Great birthday week. New fleet members - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

TylerH860 · #1 07-19-2015, 02:10 AM

After six months in a tin can Prius and 4 record store openings with my new job, I was rewarded with a company car with all expenses paid. I had a decent budget with stipulations. No luxury branded vehicles for appearances. Something large enough to haul people and product (no sports cars), and preferably large and safe. My Prius was badly damaged in a coyote hit and I never felt safe in the thing to begin with. Initially, I wanted a Yukon or Suburban, but couldn't believe the insane prices of them new. Went with a nicely equipped GMC sierra SLT 4x4 instead. Trucks have come such a long way in comfort and ride. Since I'm not worrying about gas mileage anymore it's a perfect addition to the group. My first big trip was to 900 miles and 13 hours to Farmington, New Mexico. Did the whole trip in a day without pain. In the Prius, I am sore all over after the 2.5 hour drive to KC. Those seats were designed by a moron. During my first stint in Farmington, I got a phone call I had been waiting for almost 10 years to get.

My first job was in 2002 at a country club tennis desk. I bonded with alot of the members in the few years I worked there through high school, and kept in touch with many of them. One was a Japanese-American retired Radiologist who owned a mint 1991 560SEC. At the time I was driving my 1985 500SL almost daily and we made a point to park next to each-other and often chatted, admiring our cars. We joked about trading keys for a week but never did. During college and my dealership years, I still played occasionally at the club, eventually joining for a period. Around 2007, I started asking him for first rights should he ever choose to sell it. Sometimes he would come close, usually during some mechanical failure like the AC or starter. I remember he gave me a price once of only $7000, which back then sounded kind of pricey to me (crazy I know), but at that time I wasn't well positioned financially to purchase it.

Fast forward to last week, and he calls me finally ready to let it go. The AC performance was not good, the car was riding all bouncy in the rear, and all the instruments had failed. Of course he had the means to fix it, but decided at his 80 years of age, he didn't want the trouble of having an old car. I couldn't wait to get home from New Mexico and have a look.

The coupe has only 72,000 original miles. He purchased it in 2000 with 30,000 miles after selling his 80's Porsche 911 (tired of stick a shift). I had never been to his home before, but immediately recognized it. One of the more architecturally significant homes built in Wichita, which he custom built in 1989. He was gracious enough to give me a tour. Unbelievable Asian art collection. Every detail in the house thought out right down to placement of every marble floor tile. He wanted the white to peach to roll through the massive entryway like waves on an ocean. Also a fantastic motorcourt/court yard complete with Koi pond. He said some of the Koi were as old as the house; they were huge.

With the exception of a few bumper scuffs, the coupe was as pristine as I remember. I was very quick to jump on it. The instrument cluster was just a fuse. AC service and charged brought it back to full force and seems to be holding. Rear accumulators fixed the rough ride. I have a few nit picking things to do to the car along with the timing chain tensioners, but what a joy to drive. I already swapped the peeling chrome stock pancake wheels for 15" 8 holes that match my 300SD.

I had already been considering selling my beloved 1994 Roadmaster estate, and with my truck taking over all the practical aspects, and the 560SEC needing garage space, I think it's time to let go after 5 great years. So many memories, but with 130,000 miles and some condition issues, it's not worth stashing away in the garage as a collector car. The 560SEC makes a much better case in that aspect.

After the purchase, I returned to New Mexico for one last work stint, and took two days to return home. Woke up today to the Southern Colorado rockies, returning home just in time to wash the 1997 S500 and take the family to dinner for my birthday. Delightfully my 2 year old daughter has taken a big interest in the cars. We had a somewhat rational argument about which vehicle to take to dinner. She wanted to ride in the truck, I wanted the S500. She relented when I told her we would go to the movies in the truck later. After dinner we played in the kiddie pool, then took the truck on its maiden voyage to the drive in movie theater. Great birthday.

TylerH860 · #2 07-19-2015, 02:14 AM

More photos and a little proud papa side story to add. About a month back I took my daughter to my friends salvage yard. As there's lots of dangerous parts she could hurt herself on or destroy cluttered about the lobby, I held her the entire time. Out of nowhere she pointed at a box of parts and yelled MOMMY'S! She was insistent on me setting her down so she could retrieve whatever object caught her attention. When I did, she picked up the Acura badge. Victoria drives an Acura ILX. Then she picked up the Mercedes badge and said Daddy's. Bob, the salvage yard owner, joked he was ready to put her to work. I didn't think 2 year olds noticed car badges, but my parents said I did the same thing at that age.

pj67coll · #3 07-19-2015, 03:48 PM

You're living my car dream Tyler. S500, 560SEC, Roadmaster estate. Damm, those are great cars. I've only even driving a 560SEC once in my life. Couple of months ago in fact and it was in no where near as nice a condition as this one, but damm it was nice. Universes removed from my 240D.

- Peter.

t walgamuth · #4 07-19-2015, 07:54 PM

I bought this magazine yesterday called Classic Mercedes (or something like that). It has four cool articles about 123s and in the rear it had an 85 500 SEC looked just like my 84 SEC and it tugged at my heart strings......like I need another old benzo.

pj67coll · #5 07-19-2015, 10:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by t walgamuth

I bought this magazine yesterday called Classic Mercedes (or something like that). It has four cool articles about 123s and in the rear it had an 85 500 SEC looked just like my 84 SEC and it tugged at my heart strings......like I need another old benzo.

Is that an English magazine Tom?

- Peter.

t walgamuth · #6 07-20-2015, 10:13 AM

I think yes. The silver SEC is in southern CA though. (Mine was silver). Lovely car.

P.C. · #7 07-20-2015, 11:02 AM

Nice Sierra! Is it the 5.3?

TylerH860 · #8 07-20-2015, 11:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by P.C.

Nice Sierra! Is it the 5.3?

yup. Look at this 55MPH with no AC for 50 miles

Simpler=Better · #9 07-21-2015, 10:06 AM

Those are great trucks, just watch your oil consumption when running in v4 mode (It eats a little more than normal).

P.C. · #10 07-21-2015, 11:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Simpler=Better

Those are great trucks, just watch your oil consumption when running in v4 mode (It eats a little more than normal).

I had a 5.3 Tahoe years ago with the variable displacement feature, and never noticed any unusual oil consumption patterns, although to be fair, I probably did not spend much time outside of V8 mode...

w123fanman · #11 07-21-2015, 08:01 PM

I'd get some Euros on that SEC. They really clean up the front end.

TylerH860 · #12 07-21-2015, 09:47 PM

So It's been several years since I sold something I was this emotionally attached to.

Buick Roadmaster Estate Wagon | eBay

Phone has been ringing constantly from all over the country. Had one local guy take a look this afternoon. He pulled up in a beat up, trashed mini-van and is looking for a new family hauler. Knows the motor, used to have a Trans am or something and wants the wagon because of it. He smelled terrible from smoking black and milds, and given the condition of his van it would make me sick to sell the car to him. He would throw away 5 years of fastidious care in a matter of days. He wants to take it to his mechanic tomorrow. I have jury duty and think I will just keep making excuses until he goes away.

I just got off the phone with someone who lives 300 miles away and owns a rusted up one and is looking for a pristine one to preserve. The conversation went well until he offered me $3000 and let me keep the wheels and floor mats. He could tell I was slightly agitated and got off the phone.

The several others have been pleasant enough. One is an artist in Arizona who wants an appealing looking vehicle to haul around his work to art fairs and sell out of. Another is a collector in South Carolina that wanted a picture of every flaw I could find. Really hope he's not a flipper.

The car has such huge sentimental value. I've taken it to both coasts twice, so many memories like bringing home my first born and other things. You just can't put a price on that. The problem is, it's one gigantic memento that I barely ever drive. I'd rather fill the garage space with something fun that I would really want. I don't know what to do. Buying more garage space is not the answer.

JB3 · #13 07-21-2015, 10:44 PM

I would have taken 3k all day for that wagon.
The reality is just because you love it doesnt make it extremely valuable.

t walgamuth · #14 07-22-2015, 06:14 AM

I still love those sleek wagons! Every time I see one I want it but the reality of owning the one I had always comes back.....the cheesy digital dash and cheesy seats specifically.

Also the fuel economy never came close to what all the guys on the impala forum claimed....23 mpg. Best I ever got was maybe 17 IIRC.

Also several issues with the motor....manifold warp and other things. Bought it for $3200 or so put a couple of thousand in it making it right and sold it for $3200.

The rear overhang was just too long to make a stable tow vehicle for my travel trailer and it was already rear heavy so when the tongue weight came down the front wheels were gasping for traction.

They look great though!

The buick dash and seats are much superior to the chevy....aluminum wheels too.