"themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles" (themanwithsauce)
01/13/2014 at 01:50 • Filed to: None
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"themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles" (themanwithsauce)
01/13/2014 at 01:50 • Filed to: None | 1
| 19 |
I don;t know why, but a 5-speed manual inline 6 1982 SL seems like a great car to own.
Someone in Oppoland stop me! It has a BIN of 12k and I've been looking at fiesta STs....but for 12k + the cost of some better wheels and tires I could have this! What do I do, oppo?
J. Drew Silvers
> themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles
01/13/2014 at 02:00 |
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I'd check out the Merc. But I also don't want to own a car newer than 1985 ever again, so I'm a little biased.
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themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles
> J. Drew Silvers
01/13/2014 at 02:05 |
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well it's in Florida and I'm in Michigan so it isn't easy to just "check it out"
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J. Drew Silvers
> themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles
01/13/2014 at 02:18 |
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That would be pertinent information in order to properly answer your question. I have changed my answer.
GhostZ
> themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles
01/13/2014 at 02:23 |
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Wouldn't get a convertible, but for that money you could get a V8 500SL with enough money to keep it running for a while, or an R129 with significantly more power.
http://chicago.craigslist.org/wcl/cto/428087… This hardtop is going for ~$9000
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GhostZ
> J. Drew Silvers
01/13/2014 at 02:27 |
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I think I'm in agreement with you about not buying a newer car. I think my limit is 1989, though, not 1985.
God help me if I get in a front-end collision with a modern tank, but at least I'll be smiling. Reminds me of this old "futuristic" article posted on Jalopnik this year about a driver with an old MG (or something similar) in a future where all cars were 5000 lb safety cages and the average driver would try to crash into his car for sport.
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GhostZ
> themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles
01/13/2014 at 02:29 |
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You could hire a local inspection and get a report back, if you can find a place you'd trust.
Old SLs aren't terribly rare though, especially not around Chicago and the surrounding area, so you shouldn't need to go to Florida to find one. Finding one without rust though? Yeah, that's a problem.
You could always do the "fly to Florida/California for vacation, drive back with the best car you can find" thing.
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J. Drew Silvers
> GhostZ
01/13/2014 at 03:01 |
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The risk is worth the reward. I'm only 27 and hate OBD, even though I'm educated in it. I just want a car that runs well, looks nice, has a manual transmission, and can be fixed with hand tools. Infotainment is a joke and I hate emissions compliance as well.
Bengal55
> themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles
01/13/2014 at 03:04 |
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I approve of 107's - I say do it. Infact I'm in so much approval I say buy mine, which is a 1987 560SL with a brand new top and interior. Do EET!!! DO EET NEOUGH!
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GhostZ
> J. Drew Silvers
01/13/2014 at 03:05 |
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Agree on all of that, just not with safety standards. I believe in "become a better driver to avoid wrecks", but you CAN only do so much, and older cars do crumple pretty easily.
I could live without an in-car stereo, though. Especially since I have my phone to do any duties (navigation, calls, music) that an infotainment system would just complicate or do worse. And a phone is much cheaper.
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J. Drew Silvers
> GhostZ
01/13/2014 at 03:11 |
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Become a better driver, huh? I have an article I wrote that I scheduled to post at 10am here on Oppo about that very thing. Keep a lookout for a picture of my totalled Camaro and you're in the right place.. :)
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J. Drew Silvers
> GhostZ
01/13/2014 at 03:11 |
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Become a better driver, huh? I have an article I wrote that I scheduled to post at 10am here on Oppo about that very thing. Keep a lookout for a picture of my totalled Camaro and you're in the right place.. :)
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themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles
> Bengal55
01/13/2014 at 03:14 |
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Does yours have a manual and a brand new engine?
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Bengal55
> themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles
01/13/2014 at 03:40 |
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I'm kidding about selling it, I want to enjoy it a bit more before I do that. No it does not have a new engine, and no it does not have a manual, but you're talking about a Cold War era Mercedes product here.. Mileage is not an issue.
However I do endorse the purchase of a 107, built like tanks, drive a bit like tanks (They are not sports cars, and don't let anyone tell you otherwise.) and still turn heads today, I know I get more compliments when I drive mine than any other vehicle I own. As I've said to others who want to purchase one of these, check for rust, expect odd things to break (speedo gear comes to mind) and make sure it does not leak. Otherwise the running gear will last you well into the half million mile range or longer.
I've heard mixed reviews of the MB manuals of this era, people either love them, or utterly despise them. Your decision of a 300, 350, and 380's with the manual is the best option for that engine, if you go bigger (450, 500, 560) then I'd suggest the auto.
Last but not least, be careful with 380's. The earlier models had timing chain failure issues that may or may not have been fixed by Mercedes.
Heh new engine, sorry still got me laughing over that one. Best of luck mate.
Alex87f
> themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles
01/13/2014 at 06:56 |
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Nice idea! But don't expecting to be any close to a Fiesta ST. It's the ages old oldtimer vs. new car debate, a new car will offer you toys, speed, safety, reliability and a warranty which are all useful for a DD you can enjoy without second thoughts.
An oldtimer is the opposite. You get a car that should be above your price range, won't depreciate much, has lots of charisma and refinement, but you have to accept that it might not (and probably won't) deliver the same kind of trouble-free ownership that cars under 5-8 years can offer.
If this is for a DD and you're a good mechanic + you have somewhere to work on it + you can spend several days in a row without a car, then I say give it a shot. Otherwise, don't...
If this is a weekend-car, why not...
Also - just curious - why do you want to change the stock wheels?
Also #2 - if you buy it, give it Euro headlamps:
davedave1111
> themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles
01/13/2014 at 07:40 |
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Better wheels? Really?
Mattbob
> themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles
01/13/2014 at 07:52 |
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12K for that? no sir. I like the car, but. I personally wouldn't pay more than 8K on a good day for something that old.
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themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles
> davedave1111
01/13/2014 at 09:04 |
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Not a fan of these. My car, my choices. Deal.
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themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles
> Alex87f
01/13/2014 at 09:08 |
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Well I already have an old Audi so I really shouldn't own two old German cars when I barely have space for what I own now. But I would probably pick up a suzuki kizashi for a DD to compliment this.
It definitely needs the Euro lights and bumpers but I want 5-spokes or a different alloy than what it has.
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davedave1111
> themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles
01/13/2014 at 09:10 |
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Of course you should do what you want with your car. Mainly I'm surprised because I thought they were viewed a bit like BBS alloys on E30s - something you track down and add (or restore), rather than something to get rid of.
They're some of my favourites. The marginally ornate elegance seems to suit the car perfectly, definitely better than any other MB wheels of the period.
I might be wrong, but if I'm right there should be a good market for them. You should get a good price, and another SL will get them instead.