I've been cruising around the different MB sedan forums around here for the past several weeks. It's a great website BTW. I'm trying to sell my '88 BMW and a Mercedes is a car I've always wanted--plus they have great reliability, something my BMW sometimes lacks.
I'm smitten with the W124 E class. I think it's one of the most quinessential MBs. But then a W126 popped up in my area. I checked it out, drove it, and liked it. But I don't think I want another 16+ year-old car, and I'd like a warranty with it, which is something that wasn't offered.
I drove a '96 S320 when I was looking for a W124. The dealership had both, so I figured, why not? At first I didn't like the W140--it was heavy, too quiet, too disconnected from the road. But the more I drove it...the more I liked it. It just settled down and went. Cool.
I haven't seriously considered a W140 because of the complexity of the car (for example, the door and trunk auto-closures really bother me). But a '97 S320 (with about 94,000 miles) popped up in my area for a good price, so I'm thinking more seriously about it.
I want a car that is reliable that I don't have to fix all the time. From what I've read, the '95+ W140s are better in that regard. I know that repair costs are more than a W124, but how much different are the costs?
I guess my question is this: for someone without a whole lot of cash to spend on maintenance and repairs, would a W140 be a poor choice? I don't mind spending money to maintain a car, but I hate constant little problems that costs $$$ to repair. That's why I'm getting rid of my BMW. I like the W124 because it doesn't have all the gadgets and gizmos of the W140, but the W140 is a charmer and the ultimate Benz.
Why do you guys think?
I'm smitten with the W124 E class. I think it's one of the most quinessential MBs. But then a W126 popped up in my area. I checked it out, drove it, and liked it. But I don't think I want another 16+ year-old car, and I'd like a warranty with it, which is something that wasn't offered.
I drove a '96 S320 when I was looking for a W124. The dealership had both, so I figured, why not? At first I didn't like the W140--it was heavy, too quiet, too disconnected from the road. But the more I drove it...the more I liked it. It just settled down and went. Cool.
I haven't seriously considered a W140 because of the complexity of the car (for example, the door and trunk auto-closures really bother me). But a '97 S320 (with about 94,000 miles) popped up in my area for a good price, so I'm thinking more seriously about it.
I want a car that is reliable that I don't have to fix all the time. From what I've read, the '95+ W140s are better in that regard. I know that repair costs are more than a W124, but how much different are the costs?
I guess my question is this: for someone without a whole lot of cash to spend on maintenance and repairs, would a W140 be a poor choice? I don't mind spending money to maintain a car, but I hate constant little problems that costs $$$ to repair. That's why I'm getting rid of my BMW. I like the W124 because it doesn't have all the gadgets and gizmos of the W140, but the W140 is a charmer and the ultimate Benz.
Why do you guys think?