Mercedes still going strong 31 years young
Discussion
It's interesting to consider a world in which cars would normally be expected to last 30+ years in front line use.
Sounds like in this case it's a combination of
- warm weather (less rust)
- a '91 car so probably near the peak of Merc quality
- a culture with more expectation of keeping cars going rather than buying a new one
I always used to enjoy going to Morocco and getting in various classic Merc taxis but on a trip earlier this year I was slightly saddened to find that they've all been replaced by Dacias.
I eventually jumped in with a driver with enough English to discuss and apparently there's a government scrappage scheme to replace the old cars that can't really be turned down.
The main reason behind the scheme is seemingly to cut emissions but I somehow can't see a 2022 Dacia still being on the road in 2062!
I eventually jumped in with a driver with enough English to discuss and apparently there's a government scrappage scheme to replace the old cars that can't really be turned down.
The main reason behind the scheme is seemingly to cut emissions but I somehow can't see a 2022 Dacia still being on the road in 2062!
N111BJG said:
It always amuses me that in Funchal the town centre taxi rank is slightly downhill & they roll / push the vehicles forward rather than start the engines.
So if it was based there I wonder how many of those kms were done without the engine running
There is a webcam site of Madeira. One of the cameras is placed overlooking that rank and you can see that. So if it was based there I wonder how many of those kms were done without the engine running
Tabs said:
I was there a year ago. Many 201, 202 and 124 series. All looked immaculate. They look good in yellow with turquoise stripes.
Wonder how many clutches they get through with all those hill starts? (unless they're autos).
Almost all of the taxis in Madeira are manual - precisely because it is so hilly, and the manuals give more control on the descents.Wonder how many clutches they get through with all those hill starts? (unless they're autos).
Tabs said:
N111BJG said:
It always amuses me that in Funchal the town centre taxi rank is slightly downhill & they roll / push the vehicles forward rather than start the engines.
So if it was based there I wonder how many of those kms were done without the engine running
There is a webcam site of Madeira. One of the cameras is placed overlooking that rank and you can see that. So if it was based there I wonder how many of those kms were done without the engine running
But if we are fact checking & whilst I had the calculator out ……
If that cab worked 50 weeks x 31 years = 1550 weeks, that means it covered about 1000km per week or about 4 laps of the island.
So eminently possibly & yes I’m laying on sofa, nursing a cold (or similar) with bugger all useful to do.
Earthdweller said:
The Canary Islands are the same .. some really venerable old Merc taxi’s in use
Absolutely immaculate in the different liveries for
the different areas
Got one a few months back from Arrecife down to playa Blanca in Lanzarote
Lovely old thing .. and driven with gusto too
There's several still going strong out there and in Croatia and Montenegro too. Absolutely immaculate in the different liveries for
the different areas
Got one a few months back from Arrecife down to playa Blanca in Lanzarote
Lovely old thing .. and driven with gusto too
My sister and BiL are both big Merc. fans and I can't for one moment imagine either of their new ones will still on the road in 30 years time.
I live in Madeira for half of the year. Generally try to avoid yellow taxis (they have a terrible reputation for taking circular routes) and instead use Bolt where possible.
But, yes, there are some pretty tatty old Mercs still rolling around.
If you are there out in a couple of weeks, you might spot my slightly less tatty old Merc cruising around Funchal.
But, yes, there are some pretty tatty old Mercs still rolling around.
If you are there out in a couple of weeks, you might spot my slightly less tatty old Merc cruising around Funchal.
Golfgtimk28v said:
Amazing how different the brand Merc is nowadays. Almost like badge engineering.
You don't say... Decades ago you had no choice but to buy an expensive and therefore prestigious car like any one of the German marques if you wanted to get to work in the morning on time or be able to do a long journey in reasonable comfort, but now a just few thousand spent on any Eurobox from any manufacturer you can think of will give you all of that every day of the week which means the rational argument for an expensive better quality car simply doesn't exist anymore.
But somehow the expensive better quality myth remains and probably has rather less to do with the Engineering department and rather more to do with the Marketing department and the sycophantic scribbling of well-oiled motoring Journos on all expenses paid long weekends.
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