R129 - your thoughts please?

[oblio]

Hi

A friend of mine has suggested an R129 might be a suitable car for me to move onto.

We are currently looking to move down from 3 cars to 2 as we are downsizing house etc in the near future. I am looking for a car for a 6 mile commute x 3 days a week plus trips away/fun at the weekend. I want something a bit special that I can care for plus it must have some oomph! Oh...it needs to be convertable as well.

Looking at these cars they seem to fit the bill but I could do with some input from any owners/knowledgeable people out there if possible?

- Best model: later the better? V8 or V12?

- Suitability for what we want - short commute and weekends away etc?

- Known issues/problems to look out for when buying?

- Handling? I would like my next car to be more responsive/have better road feel than the currently one (DB9 Volante). How is the body roll/flex (as a convertable) and cornering on the R129?

- Spare parts availability and servicing costs?

Anything else would also be great folks.

Many thanks in advance

Graham

[r129sl]

If you do a search you will find your question has been asked and comprehensively answered about a million times in the course of the last year.

[oblio]

r129sl said:

If you do a search you will find your question has been asked and comprehensively answered about a million times in the course of the last year.

Yep...tried that...search down hence the questions.

Maybe you could let me have a link or two to the best threads?

cheers

[chris333]

Have a look at the thread here: http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

Also take note of anything that R129SL and XB70 have to say on the subject: I found their knowledge invaluable when looking for mine.

[oblio]

chris333 said:

Have a look at the thread here: http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

Chris - that is fantastic

Just what I was after.

Cheers

[r129sl]

oblio said:

r129sl said:

If you do a search you will find your question has been asked and comprehensively answered about a million times in the course of the last year.

Yep...tried that...search down hence the questions.

OK, sorry.

[oblio]

r129sl said:

oblio said:

r129sl said:

If you do a search you will find your question has been asked and comprehensively answered about a million times in the course of the last year.

Yep...tried that...search down hence the questions.

OK, sorry.

no worries, not a problem

[kilarney]

I had a new r129 and would sum it up by saying it is nicer to own and look at than it is to drive. Chassis stiffness is poor with the hardtop off and the dynamics not great with it on. If you are expecting it to best a Db9 volante in the dynamics stakes then you will be dissappointed. Built like they dont anymore, I had the V6 280 which is really no good at all the M113 ie last V8 would be my choice or the 320 v6 if your not in a hurry.

[chris333]

As much as I love my SL500, I'd be happy to swap it for your Aston Martin ....

[r129sl]

If the DB9 Volante is your ticket and you are looking for something more feelsome, then you may be disappointed with the r129.

It is more Grand Tourer than sports car. It seems to me that the r129 driving experience was designed not to invigorate. This is because invigorating becomes fatiguing when driving any great distance. The r129 is the kind of car you would use to cover ground at speed and in comfort, not to have an Impreza-like experience. Passengers find it very comfortable.

I find structural rigidity to be fine, although the suspension works at its best at high speed. Very broken roads, taken slowly, can cause scuttle shake. The bodyshell is no less rigid than a w124 saloon's, however.

[oblio]

Thanks for this.

The DB9 Volante is a very comfortable drive however I dont feel as connected as I would like. To my feel, at speed it understeers and is a little like driving a comfortable armchair. What we are looking for is the comfort of a GT but with a little more 'point and shoot' about it (IYKWIM)

[r129sl]

You might find the r230 fits the bill rather more. In the SL55 AMG and SL600 Bi-Turbo, of course, you will also have the power to best your DB9. I suspect that of the two, the SL600 is probably the better buy: it has the same big brakes, the same handling possibilities, more torque, gentler in the cruise, a bit more discreet, and is less likely to have been ragged. Of course, the r230 has all of the disadvantages attendant on electronic complexity but they seem to be pretty well resolved cars.

[oblio]

r129sl said:

You might find the r230 fits the bill rather more. In the SL55 AMG and SL600 Bi-Turbo, of course, you will also have the power to best your DB9. I suspect that of the two, the SL600 is probably the better buy: it has the same big brakes, the same handling possibilities, more torque, gentler in the cruise, a bit more discreet, and is less likely to have been ragged. Of course, the r230 has all of the disadvantages attendant on electronic complexity but they seem to be pretty well resolved cars.

Thanks for that - sound advice.

We are in an interesting position.

Part of the reason for changing cars is the running cost issue. There is nothing at all wrong with the car in itself its just that the costs (Ins c.£750 per year; Tax - c.£400; Service - c.£1000 NB £1600 at a main dealer , etc etc) are not really justifiable to us on a car we only occasionally use. Therefore we want something that I can use for my short commute and then for fun on weekends. That said, given that we are coming from an Aston, we want something dfferent.

It's difficult to explain but we don't want a car to rival the Aston as otherwise we would keep the Aston. Costs and power come into it in that if pursuing the power includes the costs then we might as well not change. From looking around I have been struggling to find what would be an acceptable alternative. Logically therefore if we move away from a big opulent V12 the alternative in a Merc wouldn't be worth the move (are you still with me ).

Therefore the idea of something with some oomph and looking rather 'timeless' and potentially a classic appeals. From my research (and help on here) it would appear that the comfort is certainly there for the OH plus the ability to eat the miles and store the shoe collection . Whether the drive is what I am looking for will depend on when/if I get a test drive.

I aim to get a vehicle in excellent condition and keep it that way as I enjoy the cleaning and fettling etc side of ownership. The 129 seems to tick a number of boxes as I have not really had my head turned by more modern cars (Z4, SL, Porsche...and the Mrs won't even consider a Mustang ).

Anyway off to look at one 'in the flesh' tomorrow just to get an initial heads up and from there we will decide where we go. I have to sell the Aston yet prior to buying any replacement.

[oblio]

Had a test drive today - v impressed. I think it was a '93 SL500 I drove.

Comfortable and with enough oomph when required. Masses of boot space (and indeed cabin space). Was also impressd with the handling in corners and the general ride overall. I Had the portable speed limiting device sitting next to me so couldn't really do much but it did feel sharp in the corners.

Eyes now wide open

[chris333]

It it was a 93 car, then it would have had the 4 speed transmission. 1996-on cars have the 5 speed electronically controlled 5 speed auto which is meant to be a better drive than the 4speed (although I haven't driven an early car). The main thing to check if you do buy a 5-speed car is that the gearbox oil has been changed. MB claimed it was sealed for life, but in reality the oil does need changing to keep the gearbox working properly.

[oblio]

chris333 said:

It it was a 93 car, then it would have had the 4 speed transmission. 1996-on cars have the 5 speed electronically controlled 5 speed auto which is meant to be a better drive than the 4speed (although I haven't driven an early car). The main thing to check if you do buy a 5-speed car is that the gearbox oil has been changed. MB claimed it was sealed for life, but in reality the oil does need changing to keep the gearbox working properly.

Thanks Chris

All good advice greatfully accepted

All

Apart from the SL Shop are there any other known 'good guys' (garages, that is) in the south of the country that you would recommend? I am based in Cirencester.

cheers again

[XB70]

I dont know if it is still available but there is a bargain 1998 sl500 with panoroof on autotrader at the moment for 4995 private sale. I have seen the car and it is a steal. Private seller too which personally I prefer rather than traders.

100,000 miles which is absolutely nothing for these cars but the obsession with low mileage means that he has priced this extraordinarily sensibly.

[chris333]

XB70 said:

I dont know if it is still available but there is a bargain 1998 sl500 with panoroof on autotrader at the moment for 4995 private sale. I have seen the car and it is a steal. Private seller too which personally I prefer rather than traders.

100,000 miles which is absolutely nothing for these cars but the obsession with low mileage means that he has priced this extraordinarily sensibly.

Wow that one does look like a bargain!

Agree with you on private sale over traders. All the cars at dealers that I drove were dogs, with roofs that didnt work, knackered ADS, broken ABS, flat batteries. The car I bought was from a German guy who also had a 911 and a very nice old BMW 5-series. He seemed as genuine as they come, and fingers crossed the car has been pretty good in the year since I got it.

Just back from a fabulous nighttime drive. The new front tyres I've just had fitted (Continental SportContact3) have really sharpened it up.

If you do get one, don't skimp on the tyres!