Thinking of "upgrading" my R231 SL to an R129. Am I sane?

[gez]

Lately I've found myself missing my 1998 R129 Brabus SL500 that I sold a couple of years ago.
I replaced it with a 2017 R231 SL400 AMG Line which is a fine car, but maybe it just lacks the character that the R129 had in droves.
Maybe I'm looking through rose tinted specs, a bit like thinking back to your first love who you'd probably be thankful you never married if you met her now. That's lockdown and retirement for you, too much time on my hands obviously!
But seriously, views welcomed as you never know, perhaps I'll start looking....

 

[LostKiwi]

I have both a 230 and a 129 and find the 129 is the one I'm drawn to most. It just has a sense of occasion when you're behind the wheel.
There's no question the 230 is superior on the road - the way is sticks to the road is awe inspiring, but it's just that bit clinical....

 

[Wearsafoxhat]

Funny ole things are R129’s.

I was set to upgrade mine to a 230 a few years ago and ended up keeping it after much soul searching.

I contemplate selling it annually as it deserves more use but it’s still on the drive and quite possibly will always be there.


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[Blobcat]

As a second fun weekend car an R129 500 is a very nice place to be. Not that common now so feels special and I doubt you’d lose money on a good one.
Most modern cars have lost any soul as they’re all so much the same with more and more electrickery.

 

[Wearsafoxhat]

I often forget that it does not have the “hold” feature, and find myself moving forward .
It has a cd, heated memory seats, and ac. Other than that I am quite happy with the lack of electrickery gismo’s.


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[LostKiwi]

I often forget that it does not have the “hold” feature, and find myself moving forward .
It has a cd, heated memory seats, and ac. Other than that I am quite happy with the lack of electrickery gismo’s.


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You have heated seats? Posh....

 

[Wearsafoxhat]

You have heated seats? Posh....

And self cancelling indicators


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[s5tuart]

There was something about a 129 that was just “right”
A MY 2000+ will have all the toys.
It’s a very useable classic.

 

[gez]

Your all tempting me!
I'll start looking.......Maybe my Brabus is out there somewhere still up for sale. I know mynextcar, who I sold it to for the same price I had paid for it 9 years previously, advertised it for about 18 months. They are not listing it now but it's showing on DVLA as not taxed but has been MOT'd. Perhaps they have it tucked away in a barn.

 

[LostKiwi]

Your all tempting me!
I'll start looking.......Maybe my Brabus is out there somewhere still up for sale. I know mynextcar, who I sold it to for the same price I had paid for it 9 years previously, advertised it for about 18 months. They are not listing it now but it's showing on DVLA as not taxed but has been MOT'd. Perhaps they have it tucked away in a barn.

Was that a 7.3? If so it must have been pretty exciting with near 600hp on tap,..

 

[Conor]

OP, very sane!

R129s are lovely machines.. somewhat jokingly/seriously tell people I would rather a 129 than my 230.

 

[gez]

Was that a 7.3? If so it must have been pretty exciting with near 600hp on tap,..

The paperwork suggested that the engine was still stock, but it had had a Brabus exhaust, set of Monoblock V's, Brabus kick plates and decals fitted from new. As per the first picture above the Monoblock V's really suit the 129. The paperwork showed the first owner had spent about an additional 10k on it.

 

[d215yq]

There's something about older cars if you actually like driving that you can't replicate with anything new. I think if it was a fun car I would defintiely be going older rather than younger.

I don't have as nice a position as deciding R129vs 131, but as I have a house to rebuild and am requiring an estate I have decided in January (next opt in date) to join the company car scheme as I can get a fully loaded Mondeo estate for 200/ month replaced every 6 months and no need to worry about mainitaing it etc. So can focus on the house 100% as that is much work. I've actually opted out and kept driving the W124 so far though precisely as the new stuff leaves me cold...(as every new car that I've driven has, includign a W212).

I've been doing some test drives and to be honest although the new Mondeo is another world and "better" in all ways (except mpg in which case the 33 yr old W124 is much better) there is absolutely nothing to driving it at all. It should be more fun with a 0-60 of 8.5s (fastest car I've ever driven) compared to 0-60 in probably 15s, and despite what some might say on here the Mondeo has a reputation for a fun chassis. But much as I can accelerate fast and go round corners fast, as I am not actually "driving" the thing (computers are instead) I have absolutely no enjoyment.

I'll possibly be back to doing trips from Spain to London every 4 months next year and if I'm asked to go I will take the Mondeo but can't help but think that driving through rural france in it will not be as fun or enjoyable as doing so in the W124 at a nice 50-60 and making smooth inputs to get a nice and economical, smooth drive hearing the engine and even vibrations etc and adjusting the pedals and gears accordingly - in other words driving. No doubt the Mondeo will just be set cruise control/limiter (as it's harder to "feel" any speed) and sit back and do effectively nothign for 10h a day! Sure, if I just wanted to do the trip in 1 day instead of 2 and drive at 90 on the autoroute and not enjoy the actual journey or if I had a commute that was heavy in traffic, or when it's very hot, raining, etc then I'll be very glad to have the Mondeo.... but touring on empty sweeping roads at a steady pace with no traffic (90% of my driving) I can't get so excited about.

If Mercedes had put foldable rear seats in the W124 and the fuel tank under the car so it could take plasterboard and 3m long beams/frames etc I'd probably just stick with it. As it's cheap to run I'll keep it anyway for picking up dirty stuff like cement and for when I want to actually drive something on nice days rather than have computers drive me...

 

[s5tuart]

Fancy a LHD one?

https://www.classicdriver.com/en/car/mercedes-benz/sl/1996/331811

 

[Blobcat]

A few nice ones about

Maroon
Silver
Blue
10K Miles...

 

[LostKiwi]

Fancy a LHD one?

https://www.classicdriver.com/en/car/mercedes-benz/sl/1996/331811

That's a bit special (and rare!)

 

[LostKiwi]

A few nice ones about

Maroon
Silver
Blue
10K Miles...

Of those the Maroon or Blue. That silver one - don't know what it is but it just doesn't look right.

 

[Blobcat]

Of those the Maroon or Blue. That silver one - don't know what it is but it just doesn't look right.

I like this one

 

[LostKiwi]

I like this one:
https://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C1200692

I suspect the OP may like this:
https://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C949413

 

[gez]

I've never been a lover of dark interiors unless with white paintwork and don't go much for body colours, so for me it has to be either black/silver with grey/ivory interior or white with black. It'll be worth waiting for if its out there, and of course at the right price!