With the pandemic in full swing my annual road trip across Europe never happened, and the odometer barely moved. In all respects, Goldie was a proper garage queen this year.
My stats for 2019 vs 2020 speak for themselves...
How much did you fine people get to drive yours this year?
Definitely not enough. Probably under 500 miles in 2020. Still, the year isn't over...
Agreed. Maybe 300 miles. Sad. :-\
my 350SE did pretty exact 10000kms this year - minus 4 months for an engine overhaul.
mine would do about 1000-1500km a year perhaps. only drive it every few weeks.
.err.maybe 10 Kms!!...........a variety of reasons. My Nissan GTR..maybe 5. BUT..come 2021 with a no of monkeys off my back, I shall return to duty!
I picked up this 300SD in March of 2020 with 121,116km on it and put 6500km on it by the end of the year. Ton of work to get it refreshed after having sat for most of the last 20 years. Still a short list of issues but the end is in sight. The vast majority of the car's travel was in the 1980s. Hopefully I'll put quite a bit more on in 2021!
About 18,000 miles
Even before Covid, my Merc's mileage has been low - here's a screen shot of my fuel consumption app - since the last full tank, at the top, it has done around 30km/20miles. (the gallons are UK/imperial, rather than US gallons)
(https://i.imgur.com/0LnJMF1.png)
I still drive my 74 350SE daily.
Quote from: s class on 18 April 2021, 11:53 AM
I still drive my 74 350SE daily.
That's the spirit :)
In my case Goldie as a daily would be too impractical (and costly).
My daily driver has gotten expensive with parts wearing out regularly, but it's a lot cheaper than the lease payment on my other car After the lease, I have nothing. I still have my Benz after 35 years.
This has been posted before. Several comments about how it could easily be a daily driver. I obviously agree.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q3YSiKvxJCU
After my rebuild adventure I managed at least 5000 mi in 2020 despite covid. The odo didn't work (now fixed) so this is an estimate. Lots of traveling the American west where everything seems to be 500 miles away.
I'll probably do the same this season with a cross country trip in August among other things. I just love driving these cars!
I worked every day since this mess started and my 116 is my daily driver. It was down for 3 months waiting for a new suspension pump, but I still put 12,000 miles on her.
About 10 000 miles
1979 450sel. 8213 miles in 2020.
I'd like to add one more comment to this thread about using a W116 as a daily driver. I think this is the first generation Benz that is drive-worthy by current standards. I look at the cars in the MB Club magazine and think, wow how cool. Then I remember how much better the the 116s are to drive compared to W108 and W180 that I learned to drive in. Brakes, power and handling (on the right tires) are all more than acceptable. Not acceptable sometimes, noise, wind and road, and suspension reaction to small bumps.
Unit No. 932 is now being put up for the winter, so 2021 driving season is done. I managed about 10,000 miles all told including a 7000 mile X-country trip. From about May through October the car was pretty much my daily driver. And I even had the pleasure of being spotted on the road and posted to FB! (special thanks to rumb for spotting the post!) https://www.facebook.com/groups/40038665900/posts/10159305123020901 (https://www.facebook.com/groups/40038665900/posts/10159305123020901)
I'm endlessly impressed how well the car drove, what a joy! I was averaged 13-14 mpg for the season with a few tanks that managed 15. Absolutely no hiccoughs. Most of the little stuff has been fixed/repaired/upgraded. Locks hold vacuum for several weeks, a big improvement over several minutes. And suspension doesn't drop at all any more, even after weeks of hot-cold temperature swings. The only casualty was some front tire edge wear and defunct cruise control. I'll deal with that stuff next year. Really a great season!
That's a great year's driving!
That's awesome, ~16,000km for maybe 6months driving, could you get a better classic car as a daily? Maybe something more fuel efficient haha
Dave that is impressive indeed. Maybe start a fun challenge showing your odometer on 1 Jan and then again on 31 Dec. I will lose for sure as I don't drive mine much. I know, I know...
Quote from: daantjie on 03 December 2021, 10:12 AM
Dave that is impressive indeed. Maybe start a fun challenge showing your odometer on 1 Jan and then again on 31 Dec. I will lose for sure as I don't drive mine much. I know, I know...
Fun idea, I'll do it! But Utah to New England is bloody far, so I'm not likely to repeat it. But next season's plans include a massive SW desert and mountain loop, California coast tour, Oregon/Wash loop and maybe Canadian Rockies. My partner loves this stuff. Especially when odd stuff happens, such as guy waiting for us to come out of a highway rest stop in Iowa who tried to buy the car on the spot. ;D
As for a more practical driver..... well, yeah. But in fact my local driving is almost nothing so I'm untroubled. And anyway, the Big Benz is solid and safe! That's it, a matter of safety!
Quote from: mynameiseric1 on 10 July 2021, 05:44 PM
1979 450sel. 8213 miles in 2020.
I managed about 5,500km this year, but I go on binges up to 8,000-9,000 when I get in a road trip mood. I like to drive my 116 year round and have snow tires for it. W116 300SDs make great winter cars!
For me this year was even worse than 2020 - made barely 282 miles in the W116, and 3400 between the two W124s.