Cars that should do well over the next 10years

Lavazza

Lavazza

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rockits said:
I'm a big fan of the R129 SL500 and have had 3. I just felt they were getting too expensive. The later facelift 500 with 5 speed auto is the one to go for. No loom issues.

Problem for me started being parts availability. So much stuff is now EOL. I couldn't order a spare key and loads of interior parts that had discoloured or gone brittle over the years.

The gearbox and engine are bullet proof and they are plenty quick enough. Just not a fan of convertibles per se and it does have a bit of scuttle shake/flex even though it has loads of extra strengthening to counter this. The roof mech is a pain in the butt when it goes wrong and expensive to fix.

The SL60 is pretty quick but brakes are woeful as it is a heavy car and they are stock SL600 items. Nearly set them on fire once and had total brake fade/failure.
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The early cars didn't have loom issues either.
The gearbox in the 5 speed I hear is very good, but the 4 speed is even more robust.
I went for the early 500SL (1991) because I much prefer the seats and wheels. Any R129 is a great car though.
 
whereskeith

whereskeith

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I have recently driven a 2012 c63 amg with performance pack and other amg options.
For what these sell for now they are a steal and actually properly rapid , future classic I would say with that engine.
 
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Nayf

Nayf

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Early R129s with the gingercators and the two-tone are lovely. The SL500 is lovely, but the SL320 is all the SL you’ll ever need for what the car’s best at - quick enough for wafting, and it handles better too.

Need and want are two different things though...
It’s worth noting that SL quality went south after 1998 as cost cutting became rife and different paint was used.
Interestingly there’s at least three ex-sultan of Brunei SL60 AMGs in the country atm - two at DD Classics and one at Bramley.
 
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Lavazza

Lavazza

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Nayf said:
Early R129s with the gingercators and the two-tone are lovely. The SL500 is lovely, but the SL320 is all the SL you’ll ever need for what the car’s best at - quick enough for wafting, and it handles better too.

Need and want are two different things though...
It’s worth noting that SL quality went south after 1998 as cost cutting became rife and different paint was used.
Interestingly there’s at least three ex-sultan of Brunei SL60 AMGs in the country atm - two at DD Classics and one at Bramley.
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Thought some might enjoy seeing this...
795007950179502
 
Nayf

Nayf

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See now I’m looking at SL320s as semi daily drivers.
I very nearly bought an SL500. £2500, on 160,000 miles. Owner was a cruise ship captain who used it to commute - to the western coast of Italy. Was a bit too borked and the prices of parts scared me off, but I wish I’d have been brave enough
 
rockits

rockits

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9,173
Nayf said:
Early R129s with the gingercators and the two-tone are lovely. The SL500 is lovely, but the SL320 is all the SL you’ll ever need for what the car’s best at - quick enough for wafting, and it handles better too.

Need and want are two different things though...
It’s worth noting that SL quality went south after 1998 as cost cutting became rife and different paint was used.
Interestingly there’s at least three ex-sultan of Brunei SL60 AMGs in the country atm - two at DD Classics and one at Bramley.
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See this is where we differ. Has to be a 5.0 V8 SL for me. I agree a 320 is all you need in any Merc of that era however I still want that cracking V8. It is like having an XJ220 with a V6.....oh!

I've had facelift, facelift and later Chrysler SL. I prefer facelift followed by later Chrysler then older school (that some love best) older 4 speed car. Having lived with a later Chrysler SL500 for a few years I noticed zero difference in quality to the previous two in actual reality. That R129 in any guise is still your old school granite built Merc and fabulous for it. Best Merc I had was the SL60 followed closely by the E55K Estate, followed closely by a 124 E320 CE Sportline.

I was offered one of those ex Sultan of Brunei SL60's but turned it down as it was too green for my liking! I know someone that bought his SL73 though!
 
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foibles

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rockits said:
I was offered one of those ex Sultan of Brunei SL60's but turned it down as it was too green for my liking! I know someone that bought his SL73 though!
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And there's that icon.... the SL73 will surely be one of those astronomical investments in years to come.

For me I still think if you're going to be bothered with the R129 platform...it should be SL60 at least.

Would you mind me asking what the SL60 was floated at? I had to pass up the one at 4 star as it was a 97 model, meaning I'd need to store it 2 years, but the mid 30s price tag was appealing. But the high 60s on ask for the other 2 seems a bit much, hence why they've not sold.
 
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foibles

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511
Thoughts on Porsche 968 sports variant? With as much CS spec level as possible, but not an actual CS model? The CS is commanding a bit of a BS premium at present, which does not seem justifiable given the minor trim differences. But 968 sport seems a bargain, especially compared to 944 series 2
 
Nayf

Nayf

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2,751
If green ain’t your thing

Mercedes-Benz SL60 AMG (RHD)

1992 Mercedes-Benz SL60 AMG (RHD) Just 9,240km/5,750miles from new Ordered by the Sultan of Brunei Agatha Grey with Black leather interior Simply magnificent 6.0 L AMG performance Reputedly 1 of only 164 R129 500SLs AMG converted. Highly regarded by many to be the most stylish, well built SL to be…
ddclassics.com ddclassics.com

Mercedes-Benz SL60 AMG (RHD)

1992 Mercedes-Benz SL60 AMG (RHD) Just 19,075km/11,850miles from new Ordered by the Sultan of Brunei Silver Grey with Grey leather interior Simply magnificent 6.0 L AMG performance Reputedly 1 of only 164 R129 500SLs AMG built Highly regarded by many to be the most stylish, well built SL to be…
ddclassics.com ddclassics.com
 
Lavazza

Lavazza

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1,060
foibles said:
Thoughts on Porsche 968 sports variant? With as much CS spec level as possible, but not an actual CS model? The CS is commanding a bit of a BS premium at present, which does not seem justifiable given the minor trim differences. But 968 sport seems a bargain, especially compared to 944 series 2
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The 968 Sport is virtually the same as the CS. The Sport is a more comfort orientated CS. It weighs a bit more due to the extra comfort (seats, electric windows etc).

Underneath the trim difference, same car.
 
Ewan

Ewan

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6,815
foibles said:
Thoughts on Porsche 968 sports variant? With as much CS spec level as possible, but not an actual CS model? The CS is commanding a bit of a BS premium at present, which does not seem justifiable given the minor trim differences. But 968 sport seems a bargain, especially compared to 944 series 2
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The 968 Sport is a brilliant car, and a bargain, as you say. But it’s not easy to find a really good one, and it’s commonplace for them (like any 944/968) to require a few thousand on recommissioning works.
 
rockits

rockits

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9,173
foibles said:
And there's that icon.... the SL73 will surely be one of those astronomical investments in years to come.

For me I still think if you're going to be bothered with the R129 platform...it should be SL60 at least.

Would you mind me asking what the SL60 was floated at? I had to pass up the one at 4 star as it was a 97 model, meaning I'd need to store it 2 years, but the mid 30s price tag was appealing. But the high 60s on ask for the other 2 seems a bit much, hence why they've not sold.
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I don't think many if any of those SL60's are selling or changing hands certainly not at those prices if they are.

The SL73 I know of was bought for £60-70k depending on how much tax/duty you include.

I think I must have bought the cheapest SL60 ever at that time as they had really bottomed. It was £11k I think.....might even have been £9k I am unsure. I know it was silly cheap at the time. That was maybe 2010 ish and I sold 2013 as didn't have any garage at the time so it was getting ruined. Sold it for about £13k I think. It needed a ton of work to a rusty osr arch. Jay Manek (Mercland) bought it from me and did an absolute ton of work to get it right up to scratch. It is a lovely car now but he must have spent at least £15k likely more.

I moved house about 18 months later and have tons of space and potential storage now!

I went to buy (as had already done a phone deal with a fellow MBClubUK forum member) another SL60 for £17k a few years later and bought a one way ticket to Cheshire. It wasn't what I hoped or expected when I got there though and couldn't value it at the £17k to me at the time. Also couldn't re-negotiate a deal with the seller in the end. Lovely guy and all was good but we had a small difference in opinion I guess. Not an issue as these things happen.

Do I regret selling the SL60? Well weirdly half yes but half no. The yes in that it would have stayed a solid investment. However the no as for me it is not a special enough car and doesn't warrant the premium over a stock SL500. It was not a really special car to me to drive and didn't really give that buzz I get with other cars. My 4200 feels more special to me also my new TVR Chimaera 450SC even more so.

To me an R129 SL is a nice car but not a special car. For that reason I don't hanker for another R129 even an SL73. Maybe they are just to old and a bit lacking to drive IMHO.

Most of the cars I have, will keep and might buy in the future have to be that special car that really grabs me for whatever reason. They need to be special and I'm afraid to me the SL60 and any R129 is not special enough for me which is why I don't have one any more. Nice but I don't want nice uncompromisingly I only want special as what's the point?!

This is also my reason for saying the 500 is the R129 to have as however good the 6 pots are (and they are) the V8 just lifts that a little more. A 6 pot SL seems to me is like a Boxster or F Type with a 4 pot!
 
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