I'm somewhat-seriously in the market for a car to replace my 560SEL... The 560 is an outstanding automobile, even more so now since it just had $15k worth of work done on it last summer...
...But (there's always a butt, isn't there? []) it's just not as fast as I'd like. I'd also like something that gets better gas mileage, but that's not really *that* important (or I wouldn't be considering a 600...)
Basically what I want to know is how reliable the W140 600s are. I'm 19, this is going to be my only car, and I need something that isn't going to leave me stranded in the school parking lot once a month or whatever. Minor electrical bugs like power seats that won't move aren't a big deal... I have to deal with those now. I just need to be sure that, like I said, the cars aren't prone to having major problems (read: anything that would make it undriveable) on a regular basis.
Also, how much more expensive to maintain are they than the W126s? I don't think they'd be all that much more, but...
Oh, and if you're curious, the other cars I'm thinking about are:
-an E36 BMW M3
-an older Audi S4 (one of the ones with the biturbo 2.7L V6)
-a C43
-an E500/500E (one of the old ones that Porsche had a hand in, not the new one)
-a W210 E55 (not likely)
-an E39 BMW M5 (not likely)
-a Porsche 944 Turbo, older 911 Turbo, or 928 (not likely)
-a Ferrari 400i (though I need to check prices on those... I know the 328s/308s are fairly cheap and I think the 400is are as well, but I'm not sure about that)
-an Acura NSX
And I'm open to other suggestions as well.. (yes, I realize this portion would be better off in the OT forum, but since I'm posting here anyhow...) basically what I'm looking for is something that's:
-relatively fast; mid 14s 1/4s or faster, preferably mid 13s
-rear wheel drive (the S4 gets an exception because of its tuning potential). I'll consider awd if the car has other compelling features, but fwd is completely out of the question
-fairly inexpensive... <$30k at most, <$20k would be better
-reliable
-not significantly more expensive to maintain than the 560
-not an American car; there are a few exceptions to that, but none of them are made by Ford (ANY division), Chevy, or Cadillac. Mopar, Olds, Pontiac, and Buick I'm open to suggestions on...
//EDIT
Forgot, I'm most interested in the 1996+ 600s because I'd rather have a 5 speed auto...
...But (there's always a butt, isn't there? []) it's just not as fast as I'd like. I'd also like something that gets better gas mileage, but that's not really *that* important (or I wouldn't be considering a 600...)
Basically what I want to know is how reliable the W140 600s are. I'm 19, this is going to be my only car, and I need something that isn't going to leave me stranded in the school parking lot once a month or whatever. Minor electrical bugs like power seats that won't move aren't a big deal... I have to deal with those now. I just need to be sure that, like I said, the cars aren't prone to having major problems (read: anything that would make it undriveable) on a regular basis.
Also, how much more expensive to maintain are they than the W126s? I don't think they'd be all that much more, but...
Oh, and if you're curious, the other cars I'm thinking about are:
-an E36 BMW M3
-an older Audi S4 (one of the ones with the biturbo 2.7L V6)
-a C43
-an E500/500E (one of the old ones that Porsche had a hand in, not the new one)
-a W210 E55 (not likely)
-an E39 BMW M5 (not likely)
-a Porsche 944 Turbo, older 911 Turbo, or 928 (not likely)
-a Ferrari 400i (though I need to check prices on those... I know the 328s/308s are fairly cheap and I think the 400is are as well, but I'm not sure about that)
-an Acura NSX
And I'm open to other suggestions as well.. (yes, I realize this portion would be better off in the OT forum, but since I'm posting here anyhow...) basically what I'm looking for is something that's:
-relatively fast; mid 14s 1/4s or faster, preferably mid 13s
-rear wheel drive (the S4 gets an exception because of its tuning potential). I'll consider awd if the car has other compelling features, but fwd is completely out of the question
-fairly inexpensive... <$30k at most, <$20k would be better
-reliable
-not significantly more expensive to maintain than the 560
-not an American car; there are a few exceptions to that, but none of them are made by Ford (ANY division), Chevy, or Cadillac. Mopar, Olds, Pontiac, and Buick I'm open to suggestions on...
//EDIT
Forgot, I'm most interested in the 1996+ 600s because I'd rather have a 5 speed auto...