GCZ, help me choose my first car!
- Thread starter Mr. M
- Start date
cawimmer430
Piston Pioneer
wltsm
Torque Titan
I thought you were a "DUDE"?
No, I'm a girl, didn't you know!
j/k
At the place where I go and get my haircut, the people are very talkative, it takes around an hour to have a haircut, and we chat about stuff. He's not my personal hairdresser! Don't you go to a hairdressers?
cawimmer430
Piston Pioneer
No, I'm a girl, didn't you know!
j/k
At the place where I go and get my haircut, the people are very talkative, it takes around an hour to have a haircut, and we chat about stuff. He's not my personal hairdresser! Don't you go to a hairdressers?
Haha LOL!
My hairdresser is this hot chick whom I thought was really hot - until I saw her smoke. Yuck!
wltsm
Torque Titan
My hairdresser is this hot chick whom I thought was really hot - until I saw her smoke. Yuck!
Do you mention to her that you drive a Mercedes, does it impress her?
cawimmer430
Piston Pioneer
Hi James,
That SL looks pretty good inside and out, definitely well kept. I wouldn't worry about the re-badging since that seems to be common in Asia. I hear a lot of S280's are re-badged by owners to say "S500" etc.
About the SL, I can tell you a lot because we have one and because I read Mercedes Enthusiast!!!!
D ) By the way, do check the SL Buyers Guide in the SL section.
Well, it's good, solid car and it's quite pleasing to drive. Don't expect it to be sporty with razor-sharp handling or steering feedback. The pre-facelift SL's were a little distant from the roadfeel if you know what I mean. Performance wise, the 300SL wasn't bad. It's still a thirsty car, especially since it has to haul the heavy R129 body around - and you'll be driving a lot in the city so that makes it worse. Hope you can live with the fuel costs!
We've never had any real serious problems with our '89 500SL. The electronic / mechanical roof mechanism might become a little problematic, and you'll need to have it checked and serviced by the dealership (I wouldn't trust non-Mercedes shops with it). The cloth roof also requires a lot of care and cleaning. Once a year, you'll need to spray it with a material that will make it water proof. Another weakspot are the plastic windows of the cloth roof: they scratch quite easily (constant use of the roof will ensure this) and then your rear vision is significantly reduced. This is problematic if you're backing up with the top up. The plastic windows also crack and develop tears over time. I guess you could say the cloth roof is going to be a problem on the car! A friend of my dad has an SL280 R129 and he's got the same problems.
Also, have a safe place in your house to store the hardtop of the car!
If I think of anything else, I'll let you know!
That SL looks pretty good inside and out, definitely well kept. I wouldn't worry about the re-badging since that seems to be common in Asia. I hear a lot of S280's are re-badged by owners to say "S500" etc.
About the SL, I can tell you a lot because we have one and because I read Mercedes Enthusiast!!!!
D ) By the way, do check the SL Buyers Guide in the SL section.Well, it's good, solid car and it's quite pleasing to drive. Don't expect it to be sporty with razor-sharp handling or steering feedback. The pre-facelift SL's were a little distant from the roadfeel if you know what I mean. Performance wise, the 300SL wasn't bad. It's still a thirsty car, especially since it has to haul the heavy R129 body around - and you'll be driving a lot in the city so that makes it worse. Hope you can live with the fuel costs!
We've never had any real serious problems with our '89 500SL. The electronic / mechanical roof mechanism might become a little problematic, and you'll need to have it checked and serviced by the dealership (I wouldn't trust non-Mercedes shops with it). The cloth roof also requires a lot of care and cleaning. Once a year, you'll need to spray it with a material that will make it water proof. Another weakspot are the plastic windows of the cloth roof: they scratch quite easily (constant use of the roof will ensure this) and then your rear vision is significantly reduced. This is problematic if you're backing up with the top up. The plastic windows also crack and develop tears over time. I guess you could say the cloth roof is going to be a problem on the car! A friend of my dad has an SL280 R129 and he's got the same problems.
Also, have a safe place in your house to store the hardtop of the car!
If I think of anything else, I'll let you know!
cawimmer430
Piston Pioneer
Do you mention to her that you drive a Mercedes, does it impress her?
She saw me driving the E320 once. I asked her what she drove and she told me a blue Opel Calibra. There's only one Opel Calibra near where she works and it's riced out like hell!
Mr. M
Tire Trailblazer
Yup, trying to see every unit for sale first before putting down a deposit. There are only 6 for sale in the whole island after all anyway.
Hi James,
That SL looks pretty good inside and out, definitely well kept. I wouldn't worry about the re-badging since that seems to be common in Asia. I hear a lot of S280's are re-badged by owners to say "S500" etc.
About the SL, I can tell you a lot because we have one and because I read Mercedes Enthusiast!!!!
Well, it's good, solid car and it's quite pleasing to drive. Don't expect it to be sporty with razor-sharp handling or steering feedback. The pre-facelift SL's were a little distant from the roadfeel if you know what I mean. Performance wise, the 300SL wasn't bad. It's still a thirsty car, especially since it has to haul the heavy R129 body around - and you'll be driving a lot in the city so that makes it worse. Hope you can live with the fuel costs!
We've never had any real serious problems with our '89 500SL. The electronic / mechanical roof mechanism might become a little problematic, and you'll need to have it checked and serviced by the dealership (I wouldn't trust non-Mercedes shops with it). The cloth roof also requires a lot of care and cleaning. Once a year, you'll need to spray it with a material that will make it water proof. Another weakspot are the plastic windows of the cloth roof: they scratch quite easily (constant use of the roof will ensure this) and then your rear vision is significantly reduced. This is problematic if you're backing up with the top up. The plastic windows also crack and develop tears over time. I guess you could say the cloth roof is going to be a problem on the car! A friend of my dad has an SL280 R129 and he's got the same problems.
Also, have a safe place in your house to store the hardtop of the car!
If I think of anything else, I'll let you know!
Thanks Christian.
Where's the SL Buyer's Guide? In the Mercedes Enthusiast magazine or at our forums? Because I can't find one at our SL forum. If it's in the magazine, there is a SL Buyer's Guide is every issue, or is there a specific issue it was published in?
Yup the SLs are for cruising, no way is it going to be sports car! Funny how I read that the 300SL's fuel consumption is almost the same as the 500SLs! Hopefully it isn't that bad, what L/100km do you get? about 12?
Yikes, the cloth roof seems pretty fragile, we better check it before buying the car. But I think, with our weather and all, we're most likely to be using the hardtop instead most of the time.
What are bushings? The owner told us he had to replace it and he ordered the parts already, he'll install the replacements for free...
cawimmer430
Piston Pioneer
Hmm, I have not posted one yet! Will do so ASAP!
On average, 13-14 liters / 100 km and this is when it's driven normally. Push it a little and drive sporty and it will use 16 liters+.
The 300SL will be more efficient, but city driving will worsen fuel economy, naturally.
Yikes, the cloth roof seems pretty fragile, we better check it before buying the car. But I think, with our weather and all, we're most likely to be using the hardtop instead most of the time.
Good choice. Besides, driving with the top down in the city doesn't sound like much fun!
Bushings???
Mr. M
Tire Trailblazer
Hmm, I have not posted one yet! Will do so ASAP!
Thanks! Seeing the last SL for sale in Singapore this Saturday, then we'll make our decision...
On average, 13-14 liters / 100 km and this is when it's driven normally. Push it a little and drive sporty and it will use 16 liters+.
The 300SL will be more efficient, but city driving will worsen fuel economy, naturally.
Okay that doesn't sound too bad. Dad says he'll chip in to pay for fuel.
Apparently this is what it is: Bushing - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
cawimmer430
Piston Pioneer
Okay that doesn't sound too bad. Dad says he'll chip in to pay for fuel.
Good to hear. Are you still getting the SL though? Because in the photo thread you said you're not getting the SL anymore. 200E?
I see.
Mr. M
Tire Trailblazer
Good to hear. Are you still getting the SL though? Because in the photo thread you said you're not getting the SL anymore. 200E?
We'll make our decision this Saturday after the viewing of the last SL for sale.
Most likely, 200E for a year or two, then maybe R129 SL.
NarutoRamen
Kraftwagen König
Even though the SL is gorgous...I'd tell you to save your money and buy the E. There is no point in going broke now. Get something decent now so in the future you can get something better.
astonmartin
Balanced Throttle
haha get the SL
and then use the 2 seats as an excuse to borrow the QP
on a more serious note, how long do you intend to use the car for?
and then use the 2 seats as an excuse to borrow the QP
on a more serious note, how long do you intend to use the car for?
Mr. M
Tire Trailblazer
Actually it's not so much about being broke - I am confident I can pay my dad back for the SL in the long run - it's about the insecurity of driving an expensive and powerful car as a first ride that's daunting. Banging around the W124 just seems so appropriate.
haha get the SL
and then use the 2 seats as an excuse to borrow the QP
on a more serious note, how long do you intend to use the car for?
Probably a year or two, before buying a completely new one, or if my Mercedes blood really flows, a used SL...
BUT, if I'm buying the SL as a 1st car, then at least 5 years, or at most 10 years.
