What's the fastest you've ever driven your Pagoda?

[dorian] | 1969 280SL

I was just told that a tire at 10 yeras regardless of how much or little its used should be replaced. Does everyone subscribe to this? Does the rubber decompose?? If so I'd be wary and find out how old those little used tires are before venturing into triple digits

I've been up to 105 and think I could go higher, but 105 is probably too fast anyway.

Hey Dr. Pete,

1) ALL my suspension pieces are less then 5 years old. Handles pretty well.

2) All Brakes, ditto. Stops well, too.

3) You can't possibly have that k40 laser stuff, top speed on the L.I.E is about 25 last I checked Ditto for the Southern State Parkway!

4) I keep to 70 on the highway around here...don't need any laser or radar detector!

lets see a 35 y/o car with some 35 yo suspension pieces, brakes with 35 yo technology, no traction system/ slip assist/ abs/ airbags/ sideimpact protection....I'll get it up to 65 or so for a higway cruise otherwise I use the 911 as my rocketship.
MDS-note appropriate K40 laser diffuser/V1 and attention to environment helps prevent seeing the back seat of a crown vic

Oh I'm still working although my thyroid isn't and will likely be removed during surgery later this year. Once they remove this damned cist from inside my chest I'll actually be able to work again ( I hoping ) and breath without any pain.

I'm not looking forward to the operation but I am looking forward to feeling normal again some day.

As if that could ever be possible for someone like me.......

85 mph. is about as much as I can stand. The car is rock solid, it's just the noise I can't take With a tractor geared 4-sp it revs high enough at 65 not to mention 80

David
1970 4-sp

Well, better Red Rocket under a tarp then you! Seriously we want to see you working as well as the 'Rocket!

Ah well, er ......... it is under a tarp but it does run. Maybe I'll have it on the road this year.

Perhaps 95 MPH in a quick passing burst on the highway, usually to get around a speeding truck that's leaking something or kicking up something. Thankfully it can get to 95 from 70 very quickly, and get back down to 70 nearly as fast.

95 will, in most places, land you a "Do not pass go" straight ticket to jail and reckless driving...as you are in the back seat of the cruiser awaiting your fate you can cry as the Police Tow Truck will man-handle your precious 113. THANKFULLY I've never had this happen to me, and never plan to...

So, 70-80 is it on the highway. Remember it's a touring car.

As for that Red Rocket, we've all heard about it let's hope it's NOT under a tarp and RUNNING this July.

Hey, there's only one '' rocket '' car and that's the '' red rocket '' my '66 230SL 5 speed car. A true 130 MPH white knuckle ride.

You'll have to find another name for your car. I took the '' rocket '' name over 10 years ago, although I haven't been around here that long......

105 MPH with the top down on HWY 1 near Fort Ord in Monterey. 65 230SL. It felt good, but with the top down, it was enough.

I havent had a good sampling of the c class mercedes at my work. Only a few have come through, both with relatively few options and small engines.

Byron

1970 280SL
1985 300D

Well the 123 was a fine car and better built in terms of durable materials but a C-Class it 'aint !

The chassis of the C-Class is fantastic, easily on a par with the 3 series. Then you have ESP, ABS, BAS, Airbags, trip computers and all that other suff which does make foe a fantastic drivers car.........once you choose the right engine !

Regards,
Ben.
1964 230SL

My 1997 C-class (180) has been exemplary in service, I have driven it about 25,000 miles in the last three years without so much as a glitch. Excellent mileage, too (about 14 km/ltr, or more than 30 MPG if my math is correct. Combined with the 16 MPG I get with the Pagoda, I figure it evens out to an acceptable average...

Looking at some of the new C class cars we get in as trade ins at my work... they dont look all that impressive at all. They dont seem that much more advanced than my W123 from the 80's.

Byron

1970 280SL
1985 300D

quote:

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I took my 92 500E (65k miles) to 100%:all new struts incl Ncells for the self-leveling suspension, other steering and suspension components, timing chain and all associated with it, new ASR rear end. Mobil1 15-50 every 6 months or 2-3k miles.

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.........that, to me, sounds like an expensive load of maintenance on a 65k car !!

You sure they made them better back then ??

Just for the record I've had 4 new Mercs in as many years, all lowly 4 cyl. cars, and I havent had ANY issues with any of them regarding reliability or build quality !

I would say though that the '01 C-Class (Chassis W203) was the car that felt the cheapest of the lot !

Regards,
Ben.
1964 230SL

Some BMWs to watch out for...

E32 750il (88 to 94) Way too expensive to keep running! (same for the E31 850i's)
E38 750il (95 to 01) Still pretty expensive!
E34 530i (90 to 95) All of them need new engines at 100,000 miles due to teflon cylinder linings that wear out.
E65 745i/Li (2001 to early 2002) The first 745's had loads of programming problems. best to stay away. I wont mention the 760's... yikes!

Some BMWs to consider...
E36 325i... proven technology. I've seen them with 300,000 plus miles running strong
E46 325i/330i... few problems and fun!
E39 540i... proven engine, relatively reliable
E38 740i/iL... same proven engine
E34 530i... if it already has a new engine!
E31 840i... proven engine plus the style of a 2 door exotic

Byron

1970 280SL
1985 300D

[This message was edited by bmcdanold on Sep 10 03 at 04:07 PM.]

Well some pretty typical comments. Good reason not to have a post-124 series MB out of warranty: a thousand of those $500 electrical controllers all waiting to fail; not to mention the $1000 elec rearview mirror and other pure nonsense on the 140s, let alone the current Sclass.

The M class did have fuel pump problems; no surprise there.

The V12 are even worse; summed-up by a Tech friend: "there is not enough money in the world to maintain an out-of-warranty Mercedes V12".

This just supports my point. The last really great MB that you can own and keep forever without spares totally killing you is the 124 and the 500E is the gasoline engined MB sedan at the top of the heap (the 124 Cab will far surpass it as an investment however; if you want a modern cab, buy it now!). Unlike the newer exotic MB stuff it will be going strong and is becoming more rare as well as better built and better looking than the new ones. Talk about a no brainer.

I took my 92 500E (65k miles) to 100%:all new struts incl Ncells for the self-leveling suspension, other steering and suspension components, timing chain and all associated with it, new ASR rear end. Mobil1 15-50 every 6 months or 2-3k miles.

Re Toyota/Lexus: note the class action suit re engine sluge on post-97 cars. I have been seriously warned by a shop owner that this is common. Don't know the details.

Re Mercedes quality: I have a 2000s that has been plagued with NUMEROUS electrical glitches as well as build quality issues. Though they do not affect performance they are annoying inconviences that require too much time bonding with a service advisor. When my lease is due I will run to lexus and buy an LS. I also have a 98 ml whose fuel pump went out on route 80 while driving my son to college two weeks ago. I am no longer a big merceedes fan!!!