Buying an 80s Mercedes barge, stupid or not?
Discussion
I've been tempted for a while by a W126 Mercedes S class as a second car as I love the looks, the noise and the quality and simplicity of the engineering, as well as it being the complete opposite of my current Clio 182. I have found a beautiful 560SEL in gold with red leather and carpets (Awesome!) that looks in excellent condition with 75k miles for £2995, and I am seriously considering buying it. Due to insurance prices, I won't actually drive it for at least 3 months, possibly 9, so it would either be stored for that time or 'given' to my mother to use occasionally until then.
I like to work on cars, and would do all work apart from welding myself so hopefully that would keep maintenance costs down, and it wouldn't be driven that much so the fuel economy doesn't bother me. Also, £215 tax on a 5.6l V8, that's cheaper than my Clio!
My questions are:
Do people think it is an utterly stupid idea that will bankrupt me and make me homeless?
Any tips on buying a W126 560SEL?
Any tips on storing a car and keeping it in good nick?
If I kept it in perfect condition, do people think it would lose or gain value? This doesn't hugely matter but it would be a good way to explain the purchase of ones new toy to people, "It's an investment, honest!".
Any advice on the best classic insurance for young drivers? I don't know much about this and have only really been looking at mainstream insurance.
Cheers!
I like to work on cars, and would do all work apart from welding myself so hopefully that would keep maintenance costs down, and it wouldn't be driven that much so the fuel economy doesn't bother me. Also, £215 tax on a 5.6l V8, that's cheaper than my Clio!
My questions are:
Do people think it is an utterly stupid idea that will bankrupt me and make me homeless?
Any tips on buying a W126 560SEL?
Any tips on storing a car and keeping it in good nick?
If I kept it in perfect condition, do people think it would lose or gain value? This doesn't hugely matter but it would be a good way to explain the purchase of ones new toy to people, "It's an investment, honest!".
Any advice on the best classic insurance for young drivers? I don't know much about this and have only really been looking at mainstream insurance.
Cheers!
had a 300se myself as a second car / classic and loved absolutely every minute of it.....people do stop and look as you waft by and the vast majority of people let you out at junctions and pull out of your way on the motorway. In traffic I could make better progress in a 24yr old Merc than I could in a 360bhp Impreza!!
Do it.
Just don't spend money you can't afford to lose. It is a bit of a gamble, but as long as you are prepared for the fact that, say, the gearbox could go bang and you'll lose what you have spent on it then jump in. Oh, and make sure it isn't rusty!
ETA Try Peter Best for insurance.
Just don't spend money you can't afford to lose. It is a bit of a gamble, but as long as you are prepared for the fact that, say, the gearbox could go bang and you'll lose what you have spent on it then jump in. Oh, and make sure it isn't rusty!
ETA Try Peter Best for insurance.
chrisbirrell said:
Due to insurance prices, I won't actually drive it for at least 3 months, possibly 9, so it would either be stored for that time or 'given' to my mother to use occasionally until then.
On big complex cars like these, need to budget at least a couple of grand a year for maintenance alone.Some comments on running costs on the recent SOTW thread on W140 merc:
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
PHer R129SL reckons he spends £5k a year keeping his two Mercs (E class and S class) in A1 condition:
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
Big bills on Lexus LS400 a few months into ownership:
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?f=23&...
Don't want to put a downer on your enthusiasm for buying an old Merc. They're great cars, but you can't expect to run them on a shoestring unless you get *very* lucky with the car you buy.
Edited by excel monkey on Tuesday 9th August 09:49
Do it.
I recently bought a 1985 635csi for a grand, just because I could and I'm not doing many miles at the moment.
Now it's not the best car in the world, but unless something catastrophic happens to the electrics everything else seems fairly easy (and cheap) to fix yourself, unlike the unworkable cars from these days.
Regretted it at first, but now I know the car I love driving it and listening to tapes on the tape player
Everyone seems to love it too, and all my mates are in their 20s so I thought they'd all hate it!
I recently bought a 1985 635csi for a grand, just because I could and I'm not doing many miles at the moment.
Now it's not the best car in the world, but unless something catastrophic happens to the electrics everything else seems fairly easy (and cheap) to fix yourself, unlike the unworkable cars from these days.
Regretted it at first, but now I know the car I love driving it and listening to tapes on the tape player
Everyone seems to love it too, and all my mates are in their 20s so I thought they'd all hate it!
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