Generation Gap: Mercedes Sonderklasse Edition

Kinja'd!!! "Amoore100" (amoore100)
10/28/2015 at 20:49 • Filed to: Generation Gap, Mercedes S Class

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Welcome to Generation Gap where we ask you about your favorite generation of a certain multi-generational car nameplate. Then, explain why your choice is right to the rest of us uneducated folks.

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The Mercedes S Class has always been known as the peak of automotive technology. As said by Top Gear, if you ever feel like seeing the features your car might have in 20 years, take a look at the current S Class. Over the years this has seemingly held true, but which variant of the S Class itself has aged the best?

The options:

First Generation (W116) [1972 -1980]

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Second Generation (W126) [1979 -1991]

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Third Generation (W140) [1991 -1998]

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Fourth Generation (W220) [1998 -2005] and facelift

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Fifth Generation (W221) [2005 -2013] and facelift

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Sixth Generation (W222) [2013 -Present]

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DISCUSSION (22)


Kinja'd!!! Nibby > Amoore100
10/28/2015 at 20:52

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Love ‘em all. Have only driven the W220 and W221 though. Some day... I shall drive the others. <3


Kinja'd!!! dogisbadob > Amoore100
10/28/2015 at 20:57

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I love the W116!!!!!

The W140 has a nice presence about, but unfortunatley it’s a piece of shit mechanically, and the beginning of the end for Mercedes, and lexus only made them more paranoid and sped up the downward spiral.


Kinja'd!!! bob and john > Amoore100
10/28/2015 at 20:59

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2nd gen. back when geramans were germaning hard and shit lasted. also, just oozes class in a way the others dont


Kinja'd!!! TheHondaBro > Amoore100
10/28/2015 at 20:59

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The first three generations.


Kinja'd!!! Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > Amoore100
10/28/2015 at 21:04

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First gen


Kinja'd!!! Steve in Manhattan > Amoore100
10/28/2015 at 21:05

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4th gen., I think - they’re still used here in the city as what we call ‘black cars.’


Kinja'd!!! That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms > Amoore100
10/28/2015 at 21:05

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W126. I had an ‘89 560SEL, gray over red leather. Heated seats in ‘89, a reclining rear seat. Coolant tubes ran through the windshield washer reservoir to heat the washer fluid.

But the best thing about the car was the dual tone horn button. Hit the horn and you get a polite little city horn. Flip the switch and it sounded like the world was ending. What a great car.


Kinja'd!!! El Rivinado > Amoore100
10/28/2015 at 21:15

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I would love to say the W126, after all, it is one of the last old-school Mercedes the company made, it has the looks, the reliability, all that stuff.

But, I would say the W140 would be my pick for one very important reason.

It was the car that I aspired to own.

When I was a kid, about three or four years old, and I had my vast collection of Matchobx, Maisto, and Hot Wheels cars, the cars I always loved were the Mercedes Benz. I kept that obsession alive for a couple years until my car loving days sort of died, but the car I always told myself I would drive would be a Mercedes Benz, specifically, the W140 was the car that I told myself I was going to own one day.

That is why I would say its my favorite, because its the car that little four year old me wanted the most, and sometimes having a childhood dream you want to keep dear to you is not a bad thing. Plus, it's probably the last S-Class I consider desirable from any perspective.


Kinja'd!!! V12 Jake- Hittin' Switches > Amoore100
10/28/2015 at 21:35

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I might be a bit biased, but for me it goes W220,W221,W126,w140,W222,W124.


Kinja'd!!! V12 Jake- Hittin' Switches > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms
10/28/2015 at 21:36

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I'm jelly


Kinja'd!!! Sam > Amoore100
10/28/2015 at 21:57

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My first place is W126 followed closely by W116.


Kinja'd!!! itranthelasttimeiparkedit > Amoore100
10/28/2015 at 22:55

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116 because body color wheels


Kinja'd!!! Amoore100 > itranthelasttimeiparkedit
10/28/2015 at 22:56

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Also because it looks so stately and proud, almost in defiance to aerodynamics or really anything else...


Kinja'd!!! Amoore100 > Sam
10/28/2015 at 22:57

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The radiator grille Benzes are hard to beat.


Kinja'd!!! Amoore100 > V12 Jake- Hittin' Switches
10/28/2015 at 23:01

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Looks like you have a nice Benz! I’m jealous of the car...not so much of the little gremlins that seem to be fond of it...still, wish you best of luck in bringing it back to spec!


Kinja'd!!! Amoore100 > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms
10/28/2015 at 23:02

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Very Jelly. Want. Especially the horn. :D


Kinja'd!!! Amoore100 > El Rivinado
10/28/2015 at 23:04

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True, the W140 is basically the last of the ‘tank’ Benzes, after which they became more and more bloated with gimmicks that broke down with increasing frequency...besides, as I’ve learned in life: following intuition is the best mentor you can have. And W140s are awesome.


Kinja'd!!! Amoore100 > bob and john
10/28/2015 at 23:05

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Plus headlight wipers !


Kinja'd!!! sm70- why not Duesenberg? > Amoore100
10/28/2015 at 23:05

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I love them all to death, but when you think of an S-Class (or, frankly, a Mercedes) you are picturing a black W126.


Kinja'd!!! Amoore100 > dogisbadob
10/28/2015 at 23:08

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That’s interesting because many consider the W220 to be the real travesty that broke the model line considering that because it was the flagship it took everything bad about 2000s Mercs and combined it into one unreliable luxobarge. Still want one though :D


Kinja'd!!! Amoore100 > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
10/28/2015 at 23:10

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Most definitely. Not as ornate as the earlier ones, not as pill shaped as the later, it’s the ultimate big Benz. Definitely a peak in one of the most respected model lines in history. Hope to have one someday...


Kinja'd!!! V12 Jake- Hittin' Switches > Amoore100
10/28/2015 at 23:21

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Eh, it's pretty much in perfect shape with the exception of a ghost in the computer. Only 80,000 miles to boot.