SOTW: Mercedes S500

It's red alert for Shed this week, with a scarlet S-Class

We imagine that Almandine red would not have been the first choice of the discerning plutocrat wishing to be whisked from meeting to meeting in slab-sided double-glazed luxury but, back in the early 90s it was apparently quite a popular colour.

So although your average captain of industry would probably be more likely to peruse the Financial Times Deutschland from the rear seat of a black, silver or grey S-Class, there are more than a few red W140s out there. Heck, there's even an Imperial Red (now more pink-ish) W140 that lives a few streets away from PH's Teddington HQ. And given the choice we'd definitely plump for Almandine over that...

But colour is somewhat inconsequential here, because beneath the nail varnish red paint lies a 4973cc V8 with 335hp. And while it's not the 6.0-litre V12 flagship of the range, that makes it a pretty darn beefy limo and a heck of a lot of both engine and car for Shed money.

This car might have done a sturdy 176,000 miles, but it does have a full history and an equipment list as long as the car itself. As well as the fantastically twee 'parking masts' (what Merc used to guide drivers into parking spaces before parking sensors) this big S has soft-close doors, double-glazed windows, cream leather, headlamp wipers, electric heated seats, MB security (including 5 original keys), electric windows, electric folding mirrors, CD player (possibly aftermarket) automatic climate control, an electric sunroof, an electric steering column and cruise control (albeit broken).

What more could you want for £995? Well, cruise control that worked would be nice, but other than that this has got to be one of the most specced-up SOTWs we've ever featured. Combine that with the V8 lump, and big barge shed-cred and you've got a pretty tempting package

The vendor does have an interesting take on haggling for a secondhand car, however, suggesting on offers 'over £995' and saying the 'best bid buys'. Which, as far as we're aware, is more or less the opposite of how these things normally work...

Advert is reproduced below

MERCEDES-BENZ S CLASS 500 SE 4DR AUTO (£995)
Red.
RED Saloon.4973 cc Petrol, Automatic. Metallic Almandine Red, MOT-08-2012, 5 Owners. LOOKING FOR OFFERS OVER 995 CALL 01895 814 814 TO MAKE AN OFFER BEST BID BUYS PLS READ THIS BEFORE CALLING. Insurance Group:19, An Imposing 1993 S500 fully loaded with cream electric leather interior, warranted 176k full service history and all original 5 keys in its original MB case. Taxed and tested until September 2012. Equipment includes soft closure doors, double glazed windows, reverse parking masts, headlamp wipers, electric heated seats, MB security, electric windows, electric folding mirrors, automatic climate control, cruise control (not working), electric sunroof, electric steering column, face off CD player, spare wheel and rear reading light. hpi checked lovely example viewing essential, FULL DEALER FACILITIES* PART EXCHANGE WELCOME* CARS BOUGHT 4 CASH TOP PRICES PAID*POST CODE UB10 0DF