'Best' model of R107..?

[Alastair]

I may be in the lucky position of aquiring one of these....

But, Which model is regarded as the best/most refined/fun one?

Bearing in mind I am based in the UK, The earliest models up to '72 are desirable due to no road-excise duty --road-tax-disc--every year (200 pounds...)

I can forgo the tax-disc issue if a later car model is superior....

Which do you guys like and why??

Thanks!

[TylerH860]

There's not much dispute on that.

It would be a gray market 500SL, closely followed by a 280SL with a 5 speed stick shift.

[rowdie]

Well, opinions are like arseholes, everybody has one. I kind of like the 1981 280SL I just bought to rebuild. I bought it for $1,800.00 USD with minor damage to the front. I was going to part it out and use the interior in my '73 450 but the darn thing runs so good, 234,000 miles, that I decided to fix it. Oh yeah, the fact that I had all the parts on hand except a front bumper helped in that decision. The in line six DOHC is, again in my opinion, more responsive than the 70's 450 V/8. Also you can probably find a 5 speed over there across the pond which would be a blast to drive. Just remember to check carefully for rust on any 107. And see if the subframe has been reinforced. Good luck in your search.

[Lexxani]

tyler, man you gotta get euro headlamps on that car... it looks neutered

[Michael K]

107.041 300 SL 1986 to 1989 with a manual transmission. Call it 107 SL version 2.0. It's the updated running gear, motor, and rust proofing from the 126 and 124 but with the classic, bomb proof 107 body.

[WINTS]

Given the high petrol prices back home, I'd go for a 280 SL with a manual box. Fun to drive, cheaper to run, and lots of potential spares.

[TylerH860]

Originally Posted by Lexxani

tyler, man you gotta get euro headlamps on that car... it looks neutered

My grandmother got the car new, and I grew up looking at those eyes on it. Not gonna change.

[Werner W]

Being the owner of a EURO 500SL it has my vote. Lots of power, fun to drive and believe it or not, surprisingly good on gas for a V8 getting MPG in the mid 20's. The 420 SL however is the rarest 107 of them all.

[unesl]

Originally Posted by Michael Kerley

107.041 300 SL 1986 to 1989 with a manual transmission. Call it 107 SL version 2.0. It's the updated running gear, motor, and rust proofing from the 126 and 124 but with the classic 107 body.

I second that! Especially if you are in the UK.

[coleyjf]

Hi Alastair

There's a different market in the UK for 107's - availability is much lower than the US and therefore prices are considerably higher.

I would tend to forego the TAX free status of an early model for the added benefits of the better engine, ABS, better suspension, cruise control, etc in the facelift version - also unless you want to spend every weekend "under the bonnet ( sorry hood for those "over there!)" rather than "cruising" the later models tend to be more reliable and have been better looked after.

You would expect to pay between £15k & £20K for a good condition late model ( 86-89) 107 with good service history and less than 100k miles on it - though mileage isn't everything on these engines as mine has done 100k miles and has an emission readout better than my "modern"!! Peugeot 406. If you see one for less than £10k it will probably be a dog - OR possibly a bargain!. BUT Bear in mid that the prices of 107's are still going up here so there should be little or no depreciation if you look after it ( I paid £12k for mine in 2005 and it's current guaranteed insurance value is £18k and my Indi garage mechanic recons he could get £20k for it easy)

You'll find the 300SL (auto) model to be the most common in the UK therefore you'll have more choice but bear in mind that it's a cruiser NOT a "rip the road off" hairy sports car. (if you want stunning acceleration, a bumpy ride and an open top got for a Morgan V8!). There are some good condition 500SL's around but not so many therefore you'll expect to pay a premium (note for those across the pond - we've always had expensive petrol in the UK! so the smaller engines have always been more common) and bear in mind that a 3 liter straight 6 is a great engine to drive - cruises at max speed limit all day and the 30mph - 70mph acceleration isn't bad at all and you do get a "reasonable"!! mpg if you don't cane it too much.

If you get the steering alignment set up correctly it will love the roads around your way and with the cruise control it eats up motorways and you'll have a great time -not as nimble as an MX5 but sooooo much a better car - many more "Smiles to the Gallon".

BTW you should be able to get Guarenteed value insurance (limited mileage) for less than £200 from people like Heritage Insurance - I've just had my renewal for £190.

Cheers

Jim

[jjrodger]

"Best" depends on what you're after.

As mentioned, post-1985 cars have a lot of updated componentry, specifically brakes, suspension and rustproofing. The HVAC systems did not change on RHD cars. The V8 engines were slightly modified and the transmission too. The 300 SL has the most "modern" engine although not the most powerful. It is a very reliable, efficient and sweet straight six. That said, the engine in the earlier 280 SL is only inferior in terms of efficiency and certainly is more characterful, not to mention beautiful to look at.

There was a similar update in 1980 when the 380 SL and 500 SL replaced the 350 SL and 450 SL. The engines gained and alloy block, a 4spd transmission replaced the 3speeder and ABS was made availabel (standard on the 500). I think rustproofing was better, too.

I would be reluctant to go earlier than 1980 because of the lack of ABS, the 3speed transmission and the lesser rustproofing.

My own view is that the best value cars are 1980 to 1985. There is a definite premium attached to post-1985 cars. I also prefer the looks of the earlier cars. I think the r107 better suits the 14" baroque/bundt cake/mexican hat alloys than it does the later 15" 15-hole flat face alloys fitted after 1985. I also don't like the deep front spoiler fitted from 1985. A small thing, but I prefer the interior switch gear used until about 1982. Finally, I think the colour palette was much better pre-1985. These are all aesthetic points though and your taste may be different to mine.

If it were me, performance would still be a factor. I would be looking for a really good 1980 to 1985 (preferrably 1980 to 1981) 500 SL.

At this vintage, though, don't rule anything out and buy the best you can afford. A manual transmission 280, 300 or 350 would be fun, too.

[meltedpanda]

OH I don't know guys I vote for the early ones 72-73 no polution crap, all the horsepower you need, no complicated fuel delivery ( Djet really is simple)
but then again I own one so I am biased

[jjrodger]

Originally Posted by meltedpanda

OH I don't know guys I vote for the early ones 72-73 no polution crap, all the horsepower you need, no complicated fuel delivery ( Djet really is simple)
but then again I own one so I am biased

No pollution crap on any of the UK cars (the OP is in the UK): our petrol may be expensive but at least our motors are full fat! 200bhp from the 350, 225bhp from the 450, 208bhp from the 380 and 240bhp from the 500. Heck, the 560 in the 126 chassis gives 300bhp.

[Michael K]

Originally Posted by coleyjf

There's a different market in the UK for 107's - availability is much lower than the US and therefore prices are considerably higher...You would expect to pay between £15k & £20K.

Jim

If someone wants to pay $30,000 USD for my SL, you can pick her up this evening. That would give me a 300% profit over purchase price plus three years of free driving nirvana. For $40,000 I'll personally deliver anywhere in the world. I'm not really serious because I do love her so, but dang that pricing is outrageous!

[WINTS]

Originally Posted by Michael Kerley

If someone wants to pay $30,000 USD for my SL, you can pick her up this evening. For $40,000 I'll personally deliver anywhere in the world. I'm not really serious because I do love her so, but dang that pricing is outrageous!

Isn't that the truth...

Although, there are some real classic car bargains back there because of the high petrol prices, which, incidentally, after today's budget there got even more expensive!