2nd Aug 2017, 21:49

You're right, life is too short and you should have fun. Mind you, modern cars are getting better. My daily driver, a 2009 Toyota Avensis, is boringly reliable and cheap to run. Still, I like it, it's very refined inside, and I enjoy driving it, and it is much better than economy Toyotas my dad had in the 1970s, but it will still never be a sports or luxury car in any sense of the word, no matter how good ordinary cars get.

I knew a guy recently that kept an 80s BMW 7 series as a daily driver and converted it to gas fuel, but still could not keep using it as a daily driver. Its reliability was good, but when something did go wrong the repair costs were insane.

Myself I keep a very early 1990's Mercedes S-class for weekend fun and love every minute of it. I can tell you as little as I use it, it still is not cheap, and I think that's what people are trying to say here - yes you can keep an older luxury or sports car, but just be aware of the potential costs if something goes wrong, and only use them as a second car, not a daily driver.

3rd Aug 2017, 07:59

As a daily driver, agreed - even if you lucked on getting that nice car that was built impeccably despite Consumer Reports statistics, there comes a time when time just does not help dependability or reliability. Wear and tear, and simple deterioration. After a certain time, it may be best to keep that car as a weekend cruiser. And then again, moderate use regularly also keeps parts from deteriorating quickly and from seizing.

One also has to bear in mind that prestige cars are also fitted with all the bells and whistles that really are not necessary to the essential running of the car. In the 1960s, perhaps, a world market Mercedes 220S or 180D was very dear because you were paying for the durability and engineering of everything including the bolt that held the license plate - every other complication was optional, like electric window lifts (even on an SL), a sunroof, and the like. The modern luxury car may have galvanised bodies with 10-20 years anti-corrosion warranty to make it last, but it's really pointless when you pay hundreds of dollars for a sensor the size of a matchbox.

3rd Aug 2017, 10:26

I had a beautiful SL Roadster. But I was afraid to use it except for for very short distances. And at the time it was only 13 years old. Emission issues, had odors in the garage; fortunately was detached. It wasn't old enough to antique and required inspections to tag it every 2 years. To fix it mostly the dealer was high. As I recall I had unusual shocks that cost 190 each. I think they were dual to posts. Not much now, but gives you an idea. Lot of little things needing attention. So having a car you are afraid to drive is not to me what you enjoy. You work a lot to own a little driven money pit. And if you ever owned a used BMW 7 series, be aware they are extremely expensive when anything goes. I always liked them, but was scared off to buy. The only BMW I ever regret missing out on was a Bavaria. But I'm sure I would have not kept it.

If you want a more fun weekender, buy a domestic convertible from the 60s or early 70s. Simple and basic. Like a Mustang convertible. Or a coupe, and it will likely appreciate. I enjoyed opening my garage door and seeing the Mercedes in there. And more likely than not closed the door and didn't drive it. Almost a decoration in the one side. You can accomplish the same thing pretty much by buying a 1:18 scale diecast and looking at that. I hope to not have a car like that again that I regret to drive. Wondering what's next.

3rd Aug 2017, 21:17

I'd agree the last few comments have made good points about advice on keeping older expensive cars in general (doing your research and having cash aside for any disasters being the general vibe).

But not to get to far away from the original review - remember this guy has a 2006 Mercedes. 2006 was a while ago now, but I'd still regard that as a modern-ish car. Certainly anything from the year 2000 onwards will be filled with lots of complex electronics, which now at over 10 years old are obviously going to show up with some faults. I think the original reviewer is right in the sense it is overpriced, but I wouldn't call any Mercedes rubbish, they are definitely nice cars, even though you could argue quality has definitely fallen in recent years, but you could say that about a lot of manufacturers.

Makes you wonder what the cars of 2017 will be like in another 10 years or more from now. Probably the same with the engine, gearbox and body being relatively solid and reliable, but electronic problems costing too much to fix, with some features being turned off or removed if possible to avoid high repair costs.

4th Aug 2017, 10:53

I am getting too old I guess for old luxury models. Meaning everything has age in it, irregardless of mileage. Cars wear sitting. I have had many cars similar. At this stage in life, having a factory warranty with a new car warranty has both peace of mind and less likelihood running them in often. I would rather just take off on a trip with my cars. I cringe because I have seen repairs over 1000 on a visit. And it's still an old car when you bail it out of a shop. I get a lot of the car has depreciated. But also making a multi state road trip is often passed over to take out your new car.

I use to take my 450SL to buy a Sunday paper and take it back home. Couldn't trust it or even going out at night. And then do you really want to put in costly repairs for a quick weekender experience? You can have them in fantastic running condition today. Then something hits and even just parts expenditures are high. A simple domestic common convertible usually is more reliable. Parts are low. And if you break down simple easy fixes. That either you can perform, or most any shop. Hate to say a shop sees a Mercedes towed in and from the onset the bill is going to be high from just a matter of course. If that is something you like, go for it. As you can probably tell, I am not a fan of older luxury European imports. But I like new ones.