It was love at first right!
I pulled out of the driveway, drove about 2kms down the street and turned right. The accelerator felt very spongy, and as i was turning i planted it. She squelched and launched to 100km's like it was nothing!
To be honest, i didn't think that the difference between the 4.5 and 6.9 would be as great as it is.
That and the ride of the Hydro suspension was un-believable.
This ol' girl has been looked after too. The paint looks AS NEW! Centre console wood is cracking a little but that was bout it.
The fella had receipts for the last 5 years worth of engine maintenance from MB spares and it has been really well maintained - though not sure how soon it would require a timing chain as it's at 250,000kms and he hasn't replaced it in the 5years he's owned it.
I was almost prepared to buy it on the spot, but the fella said that his son (who is on his L plates) was getting used to it and he's not sure whether he wants to sell it anymore. >:(
He said that if they did decide to sell it he would call me.
Either way, my only goal for the next 12 months is to complete my other 450 project and then purchase a well cared for 6.9.
I now know exactly why you blokes love these cars so much - for it's vintage, it's un-rivalled on the roads!!! ;D
I WANT ONE!!!
ACT Rego'd, Same Silver as mine - only it's imaculate paint!!
I've since found out this morning of a reliable source that it was in an accident a couple years ago and the front end was pulled out instead of being chopped and re-done. So the crumple zones aren't as strong.
Interior has cracks in the blue leather and is covered by seat covers. Speedo seemed lazy, nowhere near as responsive as mine. Eg. the needle was bouncing quite a bit before it found it's mark. Front left passenger window doesn't work as switch is apparently broken.
Centre console has a couple cracks in the wood - but only just becoming visible.
Brakes were very spongy - not sure whether this is cause of it being a 6.9 or not but it was entirely different to my 450.
Accelerator was very soft, but responsive. When i planted it on the right hander i could feel the difference of the LSD!!
Overall i just couldn't get over how much more 'get up and go' it had compared to my 4.5!!
I've been advised by a reliable source that it's pretty much a $5k car - so i'll consider it a bit more and maybe hassle the fella with an offer sometime next week. Basically it's just not a car a 16yr old should be driving. As safe as they are, you'd hate to see a picture of it crushed on the front page of the paper...then they would change the ACT laws!
Either way - my 12 month goal is to own one of these beauty's! 8)
Geez you've come a long way in a short time. A 450, then a second with impending engine swap and now, a hairs breadth from getting a 6.9. I'm impressed. I haven't even driven one yet let alone been a passenger. I read your post last night about you going to have a look at one and I've been hoping to see a positive post regarding the test drive, which it was. You might want to keep the blue velour for this 6.9. You may also get a chance to try another sooner or later to get a feel for what the brakes and everything else should be like. It's funny how two identically built cars can feel different some years down the track.
Good luck with it Cam!
Good luck with the purchase and let us know how you get on.
Quote from: oscar on 11 July 2007, 12:01 AM
Geez you've come a long way in a short time. A 450, then a second with impending engine swap and now, a hairs breadth from getting a 6.9. I'm impressed. I haven't even driven one yet let alone been a passenger. I read your post last night about you going to have a look at one and I've been hoping to see a positive post regarding the test drive, which it was. You might want to keep the blue velour for this 6.9. You may also get a chance to try another sooner or later to get a feel for what the brakes and everything else should be like. It's funny how two identically built cars can feel different some years down the track.
Good luck with it Cam!
Thanks Oscar! Much appreciated mate. I'm going to have that much in the pipeline it's not funny - but it won't seem like work cause i've developed a love for these cars. Well that and my German heritage coming out.. ;)
Quote from: Michel on 11 July 2007, 02:43 AM
That is the BIG reason why I like the 690SEL....
Responsiveness, handling and acceleration.
You cannot compare 450 and 6.9.....
Chalk and cheese ;D
Chalk and cheese exactly! As Oscar says, it'll be good to drive a different 6.9 to see the difference is between them.
Can't wait to see the 690SEL, only 11 sleeps to go!! :)
Wow, i didn't originally think the difference is that great either. I'm gonna have to track one down one day and see for myself, cos it must be mindblowing. ;D
Fuel consumption on the other hand.....
I bet if you drive her nicely, it should be close to the 450 consumption?
Quote from: Michel on 11 July 2007, 03:26 AM
Don't worry about fuel consumption. ;)
Unless you are going to drive like a maniac ALL THE TIME, you'll probably get almost the same consumption as your 2.8litre ;D
You hardly have to accelerate to get off the mark with a 6.9 :D
This is the main thing that blew me away... as i've never driven another 6.9 i wasn't sure if the accelerator should feel that soft.
But yeah i hardly tapped it and it got the 3tonne moving easy as!!
My 450 takes flat to the floor to get up and go a bit...
I do reckon the fuel consumption on a 6.9 would be not much more fuel consumption than a standard 450 as it takes less work for the engine to move the car - being a big block it doesn't need to work anywhere near as hard.
Been trying to explain to my mate who's a holden fan what the experience was like.. couldn't convert him, i guess he'll understand once he has a ride in one. I highly recommend it to anyone!!! ;D
My problem will be if i get one - i have a VERY heavy right foot.. ::)
Any W116 forum members, While in Melbourne can test drive my 6.9
I have to many projects to find the time to drive it [sadly]
I cover to many miles to make it my daily driver
At least all that work to bring it to were it is now, at wont go to waste !
johnj
Quote from: johnj on 11 July 2007, 06:58 AM
Any W116 forum members, While in Melbourne can test drive my 6.9
I have to many projects to find the time to drive it [sadly]
I cover to many miles to make it my daily driver
At least all that work to bring it to were it is now, at wont go to waste !
johnj
Does that mean you're thinking of selling her John?
I ask as i will be down melbourne way in the next couple weeks and wouldn't mind having a look at the ol' girl.
I want to test drive a 6.9 but i am afraid if i do, it will follow me home....:)... i saw one yesterday, very very nice speeding down the road in the opposite direction!:)
QuoteI bet if you drive her nicely, it should be close to the 450 consumption?
Road and Track (the US magazine) found the 6.9, in their testing, returned the same petrol consumption as the plain 450SEL (13mpg) for equivalent driving.
Which is why I've never been shy to buy and drive a 6.9 over a 450 because while you'd think the 6.9 would be heaps worse, the 2.65 diff and lazy power means in normal driving you rarely go over 2000 revs. A friend of mine back in the day had a 1978 450SEL and we both would get similar, consistent petrol economy... if the 6.9 was worse it wasn't by a perceptable amount.
Oscar, SELfor50, once you get your 6.9s unless you fang it everywhere, you'll be surprised that it doesn't use more fuel than you would imagine.
Des, I don't know how you were diving this thing (#5440) but I've got it back to an acceptable fuel usage rate for my daily drive to and from work and puttering around on the weekend - around 12-13mpg.
I.
13B - you're in Melbs right? Isn't most of your time spent sitting at lights waiting to turn Right from the Left hand lane?
That would mean less fuel consumption right? ;D ;D
Problem with Canberra roads, they're pretty much all 80km/h or higher so a lot of it's highway driving. I know this is supposed to mean less fuel consumption but you know how fun it is on these open roads?? ;D ;D ;D
All in all, if you own a Mercedes - should you be worried about fuel consumption? ::)
So i guess i'm aiming to be a plutocrat?! 8)
Quote6.9 - Plutocrat (Wears whatever he wants to and goes wherever he wishes - valet parking at home or away)
I'm a plutocrat, save for the valet parking shit.
Petrol economy doesn't bother me unless it drops below 6mpg at which point I really have to think about it. I couldn't drive a Hummer, or 1970 Caddy Eldorado, etc.
Now that they have decided Pluto is no longer a planet does that make Plutocrats just plain old Crats. ;D ;D ;D
Regards,
Rob
Fidocrat see I can make up a name with a dogs name first aswell.
Crat :[French -crate, from Greek ruler, from kratos, strength, power]
Hence Plutocrat = Ruler of pluto (now no longer a planet)
Therefor a Plutocrat is a diposed leader of a former Planet. ;D ;D ;) ;)
PLANET? Do you think our esteemed 6.9 brethren would gain prestige from ruling a mere PLANET?
Shirley, you jest.
YE WILL RUE THE DAY YOU INSULTED THE 6.9 OWNERS... YE WILL ENVY THE DEAD!! BLASPHEMER! HERETIC!! ECONOMIZER!!!
(http://vermontdailybriefing.com/wp-content/my-images/cheney.gif)
Ahemm. Here's the scoop:
Dear Word Detective: I'm curious about the etymology of the word "plutocrat" or "plutocracy," meaning essentially "government of the rich over the poor." Does it have anything to do with the ancient Greek philosopher Plutarch? And where does the planet Pluto fit in, while we're at it? -- Harry Perzigian.
And don't forget Pluto the dog. Actually, you have to wonder what Walt Disney was thinking when he named that animal, as will become apparent in a moment. Meanwhile, I'm still puzzling, as I have been since about the age of six, over what sort of critter Goofy is supposed to be. Dog? Moose? The missing Baldwin brother? The child Ann Coulter never mentions? Just asking.
Onward. It all began with the original Pluto, who was the Roman god of the dead and ruler of the underworld. As was common practice in Roman mythology, the Romans had actually borrowed Pluto from Greek mythology, where he was known as Hades. The name Hades was also used by the Greeks to mean the underworld itself, which, interestingly enough, was portrayed as being cold and dark, not fiery hot as in the modern concept of Hell. As a matter of fact, the original Hell (named for the Norse goddess Hel) was also a very chilly place, and the bad-afterlife thermostat didn't get turned up until the New Testament.
The cold and dark of the Roman underworld made "Pluto" a fitting name for the desolate outermost planet in our solar system when it was discovered in 1930, but it took a very literate 11 year-old English girl named Venetia Burney to actually suggest the name. One of Pluto's moons, by the way, is named Charon after the ferryman who, in Greek mythology, transports the souls of the dead across the river Styx into the underworld.
The connection between the Roman god of the dead and rich people running the show comes from the root of the name "Pluto" itself, the Greek "ploutos," which meant "wealth." It was believed that wealth that came from the ground (minerals, gems, etc.) was actually created in the underworld. So put "pluto" in this original Greek sense together with the Greek-derived suffix "cracy," meaning "power" or "rule by," and you get "plutocracy," rule by the wealthy. Plutocracy, as well as "oligarchy" (from the Greek "oligos," meaning "few"), are usually considered less desirable states than "democracy," from the Greek meaning "rule by the whole people."
RG,
in the absence of pluto, you shall have to alter the term plutocrat...
ii suggest plutokraut
Hey John and don't call me Shirley my other name is Marlene. ;) ;) ;)
(http://www.nndb.com/people/158/000023089/ln1.jpg)
Sargent Liutenant Frank Drebin.
I think therefore I am that Oligarch fits the mould better what say you?
I have a 6.9 and a w108 with a 4.5 (the same engine as the 450SEL with D-jet). Off the mark, I would say that the 4.5 feels more responsive. Like it's willing to rev more. Up above 80mph, the 6.9 really comes into it's own. Not even my 32 valve 275 hp v8 powered E-Class has the same grunt.
Around town, I prefer potting around in the W108, it's steering is a lot lighter and it's more chuck-able. The 6.9 is much more of a highway car. Both give about the same mileage. I'm waiting to drive my 350SE as I've been told the M116 engine is very sweet and rev happy. It should be fun with the manual gearbox.
Robgee.......
Either cut down on the spirits or increase the doze.... ;D ;D
[/quote]
Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha - I think that's one of the funniest things I've ever read!
Quote from: Grant V on 13 July 2007, 03:20 AM
Robgee.......
Either cut down on the spirits or increase the doze.... ;D ;D
Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha - I think that's one of the funniest things I've ever read!
[/quote]
Gee Grant you wanna get out more mate.
Spoke to this fella again today,...
He's decided he's not selling as his son really wants to keep the car for when he turns 17 and get's his P plates.
he then proceeded to tell me that it was nice to meet and i should drop round sometime.
I said mate, unless i'm coming round to purchase a 6.9 i don't think we can have any further discussion on this.
I strongly suggested that the car was too powerfull for his son but he seemed to think not.
Oh well, the search continues..
oh, that's sad. We can just about say goodbye to that 6.9.....
Yes, I do realise the irony of my age! :D
But I shouldn't get into too much trouble with my 280, and I have a genuine love for these cars that defies my age I'd like to think ;)
QuoteHe's decided he's not selling as his son really wants to keep the car for when he turns 17 and get's his P plates.
Someone ought to inform of the 6.9 in Canada (?) which was owned by a teenager for 1 day before writing it off...
Really, the 6.9 should be on the restricted list of what vehicles P platers can drive (I've never checked, I was off my P plates by 20), and really, no insurance company is going to insure a teen with a 6.9, so this kid may, assuming he can afford the fuel at the time, get regular use of the car once he turns 25...
Quote from: SELfor50 on 18 July 2007, 11:30 PM
he then proceeded to tell me that it was nice to meet and i should drop round sometime.
I said mate, unless i'm coming round to purchase a 6.9 i don't think we can have any further discussion on this.
That's the shot! :D But I reckon you have to try what 13B suggests. Start a propoganda campaign ;D
Ironically he actually lives right next door to one of my longest family friends - but i'd never met them or even seen the merc till i rang up from the ad.
I played cricket, rode bmx's and billycarts in the backyard next door to him for years and never once saw them.
The amount of cricket ball's i've lost in that bloody yard.
And the guy won't sell me the car. He should knock off 3K just for the amount of compound cricket balls he would've scored over the years.
Anyway, the address is: XX XXXXX XXXX XXXXXXXXXX... eh, i'm sure if i posted it i would be breaking some sort of law somewhere.
Either way, that's what will happen once a 17yr old kid with his P plates drives that car for the first time without his parents!!
I've forgotten bout it now - might hassle him to sell it in another 6months. Head on round with 5K cash in $20 notes so it looks like more and wave it around.. ::)
Worth a shot..
Go for it! ;)
Failing that, make up a big yarn about how UNCOOL he's gonna be (the boy I mean) to all his friends of the same age despite the big motor, and then tell him the age-old truth that w116's don't score women! ;D
Failing THAT....hmm...take off his fuel pump from underneath and he'll probably think it just died and take a few $$$ off it....
Quote from: SELfor50 on 10 July 2007, 08:35 PM
It was love at first right!
I pulled out of the driveway, drove about 2kms down the street and turned right. The accelerator felt very spongy, and as i was turning i planted it. She squelched and launched to 100km's like it was nothing!
To be honest, i didn't think that the difference between the 4.5 and 6.9 would be as great as it is.
That and the ride of the Hydro suspension was un-believable.
This ol' girl has been looked after too. The paint looks AS NEW! Centre console wood is cracking a little but that was bout it.
The fella had receipts for the last 5 years worth of engine maintenance from MB spares and it has been really well maintained - though not sure how soon it would require a timing chain as it's at 250,000kms and he hasn't replaced it in the 5years he's owned it.
I was almost prepared to buy it on the spot, but the fella said that his son (who is on his L plates) was getting used to it and he's not sure whether he wants to sell it anymore. >:(
He said that if they did decide to sell it he would call me.
Either way, my only goal for the next 12 months is to complete my other 450 project and then purchase a well cared for 6.9.
I now know exactly why you blokes love these cars so much - for it's vintage, it's un-rivalled on the roads!!! ;D
I WANT ONE!!!
Sorry to revive this thread but I had to update y'all.
I had just finished moving house yesterday (not quite finished but most of the big stuff anyway) and after I dropped the trailer back to my Mum's house I decided to stop past the owner's house of this 6.9 I testdrove bout 9 months ago.
I knocked on the door, and the young fella (who was on his L plates last year and learning in the 6.9) answered the door.
I asked him if he remembered me, "I came around and test drove the 6.9 last year"......
Answer: "Yeah I remember you, but sorry we got rid of it"..
Me: "Noo.... who to, how much?"
Kid: "Ohh... it got written off. Rear ended someone, had an accident and the insurance company said it wasn't worth fixing. They were going to auction it off."
Me: :'( "Who was that?"
Kid: "Shannons."
After explaining that a 16yr old kid shouldn't be driving a f*kn 417CI engine and that they'd destroyed a f*kn beautiful car... i left.
I'm going to try and find out what happened to it... I'll head out to the shannon's office in canberra tomoz, i'm pretty sure they would've assessed it.
It happened in January so probably either been crushed by now or scooped up by a shannon's employee, no harm in trying though.
F*KN IDIOTS!!!!!!!! Such a nice car, ruined by stupidity.. :'(
OMG! That's incredible. Douches!
Makes you wonder what they deem as unsalvageable though. A guy from the US ages ago posted about rear ending someone causing a bit of front end damage. Bent bumper and smashed grill, to that sort of extent and I'm sure it was written off based on parts prices and a "too costly to fix" response.
Whilst at my mechanics last week, there was a blue 450sel with damaged left front from a real good contact with a kangaroo, bent bumper, smashed light and bent bonnet. It's going to need pulling and a bit of welding too. So the 6.9 might be interesting to look at if it's still in a lot somewhere.
Quote from: Patrick Bateman on 13 April 2008, 02:59 AM
did you say "I told you so" ?
Wow some people are stupid, who in their right mind would have a learner in a 6.9?
However, I have let one of my barely legal girlfriends drive my 6.9 before obtaining a learners permit. I was extremely careful and told her i would bury her alive in the pine plantation if anything happend to the car. She thought i was joking, luckily nothing happen to the car so she didnt find out.
Said a little more than I told ya so... followed by "Why the f*k didn't you call me, I left my number and said if you ever wanna sell it - EVER, f*kn call me!!!"
That's funny, but also scary PB... :-\
Quote from: oscar on 13 April 2008, 07:44 AM
OMG! That's incredible. Douches!
Makes you wonder what they deem as unsalvageable though. A guy from the US ages ago posted about rear ending someone causing a bit of front end damage. Bent bumper and smashed grill, to that sort of extent and I'm sure it was written off based on parts prices and a "too costly to fix" response.
Whilst at my mechanics last week, there was a blue 450sel with damaged left front from a real good contact with a kangaroo, bent bumper, smashed light and bent bonnet. It's going to need pulling and a bit of welding too. So the 6.9 might be interesting to look at if it's still in a lot somewhere.
The biggest douche in the universe.....
Found out it went to pickles, was auctioned off straight away. Can't find out where it went... :( If it was in canberra, it'll pop up sooner or later. There's only 2 i know off, both were silver and 1 is now dead. I'm sure there's a couple more somewhere....
I'm sure it wouldn't have even been that much damage - just brand new parts would've been quoted at maximum price cause of insurance and they thought it wasn't worht it... mo-fo's. :(
My car knows this process well.
It was written off by an insurer, and sold at auction. The previous owner to me is who purchased it at auction and fixed it up. It, was driven into the rear of another car. It required the replacement of the front nose panel, the headlights, grills, bumpers, radiator, condensor, fan and the bonnet.. All of which are dirt cheap and easy to replace if you have even the slightest clue how to weld. My only gripe is that the front panel isn't from an Aussie version and i have no where to mount the non existant and disconnected charcoal canister :P
Quote from: SELfor50 on 13 April 2008, 11:06 PM
There's only 2 i know off, both were silver and 1 is now dead. I'm sure there's a couple more somewhere....
Ahem... 3 you know of ;D :P :P
I actually wonder sometimes how many 6.9's there are in Canberra...
Quote from: bb on 14 April 2008, 07:24 AM
Quote from: SELfor50 on 13 April 2008, 11:06 PM
There's only 2 i know off, both were silver and 1 is now dead. I'm sure there's a couple more somewhere....
Ahem... 3 you know of ;D :P :P
I actually wonder sometimes how many 6.9's there are in Canberra...
bb, don't try and pass off Jerra / Queanbeyan as Canberra.. I won't have it! ;D :P
Sorry mate, forgot about the new edition Ronin Special.. ;)
It really sucks - but in the ACT the law still hasn't changed!! :'(
what is the ACT law???
The law's allow P Platers to drive any car at all. So you get a million wheely bins that wanna race you at every set of lights.. it's pretty funny actually. Most of them are in sh!tbox lancer's with a bodykit and exhaust..
They suck.
ok.now pray tell us what is a P plater .
Quote from: SELfor50 on 15 April 2008, 09:42 PM
The law's allow P Platers to drive any car at all.
(EDIT: I just realised this was in reference to ACT laws.)
Not here in good old over regulated Victoria (AUS). A P plater is restricted to cars without turbos, cars below a specified power to weight ratio and cars below a specified displacement to weight ratio. This ends up excluding most V8.
That's the theory anyway.
Quote from: kolin on 16 April 2008, 01:48 AM
ok.now pray tell us what is a P plater .
A P plater is someone on a probationary licence which is for a driver in his/her first three years of driving, further restrictions apply, zero blood alcohol for instance.
koan
hmm, sounds like fun this license story in oz.does it help keep them safe on the road.
here is goold ol' rsa,the big problem is getting a license.
1)takes 2 minutes to book a learners license at a central booking depot for the whole country
2)then you have to pay for learners license within 3 days at said licensing dept where you wish to take said license
3)then come back about 3 months later to write your learners.
4)if you pass you then have 18 months to take full drivers license,if you fail you then repeat from step 1 again
if you are lucky to pass, most take the learners 3 times, its a year gone by
5)takes 2 minutes to book a full license at a central booking depot for the whole country
6)then you have to pay for learners license within 3 days at said licensing dept where you wish to take said license
7)then come back about 3 months later towrite your full learnrs and do the practical..if you dont make the requires points go back to point 5
And many people cant get their full license as the learners has expires., you then go back to point 1
when you get to said traffic dept where you intend to do learners license, you are greeted by a queue about 300 long and some people wait from 06h00 till late in the afternoon to write the learners.
its a stuff up
Quote from: kolin on 16 April 2008, 03:11 AM
hmm, sounds like fun this license story in oz.does it help keep them safe on the road.
here is goold ol' rsa,the big problem is getting a license.
1)takes 2 minutes to book a learners license at a central booking depot for the whole country
2)then you have to pay for learners license within 3 days at said licensing dept where you wish to take said license
3)then come back about 3 months later to write your learners.
4)if you pass you then have 18 months to take full drivers license,if you fail you then repeat from step 1 again
if you are lucky to pass, most take the learners 3 times, its a year gone by
5)takes 2 minutes to book a full license at a central booking depot for the whole country
6)then you have to pay for learners license within 3 days at said licensing dept where you wish to take said license
7)then come back about 3 months later towrite your full learnrs and do the practical..if you dont make the requires points go back to point 5
And many people cant get their full license as the learners has expires., you then go back to point 1
when you get to said traffic dept where you intend to do learners license, you are greeted by a queue about 300 long and some people wait from 06h00 till late in the afternoon to write the learners.
its a stuff up
That sounds shyte dude.... it's still not that easy to get your license here. But there should be alot more training involved on the practical side.
My dad always rants about how in Germany you have to do hours on hours of driver training (defensive driving etc) to get your licence.
I reckon things like that aren't such a bad idea.
i know, my sister and family moved to perth. parents moving there.will stay here, coz i need to live in a country where i can speed without worrying about getting caught