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450 SE Started me Drooling

Started by kru0042, 20 December 2011, 07:42 PM

kru0042

All,

There is a charming German car repair specialist in my city. I go out of my way on occasion to have a look at some of the great old cars parked on the street awaiting repair. Just this morning, I decided to have yet another look at a gorgeous light green 450 SE with euro bumpers, immaculate paint, and bamboo interior. What a perfect car!

Driving around my city of one million souls, and all the faceless generic cars, I am so impressed by the lines, the elegance and understated pride that stood before me. I got out of my 300D and walked over to her to have a closer look.

As I left I was saddened to think that in this modern competitive car market, the Mercedes standard of excellence I was always so impressed with and proud of has all but disappeared, as auto makers including Daimler Benz have buckled to the competitive pressures of the 21st Century. Now driving around Calgary, every 5th or 6th vehicle is a Mercedes, sadly all too similar to all the other plastic, chromeless, boring vehicles on the road.

I think this is one reason why I am so enthralled and proud to be a W116 owner.
Super Einspritz Lang

Mforcer

Well put :)

While I don't agree that Mercedes has sold out to being cheap but rather met the needs of safety and environment, they have certainly lost their sparkle since the W116.
Michael
1977 450SE [Brilliant Red]
2006 B200

koan

Quote from: Mforcer on 20 December 2011, 07:52 PM
Well put :)

Spot on.

"Little boxes made of ticky-tacky and they all look just the same".

koan
Boogity, Boogity, Boogity, Amen!

Martin 280s

#3
I tend to agree, recently I had a letter published in Mercedes Enthusiast saying basically the same thing. The older models had chrome, style and were individual. Modern MB, and cars in general, are just clones of one another with a slight difference. Yesterday, I went to look at a W140, whilst being considered bland by many MB fans, it still stands out in the crowd as being a cut above the rest, I feel newer MBs just don't.

jbrasile

Agree 100%....

Back in the 60's, 70's, 80's and early 90's MB's were so unique and superior in many ways. Today the difference between a Toyota Corolla and a C-Class is not that big... of course the MB is a little more luxurious, safer, etc... but drive them both and anyone can see how close they are.

140'S are probably the last of the true distinctive S-Classes, just a powerhouse of technology, luxury and comfort, complicated and maintenance intensive but a great car nevertheless. I have a 92 300SE from a client with me at the moment, we are sorting a couple if minor electrical issues that make the ABS light come on and brake lights go out, all is well now. Every time I drive this car I am amazed of how good it is even being at the lower end of the 140 family, well balanced, incredibly quiet and being a short wheelbase in silver not bad looking at all in my opinion.

Tks,

Joe

74MERC280SE

As a relative newcomer to the w116 club i'm amazed how well these cars drive and handle and mines 'only" a 280SE with the poverty pack... Albeit its monly done 105800ks since new but they must have been amazing when new.

However, I have had a few other mercs in my time and can give you my impressions:-

1. 1984 500SEC Auto.... Imported, bought from the Australian Federal police as some guy neglected to pay customs duty and they used it as a "surveillance" car in the eastern suburbs of sydney... Lowered, custom exhaust and stereo and Amg 18" rims.... looked great but drove like a sack of proverbial but with all the windows down and sunroof open you felt like you were in a retro speedboat.

2. 1999 A160.. Bought as a demonstrator for my 7 month pregnant wife who needed a car once the little guy arrived... Quirky with the funshift and amazingly long legs for such a small machine... saw 175km/h on an emergency run back to sydney!!!... But as my mechanic said, get rid of them before putting more than 60000k's on them as they seem to have a "lifespan" and become expensive after that.

3. 2002 Mercedes E55............... Loved that car, wish I still had it.. Zircon silver with light grey leather and factory blue tinted windows... Bought it with 60000kms and sold it with 120000ks after 4 years... apart from servicing and fuel it only ever needed one headlight globe.... Had to sell it as we bought a house with a crazy steep drive which the e55 bottomed out on.

4. 2002 Mercedes ML430....... Hmmm.... Surprisingly reliable, dynamically flawed, Thirsty, thirsty, thirsty but once it got to 6 years old and 160000ks it cost me $10k in repairs and maintenance in one year... time to say goodbye!!!

Even though my "new" 116 has a little rust and a few scratches n scrapes I'm just so impressed with how it drives, especially now that I have my stuttering issue sorted(see other thread)..... I think I'm getting a real soft spot for this one! ::)

If I can work out to put a few pics I will!!!

Hemersam

I agree that the later MBs have declined in quality, not perhaps in engineering, but certainly in electronics. As for appearance, most of them look like a Chrysler; what an awful thought that is.
Hemersam

KenM

Perhaps not surprisingly I also agree that older cars are better built and more distinguishable from each other, many modern cars look very similar and have similar features. While it can't be denied that safety

in particular is far better across almost all makes these days, there does seem to be a more or less generic 'look' for new cars that makes many of them blend into one another. I do love getting into my 116

and it has that old car smell, I somehow don't think any modern car will have that in another 40 years, could be wrong. One of my secret probably never to be realised desires is to completely gut a 116 and

retrofit it with all modern gadgetry such as improved noise reduction, EBD, ABS, airbags, super stereo, pop the 6.3 engine, drivetrain and wizardry from a C63 into it etc etc but completely retain the body and

interior design. I think chrome will make a return one of these days and our cars are going to be super sexy once again. Pity about the driver.....

Martin 280s

Ken, I have to disagree with you. I think ANYONE looks good in a well-kept classic / vintage etc. car and that includes us!

That's probably why the likes of Kate Moss have one, a Pagoda | think, to make her look even more special which is something a modern car wouldn't do.

KenM

Well you could be right Martin, mind you I think Kate Moss could make a Nissan Cedric seem like a very desirable motor vehicle.

If I drive off without looking in the mirror first all will be well....