A daily classic?
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Discussion

jason61c

Original Poster:

5,978 posts

203 months

Sunday 30th August 2020
quotequote all
I'm due to get a polestar 2 as a company car, however I think there's a chance that the lease company has cocked up....

As I was walking the dog, I saw a nice w124 estate go past, it got me thinking.... Daily classic, 8k a year, with cruise control.....

It'd only do longer runs normally, what is there I should be thinking about? is it a stupid idea?



ClaphamGT3

12,223 posts

272 months

Sunday 30th August 2020
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If you're going to get a daily classic to do 8k miles per year in, a W124 is probably about the best choice you can make

akirk

5,778 posts

143 months

Sunday 30th August 2020
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I had an mgb roadster as a daily, it lived outside and I had very few issues... great fun, just keep on top of any maintenance

jason61c

Original Poster:

5,978 posts

203 months

Sunday 30th August 2020
quotequote all
dream world would be high 20's motorway mpg(70mph) and cruise.

jason61c

Original Poster:

5,978 posts

203 months

Sunday 30th August 2020
quotequote all
Any proper buyers guides for the w124's? any must haves etc?

ClaphamGT3

12,223 posts

272 months

Monday 31st August 2020
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jason61c said:
Any proper buyers guides for the w124's? any must haves etc?
Worth looking at the ‘titivating my w124’ thread

jason61c

Original Poster:

5,978 posts

203 months

Monday 31st August 2020
quotequote all
Saab 900 turbo?

300sl-24

591 posts

123 months

Monday 31st August 2020
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My W124 Estate is on eBay currently. 230TE classified advert £2995

Castrol for a knave

7,877 posts

120 months

Monday 31st August 2020
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Our car allowance policy has disappeared from our company intranet, so no reference of having to have something Euro 6 as previous, time to play a loophole.....

For the same reason, I'm thinking of a useable classic.

Lotus Excel seems to be at the top of the list at the moment. Renault GTA V6 is up there as is the W124. Whether 25,000 miles a year all over the country is doable is down to man maths.

I wish you luck in your quest......

Boosted LS1

21,200 posts

289 months

Monday 31st August 2020
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jason61c said:
Saab 900 turbo?
Good call or a 9000, they munch up the miles.

tog

4,948 posts

257 months

Monday 31st August 2020
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Boosted LS1 said:
Good call or a 9000, they munch up the miles.
I'm on my I think 7th 9000. Great cars, I'm doing about 15k a year in mine (pre-covid at least).

jason61c

Original Poster:

5,978 posts

203 months

Monday 31st August 2020
quotequote all
300sl-24 said:
My W124 Estate is on eBay currently. 230TE classified advert £2995
Thanks, if I do it, I'd like a silky smooth larger engine

jason61c

Original Poster:

5,978 posts

203 months

Monday 31st August 2020
quotequote all
Boosted LS1 said:
Good call or a 9000, they munch up the miles.
that might work.

dbdb

5,175 posts

202 months

Monday 31st August 2020
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A Jaguar XJ40 (3.2 or 4.0) or X300 are also cars to consider. They're surprisingly economical on a run and easily robust enough to use for 8,000 miles a year.

Dapster

9,400 posts

209 months

Monday 31st August 2020
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ClaphamGT3 said:
If you're going to get a daily classic to do 8k miles per year in, a W124 is probably about the best choice you can make
Agree with this 100%, or indeed any carefully selected Merc of the period. The W124, again like any 80/90s Merc will rust for fun. Look around the front wings especially (around the indicator lamp) where it rusts from the inside. In '89 the facelift cars came with plastic trim on the lower half of the body ("Sacco panels") and they can hide corrosion. Also check the jacking points and the base of rear screen. The wiring loom can degrade on the later cars. Mechanically parts are plentiful and looked after ones will go for a million miles - not a metaphorical million either.

Personally I'd go for a 6 cyl automatic with as many toys as I can find (standard cars were basically specced with everything coming as an extra) - check this out https://engineeringsocialgeek.files.wordpress.com/... to see exactly what I mean.

If you don't need the space, the C124 Coupe would be a nice option, or even a R129 SL roadster. All can be had within a shout of your budget like this one

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mercedes-Benz-E-320-Cou...





Your struggle would be to find the holy trinity of no rust, decent spec and to be in original condition - there are so many out there that have been adorned with tat, huge wheels and bad tints etc....

Big Tomm

105 posts

81 months

Monday 31st August 2020
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Not a stupid idea at all! Over the last few years I’ve run a fair few. I change them usually every 12 months, not due to unreliability but just enjoy a bit of variety. I Had a SPI classic mini for about a year, a 1989 MR2 (Mk2 T-bar) for another 12 months or so. After that I got a 1989 Ford Sierra sapphire with the EFI pinto, it was a fantastic car which I wish I had kept hold of but sky rocketing prices urged me to sell it on. Since then I bought another Porsche 944 which i have had for about 12 months now. Driven the length and breadth of the country in it and I actually much prefer the driving experience over my moderns.

Give it a go, if you don’t like it they seem to hold their values well and just sell it on again.

jason61c

Original Poster:

5,978 posts

203 months

Monday 31st August 2020
quotequote all
dbdb said:
A Jaguar XJ40 (3.2 or 4.0) or X300 are also cars to consider. They're surprisingly economical on a run and easily robust enough to use for 8,000 miles a year.
the thought of relying on a modern jaguar, leaves me cold, an older one fills me with dread!

Peter3442

450 posts

97 months

Monday 31st August 2020
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I've experienced a few Jaguar X300s in recent years. They're wonderful cars. From what their owners say, they are reliable. It's important to keep the battery charged and find a specialist for the maintenance. Find a good one, even good ones are not expensive, and start living on a higher dimension than ordinary mortals.

ClaphamGT3

12,223 posts

272 months

Monday 31st August 2020
quotequote all
300sl-24 said:
My W124 Estate is on eBay currently. 230TE classified advert £2995
Ooh - link please, I’m looking for one for our holiday home

300sl-24

591 posts

123 months

Monday 31st August 2020
quotequote all
ClaphamGT3 said:
300sl-24 said:
My W124 Estate is on eBay currently. 230TE classified advert £2995
Ooh - link please, I’m looking for one for our holiday home
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mercedes-W124-Estate-230TE-7-Seats-1991-Automatic-S124-classic-car/224125364882










Edited by 300sl-24 on Monday 31st August 21:12