Thread: 1982 Merc 380SL
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Por_sha911 Por_sha911 is online now
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Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: TN
Posts: 21,360
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I bought an `85 380SL for Mrs Porsche. She never drove it. I drove it and loved the look but:
-you'll need a hoist to remove the hard top without help (110 pounds)
-the car felt great on the highway for cruising because it it feels like it weighs 3 tons
-the 380 is way under-powered for the weight of the car so acceleration is slow
-handling is not nimble
-I didn't like the transmission at all
-pray you don't have to replace the valve cover gaskets (ask me how I know)
-no power top means minutes of hassle to bring up of the soft top if it starts to rain.
-you don't want to have to buy interior pieces: cost of parts makes Porsche seem like a budget car.
-runs on 92 octane and no ethanol due to old gaskits and hoses
-expect 15 mpg at best



Find a 450SL and get the power you need to move that sled (and have the double row timing chain)
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See Porsche run. Run, Porsche, Run: `87 911 Carrera

Last edited by Por_sha911; 01-21-2025 at 12:51 PM..
Old 01-21-2025, 12:48 PM
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