Cars that should do well over the next 10years

rockits

rockits

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9,172
I guess in summary for me the desire for the car is more important first and foremost. The monetary side of things is secondary and only a bonus if it doesn't cost an arm and a leg!
 
B

bigbob

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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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I had an R129 320 and then 500 in the late 90s and really liked them but they never handled that well. My 328i Coupe at the time was hugely better. When they came out I got an R230 500 which surprised me as it really could turn in so flat and hold it. The original one was a bit underpowered and I never hung in there long enough to get the uprated 500 engine as I was dual running a 3200 at the time and for some reason the Maser interested me more!
 
Guy

Guy

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whereskeith said:
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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I bought one new in 2012 - fantastic car but commuting 120 miles a day with a range of 250 miles took the edge off of it! Still wish I had it, great engine and surprisingly capable chassis.
 
Guy

Guy

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2,114
Lavazza said:
That looks really smart, two great cars.
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Thanks. We both seem to have a Blueblack/Mushroom preference. I really wanted a Fulvia as a youngster and still have the Boxster/Cayman on the list at some point (after many 911s I allowed that to colour my view of them but know now they are probably about as good as it gets on the road. Over geared for our roads?) Whilst really delighted with the SL320 I am sure I would enjoy the V8 though mt recall is that it is quite subtle )quiet?)
 
Lavazza

Lavazza

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1,060
The C126, especially in 560 form is a really smart piece of kit. A favourite of several F1 drivers of the time.

A good friend has one, in what I refer to as 'Brian Sewell spec'.
 
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Nayf

Nayf

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S
Lavazza said:
The C126, especially in 560 form is a really smart piece of kit. A favourite of several F1 drivers of the time.

A good friend has one, in what I refer to as 'Brian Sewell spec'.
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Brian Sewell - and as it happens Nigel Mansell’s - old 560 SEC is on the Mercedes-Benz UK heritage fleet. Lovely thing. The car I mean...
 
Lavazza

Lavazza

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1,060
Nayf said:
S

Brian Sewell - and as it happens Nigel Mansell’s - old 560 SEC is on the Mercedes-Benz UK heritage fleet. Lovely thing. The car I mean...
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I know, I love this sort of stuff. Have you watched Brian Sewell's Grand Tour?

This is my friend's 560 with my 500SL.79585
 
Contigo

Contigo

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foibles said:
...Except for the R129 with disintegrating wiring harness.....!!

I was considering an R129 SL500 as they seem like reasonable value, however the substantially mechanically superior R230 is also cheaper and highly abundant. Whilst the R129 does have classic lines, they're pedestrian performers and even the far more expensive SL600 is a quite mundane car. The added 4 cylinders offer no advantage in real terms.

I do think that the SL60 is an exception to this rule (and sl70 and 72 if locatable), and I kick myself for not buying a silver sl60 from 4 star classics earlier this year in the mid 30s.

I'd have thought the NA MX5 was simply too common.. they certainly produced many, but I reckon you're on the money with the Celica GT4. A few of them getting around UK at quite reasonable prices.
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Not all of them mate, Some later cars had a fix.
 
rockits

rockits

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9,172
Yes, most Merc wiring harness issues were 80's and very early 90's cars. It was addressed on most mid 90's cars onwards. My earliest SL was 1995 and had a 1997 and 1999 example with no issues.
 
Lavazza

Lavazza

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1,060
rockits said:
Yes, most Merc wiring harness issues were 80's and very early 90's cars. It was addressed on most mid 90's cars onwards. My earliest SL was 1995 and had a 1997 and 1999 example with no issues.
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The early R129 wasn't affected by the biodegradable looms. 1993-1995 and perhaps a bit later were.
 
rockits

rockits

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I understood it was late 80's and early 90's cars that mainly had the issues. Possibly pre facelift pre-1995 cars. Was always part of the reason I went with 1995 onwards examples.
 
Lavazza

Lavazza

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1,060
rockits said:
I understood it was more late 80's and early 90's cars that mainly had the issues. Possibly pre facelift pre-1995 cars. Was always part of the reason I went with 1995 onwards examples.
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Late cars were OK, but early early cars were also OK.

I expect an experienced MB specialist such as Charles Ironside, Edward Hall or Mark Taylor (MTSV) would confirm.

Unfortunately, there is a lot of incorrect information on the internet, which is repeated until the misinformation starts to be considered as fact.
 
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