All the bells and whistles on newer cars often cover up the basic goodness of a Mercedes. Any car these days can have most of the extra features that our newer ones do.

Those of us that drive the old cars face choices when it comes to repairs. Do we want to restore the car to as new condition or maintain it as a reliable Rat? I am not a collector. I would not have a car I could not drive every day. Although we have a 2008 E320 Bluetec that my wife loves, my choice is a W123 300CD. But ...... I am not interested in "restoring" it or even keeping it in repair using OE parts.

Right now, she is fully reliable and in excellent basic mechanical condition.
Also looks pretty good, say a 20 footer. There are still a few repairs that are deferred and there are some I have no intention of ever fixing. My list:
Deferred: Sunroof. I know what it needs, involves minor welding in the trunk; Left rear window, needs finding bad wiring, switches and motor o.k.; minor seepage from front crankshaft seal
Never fix: Power locking; heated rear windshield; minor seepage from oil filter mount.

How about the rest of you? Have you reached the point of diminishing returns in spending on repairs? Are you obsessing on wanting "as new" condition in your 30 year old car? If so I suggest you think about it. The old Benz are superb cars as we all know and don't need much to be a very satisfying ride.

When I came to the conclusion that I was spending more to maintain a car than it was worth, I decided to call it quits, and move into something newer.

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-Justin

91 560 SEC AMG - other dogs dd
01 Honda S2000 - dogs dd
07 MB ML320 CDI - dd
16 Lexus IS250 - wifes dd

it's automatic.

The hard part is catching up to where everything is fixed. From then it's fix as it breaks.
Of course, there's a "good enough" assumption here.

It's so awesome having a modern car.

THIS:

I came to the conclusion as a very young car owner, that if your (beater) car wasn't dependable enough to get you to work, then you better start buying multiple (beater) cars, or, get something newer/more reliable. Or, you weren't going to have an income.

I've BTDT, driving beaters - there's not much of a future, when you can't get to work.

Thankfully, after several decades in the workplace, what I drive is now a matter of almost unlimited broad choice, rather than being pigeon-holed in necessity. It's a lot of fun driving whatever suits your fancy.

agreed. i was tired of constantly repairing something

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have no worries.....President Obama swears "If you like your gun, you can keep it

When I was younger, and had the ability to turn a wrench anytime it was needed, I had not problem working when needed on a vehicle to keep it going.

Nowadays, if the total repairs cost more than 50% of the book value + market value divided by 2, I start either looking to dump it, or if I'm car shopping, I'll walk away at that figure.

If it's something to keep SWMBO happy, that's a different story. She says to buy her a new one, she gets a new one.

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1987 560SL
85,000 miles

Oh yeah. I sure love driving my new one..

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1991 560 SEC AMG, 199k <---- 300 hp 10:1 ECE euro HV ...

1995 E 420, 170k "The Red Plum" (sold)

2015 BMW 535i xdrive awd Stage 1 DINAN, 6k, <----364 hp

1967 Mercury Cougar, 49k

2013 Jaguar XF, 20k <----340 hp Supercharged, All Wheel Drive (sold)

Exactly!

Comfort, ergo, drivetrain, chassis, handling, and technology have come a long way.

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-Justin

91 560 SEC AMG - other dogs dd
01 Honda S2000 - dogs dd
07 MB ML320 CDI - dd
16 Lexus IS250 - wifes dd

it's automatic.

Spot on with the first point. It's one of the big reasons why I got out of the old MB game, and started getting new(er) cars. After getting stuck because of the M103s infamous sudden stalling issue, I decided to go newer, and never looked back. Double the power with ICE COLD AC, better comfort, better handling, and not having to tinker with it all the time was priceless.

Not only that, but it doesn't make financial sense to keep dumping money into a depreciating asset with little to no return!

This too. My free time is becoming more valuable, as there seems to be less and less of it with each passing second/minute/hour/day.

I don't even go that high. If I have to put more than 25% of market value into a vehicle, it's getting fixed, then sold.

Don't have any issues with SWMBO!

They've come a long way since the 126! Imagine that - an I6 with a turbo making as much power as your 5.6 M117 does, while at the same time, returning better fuel economy.

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-Justin

91 560 SEC AMG - other dogs dd
01 Honda S2000 - dogs dd
07 MB ML320 CDI - dd
16 Lexus IS250 - wifes dd

it's automatic.

I am in a similar boat. As much as I loved driving my 5 speed 300E, it finally reached a point where I just didn't want to spend that much time in the shop. Although I am fortunate enough to still be healthy, I have just come to a point where I have other things that I would rather do.

The 300E was at a third of a million miles, so for not much money, I found another solid MB that met my fancy with less than a 100K, and started over.

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2001 SLK 320 six speed manual
2014 Porsche Cayenne six speed manual

Annoy a Liberal, Read the Constitution

And when you've HAD IT with the ground, there's always your Cessna 140! lolz

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1991 560 SEC AMG, 199k <---- 300 hp 10:1 ECE euro HV ...

1995 E 420, 170k "The Red Plum" (sold)

2015 BMW 535i xdrive awd Stage 1 DINAN, 6k, <----364 hp

1967 Mercury Cougar, 49k

2013 Jaguar XF, 20k <----340 hp Supercharged, All Wheel Drive (sold)

I tend to look at things as:

1. Very important stuff: Those things that make the car stop, turn, and go, in that order. I keep these things up to a pretty high standard.

2. Important stuff: Things that make the car legal and safe to operate. Lights, seatbelts, windshield wipers, heat/defrost (so I can see through the windscreen during cold weather operation). I also keep these things up.

3. Other stuff: Less important things like cruise control (down and not likely to get fixed), central locking (same), sunroof (still working, but not important if it doesn't), AC (also down and unlikely to get fixed).

I do have a newer vehicle, a 2007 model, and all the important stuff works. It didn't come with the less important stuff like AC, or a roof for that matter. It isn't great for hauling much in in the way of groceries or laundry, but it always get my butt where it needs to go. It excels at slowing down, turning, and going.

As for dumping the car for a newer/different model, I considered it when it got hit, requiring considerable money for repair. I looked at other transport options offering the same practicality combined with an enjoyable driving experience to see what I could get for a similar cost to keeping the old ride. After reviewing what was available in the sub $5000 range, I decided to keep the old beast.

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Whoever said there's nothing more expensive than a cheap Mercedes never had a cheap Jaguar.

83 300D Turbo with manual conversion, early W126 vented front rotors and H4 headlights 400,xxx miles
08 Suzuki GSX-R600 M4 Slip-on 22,xxx miles
88 Jaguar XJS V12 94,xxx miles. Work in progress.

My increased flying is indeed a good portion of the reason I'm not as interested in having a car apart as I used to be.

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2001 SLK 320 six speed manual
2014 Porsche Cayenne six speed manual

Annoy a Liberal, Read the Constitution

I have a old w126 diesel,and a newer w140.I keep my diesel around as it is built better than the w140,and surely better than new ones.I love a cast iron block and head,I can drive mine to the car wash,leave running and wash the motor.Try that with the newer ones,and the aluminum will warp.I have heavy made front end,the new ones are aluminum.I can burn any oil for fuel,the new ones need ad blue.As long as I breathe my w126 will shine.

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1999 w140, quit voting to old, and to old to fight, a god damned veteran