[daryn]

I just went up the Frisco yesteday and am I the only person who feels outgunned in the city? New cars are riding your ass pulling out in front of you and about running you off the road. Pushing 3500lbs with 180hp from a stop doesn't seem to satisfy the modern car driver, they about want to run you off the road. People don't seem to realize that old cars take more time to speed up and slow down. At least I have a might horn, unfortunately moder car drivers have sound deadening insulation, blaring music and buds in their ears so they won't hear the horn as they about crash into you.

I've about decided my car is no fun driving around the city. Maybe not being able to drive it for a couple months makes me worry about getting hit, you know your car won't get hit when it runs like crap, but if you just spent 300$ getting everything worked out, you are now fair game.

Maybe I'm just going crazy, the paranoia is taking control!

 

[dugald]

It's not the car, Daryn.
It's you getting old.

 

[tork'd]

isn't you in another post that ENJOYED pissing off the 'YUPPIES"?

maybe they are starting to remember you....

just a thought

 

[ussun]

Fuck them, kid. Your absolutely right to be pissed at them for being so rude to an antique car. They'll get their's when they pull out in their antique's and their run off into the woods.

 

[rowdie]

Ditto ussun!
The one great thing about living in BFE is that the other drivers wave with more than one finger. I figure I added 10 years to my life by moving here. Oops, that was ten years ago. Maybe livin' on borrowed time now.

 

[Legerdemain]

If you have a good look at specifications for new cars and compare them to the old 107s, you will find that the power to weight ratios are not that different at all. Modern cars are seriously overweight (mirroring the modern human condition I guess..) with all the safety and electric devices, and apart from special high performance models, most engines are designed for low emissions and fuel consumption rather than driving experience.

Have a look some time at the specs for something like a Mazda 6 or any other bland sedan on the market - they are about the same weight as our so-called Panzerwagens, and only the top end high tech, variable timed, multi-valve engines have any more power to speak of. They are also incredibly uninvolving and boring to drive.

I'm very surprised that you feel harried in your 280. Mine feels like the absolute opposite. I always feel like I am the only one with a car that has a real engine in it. It wants to fly and I always find myself reining it in...

Believe me, we have our share of aggressive drivers down here in NZ and there is no shortage of people wanting to prove themselves in their high power Japanese turbos and big Aussie V8s, but with my 280 SLC I never, ever feel underpowered on the road.

The key to the M110 engine is letting it sing. It is a race derived design that like to rev. The engine is happiest and also most fuel efficient over about 4000 rpm. Sounds high to people used to low revving V8s, but it will really fly if you let it. Maybe the US versions are really sick with all the emissions stuff, but I can't imagine they would be that different - you say yours has 180 HP so that's about the same as my Euro's 185.

As far as taking longer to slow down - you should have a look at the condition of your brakes. These cars have STUNNING braking. On the track I can consistently outbrake many cars that have full race systems. All I have done modification wise is put in race fluid so it doesn't boil. Everything else has been rebuilt but is standard. The brakes never fail to amaze me with their progressiveness, power and feel. I reckon they were part of the high tide of real brakes before the world began to rely on ABS and marketing hype.

 

[JDR280SL]

daryn,
I'm 74 years old, survived 2 bloody wars (conflicts they called them) and just don't give a shit about rude people. Enjoy you car and driving it. The world have 6 billion people in it and some are bound to be rude, but most are OK. I find most admire these cars and enjoy asking about them.

Jerry

 

[daryn]

I'm not saying the car is slow but getting it rolling up to speed between stop lights isn't going to work. I'm not going to bang the throttle only to end up stopping in 200ft. New cars seem to roll up to speed quicker under less aggressive acceleration than the benz. I know the cars brakes are awesome, I've seen them lock twice.

I guess not wanting a ticket, combined with not getting to drive much the last few months(killed my skills/confidence) turned me into a wimp. I never was much for driving fast around town though. On the highway is another story. Maybe I just don't know why people drive around Frisco like idiots, I do it on my bike, but it is a lot easier to manuever.

 

[Weather Man]

It's not just 'Frisco, it's everywhere. Driving is just no fun for anyone any more. In about the last 20 years, only in the 'SL since November have I had any joy behind the wheel.

 

[Fotografa]

Maybe the US versions are really sick with all the emissions stuff, but I can't imagine they would be that different - you say yours has 180 HP so that's about the same as my Euro's 185.

It's the same as yours Legerdemain, the Seppos never got the best stuff like the 280SL/SLC's, proper 350SL/SLC's, 280CE's etc.

Back then in the US (and still now to some degree) it was all about cubic inches (although I don't understand why they got the 280C (W114) but not the CE?? WTF is the go with that?). And MB gave the US market what they wanted.

 

[rowdie]

Just be happy and smile at the idiots. You are driving what they wish they had. You want to be driving a Smart Car? :bash:I don't think so.

I enjoyed driving mine around my area and got lots of looks and comments. Met new people and really enjoyed before the fatal chain slap noise. I really look forward to driving her again and people still ask about her.:thumbsup::beerchugr:

 

[Fotografa]

I think the Smart is a great little car, very practical... but it doesn't look half as much fun as this baby! Carver

 

[Legerdemain]

In my last job, I had a Smart Fortwo as my daily driver. It was a fabulous car and LOTS of fun to drive. I drove it daily for about 2 years and got to know it very well. I had the choice of any reasonable car as part of my employment contract and the little Smart was my choice. If I could justify it, I would have one again in an instant. It is the most involving modern car I have ever driven. Practical yes, but even more than that, fun to drive.

Until you have lived with one for a while, it is hard to believe they are as well sorted as they are. The packaging is incredible and on full song, the 3 cylinder turbo sounds like a little 911.

 

[daryn]

I've seen federalized CEs before, the biggest difference is for the US market they detuned the engine to like 150hp or somthing lame like that and made them ugly.

We did get the CD though for CAFE, which is the diesel version of the CE. Kind of hit and miss.

 

[Fotografa]

Here is some video from the Carver site... Carver

 

[roncallo]

Don't worry Daryn

Judgment day for new cars is coming.

 

[nobby]

There's other cars on the road???

 

[Red_560SL_87]

Crazy and bad drivers ruin it for everyone. I think a lot of people in the US are in a hurry most of the time to get to nowhere. Nothing is that important to risk one's life and other's by driving poorly.

I don't get why people tailgate in highway or city driving.

 

[Whuffo]

I've noted that the ones who seem to want to race are the kids driving some underpowered sh*t box. Don't let them bother you, your SL is plenty fast enough for city traffic.

 

[akimball442]

My SL got outgunned yesterday by a ford ranger pickup. Hence my recent thread about getting it back to it's proper condition. I was pissed. LOL.