Big Decision
 

This has been a bad week, I recently started driving a 1990 300SEL. I bought from my father who drove it for the last 5 years. The car had 190K on it but was immaculate. I say was because Monday morning I was rearended on I85 and it became the meat in a car sandwich. The car is totalled. I really liked driving the old S class and think I am going to attempt to buy another one. The only two things was not really thrilled with on the 300SEL was the terrible pick up (I swear I think it was about the same as my old 300SD) and the fact that the car didn't have an overdrive transmission. It always seemed to be winding up too far on the highway. My decision is this, to get away from the above issues I am thinking about getting a 560 SEL rather than another 300SEL. Does anyone know what the mileage difference (MPG) would be between these models, I usually got around 18-19 on the road in the 300SEL

Just a word of advice (not to scare you away from that engine), if you aquire an S class with the V-8, please be sure to change the timing chain and related components... the chain travels a much larger distance and in it's path shifts very quickly in many directions.... slipped timing chain or broken timing chain equals the possiblity of total engine destruction!!!!

My 1988 560SL gets about 17mpg 90% highway with the hard top, 15 with the top down. If I drive highway only hard top installed, like a 200 mile trip it gets 19. I would expect a 560 SEL to get less than this. Another option might be a 420 SEL which was available in the 560 vintage or a 560SE, a little less room in the back.

Sorry to hear about your loss and good to see you are OK.

John Roncallo

Thanks for the info, that's about what I expected, currently driving my brothers 560SL until I can replace the 300 and it seems to be getting about 18 MPG mostly back roads. Fun to drive but way too small, Got a line on a 91 300 SEL with 95K going to look so I may go that route. The way gas keeps going up the prospect if a 15 - 16 MPG beast is a little scary. I do like the power though.