Thanks! I love the roads around here right outside of the city where the trees form a nearly complete canopy with streaks of light shining through. Makes for a great effect in the video and when you're in the car driving. I'd hoped to have some additional gear to use for this drive so I could have some different camera angles. Unfortunately one vital piece was late arriving. Hopefully on the next video, after the new wheels are on, I can step it up a bit.
Doubt it was the model year difference. Even though both cars were as I bought them at the time and had no obvious mechanical issues with the suspension they were: a) on different tires b) the low mileage, silver, car has the original factory shocks while the red car had them replaced at some point with non OEM The aftermarket shocks on the red car weren't specifically sport but some combination of the tire/shock difference (not sure if it was one or both) made that one just a tiny bit better in the turns I think. However, after the wheel/tire change on the silver car it's, no comparison, better then the red car which I've made no changes to.
@@Bizmyurt Yeah, if you check the other vids on my channel you'll see a couple when I was doing the wheels and after. Have some H&R springs I'm going to put on it (mainly just to lower it a tad) but haven't had a chance to get that done yet.
@@mckennab I wouldn't have any reservations taking either of these two cars on a long trip but they're both mechanically very good. Silver car is nearly perfect, red car has a few issues I'm trying to work through. But they're just annoyances, not the kind of thing I worry about leaving me on the side of the road. One thing I would not want to do is have one as my main, daily driver. Even one that's in great mechanical shape will have issues that come up (like any car) but the problem with these is that many of the mechanics that really know these cars and how all of their systems are no longer around and a lot of shops, even specialty German shops, are too psyched about doing anything other than basic maintenance. On the flip side, if you're willing to get your hands a little dirty and do some wrenching, there are a lot of enthusiasts that post really good repair videos and forums like Benzworld that's a great resource for these older Mercs. But, IMO, you need to have another car so if the Mercedes needs some work you can take your time to track down the issues/parts. Not be in a bind for transportation. As to whether it's too nice for winter driving my personal opinion is no. I drive all of the nice cars I've had year round with it not being a bad idea to get the undercarriage blasted occasionally if needed. We haven't had a real winter here in Virginia in a while so hasn't been something I needed to think about recently. Not sure how good these are in actual winter weather, maybe someone else can comment on that. I just use my truck when things are slippery.
Great advice. I have an Alfa Romeo Brera I'm trying to mind so I would have a second car available should anything go wrong. I'm fortunate in that I have a classic Mercedes specialist about 5 miles from where I live - so the expertise is just around the corner if needed. As you say though, that doesn't mean issues will get fixed any quicker! I've trawled through forums about them and they do seem fairly DIY friendly - arguably a great car to learn on given how straightforward they are. I'll think on it.
That is some awesome driving on a beautiful country road, you certainly kept us on the edge of our seat.👍
Thanks! I love the roads around here right outside of the city where the trees form a nearly complete canopy with streaks of light shining through. Makes for a great effect in the video and when you're in the car driving.
I'd hoped to have some additional gear to use for this drive so I could have some different camera angles. Unfortunately one vital piece was late arriving. Hopefully on the next video, after the new wheels are on, I can step it up a bit.
Interesting to see the view comparison - the slightly smaller steering wheel in the later car stands out!
From my quick watch the high mileage was better on the road? But it is newer though.
Doubt it was the model year difference. Even though both cars were as I bought them at the time and had no obvious mechanical issues with the suspension they were:
a) on different tires
b) the low mileage, silver, car has the original factory shocks while the red car had them replaced at some point with non OEM
The aftermarket shocks on the red car weren't specifically sport but some combination of the tire/shock difference (not sure if it was one or both) made that one just a tiny bit better in the turns I think.
However, after the wheel/tire change on the silver car it's, no comparison, better then the red car which I've made no changes to.
@@RBeam6 You changed it after the video then?
Nice cars and think if they were not us versions they would have been faster!
@@Bizmyurt Yeah, if you check the other vids on my channel you'll see a couple when I was doing the wheels and after. Have some H&R springs I'm going to put on it (mainly just to lower it a tad) but haven't had a chance to get that done yet.
@@RBeam6 It will look awesome.
tempted by one of these - but it would be used over the winter. is that a bad thing?
You worried about handling/traction in snow or icy conditions or how road salt would impact the undercarriage?
Moreso is it too good to have as a winter car. Should it be put away for the wetter months? Would you have any issue doing a 200 mile trip in one?
@@mckennab I wouldn't have any reservations taking either of these two cars on a long trip but they're both mechanically very good. Silver car is nearly perfect, red car has a few issues I'm trying to work through. But they're just annoyances, not the kind of thing I worry about leaving me on the side of the road.
One thing I would not want to do is have one as my main, daily driver. Even one that's in great mechanical shape will have issues that come up (like any car) but the problem with these is that many of the mechanics that really know these cars and how all of their systems are no longer around and a lot of shops, even specialty German shops, are too psyched about doing anything other than basic maintenance.
On the flip side, if you're willing to get your hands a little dirty and do some wrenching, there are a lot of enthusiasts that post really good repair videos and forums like Benzworld that's a great resource for these older Mercs.
But, IMO, you need to have another car so if the Mercedes needs some work you can take your time to track down the issues/parts. Not be in a bind for transportation.
As to whether it's too nice for winter driving my personal opinion is no. I drive all of the nice cars I've had year round with it not being a bad idea to get the undercarriage blasted occasionally if needed. We haven't had a real winter here in Virginia in a while so hasn't been something I needed to think about recently.
Not sure how good these are in actual winter weather, maybe someone else can comment on that. I just use my truck when things are slippery.
Great advice. I have an Alfa Romeo Brera I'm trying to mind so I would have a second car available should anything go wrong. I'm fortunate in that I have a classic Mercedes specialist about 5 miles from where I live - so the expertise is just around the corner if needed. As you say though, that doesn't mean issues will get fixed any quicker!
I've trawled through forums about them and they do seem fairly DIY friendly - arguably a great car to learn on given how straightforward they are.
I'll think on it.
No problem as wintercar. If you take car of it will survive rustwise too.