R107 or W124 Convertible? Which should I go for?

[AlfaNZ]

I'm looking for a weekend toy and have decided I would like a Benz convertible. The reliability (compared to the Italian stuff I am used to) and cruise-ability are what appeals.

I am in New Zealand so sadly don't have the range of options like you guys do in the UK...

I am looking at a 1988 300SL and a 1995 E320 Convertible. Both are very tidy, the E320 is original but the 300SL has had quite a bit of work done. Both are around the same price ($25,000 NZD which is about 12,000 pounds).

My preference at the moment is the W124 as I feel it would be more reliable and also may be a better investment long term as they are rarer. Reliability (and low running costs) are important, as I have zero skills mechanically.

What would you pick?

Or should I stick with what I know and buy a late 70's Alfa Spider?

[Shezbo]

AlfaNZ said:

I'm looking for a weekend toy and have decided I would like a Benz convertible. The reliability (compared to the Italian stuff I am used to) and cruise-ability are what appeals.

I am in New Zealand so sadly don't have the range of options like you guys do in the UK...

I am looking at a 1988 300SL and a 1995 E320 Convertible. Both are very tidy, the E320 is original but the 300SL has had quite a bit of work done. Both are around the same price ($25,000 NZD which is about 12,000 pounds).

My preference at the moment is the W124 as I feel it would be more reliable and also may be a better investment long term as they are rarer. Reliability (and low running costs) are important, as I have zero skills mechanically.

What would you pick?

Or should I stick with what I know and buy a late 70's Alfa Spider?

300sl every time - I would say that - as I have one! Sorry cannot agree with the W124 reliability ststement SL's are known for their rock solid build (proper MB quality). A 300 sl with the M series engine is good for 250K miles....

[MRPULLHARD]

what about a R129 SL ? great value

[AlfaNZ]

Thanks - a R129 would bd good value, but the shape isn't classic enough for me.

The R107's I have been looking for are later 300's. Are these the best bet reliability wise?

[AlfaNZ]

Sorry should have included this initially... Here are the two cars I am looking at:

E320 Cab - http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=62...

300SL - http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/used-cars/mercedes...

[nickod]

Shezbo said:

300sl every time - I would say that - as I have one! Sorry cannot agree with the W124 reliability ststement SL's are known for their rock solid build (proper MB quality). A 300 sl with the M series engine is good for 250K miles....

Although weirdly I very rarely see them with high miles. There are loads with '99,000' miles or similar for sale.

[nickod]

I've had both and the 107 feels a lot more classic/ older to drive than the 124. Not necessarily a bad thing. 107's get a lot more attention especially from women.

[r129sl]

These are very different cars and I suspect your market is very different to ours. In the UK, the price of a good w124 cabriolet will buy only a mediocre r107; and in the UK we also have more rust issues to deal with, meaning that the older, mediocre r107 is likely to be very mediocre indeed. Again, in the UK, the w124 cabriolet has steadfastly refused to increase in price: if anything, over the last five to ten years they have fallen from upper teens and low twenties to low teens and even single-figure thousands. And this despite the rarity of the model: many fewer w124 cabriolets were built and came to our roads than r107s, by a factor of about 100! By contrast, all examples of the r107 have rocketed in price over the last two years to the point where now I feel they are over-priced (but this is true of the classic car market generally). My own personal view is that the w124 cabriolet is a very special car and represents a real peak in manufacturing quality, more so even than a r107. It is also a much more useable car. But this not the market's view.

[911Thrasher]

SL300 anytime - we have a R107 SL300 here in Central London which my wife uses as her daily. 3years already and flawless, never ever went wrong. We even have a very rare aftermarket electric soft top! and it works.

We have done roughly 12,000 miles already, and never hesitate taking it on weekend trips (+300miles). It has little electronics, so really not much to break down.


Just annual servicing and preventive maintenance - i spend roughly £2000 a year on it, but she is in top shape. I try to keep her as close to as new.

[MRPULLHARD]

i live in ireland and its a good place to source such cars at low prices , little market here due to high road tax. Many cars are ex uk but as salt is rarely put on roads here cars are likely to have less rust than cars which have never left uk and also the euro is worth less than sterling so that makes the already low prices even beeter. Check donedeal.ie or carzone.ie for cars

[Shezbo]

r129sl said:

These are very different cars and I suspect your market is very different to ours. In the UK, the price of a good w124 cabriolet will buy only a mediocre r107; and in the UK we also have more rust issues to deal with, meaning that the older, mediocre r107 is likely to be very mediocre indeed. Again, in the UK, the w124 cabriolet has steadfastly refused to increase in price: if anything, over the last five to ten years they have fallen from upper teens and low twenties to low teens and even single-figure thousands. And this despite the rarity of the model: many fewer w124 cabriolets were built and came to our roads than r107s, by a factor of about 100! By contrast, all examples of the r107 have rocketed in price over the last two years to the point where now I feel they are over-priced (but this is true of the classic car market generally). My own personal view is that the w124 cabriolet is a very special car and represents a real peak in manufacturing quality, more so even than a r107. It is also a much more useable car. But this not the market's view.

Agree they are very different cars, just interested to know why you think W124's were the peak of MB quality? I have always thought different? Regards

[r129sl]

Shezbo said:

Agree they are very different cars, just interested to know why you think W124's were the peak of MB quality? I have always thought different? Regards

As you know, I greatly like the 124 generally. I think they represent a sweet spot in which modern systems (in particular body design, suspension arrangement and braking technology) happily coalesce with minimalist design and a considered approach to build quality. You get an essentially modern car (the only major safety system that has come along since is ESP) with traditional build and one whose specification was not marketing-lead. Sure, they're not carved out of iron (like maybe the 107 and 123 are) but, I think, they're rather better for it.

However, with the 124 cabriolet (A124, I believe) Merc really seem to have indulged themselves. The attention to detail has always struck me as utterly astonishing: for instance, the bizarre weights which appear assymetrically in four places on the body in order to dampen vibration, the cabriolet top which is so coupé-like within, the bodyshell. Obviously the pop-up tombstones are worth a mention, too. From about 1971 to the present day, the A124 is pretty unique: a true four seat cabriolet (the Audi Cabriolet, A4 Cabriolet and A5 Cabriolet, the BMW 3er and 6er, the Mercedes CLK and E-Class, the Porsche 911, the Saab 900 and 9-3, all nominal four seaters, none has the comfort, space and roadability of the A124).