Love this Benz body style

[speeder]

Originally Posted by onewhippedpuppy

Holy crap!!! I’ve always loved the SEC body style but that price is stupid. I’d happily take one with more miles to drive and enjoy for like $15k.

And you can find that any day of the week.

The actual ownership experience would probably be underwhelming. I've owned many older Mercedes-Benz cars including several nice w126s. Do they drive well? Absolutely. Built like a tank, turning circle like child's tricycle, always nice to look at, etc., etc... The problem is the true cost of ownership plus the additional headache of finding parts going forward. These are not "set it and forget it" cars and they never were. They required an owner dedicated to maintaining the car when they were new. The true cost of ownership is a TON of super unleaded, frequent brake jobs and suspension refreshes, small things like window switches going that virtually never happens on modern cars, all of that. They tend to spring leaks that require a lot of labor to replace a $5 seal on engines and transmissions.

If the guy who bought the OP car plans on using it for a DD and paid $150k+ for it with BaT fees, they're going to find him swinging from a tree when the ether wears off. Unless he really just hates money. Even a nice one for $15k would probably cycle through your hands in less than a year. Trying to preserve an old car requires not driving it much and opening your wallet.

[Shaun @ Tru6]

7k-Mile 1987 Porsche 911 Carrera Targa M491 G50

[javadog]

Originally Posted by speeder

The actual ownership experience would probably be underwhelming. I've owned many older Mercedes-Benz cars including several nice w126s. Do they drive well? Absolutely. Built like a tank, turning circle like child's tricycle, always nice to look at, etc., etc

To that I will add that Mercedes Benz of this era were somewhat basic. Not super luxurious in the way the interior looked and the way they drove. Solid, yes. Plush and inviting, no.

Compared to other offerings when this car was new, it might’ve been built like a bank vault, but other cars offered a much more comfortable driving experience.

[greglepore]

Originally Posted by javadog

To that I will add that Mercedes Benz of this era were somewhat basic. Not super luxurious in the way the interior looked and the way they drove. Solid, yes. Plush and inviting, no.

Compared to other offerings when this car was new, it might’ve been built like a bank vault, but other cars offered a much more comfortable driving experience.

Yeah, the driving experience is unique. Not like a big sports car like a BMW, and not luxurious per se. But fwiw I find that after a 5-6 hr highway jaunt I emerge relaxed and if not refreshed at least not fatigued. They track well, they brake well, they do lots of things that aren't on the surface that make the driving require less constant effort than just about anything else.
Lots of that is lost if you buy one just to tool around in on Sundays.

[javadog]

My brother had one he bought new when he ran a Benz dealership. Nice, but when I went looking in 1990 for a bigger car to cover a ton of miles in, I ended up with an Audi V8. One of those with the optional sports seats was miles ahead of the Benz. If Audi offered that same car today, I’d buy another one.

I also looked at the Lexus LS400. Very refined but not something I’d drive at anything approaching a sporting pace.

Friend had a 7-series BMW. Never liked those much.

[onewhippedpuppy]

Originally Posted by speeder

And you can find that any day of the week.

The actual ownership experience would probably be underwhelming. I've owned many older Mercedes-Benz cars including several nice w126s. Do they drive well? Absolutely. Built like a tank, turning circle like child's tricycle, always nice to look at, etc., etc... The problem is the true cost of ownership plus the additional headache of finding parts going forward. These are not "set it and forget it" cars and they never were. They required an owner dedicated to maintaining the car when they were new. The true cost of ownership is a TON of super unleaded, frequent brake jobs and suspension refreshes, small things like window switches going that virtually never happens on modern cars, all of that. They tend to spring leaks that require a lot of labor to replace a $5 seal on engines and transmissions.

If the guy who bought the OP car plans on using it for a DD and paid $150k+ for it with BaT fees, they're going to find him swinging from a tree when the ether wears off. Unless he really just hates money. Even a nice one for $15k would probably cycle through your hands in less than a year. Trying to preserve an old car requires not driving it much and opening your wallet.

You’re not the first person I’ve heard that from. I think it’s more one that I’d like to admire from afar, while I shop for a nice ‘96-‘98 SL500.

[speeder]

Originally Posted by onewhippedpuppy

You’re not the first person I’ve heard that from. I think it’s more one that I’d like to admire from afar, while I shop for a nice ‘96-‘98 SL500.

Don't get me wrong, if you stumbled across one with low miles in beautiful condition for a tempting price, it would be hard to walk away from. It could provide an enjoyable experience for a while. I know a couple of people who DD a 126 coupe in the present time and they are just very dedicated to the cars. They love them. One is an older woman with a little bit of money who thinks that it's the best looking car ever and doesn't mind the gas and repair bills, (they are thirsty!), the other is a cool old guy who worked at the MB dealer back in the day as a service writer and he has had his forever. It's a "money is no object" thing just like the lady.

The lady's car is all black and the guy's is Mercedes silver with the dark tan leather and AMG wheels, just a show-stopper anywhere he parks. They are fantastic city cars because you can practically make a U-turn in an alley. All MB used to be like that.

[rcooled]

Originally Posted by Shaun @ Tru6

7k-Mile 1987 Porsche 911 Carrera Targa M491 G50

Sold for USD $200,000 on 10/16/25

YIKES Back in 2007, I sold an '89 in a better color, with higher mileage but in similar condition, for less than $30K...

[slow&rusty]

Originally Posted by pavulon

Seems like slow&rusty was a 126 coupe owner/fan, no?

Late to the party, as I was travelling this week.

Absolutely a 126 fan and owner.
I've owned my white 560SEC Coupe for 13 years and sold my other grey SEC last year on BaT.

Here they are together:

[wilnj]

Makes me wonder if returning Dad's 1 owner, 1986 300SDL back to the US is worth it. Maybe not 6 figures but probably a lot more than it will get in Portugal.

[Steve Carlton]

You could put it on Bring a Boat.

[speeder]

Originally Posted by steve carlton

you could put it on bring a boat.

:d:d:d

300SDL cars have no enthusiast market and unless it's in the condition of a coin that's never been circulated, they go for cheap. Nice cars, though, I drove one for years.

[Shaun @ Tru6]

1995 Mercedes-Benz SL72 AMG

[greglepore]

Originally Posted by Shaun @ Tru6

1995 Mercedes-Benz SL72 AMG

That's just nuts. I know they're rare. But good grief, you can buy a very nice later 129 with a 6 liter 12 for 5% of that money, and honestly given the nature of the car and the limitations of the chassis, it would be 95% of the experience. As a pure conversation piece, I'd maybe think 100k, but 400 plus is trippin, man. But the market has spoken.

Bring a Trailer? Bring a Gulfstream.

[javadog]

Originally Posted by greglepore

Bring a Trailer? Bring a Gulfstream.

Bring an idiot, And liquor his ass up real good 'fore he gets there.

[oldE]

Originally Posted by greglepore

Yeah, the driving experience is unique. Not like a big sports car like a BMW, and not luxurious per se. But fwiw I find that after a 5-6 hr highway jaunt I emerge relaxed and if not refreshed at least not fatigued. They track well, they brake well, they do lots of things that aren't on the surface that make the driving require less constant effort than just about anything else.
Lots of that is lost if you buy one just to tool around in on Sundays.

Yes, if you're putting serious time behind the wheel, you need a car that makes it effortless. My C class would do that. More than once I did 8 hour round trips to visit family. Thing is my '16 Jetta delivers the same experience with less fuel burned (and regular too). I guess there's a seat for every butt.

[Bob Kontak]

Originally Posted by Shaun @ Tru6

1995 Mercedes-Benz SL72 AMG

https://www.classic.com/veh/1989-mercedes-benz-560sec-amg-60-widebody-wdb1260451a507821-WxMJgkp/

You need JR money. Just sayin...............

[onewhippedpuppy]

Originally Posted by greglepore

That's just nuts. I know they're rare. But good grief, you can buy a very nice later 129 with a 6 liter 12 for 5% of that money, and honestly given the nature of the car and the limitations of the chassis, it would be 95% of the experience. As a pure conversation piece, I'd maybe think 100k, but 400 plus is trippin, man. But the market has spoken.

Bring a Trailer? Bring a Gulfstream.

Super rare car, never sold here, pre-merger AMG, in the grand scheme of stupid collector prices I suppose that makes sense. Personally I think that’s a seriously badass car.

[911_Dude]

To each his own. I think thats one of the worst MB body styles Ive seen. Looks like it was inspired by the K-Cars.

[javadog]

Originally Posted by 911_Dude

To each his own. I think thats one of the worst MB body styles Ive seen. Looks like it was inspired by the K-Cars.

It's basic form is pretty decent. The AMG/go faster crap detracts from it.