Mercedes R107's

[Candellara]

Anyone got one?

Had mine for three years, keep improving and enjoying her. The arrival of a new born has given rise to thinking - i've too many cars to look after, but every time i drive this, makes me think, i couldn't bear to let her go.

Sacrilege, as i took her for her annual MOT outing (passed again with flying colours) but i only did 300 miles last year :-(

[jackpe]

Had one for two years but it was not my favourite car. Just too thirsty and uninvolving to drive for me. Glad you're enjoying yours though!

[Candellara]

jackpe said:

Had one for two years but it was not my favourite car. Just too thirsty and uninvolving to drive for me. Glad you're enjoying yours though!

It drives like an old slipper - perfect for a lazy Sunday sunny afternoon :-)

As for fuel - thought it was quite good. Most of my other car's are all sub 20mpg and the old SL achieves late 20's

[Yertis]

I've really started to admire these recently. Took no notice when they were dirt cheap in the '80s and '90s, now I fancy one I find the value has shot up. Let's see some more pics of yours then!

[Candellara]

Yertis said:

I've really started to admire these recently. Took no notice when they were dirt cheap in the '80s and '90s, now I fancy one I find the value has shot up. Let's see some more pics of yours then!

Quite a rare spec. Late 89 car - Solid black with black leather & rear seat option.

[johnfm]

Candellara said:

Anyone got one?

Had mine for three years, keep improving and enjoying her. The arrival of a new born has given rise to thinking - i've too many cars to look after, but every time i drive this, makes me think, i couldn't bear to let her go.

Sacrilege, as i took her for her annual MOT outing (passed again with flying colours) but i only did 300 miles last year :-

If it was any good as a car you'd have done more miles than that. Sounds like it just something that is nice for you to own/look at, but you prefer to drive something else.

Lovely, seemingly bullet proof cars.

[Yertis]

Candellara said:

Quite a rare spec. Late 89 car - Solid black with black leather & rear seat option.

Smart.

[Candellara]

johnfm said:

If it was any good as a car you'd have done more miles than that. Sounds like it just something that is nice for you to own/look at, but you prefer to drive something else.

Lovely, seemingly bullet proof cars.

Really would have loved to but.....hectic working life, family and also have other cars that need using.

It is fabulous as a car but it really depends what you want from it. It's no sports car, rather a leisurely cruiser - which it does really well.

I think the 107 SL has aged really nicely and when working on it, you can really see that this was from an era when Merc were designed / built by engineers rather than accountants

[Sid's Dad]

You can comfort yourself with the knowledge that if it's well-stored it probably isn't costing you anything to keep. They are gently appreciating each year so the grand or so it costs you each year is probably at least covered by its appreciation in value.

At least that's how I justify keeping my 300SL....

[Candellara]

Sid's Dad said:

You can comfort yourself with the knowledge that if it's well-stored it probably isn't costing you anything to keep. They are gently appreciating each year so the grand or so it costs you each year is probably at least covered by its appreciation in value.

At least that's how I justify keeping my 300SL....

Yep, it's regularly run and well stored. Prices are going silly (i guess in part because Pagoda's are climbing fast and pulling 107's up) Out of all the car's i've owned / own - the SL gets more positive attention than any of them

How long have you owned yours Adrian?

[iSore]

I've always preferred the 107 to the Pagoda. The older car has odd proportions - skinny body with big wheels - and are just a bit too rollneck jumper/Islington-trendy. They're also stupidy expensive when compared with something vastly superior like an E Type.

I prefer the SLC to all of them - in a metallic seventies shade with matching stainless/body colour hubcaps please. I had a 350SLC 15-20 years ago, white with red MB Tex.

[Shezbo]

Candellara said:

Yep, it's regularly run and well stored. Prices are going silly (i guess in part because Pagoda's are climbing fast and pulling 107's up) Out of all the car's i've owned / own - the SL gets more positive attention than any of them

How long have you owned yours Adrian?

Really enjoy my 300sl - fast enough and old classic looks to match - lovely to drive too..modern (ish) 3 litre lump..

[Candellara]

Shezbo said:

Really enjoy my 300sl - fast enough and old classic looks to match - lovely to drive too..modern (ish) 3 litre lump..

Lovely. Astral Silver i presume?

[graemel]

A good few years back I bought the missus a 500SL. If you are tall with size 11's they are too crampt and my feet would brush the underside of the dash by the pedals. Also had an 560SEC. You could see why the SEC was a lot more money new. Far better car all be it not convertible.

[Kapenta]

I have an '81 500SL and bought it when I came to live in the UK in 2000. It is 100% reliable, though, admittedly, I haven't driven it for 6 years. It is laid up in dry garaged storage and gets a start every 3 months, or so. Connect the battery, turn the key and, whoomf, purr purr purr. This is all still on the same fuel from 2007 fill. Autobox gets engaged in all gears, brakes freed off...

I used to use it as my daily driver and commute London - Leeds on a weekly basis.

Downsides - No ABS, no Traction Control, no Aircon, MPG terrible, and a pig on icy roads

Upsides - Everything else.

[TISPKJ]

I have a 79 350, which I (we) have had from new, car has done 11k miles and is one of if not the best in the country, garaged from new, totally original bar exhaust battery and tyres and we had all hoses replaced a few years ago. Didn't use this year but car starts on the button after months.
Prices are getting silly, pal has just bought a 450 with very low miles and one owner and he wants £40k for the car, IMO the early cars like the above although not as good as later models will be the sought after cars.
Mine will never be sold.

[Yertis]

graemel said:

If you are tall with size 11's they are too crampt and my feet would brush the underside of the dash by the pedals.

Excellent. Now I can stop hankering.

[Shezbo]

Yertis said:

graemel said:

If you are tall with size 11's they are too crampt and my feet would brush the underside of the dash by the pedals.

Excellent. Now I can stop hankering.

I am over 6ft and have size 11's sometimes 11.5's - my feet genuinely don't touch any felt. If this was a problem - it would have been mentioned on the MB Club 107 forum...and it has not?

Graemel - perhaps yours was hanging down or not fitted correctly?

The only thing I am not keen on is the truck sized steering wheel...that can easily be swapped though?

[Shezbo]

Candellara said:

Lovely. Astral Silver i presume?

Smoke silver, with brazil interior...like yours (very rare solid black btw) it always gets very good comments. Indeed at one Classic Car show last year, two people offered to buy it...

[IanA2]

That iteration of the SL has never done anything for me. The 121 and the 198 were great, but the 113 and 107, although they have their following are not to my taste. I really like the 129, the 230 is, imho, horrid but I'm coming around to the 231. Possibly a future classic?