My wisdom has been confirmed

[sean sherry]

In the Week End Australian ,Clarkson from Top Gear, has confirmed the wisdom my choice of an early Eighties Merc. Even though my Better Half can't stand the sight or sound of him, he rightly points out that Mercs from the mid seventies to the mid eighties were built to last.
In the vain that they are the ones for every day use, ......if I'm understanding him correctly. ?????????
I guess , after that the Cost Accountants got into the act................
Sean

 

[SEL_69L]

I prefer 116's , but then again, I am biassed......

Were cars built 20 years ago meant to last 20 years? Perhaps, but I supsect that the design lifespan is shortening, for most manufacturers. Are MB tempted to do the same thing? Or will they provide genuine spare parts backup for more than 20 years?

Perversely, that's why I now also own a Huyndai Getz. Drive it and junk it. That's what they want me to do. It's cheap. When it falls apart, get another new one. I surrender!

I have sourced genuine parts for my beast, directly from Sindelfingen a few times in recent years; my car is 34 years now old.

There is a requirement that any manufacturer backs up their new car products with genuine spares for at least 15 years. I suspect that most current cars of most manufacturers won't last much longer than that, due to minimum time spare part backup. They would prefer to sell you another new car.

Would MB be tempted to do the same?

 

[abl567]

MB are already going the same, consider the recent "lucky 13" adds in the mainstream press, $6500 of your new c-class now and $6500 of your next new c-class in 3 years time. I suspect you need to finance it through MB to qualify.

 

[BenzBoy]

MB are already going the same, consider the recent "lucky 13" adds in the mainstream press, $6500 of your new c-class now and $6500 of your next new c-class in 3 years time. I suspect you need to finance it through MB to qualify.

Ah yes - but the real question is; do you ever get to own it outright?
People ask me why I don't upgrade the ML since it is now 12 years old but it has only 134,000 ks on it and why would I need to buy a new ML/GL at close to $100,000 when I can enjoy the old one for another 200,000ks or so?
Likewise the Spirit as it's 20 years old and has just had its 100,000k service. Imagine wandering into the bank and asking for a cool $M1 to replace it...sure, it could be done but I wouldn't end up owning it until way past my bedtime...
Regards,
Brian

 

[sean sherry]

Well I think that designed shorten life span is now a fact of life. I recall a comment a few years ago, that pointed out, that Manufactures and their Dealers are not in the business of repairing cars.... their object is to sell cars
My local well qualified German car specialist, advise me to change our C200 GLI after 5 years. He also says that Mercedes are far better than the others ( give the least trouble ). Faint praise indeed ,as our 27K C200 Turbo has been plagued with Oil leaks ,Electrical problems, Auto Trans Soft ware and has failed to proceed three times.........But the saving Grace is ....It drives far better than all the opposition,..... the blend of comfort and road holding.
....Sean

 

[Andrew280SEL]

To me it all seems like a lot of things these days - mass produced and only really built to last until the manufacture brings out a new model that they'll want you to "upgrade" to.

Personally I'm not a huge fan of it... but maybe that's why I prefer the older cars!

That's not the only reason though; I tend to like the "personality" the older cars in question tend to have, which IMO the modern vehicles lack.

 

[sean sherry]

Couldn't agree more Andrew. I had an opportunity, a couple of months ago, to buy a fully specked 1989 300 coupe in as new condition. A lovely car... but it was to clinical ( refined ). I much prefer the feel of my '81 (107 ) 280 SL. ....with the hard top on !
........... it's about the same money, high teens......Sean