TimC
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| posted on 26/3/14 at 06:48 PM |
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How stupid would it be to buy a 17 year old S-Class?
So, child on way. MX-5 and Series 3 Landy are leaving the fleet.
I've seen a lovely-looking S280 for just over £3k - less than 70k miles, no rust FSH.
Whadya reckon? Utterly ruinous?
I want a comfy commute!
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Slimy38
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| posted on 26/3/14 at 07:18 PM |
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Insurance works on statistics, so how many other 17 year olds have made a claim on an s class? I'm thinking not many...
(Yes I know that's overly simple, but I still expect an s class to be cheaper to insure than a Vauxhall Corsa)
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Nickp
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| posted on 26/3/14 at 07:26 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by Slimy38
Insurance works on statistics, so how many other 17 year olds have made a claim on an s class? I'm thinking not many...
(Yes I know that's overly simple, but I still expect an s class to be cheaper to insure than a Vauxhall Corsa)
Eh? Have you mis-read the question or just mick taking?
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mark chandler
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| posted on 26/3/14 at 07:32 PM |
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Widely overpriced I'd say going by this.
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=964510
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Brook_lands
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| posted on 26/3/14 at 07:32 PM |
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Not daft at all. Doesn't matter how old it is just how well looked after it is. a 3 year old reps box with 75k miles on it could need just as
much fixing.
OK so it will drink a lot of go juice - but how many miles do you do. I had an 18 mpg car once which was fine when I did 9,000 miles a year, changed
jobs and started doing 30,000 + miles so it had to go.
If you are handy and are prepared to hunt down parts at the right price it will be no more expensive than that reps box dropped into the main dealer
every time it needs a service or a light bulb.
And of course if it doesn't go wrong then it doesn't matter how much parts cost.
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Wadders
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| posted on 26/3/14 at 07:32 PM |
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Whats the worst that could happen?, i vote go for for it 
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matt_gsxr
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| posted on 26/3/14 at 07:33 PM |
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In the worst case you waste £3k.
My grandfather had a merc 280se from new (A reg, so 1984). He got rid of it 2 years ago because he was 93.
It never failed or surprised. Truelly legendary build quality.
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Wadders
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| posted on 26/3/14 at 07:36 PM |
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Wow, thats a lot of motor for a grand 
Originally posted by mark chandler
Widely overpriced I'd say going by this.
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=964510
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19sac65
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| posted on 26/3/14 at 08:02 PM |
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If i was buying a S class it would have to be the v8
The 280 v6 has to work at pulling that weight about,a v8 doesnt
Ive known the v6 engines to suffer with main bearing and rumble-i had one in a e class and it was adequate-no more
The Old 280 was a straight 6 and bomb proof
Buying an s class is the cheap part - fixing them doesnt get cheaper because the car does :-/
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mookaloid
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| posted on 26/3/14 at 08:04 PM |
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do the usual checks - smoky engine? gearbox working? electrics? etc etc if it all seems ok then worth a cheeky offer I would say.
How much were they new? £60k or more?
as said above what's the worst that can happen?
"That thing you're thinking - it wont be that."
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Slimy38
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| posted on 26/3/14 at 08:22 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by Nickp
quote:
Originally posted by Slimy38
Insurance works on statistics, so how many other 17 year olds have made a claim on an s class? I'm thinking not many...
(Yes I know that's overly simple, but I still expect an s class to be cheaper to insure than a Vauxhall Corsa)
Eh? Have you mis-read the question or just mick taking?
LOL, so sorry! I did misread the question! I thought you were buying an s class for your son or something! 
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adithorp
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| posted on 26/3/14 at 08:34 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by Slimy38
quote:
Originally posted by Nickp
quote:
Originally posted by Slimy38
Insurance works on statistics, so how many other 17 year olds have made a claim on an s class? I'm thinking not many...
(Yes I know that's overly simple, but I still expect an s class to be cheaper to insure than a Vauxhall Corsa)
Eh? Have you mis-read the question or just mick taking?
LOL, so sorry! I did misread the question! I thought you were buying an s class for your son or something!
I read it that way at first but it didn't quite make sense. Had to read it a few times to get it.
"A witty saying proves nothing" Voltaire
http://jpsc.org.uk/forum/
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adithorp
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| posted on 26/3/14 at 08:41 PM |
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Personally don't like them. There's a lot of Panzer DNA still in there... how long has it taken them to stop using steering box and drag
links?
If you do go for one be sure to have a look in the cam sensor connectors. Any sign of oil and you should move on. The sensors leak oil into the loom
and it eventually breaks down the insulation causing lots of weird faults. Only way to sort is a new loom. Eventually it gets into the ECU and wreaks
it.
"A witty saying proves nothing" Voltaire
http://jpsc.org.uk/forum/
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nick205
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| posted on 26/3/14 at 09:15 PM |
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Misread that and thought you wanted to buy a 17 year old an S Class!
ETA...go for it, as above, what's the worst outcome at that price point?
[Edited on 26/3/14 by nick205]
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TimC
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| posted on 26/3/14 at 09:22 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by nick205
Misread that and thought you wanted to buy a 17 year old an S Class!
The way to a young lady's heart right?
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StrikerChris
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| posted on 26/3/14 at 09:24 PM |
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I know of a lovely one for sale.not a show winner but honest and very tidy it'll still look as good next year as it does now, many
won't....
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TimC
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| posted on 26/3/14 at 09:34 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by 19sac65
If i was buying a S class it would have to be the v8
The 280 v6 has to work at pulling that weight about,a v8 doesnt
Ive known the v6 engines to suffer with main bearing and rumble-i had one in a e class and it was adequate-no more
The Old 280 was a straight 6 and bomb proof
Buying an s class is the cheap part - fixing them doesnt get cheaper because the car does :-/
It's a straight-six car that I'm looking at.
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sdh2903
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| posted on 26/3/14 at 09:35 PM |
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Check out this fine example!!
Mercedes S280 (W140) LPG Good running project car
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TimC
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| posted on 26/3/14 at 09:36 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by sdh2903
Check out this fine example!!
Mercedes S280 (W140) LPG Good running project car
Holy smoke - nice work.
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Wheels244
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| posted on 26/3/14 at 10:13 PM |
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Do it Tim - but keep the Landrover 
Rob
Build Blog: http://wheels244.wordpress.com/
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MikeRJ
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| posted on 27/3/14 at 09:43 AM |
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I'd rather have an E38 7 Series if I wanted a wafty old barge. At least good quality aftermarket parts are easily available for them.
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DavidW
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| posted on 27/3/14 at 10:36 AM |
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I'm quite a fan of the older but quality car.
I've had couple thinking that even a few small niggles went wrong, it's still better than a rep mobile.
I've maybe been lucky but they never seemed to go wrong.
D.
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DavidW
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| posted on 27/3/14 at 10:37 AM |
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P.S. Then I bought a Discovery 3 which clearly doesn't fall into the quality car category....
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Mr Whippy
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| posted on 27/3/14 at 12:45 PM |
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there is a reason they are cheap.
Hugely expensive to run and rust prone, also very complex when things gone wrong. Our document controller had one but give up on it due to having to
put £30 everyday just to get to work, it worked out about 10-15mpg.
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