sailorben

Just a bit of curiosity. Clearly we have some kind of idea on the design styles we like, since we all own or have owned the same car!

But what would you say your favourite Mercedes is? Based more on design, both cosmetic and mechanical, unless you've had the chance to drive them.


My favourite modern Benz is the facelifted W216 CL without a doubt.
Favourite retro-era would have to a 126 SEC. I did think about a 560SEC as a potential first car, insurance was unbelievably reasonable, but the cost of fuelling would have been just excessive at UK prices.
One of the landlords of the multiple pubs within my village also has a silver SL60 AMG. That's a very nice 90s MB. I pulled up next to him at the lights randomly last week. He saw me look over, smile, and as the lights changed it made a beautiful exhaust note, my little engine couldn't get anywhere near it haha.

As for a classic, I had always thought I liked the 280SL most, as a reasonable future possibility. The 300SL gull wing is stunning, but at their prices, probably unobtainable.

However just today, while at the Mercedes Specialist just two minutes from my house, I stumbled into one of their rooms, where one of their guys was working on one of the cars.

It was a W112 300SE coupe, in a real deep and dark blue. Massive car, absolutely stunning. I've never seen one in the flesh, but it was fantastic.

Pretty much the same 6 cylinder from the 300sl gull wing. Pneumatic suspension, and a beautiful interior. I particularly like the instrument cluster carved from the wood.
The guy working on it has had it going on as a project for over 20 years. He just had the exhaust and a few other little bits and pieces to do, but it was pretty much complete.

On further reading, second to the 600, it was the second most expensive Benz of that period. Highly advanced for its time, and commanded a premium over the similar w111, that was fitted with a lesser engine and standard springs. The prices recently have been lower for the w112 than the w111, even though the 112 is incredibly rare, particularly on coupe form. Many put this down to the horrific price that an M189 engine rebuild can command.

Unfortunately I forgot to take photos, I was too busy chatting to the fella whom owned it.

I am popping down tomorrow, so if it is not up in roofspace of the unit on the lift, I'll attempt some photos.

Incase you're not familiar however...




An original pillar-less design



Note the carved instrument binnacle






What are your favourites?

Ben

merceBENZ

Unobtainable but... desired. 1936 500K Kompressor

insame1

I started my Benz life as a 190e fan and still am.

sailorben

I've yet to drive the MB of the 190e era. Someone I knew at the sailing club used to have a W124 and a 140. They looked solid, I get the impression they ride like an old school tank, solid.

Those 500K are stunning. I saw a very convincing replica at a classic car show a few years back.

Yidney

I like the convertible versions of the SE in your pictures. Those have become very expensive.

eteller

560 SEC would be at the top of my list. I had a 380 SE, great car. The beginning of my addiction to MB's started with Miami Vice

kb24forlife24

My dad bought a 560 SEC about 25 years ago and it just sits in our garage. I absolutely love it. I really want to convert it to a 6.0 AMG but that's a ton of money

My favorite modern Mercedes-Benz would either be a CLK63 AMG Black Series or the SLS AMG Black Series.

Reanimation

The older the Mercedes the better for me with the exception of c63's. I like w123 wagons 90s G-Wagons.

Rudeney

What a great topic, Ben! But also a very difficult question to answer because there are so many that I love. Obviously, the unobtainable 500K and 300SL gull-wing are high on the list. But honestly, I have to say the R230 SL is my favorite. And I don't say that because I have one - I have one because it's my favorite that I can own and drive everyday.

merceBENZ

I like the way you said it!

sailorben

Very nicely said Rodney. I do like them, but I don't know my stance on the newer SLs, I quite a roof! (&pillar less design it allows for) And if I were between the decision of an newer SL or a CL, it'd have to be the CL, for me at least. Beautiful shape, similar running cost, similar luxury, but two extra seats and a great boot. But then I'm still young and need to carry friends and stuff

I don't doubt my preferences will change as I age...

merceBENZ

Two extra seats in clk are joke due to legroom suitable for children only. Im talking from cabrio perspective, of course.

daking1959

shadenfroh

The 209 and 216 are one of their cleanest designs lately. I can hardly think of anything that's out of place or missing.

I'm a sucker for anything b-pillarless (ideally with a star sticking out). I mean look at these things:

merceBENZ

I didn't even know about CL before this thread. Beautiful car!

sailorben

Whaaaaaat?!? ...and those photos are of the 'ugly' pre-facelift!


The most recent CL as I said is my favourite. They've been around a while, as coupe versions of the S class. They were always the highest spec'd and expensive Benz you could buy. I've only ever seen three. Two in the same city (one of my old uni Proffessors had one), and the third just a couple days ago at the dealership. They're quite reasonably priced now on the second hand market.

Engines were all huge. Ranging from 430-620hp, 700-1000Nm.

W216, 2007 start, facelift came in 2011. Model discontinued in 2014.

They did this because on release of the new S class they said that it was the best car in the world. Well they couldn't then later release the coupe version under a different designation when it is a better, more expensive, higher spec'd car.





Predecessor W215



Facelift, sharper styling





My favourite angle

merceBENZ

Very gorgeous car. I really like it. I guess they are not that popular in the US because I didn't meet one in person yet. And I look at every Mercedes-Benz I meet...

sailorben

Me too unless it's a CLA, GLA, or GLE coupe, where I not only look, but subsequently throw up.

merceBENZ

That's right. Those "the ugly ones". I don't like nor understand them myself. I guess market dictates its own rules...

sailorben

I struggle to like any of the A class range, the only reason the standard hatch is acceptable to me, is only because it's not terrible to look at; which cannot be said for the prior two generations of A class.

It's the same stupid logic applied when Bentley decided to make an SUV, the Bentayga, ridiculous name. Yet there's a Bentley dealership nearby, and I've seen more of those $250,000 bentaygas (~5) in 6 months than I have the CL, since I've known about their existence, 8 or so years. Get me a proper Bentley, an '07 Arnage T.

Never mind, I'm haha

Rudeney

I like the latest model of the CL (W216, or "C" 216 if you prefer), but the prior one, the W215, the front end looked like a 1990's Ford Taurus! If you could get past that, it was otherwise a very nice car. Of course now we have the S-Class coupe and cabriolet, which are pretty darn nice cars, too!

merceBENZ

But S class carries the highest price tag out of bunch (excluding SUV and GT). CL would be the best of two worlds. Probably people wouldn't pay more for S then.

Rudeney

Well, the CL is history - it has been "replaced" by the S-class coupe. Actually, the CL just a new name for the S-Class coupe which ended with the W140 chassis, so now it's nomenclature is back to the "S".