In praise of the w140 S class - Page 4 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

francotirador · #46 11-14-2011, 01:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by C280 Sport

Who on earth buys a car and worries about resale value? Not me. If you are worried about that a Honda or Ford is the answer. 140's are already cheap enough to buy. How much lower did you want the price?

Absolutely! Thank you. I thought I was alone in my thoughts on resale value. I couldn't care less about what a car's resale value is. I look at what value it has to me and what I can purchase for the same price.

Every time I look at what a nice W140 will cost me for the initial purchase and maintenance, I see it as a great deal. And I'm not talking about a "junker" or a "beater." Again, I'm talking about a late model, one owner, low mileage W140 that I will purchase for between $15,000 & $25,000 and will possibly sink another 10 grand into.

What new car can I purchase today for 25 to 30 grand will give me the ride, performance, class...of the Mercedes? And will it last as long?

ImBroke · #47 11-14-2011, 03:08 PM

They may be nice, but I still can't get over the butt end.. I suppose I wouldn't be looking at it from the driver seat, but still.... just mho of course.

Pavka007 · #48 11-14-2011, 03:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by francotirador

Absolutely! Thank you. I thought I was alone in my thoughts on resale value. I couldn't care less about what a car's resale value is. I look at what value it has to me and what I can purchase for the same price.

Every time I look at what a nice W140 will cost me for the initial purchase and maintenance, I see it as a great deal. And I'm not talking about a "junker" or a "beater." Again, I'm talking about a late model, one owner, low mileage W140 that I will purchase for between $15,000 & $25,000 and will possibly sink another 10 grand into.

What new car can I purchase today for 25 to 30 grand will give me the ride, performance, class...of the Mercedes? And will it last as long?

Good for you, for this kind of money you could have pristine low mileage W140. Enjoy, I do every time I open the door. The best car I ever owned. never regretted buying or owning one. From what you have written so far I see that you will buy one for your own pleasure, who care about resale value?? Some of today cars are dropping $7/8 K just driving them out of the lot, so who could tell you that your W140 is not a good value?? If you get yourself Grand edition they were over $100K new...now if you get one under 50K miles one owner, immaculate condition for under $20, this is bargain in anyone book...or it should be.
Go get one and enjoy

Life is way too short to sweat the small stuff or to get bothered by what other people WHO NEVER OWNED one are going to tell you.

francotirador · #49 11-14-2011, 05:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pavka007

Good for you, for this kind of money you could have pristine low mileage W140. Enjoy, I do every time I open the door. The best car I ever owned. never regretted buying or owning one. From what you have written so far I see that you will buy one for your own pleasure, who care about resale value?? Some of today cars are dropping $7/8 K just driving them out of the lot, so who could tell you that your W140 is not a good value?? If you get yourself Grand edition they were over $100K new...now if you get one under 50K miles one owner, immaculate condition for under $20, this is bargain in anyone book...or it should be.
Go get one and enjoy

Life is way too short to sweat the small stuff or to get bothered by what other people WHO NEVER OWNED one are going to tell you.

Thanks. To me resale value is a joke. I get a laugh out of current television commercials which state that a particular car will have a higher resale value in 5 years than its closest competitor. Really? Is that something to consider?

I don't imagine many buyers of new S series Mercedes have had resale value in mind when they made their purchases. Cars, other than classic/collector models, are not an investment. They're depreciating assets. Some just depreciate more quickly than others. If that's a concern for the buyer then they need not consider purchasing a Mercedes.

Edward Wyatt · #50 11-14-2011, 06:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by C280 Sport

Who on earth buys a car and worries about resale value? Not me. If you are worried about that a Honda or Ford is the answer. 140's are already cheap enough to buy. How much lower did you want the price?

Well, if some twit slams into me with some pos suv I do care about resale value because someone's insurance is going to pay me for the car.

A W140 costs big $$$ to upkeep, owning one as a beater makes about as much sense as flushing $100 bills down the toilet.

I have a '90 420SEL, and I spend around 2k a year on parts and do my own labor. Even still, I would be luck to get more than 3k for if it gets wiped out. The fact that I get lots reliable use out of it makes the risk and expense worthwhile. A 140 would cost much more to keep on the road, the complexity and parts cost make that a fact not just my opinionated opinion.

When the parts for the W126 get too expensive and hard to source it will be gone. It's already had it's day, there are lots of nice cars I could buy that can run circles around a W140 or W126 without the high cost of upkeep and waiting a few days for parts everytime it farts.

A 2004 or newer 5 series BMW comes to mind.

C280 Sport · #51 11-14-2011, 06:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Edward Wyatt

Well, if some twit slams into me with some pos suv I do care about resale value because someone's insurance is going to pay me for the car.

A W140 costs big $$$ to upkeep, owning one as a beater makes about as much sense as flushing $100 bills down the toilet.

I have a '90 420SEL, and I spend around 2k a year on parts and do my own labor. Even still, I would be luck to get more than 3k for if it gets wiped out. The fact that I get lots reliable use out of it makes the risk and expense worthwhile. A 140 would cost much more to keep on the road, the complexity and parts cost make that a fact not just my opinionated opinion.

When the parts for the W126 get too expensive and hard to source it will be gone. It's already had it's day, there are lots of nice cars I could buy that can run circles around a W140 or W126 without the high cost of upkeep and waiting a few days for parts everytime it farts.

A 2004 or newer 5 series BMW comes to mind.

Unfortunalty like every car its a risk. I mean in reality no car has a good resale value.

2K a year for your 126? Thats not awful. I mean for its age and assuming it has higher miles its not awful. Mine has 120k on. About 1k a year for upkeep on ours sometimes less but then again we dont use it much. But yes your right the 140 is more complex and more upkeep. Still the prices of them are very cheap. Its not buying one its the upkeep the buyer must look into along with a good history and see if its well taken care of. They are beautiful cars.

Edward Wyatt · #52 11-14-2011, 06:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TylerH860

Interesting that a low mileage pristine W126 brings more than a comparable W140. Its not like the W126 is that old or scarce to come by. The W220 is laughably cheap now too. Its a weekly occurrence around here to see an unfortunate soul trying to pilot their W220 S500 with one airmatic shock completely collapsed. Then there's all the W140s I see during the summer driving around with the windows down. Maybe they like fresh air.

Some thing with 107 roadsters versus the 129 series. Face it folks, most MB models are pretty pedestrian nowadays, the days of MB having an intrinsic intangible aura is long gone.

Edward Wyatt · #53 11-14-2011, 06:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by C280 Sport

Unfortunalty like every car its a risk. I mean in reality no car has a good resale value.

2K a year for your 126? Thats not awful. I mean for its age and assuming it has higher miles its not awful. Mine has 120k on. About 1k a year for upkeep on ours sometimes less but then again we dont use it much. But yes your right the 140 is more complex and more upkeep. Still the prices of them are very cheap. Its not buying one its the upkeep the buyer must look into.

Mine has 150k miles, and I spend lots of time shopping the internet for the best price on decent parts. The 140 is a great car, and kudos to those who enjoy them, but buying one now and paying for the upkeep is just foolish. It would be better to lease a new E350 with the money.

C280 Sport · #54 11-14-2011, 06:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by francotirador

Absolutely! Thank you. I thought I was alone in my thoughts on resale value. I couldn't care less about what a car's resale value is. I look at what value it has to me and what I can purchase for the same price.

Every time I look at what a nice W140 will cost me for the initial purchase and maintenance, I see it as a great deal. And I'm not talking about a "junker" or a "beater." Again, I'm talking about a late model, one owner, low mileage W140 that I will purchase for between $15,000 & $25,000 and will possibly sink another 10 grand into.

What new car can I purchase today for 25 to 30 grand will give me the ride, performance, class...of the Mercedes? And will it last as long?

Pretty much that is what it comes down too. For a prestine beautiful and well upkept 140 you are looking at a brand new Hyundai or Ford or something along those lines. There is nothing in the "normal car" NEW Model line up that can even hold a candle to a 140 in terms of luxury. There are alot of great cars that can be had for a cheap price vs. their new price. 600,500 Mercedes, Maserati, Ferrari 348, Testaross, 7 Series BMW all to name some. As long as you can afford the upkeep and have a good indi shop you should be grand. Dealer is just a huge waste for any car if its out of warranty. Just did a nationwide search on cars.com and the most expensive asking price was a 1998 S600. Asking $34,000. Many 140'S are being listed for 10-20k. Some going for 25k+. Alot of car for the money. A friend of mine had the 600SEL. Drove it for many years until the Maybach came out and went to that. His brother now has the 140 and he is still driving it.

C280 Sport · #55 11-14-2011, 06:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Edward Wyatt

Mine has 150k miles, and I spend lots of time shopping the internet for the best price on decent parts. The 140 is a great car, and kudos to those who enjoy them, but buying one now and paying for the upkeep is just foolish. It would be better to lease a new E350 with the money.

Money wise I agree. 150k is not too bad of miles. We do that too for the 126,202,w210. They are too old to run to a dealer or indi and have them order it and install it. You end up paying 2x.
Looking to replace the 2002 E soon. Could go with a S600 140 for the same price as a CPO W212 but in reality its just not needed. A W212 E350 or E550 makes much more sense to me.

The Swede · #56 11-14-2011, 07:04 PM

Entry fee is cheap for these old German cruisers and if spending $1-3K annually doesn't bother you, I say go for it!

If one has to hem and haw over annual upkeep costs, it's best to move on. These cars were not designed or marketed for the average Joe. Folks that can write a check for $120K don't care up maintenance costs- they send them off to the dealer for service and warranty work -- and when the warranty's done, the car is traded-in.

Diesel4me · #57 11-14-2011, 07:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian Carlton

.............that would be the same number as the S-320 that have been owned.............I like the "bulletproof" reference.............

x2 what exactly does that mean bulletproof? Is the car literally bulletproof? I'
ve seen Craigslist ads that say the windows are bulletproof just because they are double-pane glass is that what Hattie means?

pj67coll · #58 11-14-2011, 08:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Edward Wyatt

Some thing with 107 roadsters versus the 129 series. Face it folks, most MB models are pretty pedestrian nowadays, the days of MB having an intrinsic intangible aura is long gone.

Unfortunately true I think. For me the 140 is the last "true" Mercedes. Still don't know that I'd ever buy one though.

- Peter.

Hatterasguy · #59 11-14-2011, 10:45 PM

I have always loved and never been disappointed by a good S class Mercedes. They cost what they cost to own I don't really care. If you want cheap transport buy an Accord, I promise you will be happy. Mercedes does not bill the S class as an affordable ride, never have, and they don't care what it costs to keep going.

I have a lot of experience with all of them and like them all, from a basic S class to an S600 they all have their charms.

These days an off lease W221 is more my speed, 2008 or newer. I love the W140 but they are to old at this point, technology marches on. Even for a $1 billion dollar technological master piece. Still the W140 can hold its own 20+ years later, that's how good they are.

MBeige · #60 11-14-2011, 11:44 PM

If you really want a W140 but don't want to spend too much on the "toys" then an S320 (or earlier model 300SE) would be a good candidate. But at the same time it defeats the purpose of having a W140. That's like ordering a nice 10oz steak but stopping short only because the mashed potatoes ran out - you can't really enjoy it by itself, the W140 has to have those extras.

The options, extras (and eventual problems) go up the list with the S420, S500 and S600.

Perhaps the most applicable quote for W140 owners, is "You have to pay if you want to play"