SL/R129: Still get complements?
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 1,181
Likes: 75
From: Abbotsford, BC, Canada
1999 SL 500 & 2011 E 550 4Matic
Still get complements?
Our cars are 16 + years old ... who still gets complements from casual observers?
Quite often at gas stations - I will have people saying “you really have taken care of this car” (won’t spend time to show all the bruises) ... or “what a beautiful car” (I usually say you could have one too - for about $ 10,000) ...
What a great car at a fraction of the price new - yet feels like new!
Quite often at gas stations - I will have people saying “you really have taken care of this car” (won’t spend time to show all the bruises) ... or “what a beautiful car” (I usually say you could have one too - for about $ 10,000) ...
What a great car at a fraction of the price new - yet feels like new!
Banned
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,982
Likes: 393
From: Atlanta, unfortunately
'09 S600, (2) R129 300SLs, '03 SL500, '03 SL55
I drove an R129 with varying regularity for nearly 9 years starting in the summer of '01. I don't believe I ever got a complement from another motorist while on the road. My R230 has gotten a handful.
When strangers come to my house now and see all the cars the R230 gets all the attention and praise. The 2 or 3 R129s I have around are ignored.
When strangers come to my house now and see all the cars the R230 gets all the attention and praise. The 2 or 3 R129s I have around are ignored.
Newbie
Joined: Oct 2018
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
2013 E350 4MATIC Coupe
In the Summer of 2013, I was driving my Dad's former 2000 Slate Blue SL500 with a buddy of mine to go hit golf ***** at a local driving range. I reached a stop light, and the woman next to me (in the left hand turning lane) starts screaming: "Hey!!" Here is a quick synopsis of our 15 second conversation:
Me: "Yes, ma'am?"
Her: "Is that your car? Love that color!"
Me: "Yep, it's mine!"
Her: "Well, you look mighty fine in it!"
We then parted ways as the light turned green. Honestly, I think the color played a major role in those encounters (for example, I doubt the "stoplight lady" knew it was a 129 SL500). Circa 2008, I had a Silver Arrow owner pull next to me in a Sears' Hardware parking lot. We just looked at each other and said: "Nice Color." I remember hearing his wife say that she liked the color of ours a little better though lol
Me: "Yes, ma'am?"
Her: "Is that your car? Love that color!"
Me: "Yep, it's mine!"
Her: "Well, you look mighty fine in it!"
We then parted ways as the light turned green. Honestly, I think the color played a major role in those encounters (for example, I doubt the "stoplight lady" knew it was a 129 SL500). Circa 2008, I had a Silver Arrow owner pull next to me in a Sears' Hardware parking lot. We just looked at each other and said: "Nice Color." I remember hearing his wife say that she liked the color of ours a little better though lol
Last edited by Sinatra23; May 4, 2019 at 12:16 PM.
Junior Member
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 41
Likes: 19
From: Southern California
2001 Mercedes SL500
When I had my pristine 2001 SL500 the comments I received were more in the line of questions like "how do I get to the freeway?" or "where is the best place to get a good hamburger?".
Super Member
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 598
Likes: 19
From: Eastern Kansas
94 SL 600, 98 993, 89 XJS Conv., 85 Daimlier Princess 16 Hybrid Lincoln 16 Chevy crewcab
With 20 plus years of comments, It still happens! but now the admirers are older and almost never any offers for any extended relationship!
The younger drivers catch up at the next traffic light and ask what's the HP!
Still fun to drive, but "ain't they all?"
The younger drivers catch up at the next traffic light and ask what's the HP!
Still fun to drive, but "ain't they all?"
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Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 1,181
Likes: 75
From: Abbotsford, BC, Canada
1999 SL 500 & 2011 E 550 4Matic
Nice summers day in Canada ... got (4) compliments.
Went for breakfast at IHOP and got complements on the R129 in the parking lot.
One when arriving - an old guy saying that’s the car I’ll buy when I get rich. I said you don’t have to be rich to own this $ 10,000 car. He was amazed it was 20 years old.
The other when leaving - a young guy yelled out “beautiful car”!
Then for some fun we went to a MB dealer to test drive new C & E Class Cabriolets ... an older guy there, buying a new SLC for his wife commented how good looking the R129 was. A sales person came over and said this is the type of classic car he wants to get.
After driving a 2017 C43 AMG .., and a 2019 E 450 ... we drove away in the R129 saying how happy we still are with it. Let those newer 4Matic Cabriolets depreciate for another 4 or 5 years - then maybe we will upgrade. When we go back into retirement and be a one car family again.
Went for breakfast at IHOP and got complements on the R129 in the parking lot.
One when arriving - an old guy saying that’s the car I’ll buy when I get rich. I said you don’t have to be rich to own this $ 10,000 car. He was amazed it was 20 years old.
The other when leaving - a young guy yelled out “beautiful car”!
Then for some fun we went to a MB dealer to test drive new C & E Class Cabriolets ... an older guy there, buying a new SLC for his wife commented how good looking the R129 was. A sales person came over and said this is the type of classic car he wants to get.
After driving a 2017 C43 AMG .., and a 2019 E 450 ... we drove away in the R129 saying how happy we still are with it. Let those newer 4Matic Cabriolets depreciate for another 4 or 5 years - then maybe we will upgrade. When we go back into retirement and be a one car family again.
Last edited by ChrisB; Jun 30, 2019 at 12:12 PM.
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Super Member
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 598
Likes: 19
From: Eastern Kansas
94 SL 600, 98 993, 89 XJS Conv., 85 Daimlier Princess 16 Hybrid Lincoln 16 Chevy crewcab
Your insight is always wonderful to read. Since in Kansas, there is NO mandatory retirement age, I wonder if there is one in Your Nation? . Since in Kansas, there is no dictate about vehicle number, I seem to be adding, not subtracting! It is like a compulsion to buy a vehicle for every notable year in my history! Birth is a 45 Jeep, Age I got a three speed bike, 56 Tbird, also Continential Mark II, First Year of college XKE, 3.8 Ltd., Last year of dental School 70 Capri, Attempt to limit family expansion 1985 Daimlier Pincess.
The list has not reached the end!. Hope your summer is spectacular!
. Since in Kansas, there is no dictate about vehicle number, I seem to be adding, not subtracting! It is like a compulsion to buy a vehicle for every notable year in my history! Birth is a 45 Jeep, Age I got a three speed bike, 56 Tbird, also Continential Mark II, First Year of college XKE, 3.8 Ltd., Last year of dental School 70 Capri, Attempt to limit family expansion 1985 Daimlier Pincess. The list has not reached the end!
. Hope your summer is spectacular!
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 1,181
Likes: 75
From: Abbotsford, BC, Canada
1999 SL 500 & 2011 E 550 4Matic
I am a 56 baby. Tend to keep cars a long time & don’t accumulate.
No mandatory retirement age in Canada ... we early retired for 7 years after bad burnout and health issues - now back at it for 3 years and probably will work as long as the company lets me & work remains enjoyable.
No mandatory retirement age in Canada ... we early retired for 7 years after bad burnout and health issues - now back at it for 3 years and probably will work as long as the company lets me & work remains enjoyable.
