W116 apprearance in the Mercedes Enthusiast Magazine

[samuli]

Hello all,

I have made a remark that during the recent years, say 2008-2011, W116 has made a significant appearance in the British Mercedes Enthusiast Magazine: http://www.mercedesenthusiast.co.uk/ (check the back issues). I have most of the issues and they are indeed entertaining to read, although they seem to repeat a bit the same stuff in each of the articles, except in one where there was a comparison of four different S-Class generations: w108, W116, W126 and W140.

Other models they seem to like to write about are W126 SEC, W124 CE,  W107 and the good old W123. I do understand them ...

Cheers,
Samuli

[WGB]

The recent one that arrived in teh post last week has quite a good writeup on a low mileage 450SEL with 20,000 miles.

Bill

[adamb]

There is only so much that you can write about within the scope of one model. All the same, I think they do a decent job and produce a readable rag. I used to subscribe and still have the first 12 editions or so in my garage. I still enjoy reading about 116s and 6.9s even though I've not read anything I didn't know about these cars for years.

[samuli]

By the way, in some of the articles they praise that W116's handling would not be much different from W107's. I haven't driven a W107 yet, but does anyone have that experience or is it just positive thinking?

[adamb]

Not sure they can be compared as that large sunroof is in no way the same to having the top down fully. I drove a 1981 500SL for a little while and it was fun to cruise in, I found it a little scary to drive fast on the twisties. There is definitely less body rigidity and I felt it. Overall, the SLC is probably the best compromise... unless you want to pose.

[samuli]

Ok, I can understand that the convertible/pillarless coupe feeling is not possible in a W116. I guess the general public opinion is that the W107 is more beautiful too. Perhaps they mean that the pure road handling aspect is not so different. However, I could imagine that a 5.0SLC gives slightly sportier ride compared to regular W116, except perhaps 6.9 .

[TJ 450]

The 116 has the benefit of being more modern than the 107... the 107 being based on the 114/115 chassis. There is a huge difference in the chassis design.

Tim