Mercedes S-class today and put it up against the Pontiac I bet you would still think the Mercedes was the better car. GM has not stood still, but neither has Mercedes.

I know...read my sig. I have a 300SD. Just not a long body...but whats that G8 going to be worth in 10 years much less 30?

[Hatterasguy]

Nice cars, I'd like to get one someday.

But hold the phone Mercedes did make a better car in the 70's, the 600!

[boneheaddoctor]

Originally Posted by Hatterasguy

Nice cars, I'd like to get one someday.

But hold the phone Mercedes did make a better car in the 70's, the 600!

Oh yeah.....sweet cars....also expensive to maintain.

[MBlovr]

Originally Posted by Pooka

They look just like any other 116 but for the 6.9 badge on the back.

In the late 70's they were probably the finest car in the world and that would include the Rolls-Royce. They would do 0-60 in about 7.5 seconds but they only got about 16 mpg. They also cost $35,000.

Fast forward 30 years later to 2009... My wife's Pontiac G8 GT has every feature of the 6.9 except the air-hryd ride. It will do 0-60 in 5.5 seconds and gets 25 mpg. It cost $32,000 new, which adjusted for inflation is about $9350 in 1978 dollars.

But.... If you take the best Mercedes S-class today and put it up against the Pontiac I bet you would still think the Mercedes was the better car. GM has not stood still, but neither has Mercedes.

Good stats on the G8 but I guarantee that it wouldn't feel nearly as good as a new W116 going down the road. There is nothing like those cars for a sense of command of the road. When you drive them especially at speed they track like a freight train but the ride is elegantly smooth.

[boneheaddoctor]

Originally Posted by MBlovr

Good stats on the G8 but I guarantee that it wouldn't feel nearly as good as a new W116 going down the road. There is nothing like those cars for a sense of command of the road. When you drive them especially at speed they are like a freight train.

I know my W116 300SD feels and drives great....and the 6.9 should put it to shame.

[MBlovr]

Originally Posted by boneheaddoctor

I know my W116 300SD feels and drives great....and the 6.9 should put it to shame.

I only had the priviledge of driving one back in college. My friends father inlaw was at a Mercedes dealer and he let me drive the 450SEL on the roads and highways of Central California. It was devine. My E3504matic was pretty good but something has been lost in translation with the increased tire width, rack and pinion steering and suspension geometry not to mention sheer mass of the car.

[Since66]

I recall time when the local MB dealer, who at that time was operating out of little more than a store front, asked me to take a drive with him in a newly arrived 300SEL 6.3. He invited me to take it for a short run.

O...M...G...


Unforgettable.

[MBlovr]

Originally Posted by Since66

I recall time when the local MB dealer, who at that time was operating out of little more than a store front, asked me to take a drive with him in a newly arrived 300SEL 6.3. He invited me to take it for a short run.

O...M...G...


Unforgettable.

Love your collection of past Benz's you definitely get what these cars are about.

The article really inspired me to search for a vintage Benz