Classic car with automatic or manual gearbox?
Discussion
I'm curious if anyone here owns a Mercedes Benz 280, either the automatic https://dyler.com/cars/mercedes-benz/280-sl-for-sa... or manual https://dyler.com/cars/mercedes-benz/280-sl-for-sa... version.
How has the maintenance been for you? Are there any common issues I should be aware of? How does the cost of parts and repairs compare to other vehicles you've owned?
How has the maintenance been for you? Are there any common issues I should be aware of? How does the cost of parts and repairs compare to other vehicles you've owned?
I've owned a 280SL Pagoda for just over a year.
They drive like a much later car as they were very advanced for their time, power steering, brake servo, discs all round and good fuel injection system. Also visibility when driving is first class, especially with the hard top on as there is so much glass.
Parts can be eye wateringly expensive, but they are so well engineered that things rarely go wrong and most bits are repairable.
There is a W113 club that I suggest you have a look at as there is an absolute wealth of information on the site.
They drive like a much later car as they were very advanced for their time, power steering, brake servo, discs all round and good fuel injection system. Also visibility when driving is first class, especially with the hard top on as there is so much glass.
Parts can be eye wateringly expensive, but they are so well engineered that things rarely go wrong and most bits are repairable.
There is a W113 club that I suggest you have a look at as there is an absolute wealth of information on the site.
I owned a 380 Sl in the eighties and a 230 CE The 230 was terribly underpowered but the V8 was great. However, I did try a 280-engined model and found that the accelerator had to be flat to the floor to get any decent shifting done, and thee fuel consumption was in the teens. And see if you are comfortable in it because the Mercedes of the day had seats like planks.
most come with the auto box, maybe then easier to inplant a M113(k) engine in those? they can use it ;-)
I do like those SL series, also the pagoda's before those, but those cost more and have older sort underpinnings?, so maybe not to great for say an engine swap.
never driven one though...
But often I look at those to say use for a more modern AMG V8 in them, I like the classic looks of those and not crazy big like later models.
I often then think, hm, I'm a manual car, but connecting a AMG V8 behind it could be challenging?
there are also some V8 SL with manual, the 350SL I believe, so you can use such to upgrade in time :-)
I think a manual is more a manual is more involved, sportier and has a nicer sound when switching.
an automatic is more lazy and fewer interactions, so its up to you as always
I do like those SL series, also the pagoda's before those, but those cost more and have older sort underpinnings?, so maybe not to great for say an engine swap.
never driven one though...
But often I look at those to say use for a more modern AMG V8 in them, I like the classic looks of those and not crazy big like later models.
I often then think, hm, I'm a manual car, but connecting a AMG V8 behind it could be challenging?
there are also some V8 SL with manual, the 350SL I believe, so you can use such to upgrade in time :-)
I think a manual is more a manual is more involved, sportier and has a nicer sound when switching.
an automatic is more lazy and fewer interactions, so its up to you as always
I firmly believe that some cars suit automatic boxes better than others.
Your example of Mercedes SLs is a case in point: almost all are autos. The auto box is good and, unlike some others, doesn't seem to affect performance enough to be an issue. Manual might be more involving, but auto suits the cars' characteristics better. If it were the other way around, would there not be more manuals about?
US iron is another example: big, slow-revving V8s suit an auto box quite well, whereas I wouldn't want one in a European, small-engined car. Jensen built a handful of manual Interceptors but most were autos.
Mercedes even took automatics rallying, with some success:
Your example of Mercedes SLs is a case in point: almost all are autos. The auto box is good and, unlike some others, doesn't seem to affect performance enough to be an issue. Manual might be more involving, but auto suits the cars' characteristics better. If it were the other way around, would there not be more manuals about?
US iron is another example: big, slow-revving V8s suit an auto box quite well, whereas I wouldn't want one in a European, small-engined car. Jensen built a handful of manual Interceptors but most were autos.
Mercedes even took automatics rallying, with some success:
Turbobanana said:
I firmly believe that some cars suit automatic boxes better than others.
Your example of Mercedes SLs is a case in point: almost all are autos. The auto box is good and, unlike some others, doesn't seem to affect performance enough to be an issue. Manual might be more involving, but auto suits the cars' characteristics better. If it were the other way around, would there not be more manuals about?
US iron is another example: big, slow-revving V8s suit an auto box quite well, whereas I wouldn't want one in a European, small-engined car. Jensen built a handful of manual Interceptors but most were autos.
Mercedes even took automatics rallying, with some success:
Your example of Mercedes SLs is a case in point: almost all are autos. The auto box is good and, unlike some others, doesn't seem to affect performance enough to be an issue. Manual might be more involving, but auto suits the cars' characteristics better. If it were the other way around, would there not be more manuals about?
US iron is another example: big, slow-revving V8s suit an auto box quite well, whereas I wouldn't want one in a European, small-engined car. Jensen built a handful of manual Interceptors but most were autos.
Mercedes even took automatics rallying, with some success:
GTRene said:
I do like those SL series....But often I look at those to say use for a more modern AMG V8 in them, I like the classic looks of those ...
Mechatronik will do one for you but I doubt you'll get much change from €500,000
https://www.mechatronik.de/en/m-sl/engine/
As Turbobanana says, some cars are made to be automatic and the W113 Merc SL, in fact any Merc SL, and possible any Merc ever (except perhaps the 190E 2.5-16v Evo 1 and 2) should be automatic!
Dapster said:
GTRene said:
I do like those SL series....But often I look at those to say use for a more modern AMG V8 in them, I like the classic looks of those ...
Mechatronik will do one for you but I doubt you'll get much change from €500,000https://www.mechatronik.de/en/m-sl/engine/
As Turbobanana says, some cars are made to be automatic and the W113 Merc SL, in fact any Merc SL, and possible any Merc ever (except perhaps the 190E 2.5-16v Evo 1 and 2) should be automatic!
Dapster said:
GTRene said:
I do like those SL series....But often I look at those to say use for a more modern AMG V8 in them, I like the classic looks of those ...
Mechatronik will do one for you but I doubt you'll get much change from €500,000https://www.mechatronik.de/en/m-sl/engine/
ofcourse the model later is way cheaper to begin with and you can buy a say 350SL V8 manual and throw in a AMG V8 with a fitting manual, I bet there are some out there that fit to a manual box, or maybe you can make such older automatic a manual? with some automatics you can build them to manual.
otherwise go modern AMG V8 from the Aston Martin, some of those came with a manual ;-) but I guess those engine/box are not cheap.
Dapster said:
Mechatronik will do one for you but I doubt you'll get much change from €500,000
https://www.mechatronik.de/en/m-sl/engine/
As Turbobanana says, some cars are made to be automatic and the W113 Merc SL, in fact any Merc SL, and possible any Merc ever (except perhaps the 190E 2.5-16v Evo 1 and 2) should be automatic!
Dapster, this car looks amazing! Where did you find it?https://www.mechatronik.de/en/m-sl/engine/
As Turbobanana says, some cars are made to be automatic and the W113 Merc SL, in fact any Merc SL, and possible any Merc ever (except perhaps the 190E 2.5-16v Evo 1 and 2) should be automatic!
finlo said:
Dapster said:
GTRene said:
As Turbobanana says, some cars are made to be automatic and the W113 Merc SL, in fact any Merc SL, and possible any Merc ever (except perhaps the 190E 2.5-16v Evo 1 and 2) should be automatic!
Mainly because their manual boxes are dreadful!But my next one was a 2 litre 190e with a manual box and it was way better than dreadful, and suited the car pretty well.
Then I replaced that with a C280 Sport that was another Auto. It worked OK, but didn't drive nearly as well as the manual C280 Elegance my mate owned a coupe of years before that - I really should have looked for a manual one.
breeze00 said:
Dapster, this car looks amazing! Where did you find it?
https://www.mechatronik.de/en/Mechatronik. They are highly reputable restorers for those with deep pockets. €350k - 500k for a full restomod of a W113 SL or W111 Coupe with brand new AMG power.
They'll have a W116 with AMG power on the market soon
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