SL/R129: 1992 500 SL vs. 1990 XJS V-12
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From: New England
1992 500SL, 1990 Jag XJS V-12 Conv't, 1976 Jag XJ12C, another '76 XJ12C!
1992 500 SL vs. 1990 XJS V-12
I just bought my first Mercedes after having been a dyed in the wool Jaguar fanatic for the past several years. All I can say is I'm impressed! These cars are about as different as night and day. Where the Jag always felt like a handmade car assembled from about 10,000 individual parts, each with the durability of a potato chip, the Mercedes feels like I could drive it full throttle through a brick wall and come out the other side without a scratch.
The car, btw, is a 1992 with 45,000 miles that is in really great shape. My Jag is a '90 I bought with 42,000 miles on the clock. Even doing most of my own service I have racked up about $5k in bills and it could probably use another $1k worth of work now. All that in about 20k miles of driving.
The Benz may be equally expensive to own/drive, but it sure feels like a better car by the seat of my pants!
The car, btw, is a 1992 with 45,000 miles that is in really great shape. My Jag is a '90 I bought with 42,000 miles on the clock. Even doing most of my own service I have racked up about $5k in bills and it could probably use another $1k worth of work now. All that in about 20k miles of driving.
The Benz may be equally expensive to own/drive, but it sure feels like a better car by the seat of my pants!
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From: NJ
2009 SL63 AMG
The R129 SL is a tank. The M119 engine is practically bulletproof, and will run another 100,000 miles easily (assuming proper maintenence). Congratulations, I hope you fully enjoy the car. 
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From: Abbotsford, BC, Canada
1999 SL 500 & 2011 E 550 4Matic
In 1989 I owned a 1987 Jaguar XJS, V12 for about 6 months. Sold because I moved out of the country to work in Hawaii.
The car always seemed slow off the line. Erogronomically the rear view mirrors and steering wheel did not apeal to me. The car was expensive to fix & maintain.
But the XJS had great styling. The car had good pick-up at highway speed. The V12 sounded great at 135 mph.
3 1/2 years ago ... when looking for a second vehicle as a toy ... I was tempted to go back to the XJS, V12. The stying still is apealing.
However, at that point in time, I discovered the R129. Did the research on the R129. Gained a great respect for MB and the R129. Bought the R129. Then I fell head over heals in love with the R129. I still am blown away every time I drive the R129.
The SL is an incredible car.
Congratulations. I'm sure you will enjoy the R129 immensly.
The car always seemed slow off the line. Erogronomically the rear view mirrors and steering wheel did not apeal to me. The car was expensive to fix & maintain.
But the XJS had great styling. The car had good pick-up at highway speed. The V12 sounded great at 135 mph.
3 1/2 years ago ... when looking for a second vehicle as a toy ... I was tempted to go back to the XJS, V12. The stying still is apealing.
However, at that point in time, I discovered the R129. Did the research on the R129. Gained a great respect for MB and the R129. Bought the R129. Then I fell head over heals in love with the R129. I still am blown away every time I drive the R129.
The SL is an incredible car.
Congratulations. I'm sure you will enjoy the R129 immensly.
Thread Starter
Almost a Member!
Joined: Feb 2006
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From: New England
1992 500SL, 1990 Jag XJS V-12 Conv't, 1976 Jag XJ12C, another '76 XJ12C!
Like you, I love the styling of the XJS. I found the interior quality of materials to be outstanding as well. The car is just a pig off the line though. There are ways to get it going faster (like manually shifting) but it always feels like unecessarily beating the car at the risk of huge repair bills. The XJS will always be a great car for gobbling up huge distances in comfort and at speed, but if you more interested in "quick" than "fast" (or both in the case of the R129), it will dissapoint.
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Joined: Feb 2006
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From: Houston, TX
Another Jag convert
Hey there - just found this forum thanks to Google. I can only echo your comments - beautiful styling on the XJ-S, there really is nothing else like it. But the performance and reliability issues... Well, I'm here now.
I'm in the Houston area and looking for a 500 or 600SL, or S500 or S600 coupe. Just wondered if you might be able to point me in the direction of a good independent mechanic for pre-purchase inspections, etc.
Cheers...
I'm in the Houston area and looking for a 500 or 600SL, or S500 or S600 coupe. Just wondered if you might be able to point me in the direction of a good independent mechanic for pre-purchase inspections, etc.
Cheers...
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Joined: Jul 2003
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From: Abbotsford, BC, Canada
1999 SL 500 & 2011 E 550 4Matic
Originally Posted by Dzokayi
I'm in the Houston area and looking for a 500 or 600SL, or S500 or S600 coupe. Just wondered if you might be able to point me in the direction of a good independent mechanic for pre-purchase inspections, etc.
Cheers...
Cheers...
You posted off topic with the second 1/2 of your post ... You would get a lot more attention to your post if you started a new thread (i.e., topic).
Chris
