350SL or XK 4.2 Conv ?
Discussion
Hi All
I am posting this on the Jaguar part of the forum too as I expect an element of bias from marque fans.
I am going to buy a second car for my father. It's a gift he has been rather ill and has never had a sporty car. He's 77 years old.
I am considering a 2007-9 Mercedes 350SL or XK 4.2 Conv.
The car will probably travel a maximum of 4000 miles PA.
My main concern is really reliability, things to watch out for and overall what would be the safest of the options.
Any views or warnings would be most appreciated.
I am posting this on the Jaguar part of the forum too as I expect an element of bias from marque fans.
I am going to buy a second car for my father. It's a gift he has been rather ill and has never had a sporty car. He's 77 years old.
I am considering a 2007-9 Mercedes 350SL or XK 4.2 Conv.
The car will probably travel a maximum of 4000 miles PA.
My main concern is really reliability, things to watch out for and overall what would be the safest of the options.
Any views or warnings would be most appreciated.
Hi, I bought a mint, mega low mileage(approx 13k miles) early 2006 SL350 a few years back for £14k and it was absolutely perfect in my ownership, and as I'd only put a few k miles on it, I got my money back when selling privately, traders were an absolute joke. I looked for a 2005/early 2006 car to get the lower road tax, those after March 23rd, 2006 attract the big tax.
I ensured the car had a full & proper service history and 'grilled' the private seller as to whether he'd had any problems in his ownership, he'd bought it a few years earlier from the original/elderly couple who'd bought it new and had it serviced every year at the supplying Merc. dealer although hardly using it.
It was definitely worth waiting for the special car to come along and I'd say it's worth paying that bit extra for a good one. Regardless of history etc, always check all the electrics and everything working as should and also check that the top opens & closes properly; the other thing to check is whether the boot is water tight as on some the seals can cause problems, and there's a pump in the boot which doesn't like getting wet. IMO, if there's any sign of damp in the boot, walk away. If you can find a good one, I'm sure your Dad will love it.
I know nothing about the Jag but sure you'll get plenty of feedback on the Jag forum.
Good luck.
I ensured the car had a full & proper service history and 'grilled' the private seller as to whether he'd had any problems in his ownership, he'd bought it a few years earlier from the original/elderly couple who'd bought it new and had it serviced every year at the supplying Merc. dealer although hardly using it.
It was definitely worth waiting for the special car to come along and I'd say it's worth paying that bit extra for a good one. Regardless of history etc, always check all the electrics and everything working as should and also check that the top opens & closes properly; the other thing to check is whether the boot is water tight as on some the seals can cause problems, and there's a pump in the boot which doesn't like getting wet. IMO, if there's any sign of damp in the boot, walk away. If you can find a good one, I'm sure your Dad will love it.
I know nothing about the Jag but sure you'll get plenty of feedback on the Jag forum.
Good luck.
I have three XK’s all 55 and 06 ‘S X100 models, as well as an 02 SL350.
They are both great cars, but it is absolutely essential to buy the best, and ones which have been looked after. As you might expect, the Jags are less durable, but at the same time Merc was going through a bad patch through trying to increase profits by cutting quality. I had a £650 problem with the instrument panel. And they don’t like sitting out in the rain.
Particularly with the Jag, you need to allow for some repairs, and to be ultra careful.
Even if you buy an X150 (personally I prefer the earlier steel bodied car as it feels more like a Jag) the same applies. You wouldn’t believe the speed the suspension components and other cute little spots Jaguar never thought about, corrode. I guess that for each model, you should find a specialist you trust and get the car checked over before you buy it. I know that it can be a pain, but it will save you so much grief. In the end, the Merc is the more reliable item. The satnav on any car that age is not great, but the Merc, again, is better.
Once you have got it, and fixed anything that needs fixing, get a full Dinitrol treatment.
They are both great cars, but it is absolutely essential to buy the best, and ones which have been looked after. As you might expect, the Jags are less durable, but at the same time Merc was going through a bad patch through trying to increase profits by cutting quality. I had a £650 problem with the instrument panel. And they don’t like sitting out in the rain.
Particularly with the Jag, you need to allow for some repairs, and to be ultra careful.
Even if you buy an X150 (personally I prefer the earlier steel bodied car as it feels more like a Jag) the same applies. You wouldn’t believe the speed the suspension components and other cute little spots Jaguar never thought about, corrode. I guess that for each model, you should find a specialist you trust and get the car checked over before you buy it. I know that it can be a pain, but it will save you so much grief. In the end, the Merc is the more reliable item. The satnav on any car that age is not great, but the Merc, again, is better.
Once you have got it, and fixed anything that needs fixing, get a full Dinitrol treatment.
As your main concern is reliability your choice is easy, so easy in fact the question need never have been asked, its a Mercedes.
A 'JAG' whether made by Jaguar/BL or whatever the Indian company that uses the brand name, they have NEVER been the epitome of reliability or build quality. You have only to browse the owners magazines to witness pages & pages of how to deal with a variety of issues on some cars barely a few years old, rarely so if you check similar Mercedes mags.
For peace of mind never ever a Jaguar.
I speak from experience having been issued with a new company Jaguar & whilst it smelt of wood & leather & looked pretty, the detailing was cheap & nasty & it was always in the garage for repairs or rectifications. Insisted it was changed for a Mercedes which was a joy in every regard. Sure this was in the '80's but nothing I've read or heard first hand from owners about Jaguar as a long term private ownership proposition would ever persuade me to buy one.
No doubt somebody will post how wonderful they are but nothing could convince me otherwise.
A 'JAG' whether made by Jaguar/BL or whatever the Indian company that uses the brand name, they have NEVER been the epitome of reliability or build quality. You have only to browse the owners magazines to witness pages & pages of how to deal with a variety of issues on some cars barely a few years old, rarely so if you check similar Mercedes mags.
For peace of mind never ever a Jaguar.
I speak from experience having been issued with a new company Jaguar & whilst it smelt of wood & leather & looked pretty, the detailing was cheap & nasty & it was always in the garage for repairs or rectifications. Insisted it was changed for a Mercedes which was a joy in every regard. Sure this was in the '80's but nothing I've read or heard first hand from owners about Jaguar as a long term private ownership proposition would ever persuade me to buy one.
No doubt somebody will post how wonderful they are but nothing could convince me otherwise.
Jag are an awful lot better than they were in the 80's, before Ford took control. To my mind the sweet spot was from 1994 (when the Ford managed models started appearing) to 2008 (when Tata took them over) and also the F Type.
To me Geoff Lawson and his team produced some fabulous shapes. Retro, or as I would say, the recognisable development of style, works for me. In the Callum era the whole company got too ambitous (not Callum's fault of course), and Jag's capability did not measure up to their self image.
A really good S Type, XJ or XK from the early 2000's, preferably with a 4.2R engine is a great car to own, but still not in the Mercedes league for build quality. You just have to recognise that and allow for it. They have enormous charm.
To me Geoff Lawson and his team produced some fabulous shapes. Retro, or as I would say, the recognisable development of style, works for me. In the Callum era the whole company got too ambitous (not Callum's fault of course), and Jag's capability did not measure up to their self image.
A really good S Type, XJ or XK from the early 2000's, preferably with a 4.2R engine is a great car to own, but still not in the Mercedes league for build quality. You just have to recognise that and allow for it. They have enormous charm.
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