Which oldish merc for the grand tour?

[rockmeister]

Hi.
This is my first post, so please forgive if this subject is commonplace.
We are considering our first year of retirement as being spent touring europe in grand style (my defenition...no 6 figure sums involved!).
We sold a W123 TE280 in 1994 and have regretted it since. It seemed to be stylish, modern enough mechanically to drive every day, huge and comfy etc, so that is our start point. That engine and that era (late 80's) seem ideal for us. My first idea is for an SL, but I know nothing about them so would welcome any advice at all on the following points.
First, does a late 80's SL 280 make sense as a vehicle to do 10,000 miles in a years european tour, problem free and in comfort. We don't have to have a convertible, but do want an auto box?
If not, which model/engine size would you suggest please?
Am I better buying a well used cared for example fairly cheaply and getting MB to bring it up to scratch, or should I buy a ready tarted up version?
Between London and the Midlands, which dealer is knowledgable, trustworthy and sensibly priced, to buy your suggested vehicle from?

I'm certain there'll be more, but I hope this is a sensible start. Please advise if not though...I am an MB ignoramus really!
thanks
Rocky.

 

[foof1]

Hi Rocky,

I'm also a newbie to MB owners club and the forum. I have been using the forum for a couple of months now and find it a fantastic tool with great fun. I have recently bought a 1999 SL 320 which I have fallen in love with. No probs with this type of vehicle and thanks to the forum, I have had some preventative servicing done. An SL would be a fantastic way to tour with reasonable boot space etc for all your bits. Worth a look but others will advise on models to avoid.

REgards
Freddie

 

[popuptoaster]

Hi.
This is my first post, so please forgive if this subject is commonplace.
We are considering our first year of retirement as being spent touring europe in grand style (my defenition...no 6 figure sums involved!).
We sold a W123 TE280 in 1994 and have regretted it since. It seemed to be stylish, modern enough mechanically to drive every day, huge and comfy etc, so that is our start point. That engine and that era (late 80's) seem ideal for us. My first idea is for an SL, but I know nothing about them so would welcome any advice at all on the following points.
First, does a late 80's SL 280 make sense as a vehicle to do 10,000 miles in a years european tour, problem free and in comfort. We don't have to have a convertible, but do want an auto box?
If not, which model/engine size would you suggest please?
Am I better buying a well used cared for example fairly cheaply and getting MB to bring it up to scratch, or should I buy a ready tarted up version?
Between London and the Midlands, which dealer is knowledgable, trustworthy and sensibly priced, to buy your suggested vehicle from?

I'm certain there'll be more, but I hope this is a sensible start. Please advise if not though...I am an MB ignoramus really!
thanks
Rocky.

I'd be looking at W115 280ce, massive boot, very comfy, can be found with aircon and leccy windows etc, a top class one will cost about £7000 so half the price of an SL and more exclusive with more room inside and slightly better mpg, no reason it wont be reliable, most of it under the skin is the same as an SL anyway, its still easy to find parts for especially in europe, of course i'm biased as i have one, i have owned a 350SL though and i would say if having a convertible is high on the list get the SL, otherwise get the W115 coupe.

 

[jberks]

I'd go for a loved late 80's V8 S class.
Failing that an early 124, still considered the best car MB ever built, possibly with a 300d engine. The 280 is nice but 18mpg can be unpleasant.

 

[rockmeister]

I'd go for a loved late 80's V8 S class.
Failing that an early 124, still considered the best car MB ever built, possibly with a 300d engine. The 280 is nice but 18mpg can be unpleasant.

Thanks for all this so far chaps...just what I needed.
A few more questions from the above...
is a '124' a whole model range? ie everything merc produced between x and y years, or is it a specific model (apologies for ignorance...told you I was new to this)
Did the SL ever come with the 300D engine?

I agree about sub 20's fuel, but what the heck....we've been saving the planet since we were old enough to understand, and selfishly now think it can forgive us 1 year's excess.

 

[mikestrivens]

If you go to wikipedia, e.g.:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/W124

You will get all the info you need. If you scoll down to the bottom there is a very useful timeline of every mercedes model from the 1940s onwards

Regards

 

[Stu_CDX]

Thanks for all this so far chaps...just what I needed.
A few more questions from the above...
is a '124' a whole model range? ie everything merc produced between x and y years, or is it a specific model (apologies for ignorance...told you I was new to this)
Did the SL ever come with the 300D engine?

I agree about sub 20's fuel, but what the heck....we've been saving the planet since we were old enough to understand, and selfishly now think it can forgive us 1 year's excess.

W124 is the E Class from 1985 to 1997. It was so good they actually ran it along side the bug eyed W210 E Class.

It came with some good touring engines, such as the 300D and 300TD (3 litre diesel) and the E280, E300 (300E and 300TE/300TE24).

It was available as a Saloon, Coupe, Drop top and Estate. All of which were over engineered to the point where Mercedes actually pulled in the reigns. Brilliant cars and I'll recommend one to anyone.

Don't go for anything below a 280 when it comes to the E-Class W124 as it's a hefty old biffa. Fuel consumption on newer injected models can be low thirties if cruising at 60mph or so.

Only thing is the odd touch of rust here and there on the W124 on the front wings. Nothing that can't be sorted and a good Saloon/Estate can be had for under £2,000.

If you get an UBER rare 260E or E260, cherish it. I believe these only ran for a certain period. The reason I said 280 was because there aren't many 260's to choose from and they're not readily available.

Coupes of all engine sized command a higher premium than the 4 door varients. Avoid the 200 and 220 if you're cruising, the 6 cylinder engines lap up the miles where as the 4 cylinders can be a bit... harsh.

My verdict - W124 all the way.

Stu.

 

[popuptoaster]

W124's are good, but a bit souless, and i would dispute best benz ever built, to modern with to many electronic bits and bobs in em to go wrong, get a classic mercedes and cruise in style, imagine cruisin the Riviera in a 60's or 70's Mercedes, gotta be much more satisfying than in some square box diesel one.

 

[Stu_CDX]

W124's are good, but a bit souless, and i would dispute best benz ever built, to modern with to many electronic bits and bobs in em to go wrong, get a classic mercedes and cruise in style, imagine cruisin the Riviera in a 60's or 70's Mercedes, gotta be much more satisfying than in some square box diesel one.

That's it... Half the forum users offended in a matter of 5 seconds (Only messing!)

A 124 is a little bit before it's time, but then, it does have things like ABS, Airbags, Air Con, Heated seats and so on which are a lot more reliable than previous systems.

The only thing I don't like about the 124 is it's a bit soft to drive, not much feel through the car... But all in all, still a great car for long distances.

Completed a 5 hour drive the other day and got out as refreshed as I had got in.

 

[100%Bitch]

Why not a nice SEC? What a fantastic way to cruise around.

 

[roofless]

a big plus is you can get parts for the worlds fav taxi in any part of the world yes the 124

 

[kth286]

The ideal car for cruising the continent is a 124 coupe, similar to the suggestion Helen made but in a more manageable size.

Unlike a fabric soft top which is alfresco all or nothing, and with the top up is a bit dark inside; with the coupe you have so many permutations and can choose to have roof fully open or just the rear slightly open, you can have all the side windows open or the just the rear full down, you can have the roof and all the windows lowered together and there is no middle pillar, to has that glamourous look for the riviera.

Cruising you can get 31mpg from the smooth 6 cylinder engine.

Sublime, I enjoy every minute when touring France in mine.

 

[Mrtibbs]

Hi
I hope that this http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/MERCEDES-300CE-300-CE-AUTO-COUPE-AMG-124-320-220_W0QQitemZ150322413369QQcmdZViewItemQQptZAutomobiles_UK?hash=item150322413369&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=66%3A2|65%3A1|39%3A1|240%3A1318 fits the bill?
It looks very nice to me, even if the owner is overselling it a little :grin::grin:
He is taking sensible offers though :grin:
Hope this helps

Keith

 

[simon_wall69]

Got to agree on the w124, makes most sense - I've done it myself, you won't get much driver satisfaction from one of the diesels but you will save yourself a huge amount of money in fuel bills. You could be paying up to £1.40 a litre for petrol in Europe at the moment.

I would be tempted to look at the LPG route; or if I wanted to do it in style and wasn't rushed and wanted to run on diesel, then I would get a w123 300d.

 

[mattsurf]

I think that this is a wonderful idea. A W124 is always a good choice, so I would consider an E320CE as this much more stylish than a standard saloon, and would suit my image of a grand tourer.

I have noticed that 500 SL's seem to be coming down in price recently, I have no experience with the car, but a blast through Europe with an early 90's 500 SL would be brilliant

I also wanted to own a late 80's 500SEL, this would be great for a more relaxing cruise through Europe

 

[hairyg]

Along with SWMBO I have driven back and forth around Spain, France, Germany and the Benelux countries in our 1994 SL320 (R129). We have carried ample luggage including hiking and birdwatching gear in the boot without any problems. The straight six engine is a delight to sit behind and the seats remain comfortable even on longer legs of our journeys.

You will definately need air conditioning if you are going south, it can get too hot to have the roof down, crazy as that sounds.

The SL was the only car I have ever taken abroad without breakdown cover and it didn't let us down although it caused a bit of panic when the ignition key became sticky to turn. Got us home OK though.

The W124 is base car (I believe) for the R129 so should be just as nice and have more room but much less style.

 

[PeterCLK]

Get a clk 320/430/500. Smooth, very comfy for 2 with large boot. Big enough to give you eveything you need yet small enough to park in those European cities.
Cabriolet or coupe.

 

[popuptoaster]

That's it... Half the forum users offended in a matter of 5 seconds (Only messing!)

A 124 is a little bit before it's time, but then, it does have things like ABS, Airbags, Air Con, Heated seats and so on which are a lot more reliable than previous systems.

The only thing I don't like about the 124 is it's a bit soft to drive, not much feel through the car... But all in all, still a great car for long distances.

Completed a 5 hour drive the other day and got out as refreshed as I had got in.

Sorry, was meant to be a bit light hearted, my cars get abused by all my mates all the time for being soft, floppy and slow compared to what they drive, sometimes i forget banter can easily be taken the wrong way, i'd happily roll in a 124, if there were no 115's left.

 

[Stu_CDX]

Sorry, was meant to be a bit light hearted, my cars get abused by all my mates all the time for being soft, floppy and slow compared to what they drive, sometimes i forget banter can easily be taken the wrong way, i'd happily roll in a 124, if there were no 115's left.

It was all said in jest dear boy

The 115 is a nice car, but being a 124 owner and loving it when it will drive properly is going to make me a little biased isn't it :grin:

 

[stever]

The W124 is the sensible choice, but I get the impression from the OP that practicality is one consideration, alongside a bit of retro style. The W114/5 and 123 obviously have retro appeal in spades, but if it's just the 2 of you and you don't need masses of boot space, it'd be an R107 SL for me every time. Solid mechanicals like all mercs of this era, plus hood-down touring sounds great to me. Whilst you'll have to spend a bit to get a decent one (300 SLs seem to be the most recommended model) you'll be able to sell it for close to what you paid for it once you've returned.

Edited to add: I drove my W123 across Europe last Summer - through Denmark, Germany, Holland, Belgium & France. It didn't miss a beat, and averaged about 28 mpg.