Best smoker barges 1-5 large [vol11]
Discussion
BIglips, that is very helpful, thank you for the trouble.
My wife thinks we should chop the 124 and 210 for the silver E500. The spec is almost perfect with the integrated child seats and the 7 sears. I prefer Elegance, too. The mileage isn't too high. The history sounds good. The other options are extensive (sun blinds, heated seats, phone wiring, xenon, driver's memory seat, heated wheel...). If the airmatic and the SBC are sound I might go down that road.
Anyone want a 124 or a 210?
My wife thinks we should chop the 124 and 210 for the silver E500. The spec is almost perfect with the integrated child seats and the 7 sears. I prefer Elegance, too. The mileage isn't too high. The history sounds good. The other options are extensive (sun blinds, heated seats, phone wiring, xenon, driver's memory seat, heated wheel...). If the airmatic and the SBC are sound I might go down that road.
Anyone want a 124 or a 210?
Gripes?
Storage. The additional seats in the boot are very useful. The downside is that there is no where obvious to store warning triangles and other boot nick naks which would otherwise go under the boot floor. If you have the HK sound system the side cubby is filled with a subwoofer. The glove box is tiny as there are two enourmous handbooks that live in there. The centre armrest has the telephone prep stuff taking up space. The sunglasses storage tray is broken ( common issue, and is on my to do list) but not of any size to store anything useful anyway!!
Rear seat folding. If you put the back seats fully flat the drivers seat cannot be fully back. I am quite tall and so when I go to the tip I have to drive squished up against the steering wheel or not full flatten the load bay
COMAND. Take a Tom Tom. Navigation shows it's age although the other functions work well.
Rust. They do rust. I have spotted some very early wheel arch bubbling under the paint on a rear arch which will break through eventually. Check this area very carefully by running a hand around the arches.
Not much else really. My spec is very similar to the one you are looking at. The integrated boosters are very clever and the blinds very useful with kids. Shout if you have any questions
Storage. The additional seats in the boot are very useful. The downside is that there is no where obvious to store warning triangles and other boot nick naks which would otherwise go under the boot floor. If you have the HK sound system the side cubby is filled with a subwoofer. The glove box is tiny as there are two enourmous handbooks that live in there. The centre armrest has the telephone prep stuff taking up space. The sunglasses storage tray is broken ( common issue, and is on my to do list) but not of any size to store anything useful anyway!!
Rear seat folding. If you put the back seats fully flat the drivers seat cannot be fully back. I am quite tall and so when I go to the tip I have to drive squished up against the steering wheel or not full flatten the load bay
COMAND. Take a Tom Tom. Navigation shows it's age although the other functions work well.
Rust. They do rust. I have spotted some very early wheel arch bubbling under the paint on a rear arch which will break through eventually. Check this area very carefully by running a hand around the arches.
Not much else really. My spec is very similar to the one you are looking at. The integrated boosters are very clever and the blinds very useful with kids. Shout if you have any questions
r129sl said:
I am quite serious about disposing of my 124
Is this more about wanting to try out different things or moving on to bigger and better?I think either way in the long term you'll miss that car. From what I've read in your posts, you're passionate about it and while the E500 would be a newer, quicker and generally more modern car, it doesn't mean you'll like it as much in the long run
r129sl said:
BIglips, that is very helpful, thank you for the trouble.
My wife thinks we should chop the 124 and 210 for the silver E500. The spec is almost perfect with the integrated child seats and the 7 sears. I prefer Elegance, too. The mileage isn't too high. The history sounds good. The other options are extensive (sun blinds, heated seats, phone wiring, xenon, driver's memory seat, heated wheel...). If the airmatic and the SBC are sound I might go down that road.
Anyone want a 124 or a 210?
You will regret chopping in the W124, especially as you will probably get 10p for it given the miles. My wife thinks we should chop the 124 and 210 for the silver E500. The spec is almost perfect with the integrated child seats and the 7 sears. I prefer Elegance, too. The mileage isn't too high. The history sounds good. The other options are extensive (sun blinds, heated seats, phone wiring, xenon, driver's memory seat, heated wheel...). If the airmatic and the SBC are sound I might go down that road.
Anyone want a 124 or a 210?
Get rid of the 210, and get the 500. Keep the 124!
Good ownership story above from Biglips.
Or just get an E55 instead
r129sl said:
I am quite serious about disposing of my 124 ... So it will be in good shape.
I never thought I'd say this about the Merc-Godfather to this thread, but get a grip man. What are you thinking? In mitigation, I can only assume that you've had a wet day in the NE and as you had to cancel the BBQ for the staff you felt compelled to drink all the booze before the start of the working week.
Get rid of the 124 ... are you insane? Despite your moniker that car characterises and identifies you like no other. As you so sagely observe, the cheapest car is the one you already own, and it'll be in good (and as you've done it, read terrific) shape. They won't be showing one of those newish estates at MB-World any time soon, but your 124 has provenance.
You can't sell it. You just can't. <<Discussion Ends>>
I'm glad the E500's prompted some good discussion.
BigLips - appreciate your comments and obviously pertinent given I currently run a P2 V70; having owned a lot of German metal, several 124's included, I must say I've never felt the quality of the Volvo lacking. The leather for example is in a different league to many more modern cars and whilst there is the odd bit of thin plastic in the cabin mine has barely a rattle or squeak at close to 150k miles.
r129 - I have to concur that parting with the 124 seems unthinkable. Surely like giving up a child considering the journey you've been on with it. Let it grow old(er) gracefully in your tenure by reducing its workload. But don't sell. I must admit it was the silver car I posted that really had me seriously thinking of changing. At this point I have no 'need' to change but I do fear that I may miss the boat with these cars as is always the way! It certainly ticks all the boxes I could want. Only think lacking actually is a tow bar...
BigLips - appreciate your comments and obviously pertinent given I currently run a P2 V70; having owned a lot of German metal, several 124's included, I must say I've never felt the quality of the Volvo lacking. The leather for example is in a different league to many more modern cars and whilst there is the odd bit of thin plastic in the cabin mine has barely a rattle or squeak at close to 150k miles.
r129 - I have to concur that parting with the 124 seems unthinkable. Surely like giving up a child considering the journey you've been on with it. Let it grow old(er) gracefully in your tenure by reducing its workload. But don't sell. I must admit it was the silver car I posted that really had me seriously thinking of changing. At this point I have no 'need' to change but I do fear that I may miss the boat with these cars as is always the way! It certainly ticks all the boxes I could want. Only think lacking actually is a tow bar...
king cool. They may be unreliable but i don't really care. My Dad had a few when i was a kid and it really reminds me of that time, and they were just plush and velvety as anything!![quote=dscam]I'm glad the E500's prompted some good discussion.
BigLips - appreciate your comments and obviously pertinent given I currently run a P2 V70; having owned a lot of German metal, several 124's included, I must say I've never felt the quality of the Volvo lacking. The leather for example is in a different league to many more modern cars and whilst there is the odd bit of thin plastic in the cabin mine has barely a rattle or squeak at close to 150k miles.
r129 - I have to concur that parting with the 124 seems unthinkable. Surely like giving up a child considering the journey you've been on with it. Let it grow old(er) gracefully in your tenure by reducing its workload. But don't sell. I must admit it was the silver car I posted that really had me seriously thinking of changing. At this point I have no 'need' to change but I do fear that I may miss the boat with these cars as is always the way! It certainly ticks all the boxes I could want. Only think lacking actually is a tow bar...[/quote
Let me be clear. The 211 will be remembered as a footnote in another 30 years whilst the 124 will still be talked about in revered fashion and rightly so. Therefore I agree that caution should be exercised before changing.
However life is too short to stick slavishly to one model or marque. I enjoyed dipping my toe into the Volvo world but found it wasn't for me long term.
I moved out of my 124 (E36 estate) with 272000 miles on the clock only because it needed at least 10k spending to restore which I could not justify at the time financially. It was also my only car and so I could not take it off the road to restore piecemeal.
They are old cars and whilst they can be run as a daily they really require a second car as a back up and that was not an option for me at the time.
I agree that the v70 seat quality is excellent and better than the 124 but it really felt like a backwards step from the 124. The v70 had a myriad of squeaks and the plastics just weren't as good. I didn't gel with fwd. turning circle was a joke. One further quirk. If I parked outside my house where there is a bit of a gradient with a deep gulley next to the curb, and you had less than a quarter of a tank of fuel it wouldn't start again because of the design of the fuel tank! The engine was fairly gutless after coming out of the AMG.
I felt the need to get back to Mercedes and the 211 seemed the sweet spot of modernity whilst still being understated (ish). The sleeper in the range is thr e500 which appealed. I did consider another 124 but felt that I had already owned possibly the best ever model (other than the 500e imho) and anything else would not be as good.
It sounds as if my post is a catalyst that has helped to crystallise some thoughts that were already lurking. If those thoughts have been brewing then I think you should at least go for a test drive and you will know whether it is the right decision (come and drive mine in Bristol if you are passing)
BigLips - appreciate your comments and obviously pertinent given I currently run a P2 V70; having owned a lot of German metal, several 124's included, I must say I've never felt the quality of the Volvo lacking. The leather for example is in a different league to many more modern cars and whilst there is the odd bit of thin plastic in the cabin mine has barely a rattle or squeak at close to 150k miles.
r129 - I have to concur that parting with the 124 seems unthinkable. Surely like giving up a child considering the journey you've been on with it. Let it grow old(er) gracefully in your tenure by reducing its workload. But don't sell. I must admit it was the silver car I posted that really had me seriously thinking of changing. At this point I have no 'need' to change but I do fear that I may miss the boat with these cars as is always the way! It certainly ticks all the boxes I could want. Only think lacking actually is a tow bar...[/quote
Let me be clear. The 211 will be remembered as a footnote in another 30 years whilst the 124 will still be talked about in revered fashion and rightly so. Therefore I agree that caution should be exercised before changing.
However life is too short to stick slavishly to one model or marque. I enjoyed dipping my toe into the Volvo world but found it wasn't for me long term.
I moved out of my 124 (E36 estate) with 272000 miles on the clock only because it needed at least 10k spending to restore which I could not justify at the time financially. It was also my only car and so I could not take it off the road to restore piecemeal.
They are old cars and whilst they can be run as a daily they really require a second car as a back up and that was not an option for me at the time.
I agree that the v70 seat quality is excellent and better than the 124 but it really felt like a backwards step from the 124. The v70 had a myriad of squeaks and the plastics just weren't as good. I didn't gel with fwd. turning circle was a joke. One further quirk. If I parked outside my house where there is a bit of a gradient with a deep gulley next to the curb, and you had less than a quarter of a tank of fuel it wouldn't start again because of the design of the fuel tank! The engine was fairly gutless after coming out of the AMG.
I felt the need to get back to Mercedes and the 211 seemed the sweet spot of modernity whilst still being understated (ish). The sleeper in the range is thr e500 which appealed. I did consider another 124 but felt that I had already owned possibly the best ever model (other than the 500e imho) and anything else would not be as good.
It sounds as if my post is a catalyst that has helped to crystallise some thoughts that were already lurking. If those thoughts have been brewing then I think you should at least go for a test drive and you will know whether it is the right decision (come and drive mine in Bristol if you are passing)
Anyone else think 124's are over eulogised, they dont last forever, needing ten grand spending attests to that, yes, they were very good but have had their day and most are now garage queens or utterly knackered, anything Mercedes have built since is "junk", yeah, right.
I think the rust period made them look better, but since then things have been pulled back, I drove one not long ago and it was a decent enough drive but it just felt old and slow, they were fantastic, but lets not get carried away.
I think the rust period made them look better, but since then things have been pulled back, I drove one not long ago and it was a decent enough drive but it just felt old and slow, they were fantastic, but lets not get carried away.
r129sl said:
BIglips, that is very helpful, thank you for the trouble.
My wife thinks we should chop the 124 and 210 for the silver E500. The spec is almost perfect with the integrated child seats and the 7 sears. I prefer Elegance, too. The mileage isn't too high. The history sounds good. The other options are extensive (sun blinds, heated seats, phone wiring, xenon, driver's memory seat, heated wheel...). If the airmatic and the SBC are sound I might go down that road.
Anyone want a 124 or a 210?
But when the SBC goes (it will) and the airmatic...factor in a small fortune relative to purchase price to fix. SBC fixed on cars from 06 onwards I believe. My wife thinks we should chop the 124 and 210 for the silver E500. The spec is almost perfect with the integrated child seats and the 7 sears. I prefer Elegance, too. The mileage isn't too high. The history sounds good. The other options are extensive (sun blinds, heated seats, phone wiring, xenon, driver's memory seat, heated wheel...). If the airmatic and the SBC are sound I might go down that road.
Anyone want a 124 or a 210?
It would be submitting to rationality. S211 E500 Elegance: fast, refined, competent, safe, cheap. The major downsides of the 124 are (1) it is very slow (the new E430 tells me how much I like a thumping big motor); (2) it costs a lot to keep it going; and (3) it is quite noisy at speed. But it is oh-so-characterful, a legendary model, and a very, very good example.
Happily I am too busy this week even to think about it. I've just arrived in Cardiff in the E430. It makes the journey very, very easy, averages 27.5mpg at 100mph, is quiet, invisible... An E500 estate surely would combine the two?
Does the S211 have a 70litre tank? That might be enough to sway me off it. I can't stand getting in a car on a Thursday night, already running late, and then remembering that the light is on.
Happily I am too busy this week even to think about it. I've just arrived in Cardiff in the E430. It makes the journey very, very easy, averages 27.5mpg at 100mph, is quiet, invisible... An E500 estate surely would combine the two?
Does the S211 have a 70litre tank? That might be enough to sway me off it. I can't stand getting in a car on a Thursday night, already running late, and then remembering that the light is on.
I have been reflecting on the e500 vs 124 debate overnight. The 211 is better in almost every objective measure, but in the interests of balance
1. It is biiiiig. In town and multi-storey etc it is not as easy as the 124 to live with. Less of an issue on the open road although it never really shrinks around you like some drivers cars do. Make of that what you will
2. It is not ugly but it is not a handsome car. The s124 is a design classic and they still look amazing today. If you take pride in such things then it will disappoint. People won't stop to chat or ask questions. Popularity on car fora may fall (eek!). The facelift 211 looks better but I think they switched to the 350 engine with the facelift?? They look much better in non silver colours but are rare
3. Running costs are relatively high. It has expensive bits on it that are likely to fail at some point.
4. Unlikely to appreciate in price. A good 124 will if looked after
I run mine as a very effective and rapid means of discreet family transport. Hard to beat it for this I get my fun/ classic vibe from my mx5. I think it is a good combo
1. It is biiiiig. In town and multi-storey etc it is not as easy as the 124 to live with. Less of an issue on the open road although it never really shrinks around you like some drivers cars do. Make of that what you will
2. It is not ugly but it is not a handsome car. The s124 is a design classic and they still look amazing today. If you take pride in such things then it will disappoint. People won't stop to chat or ask questions. Popularity on car fora may fall (eek!). The facelift 211 looks better but I think they switched to the 350 engine with the facelift?? They look much better in non silver colours but are rare
3. Running costs are relatively high. It has expensive bits on it that are likely to fail at some point.
4. Unlikely to appreciate in price. A good 124 will if looked after
I run mine as a very effective and rapid means of discreet family transport. Hard to beat it for this I get my fun/ classic vibe from my mx5. I think it is a good combo
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff