MBZ New vs. Old - Benzworld.org

SVanHorne · 11-05-2003, 07:31 PM

I'm going on my 5th week here at House of Imports and I've really had a great time test-driving and selling new Mercedes.

But ya know what--?

The W126 is STILL positively the car that was made with the most thought, most ingenuity and the most love. At least, in my own humble opinion.

I guess back in the 80's Daimler Benz used this bizarre ingrediant in the construction of their automobiles called "steel". [:p]

Just kidding, but man I thought the, well--NOVELTY would wear off a little bit being surrounded by the new Benz's what with their Tele-Aid and electrohydraulic braking systems and standard ABS and memory adjustable seats and cruise control and automatic seatbelt pretensioners and the neat little button that puts the rear headrests down and . . .

You know that haven't improved on the S-Class THAT bloody much! You'll never hear this from another new MBZ salesman, but- why upgrade?

I sure the heck ain't. And it has nothing to do with the fact that I'm in debt up to my eyeballs.

(Well, maybe a little [:p])

By the by, I'm a little concerned about going to pick up my 560SEL sight-unseen and then driving it 1200 miles to get home. Everything I've read so far in these threads about the hydraulic suspension in the 560's has got me worried!

dtkw · 11-05-2003, 09:29 PM

My 86' 560SEL has been running without much problems since I took it from my family. There was so many different drivers then and nobody really took the time to take care of her until it passed down to me. I spent some money to fixed everything worn but nothing more than $3000.00 so far. The first 1700 was ripped off by the dealer when I first got and took it to Keyes European. The rear suspension is still in good condition. I guess it's all depending on who owned it before. However, I was told that each piece setup is $1700 parts alone. So, when the time mine go bad, I would just switch them to regular shocks and spring setup like the 420SEL's. Good luck.

jzaroh · 11-05-2003, 10:22 PM

I've been in the 220, and the 140 as well.

The W140 is OK, I guess (a little too big), but the 220 has such a cheap interior that it makes my stomach churn. For instance, the lack of wood, and the cheap low grade plastic. Not to mention the untraditional instrument cluster. However the exterior goes by Sacco's famous philosophy "A Mercedes should always look like a Mercedes". And it does if you add 17 or 18" AMG monoblocks to it.

I got the opportunity to sit in the cockpit with the engine running, in the new '03 SL. Very nice car. The only Benz I would consider buying new! I could recognize the new SL as a Benz a mile away.[:D]

The W126, is, and always will be, to me, the best Stuttgart Super sedan ever built. It is the car from which all others are based on.

jzaroh · 11-05-2003, 10:22 PM

I've been in the 220, and the 140 as well.

The W140 is OK, I guess (a little too big), but the 220 has such a cheap interior that it makes my stomach churn. For instance, the lack of wood, and the cheap low grade plastic. Not to mention the untraditional instrument cluster. However the exterior goes by Sacco's famous philosophy "A Mercedes should always look like a Mercedes". And it does if you add 17 or 18" AMG monoblocks to it.

I got the opportunity to sit in the cockpit with the engine running, in the new '03 SL. Very nice car. The only Benz I would consider buying new! I could recognize the new SL as a Benz a mile away.[:D]

The W126, is, and always will be, to me, the best Stuttgart Super sedan ever built. It is the car from which all others are based on.

jzaroh · 11-05-2003, 10:22 PM

I've been in the 220, and the 140 as well.

The W140 is OK, I guess (a little too big), but the 220 has such a cheap interior that it makes my stomach churn. For instance, the lack of wood, and the cheap low grade plastic. Not to mention the untraditional instrument cluster. However the exterior goes by Sacco's famous philosophy "A Mercedes should always look like a Mercedes". And it does if you add 17 or 18" AMG monoblocks to it.

I got the opportunity to sit in the cockpit with the engine running, in the new '03 SL. Very nice car. The only Benz I would consider buying new! I could recognize the new SL as a Benz a mile away.[:D]

The W126, is, and always will be, to me, the best Stuttgart Super sedan ever built. It is the car from which all others are based on.

cnd · 11-05-2003, 10:46 PM

I hate the interior of all the new models. To me they seem very un Mercedes. I also hate how the window switches have been moved from the centre console/shift plate to the driver's door side. I hate that!

janos_z · 11-06-2003, 09:26 AM

in general, you're brave for plunking down money on a used car you have never seen or driven. but assuming that it was well taken care of and you have the option to back out if some undisclosed problem comes up when you go pick it up, you should be fine. just make sure you look the car over carefully before you set out on your 1200-mile journey, and remember stupid little things like the tires (tread, inflation) and fluid levels.

as for the hydraulic suspension - even if it is broken, you should be able to drive the car home without problems. but yeah, getting it fixed is an expensive proposition.

Chicago 420SEL · 11-06-2003, 09:35 AM

I wouldn't worry about the suspension, and just try to think of the trip as an adventure. Could make for some good stories when you get back. Gotta keep it fun.

Ed

BENZDOC · 11-06-2003, 07:22 PM

cnd- funny you should mention the window switches on the 220. quick story-I own a benz and bmw repair biz in NY. back in 99, i went to the dealer to pick up some parts and decided to check out the 220 face to face. I walk in and there it is.... a beauty... black on black.....polished like no other. so after 10 minutes of drooling over the exterior, I pop my head in thru the drivers window, admire the use of plastics and leather, then i see the switches and i puke ........they finally lowered themselves...............ps i really didn't puke, but you know what i mean. kevin

jzaroh · 11-06-2003, 07:45 PM

YES! The switches are in the same location as Japanese cars! The headliner is made out of cloth(so does my E-Class, but it is not an S-Class. The W140 has a suede headliner), and a sit in the backseat is depressing. YES it does have lots of headroom and legroom. But this is only achieved by making the rear bench seat ridiculously thin.

Oh, the doors are as light as paper in comparison, too.