Top 20 Most Desirable Mercedes-Benz Cars

[cawimmer430]

From Mercedes Enthusiast.

THE LIST
1) 540K
2) 300SL Gullwing (W198 I)
3) Pagoda SL (W113)
4) 300SL Roadster (W198 II)
5) 280SE 3.5 Cabriolet (W111)
6) 300SEL 6.3 (W108)
7) SL500 (R230)
8) 600 Pullaman SWB (W100)
9) SLK320 (R170)
10) 560SEC (C126)
11) SSK
12) 1928 S Open Tourer
13) 450SLC 5.0 (C107)
14) 300S Cabriolet
15) 450SEL 6.9 9W116)
16) 190E Evolution (W201)
17) 600 Landaulet (W100)
18) 150H
19) 280SE 3.5 Coupe (W113)
20) E320 CDI (W211)


I agree with most of them except the following highlighted in red. No doubt the current SL500 will become a classic, but I don't quite see it yet has having a "desirable status" yet, especially when compared to the cars on that list.

The previous R170 SLK was a very innovative and ground breaking design for Mercedes and will no doubt become a classic, but it's far too early to again give it "desirable status".

The 150H was radical, but in effect made zero impact on the market (actually was a flop for Mercedes). There are far more desirable cars from Mercedes out there.

E320 CDI? Desirable? Yes, but when compared to the classics on that list, big fat no.



Instead of the modern cars, I would rather have included the 1930s Mercedes 770K "Großer Mercedes", the 190SL, the 300 Adenauer, any Mercedes W123 and the W124 Mercedes 300E.








The Scans
http://img232.imageshack.us/my.php?image=top2001fg3.jpg http://img232.imageshack.us/my.php?image=top2002nl8.jpg
http://img175.imageshack.us/my.php?image=top2003ev4.jpg http://img233.imageshack.us/my.php?image=top2004il2.jpg http://img233.imageshack.us/my.php?image=top2005tg3.jpg http://img205.imageshack.us/my.php?image=top2006rz5.jpg http://img233.imageshack.us/my.php?image=top2007jo1.jpg http://img340.imageshack.us/my.php?image=top2008wn5.jpg

 

[Bruce]

Real cool stuff Christian. Thanks for scanning these in.

I've been trying to polish up my knowledge on the older MB's, and this oughta help.

 

[Giannis]

Very nice list Wimmer! I agree with you that there should be some changes, though!

 

[cawimmer430]

Anytime.

I got tons of Mercedes reviews etc. to post here. If only I got around to scanning them all!


Giannis, yep, some of the cars they picked made me wonder "HUH!?" I don't claim to be an expert on all Mercedes' but some of those cars seem to have been picked on some sort of basis I just can't figure out. I mean the R170 SLK320 was a decent car overall, but in no way is this one of the most desirable Merc's!

 

[Giannis]

Giannis, yep, some of the cars they picked made me wonder "HUH!?" I don't claim to be an expert on all Mercedes' but some of those cars seem to have been picked on some sort of basis I just can't figure out. I mean the R170 SLK320 was a decent car overall, but in no way is this one of the most desirable Merc's!

Right Christian. Neither is the W211 E320 CDI a desirable MB. It's a great car, but i don't think that anyone see's it as "the Mercedes i always wanted"

 

[donau]

Thanks for sharing! The list just goes to hilite how subjective the rankings are. I guess if a great number of people were asked to compile a list like this I can see the 540K sitting at the top of very many of them. At least it would be at the top of mine, but the rest would be re-ordered and probably include some different models.

I attended the Concours de Graylyn in Winston Salem this past weekend and one of the cars there was a 300SL Gullwing which was pretty nice. It did not win anything unfortunately.

The SSK would definitely be closer to the top of my list.

Slightly OT, but if I may: I have not seen an SSK in person but the 1927 (could be wrong on the last digit) Bugatti that very much resembles the SSK that I saw on Sunday was definitely something I would call desirable. In fact that's a gross understatment. BTW. for the South African friends, the car had lived in SA from 1949 and was only acquired by the current owner here not so long ago. The number plates are still ND 519 (Natal Durban). Sorry about the OT, but when I saw it I was thinking about the SSK.
PS. This Bugatti did win it's class....I think an SSK would have been the overall winner too had there been one...

 

[PanterroR]

No CLS...

 

[bmer]

No CLS...

LOL


The Top 2 looks familiar: http://www.germancarforum.com/183445-post6.html

 

[SDNR]

The 540K (Spezial Roadster) is just about the most desirable car ever made -- I agree with you Chris, the current SL is a great car but I don't think it has achieved that status on that list yet.

 

[Merc1]

Impressive list though I think the W124 and R129 need to be added somewhere. Im thinking the first SLK and current E320 need to be removed.

M

 

[SDNR]

^^yeah, strange that those two iconic models are not on the list.

 

[cawimmer430]

Thanks for sharing! The list just goes to hilite how subjective the rankings are. I guess if a great number of people were asked to compile a list like this I can see the 540K sitting at the top of very many of them. At least it would be at the top of mine, but the rest would be re-ordered and probably include some different models.

I attended the Concours de Graylyn in Winston Salem this past weekend and one of the cars there was a 300SL Gullwing which was pretty nice. It did not win anything unfortunately.

The SSK would definitely be closer to the top of my list.

Slightly OT, but if I may: I have not seen an SSK in person but the 1927 (could be wrong on the last digit) Bugatti that very much resembles the SSK that I saw on Sunday was definitely something I would call desirable. In fact that's a gross understatment. BTW. for the South African friends, the car had lived in SA from 1949 and was only acquired by the current owner here not so long ago. The number plates are still ND 519 (Natal Durban). Sorry about the OT, but when I saw it I was thinking about the SSK.
PS. This Bugatti did win it's class....I think an SSK would have been the overall winner too had there been one...

Anytime.

The 540K is definitely a car that deserves to be on that list. I agree with Rob that it is one of the most desirable cars ever made. Definitely on the top 5 on any car list of this type IMO.

The SSK is also a legendary car from Mercedes. It equally deserves to be on the list.

 

[cawimmer430]

Impressive list though I think the W124 and R129 need to be added somewhere. Im thinking the first SLK and current E320 need to be removed.

M

Agreed.

Though I'd probably give the nod to the W124. From an everyday usability point of view, the W124 is so much more desirable than the R129.

 

[PanterroR]

OT: Wimmer, what's happening again with your font size?

 

[cawimmer430]

OT: Wimmer, what's happening again with your font size?

Gimme a screenshot of how it appears on your screen. The regular font size is waaaaay to small for me.

 

[PanterroR]

Here you go, buddy...:



I remember it already happened to you... When i quote your post, the size of your fonts is 3 and the default set used by everyone is 2...

 

[450SEL6.9]

Why is the W211 on that list? The W123 or W124 should be there in its place. They were solid, reliable workhorses. Maybe the writer should go to Africa, Singapore, Portugal, the Mideast and many other places where W123s and W124s are still in use. Go there and ask if they'd desire a W211 or the proven reliability record of the older E-classes.

 

[Deleted member 182]

. Maybe the writer should go to Africa, Singapore, Portugal, the Mideast and many other places where W123s and W124s are still in use.

+ Finland.

 

[cawimmer430]

Here you go, buddy...:



I remember it already happened to you... When i quote your post, the size of your fonts is 3 and the default set used by everyone is 2...

Doesn't look to big.

 

[cawimmer430]

Why is the W211 on that list? The W123 or W124 should be there in its place. They were solid, reliable workhorses. Maybe the writer should go to Africa, Singapore, Portugal, the Mideast and many other places where W123s and W124s are still in use. Go there and ask if they'd desire a W211 or the proven reliability record of the older E-classes.

100% Agree. The W211 shouldn't be on there. I said that too.