Discussion
I'm thinking of purchasing an SL for my girlfriend. It'd replace a 1.6 Megane so obviously it's a bit different. I'm not so fussed about the cost of servicing and parts, I've looked into it and, actually, I doubt it'll be much different to keeping a Megane with FRSH and it should be a bit more reliable too. The odd massive bill I can cope with.
The thing that concerns me is fuel. We'll use the car for Helen's 10 mile each way commute which will be a 60mph dual/single carriageway effort. I'm not expecting the Meg's 33mpg to be beaten but which engine am I best to go for? An R107 300SL appeals, how does that compare to the 300-24v R129? What about the later SL280 and the Sl320? I've seen a nice R107 350SL but I'm guessing the V8 isn't going to pass.
It may seem a bit mad to focus on fuel with such a car but I want her to enjoy driving it, which she won't if she's constantly looking at the gage.
All help appreciated
The thing that concerns me is fuel. We'll use the car for Helen's 10 mile each way commute which will be a 60mph dual/single carriageway effort. I'm not expecting the Meg's 33mpg to be beaten but which engine am I best to go for? An R107 300SL appeals, how does that compare to the 300-24v R129? What about the later SL280 and the Sl320? I've seen a nice R107 350SL but I'm guessing the V8 isn't going to pass.
It may seem a bit mad to focus on fuel with such a car but I want her to enjoy driving it, which she won't if she's constantly looking at the gage.
All help appreciated
BigBen said:
Yes you could get the 350 which I think will struggle to crack 15mpg.
22mpg can be offset against 0 depreciation when compared to a boring car.
I agree, the thing is, I'm the one who benifits from that, Helen will be fueling it. I don't really want her to feel like she's/we're wasting too much cash on running it22mpg can be offset against 0 depreciation when compared to a boring car.
If you're worried about fuel, you must rule out a pre-1980 car. You'll struggle to get more than about 17mpg from a 350 or 450 SL. A 1980 to 1989 280, 380, 420 or 500 SL should give you 20 to 22mpg on the driving you describe. My 500 SEC (same engine and transmission, similar weight) gives 20 to 24mpg; a recent poster on the Mercedes-Benz Club forum took his 500 SL on a long trip and got 25mpg. All of these cars are relatively simple to maintain.
A 1985 to 1989 300 SL may be slightly better 22 to 24mpg. This engine is extremely reliable.
A r129 of any type should give 20mpg (early 500) to 26 mpg (late V6 SL280 or SL320). My late SL500 gives 23mpg almost without fail, although I drive it quite fast. "On a run" my 500 will give 27mpg.
At the end of the day, the different models weigh much the same and have the same shape: they all take the same amount of energy to move them at the same speed. If anything, the V8s can be lighter on fuel when driven softly because they do not have to work anything like as hard as the straight sixes. If I may explain: my V8 SL500 turns at 2,000rpm at 65mph and can be tickled along nicely whereas the 3.2litre straight six in my 320TE is turning at about 3,000rpm at the same speed and has to be worked to get any go.
So: don't be afraid of the V8s. Decide whether you want a 107 or a 129 and then buy on condition not engine.
A 1985 to 1989 300 SL may be slightly better 22 to 24mpg. This engine is extremely reliable.
A r129 of any type should give 20mpg (early 500) to 26 mpg (late V6 SL280 or SL320). My late SL500 gives 23mpg almost without fail, although I drive it quite fast. "On a run" my 500 will give 27mpg.
At the end of the day, the different models weigh much the same and have the same shape: they all take the same amount of energy to move them at the same speed. If anything, the V8s can be lighter on fuel when driven softly because they do not have to work anything like as hard as the straight sixes. If I may explain: my V8 SL500 turns at 2,000rpm at 65mph and can be tickled along nicely whereas the 3.2litre straight six in my 320TE is turning at about 3,000rpm at the same speed and has to be worked to get any go.
So: don't be afraid of the V8s. Decide whether you want a 107 or a 129 and then buy on condition not engine.
r129sl said:
If you're worried about fuel, you must rule out a pre-1980 car. You'll struggle to get more than about 17mpg from a 350 or 450 SL. A 1980 to 1989 280, 380, 420 or 500 SL should give you 20 to 22mpg on the driving you describe. My 500 SEC (same engine and transmission, similar weight) gives 20 to 24mpg; a recent poster on the Mercedes-Benz Club forum took his 500 SL on a long trip and got 25mpg. All of these cars are relatively simple to maintain.
A 1985 to 1989 300 SL may be slightly better 22 to 24mpg. This engine is extremely reliable.
A r129 of any type should give 20mpg (early 500) to 26 mpg (late V6 SL280 or SL320). My late SL500 gives 23mpg almost without fail, although I drive it quite fast. "On a run" my 500 will give 27mpg.
At the end of the day, the different models weigh much the same and have the same shape: they all take the same amount of energy to move them at the same speed. If anything, the V8s can be lighter on fuel when driven softly because they do not have to work anything like as hard as the straight sixes. If I may explain: my V8 SL500 turns at 2,000rpm at 65mph and can be tickled along nicely whereas the 3.2litre straight six in my 320TE is turning at about 3,000rpm at the same speed and has to be worked to get any go.
So: don't be afraid of the V8s. Decide whether you want a 107 or a 129 and then buy on condition not engine.
The later engines, as used in the R129 should be more efficient, my S500 which is much heavier than the R129 returns just over 20mpg used in similar circumstances to the 300SL mentioned above (same commute in fact)A 1985 to 1989 300 SL may be slightly better 22 to 24mpg. This engine is extremely reliable.
A r129 of any type should give 20mpg (early 500) to 26 mpg (late V6 SL280 or SL320). My late SL500 gives 23mpg almost without fail, although I drive it quite fast. "On a run" my 500 will give 27mpg.
At the end of the day, the different models weigh much the same and have the same shape: they all take the same amount of energy to move them at the same speed. If anything, the V8s can be lighter on fuel when driven softly because they do not have to work anything like as hard as the straight sixes. If I may explain: my V8 SL500 turns at 2,000rpm at 65mph and can be tickled along nicely whereas the 3.2litre straight six in my 320TE is turning at about 3,000rpm at the same speed and has to be worked to get any go.
So: don't be afraid of the V8s. Decide whether you want a 107 or a 129 and then buy on condition not engine.
Ben
r129sl said:
I ought to add: my wife is always complaining about putting petrol in our cars. Maybe you should get a TDI!
She should probably have a Skoda Fabia VRs. However, I fancy something a bit more enjoyable for this summer as we hit our late 20s and the call of children is stronger!r129sl said:
My late SL500 gives 23mpg almost without fail, although I drive it quite fast. "On a run" my 500 will give 27mpg.
Same here. Although the whole mpg thing kind of misses the point with these cars. Yes, I'm pissed off with fuel prices like everyone else is but the joy, fun and sense of occasion you get from driving these far outweighs the cost of fuelling them. When the weather is as glorious as it is now, roof down motoring is sheer joy. Had mine four years now, not regretted it for a second.Get a good one, you/she really won't regret it.
Nuisance_Value said:
Same here. Although the whole mpg thing kind of misses the point with these cars. Yes, I'm pissed off with fuel prices like everyone else is but the joy, fun and sense of occasion you get from driving these far outweighs the cost of fuelling them. When the weather is as glorious as it is now, roof down motoring is sheer joy. Had mine four years now, not regretted it for a second.
Get a good one, you/she really won't regret it.
Agreed. I can last three days in the Golf TDI econobox before I give up on saving money and take a proper car: I am in my 500 SEC today and it is quite simply joyful. At the end of the day, it's worth the price. My commute is the highlight of the day in this car. Get a good one, you/she really won't regret it.
I got to the point of ordering a brand new E350 CDI estate. Very sensible car. Very expensive, too: the depreciation I have avoided there will fuel my SL, TE and SEC for years to come!
Good looking late car here: http://www.coopers-cars.co.uk/page113131816.aspx
Nothing to do with me and it could be a dog for all I know, but if I were buying this is what I'd be looking at.
Nothing to do with me and it could be a dog for all I know, but if I were buying this is what I'd be looking at.
I was at SLShop last week, they had a red 1989 last of the line SL with 12kmiles...needed nothing.
It was fully fully loaded with airbag steering wheel, heated seats, AC, etc.
I ca not recommend more SLShop, super cool guys and a great choice of nice R107....they have a good stock, really worth paying them a visit. A good excuse is to tell your girlfriend that you want to see where Shakespeare was born, next village to where thesenguys are based.
Didn't buy it though as i just bought my wife a 1988 65kmiles 1 owner gloss black, red leather 300SL a month ago.
Lovely motor, now being used as a daily in Central London. Cool cars, and lots of good attention from the public. Amazing how people love these old barges
From our little experience, each full tank is good for 300miles, and it takes about £90 to fill it, more or less 60-65litres
It was fully fully loaded with airbag steering wheel, heated seats, AC, etc.
I ca not recommend more SLShop, super cool guys and a great choice of nice R107....they have a good stock, really worth paying them a visit. A good excuse is to tell your girlfriend that you want to see where Shakespeare was born, next village to where thesenguys are based.
Didn't buy it though as i just bought my wife a 1988 65kmiles 1 owner gloss black, red leather 300SL a month ago.
Lovely motor, now being used as a daily in Central London. Cool cars, and lots of good attention from the public. Amazing how people love these old barges
From our little experience, each full tank is good for 300miles, and it takes about £90 to fill it, more or less 60-65litres
Per my other thread, I sold my black 300sl r107 last month and drove 10k miles in it.
300 miles and a bit more on a cruise. Below 250 miles in town.
70 litres + to fill it and little change from 100 pounds.
Lovely cars although an acquired taste (they are very wallowy handling-wise).
You can't have a car like this and park it outside or drive it on the salted roads, it will rust like a pig.
The SL shop is simply the best outfit in the country.
300 miles and a bit more on a cruise. Below 250 miles in town.
70 litres + to fill it and little change from 100 pounds.
Lovely cars although an acquired taste (they are very wallowy handling-wise).
You can't have a car like this and park it outside or drive it on the salted roads, it will rust like a pig.
The SL shop is simply the best outfit in the country.
911Thrasher said:
I was at SLShop last week, they had a red 1989 last of the line SL with 12kmiles...needed nothing.
It was fully fully loaded with airbag steering wheel, heated seats, AC, etc.
I ca not recommend more SLShop, super cool guys and a great choice of nice R107....they have a good stock, really worth paying them a visit. A good excuse is to tell your girlfriend that you want to see where Shakespeare was born, next village to where thesenguys are based.
Didn't buy it though as i just bought my wife a 1988 65kmiles 1 owner gloss black, red leather 300SL a month ago.
Lovely motor, now being used as a daily in Central London. Cool cars, and lots of good attention from the public. Amazing how people love these old barges
From our little experience, each full tank is good for 300miles, and it takes about £90 to fill it, more or less 60-65litres
It was fully fully loaded with airbag steering wheel, heated seats, AC, etc.
I ca not recommend more SLShop, super cool guys and a great choice of nice R107....they have a good stock, really worth paying them a visit. A good excuse is to tell your girlfriend that you want to see where Shakespeare was born, next village to where thesenguys are based.
Didn't buy it though as i just bought my wife a 1988 65kmiles 1 owner gloss black, red leather 300SL a month ago.
Lovely motor, now being used as a daily in Central London. Cool cars, and lots of good attention from the public. Amazing how people love these old barges
From our little experience, each full tank is good for 300miles, and it takes about £90 to fill it, more or less 60-65litres
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