280SL Underpowered?

[PeterE320Cdi]

I have seen a manual 280SL on e-bay and have a few questions.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=4649243347&fromMakeTrack=true

Can anyone tell me the best place to find out how much a car of this age is worth?

Would a 280 be underpowered, I was ideally looking for a 500.

Thanks, Peter.

 

[ADY1983]

I would imagine it would be a little under powered, As for the price, shop around and check out other auctions on Ebay Also check out Autotrader, but you really need to see a few cars to find out condition etc. as to what they are worth.
Cheers Ady

 

[fatherpierre]

I've had several 123s and 126s with this engine and as long as it's been looked after and it has the 4sp box then there's plenty of power.

My last 280 variant was a 280SE - the heaviest car to be fitted with this lump and it was plenty powerfull enough and very smooth. It would sit at big speeds with ease.

I've had 280CEs and Es with this engine and they've been slow and sluggish but I put that down to either the 3sp box or them just being knackered through age.

You really have to sample the goods with cars this age and see if it's still knocking out anywhere near the 185bhp it was when new.

A 500 will have you crying at the petrol station - 10mpg. A 280 will struggle to give you over 20.............

 

[KLP 92]

Would a 280 be underpowered, I was ideally looking for a 500.

Simply put, YES!

I note that you drive a 320 CDI, so this thing will be slow, especially if you'd considered a 500.

Not much difference on fuel economy, certainly not double! Now considering this car is an 82 model, in gold, and a manual, i would say it would struggle to fetch alot more than its starting bid. Certainly any more then buy a 500 as you will struggle IMO to sell it on.

 

[fatherpierre]

We'll have to agree to disagree!

I never found my 280s to be too bad and if you get a sprightly one it'll be fine.

My 500SEC gives around 10mpg around town and I never got anything over 20mpg in any 280.

 

[KLP 92]

We'll have to agree to disagree!

I never found my 280s to be too bad and if you get a sprightly one it'll be fine.

My 500SEC gives around 10mpg around town and I never got anything over 20mpg in any 280.

My 560 with engine mods gives me more mpg round town! Its around 14mpg town and 18-20mpg motorway.

I'll give you a direct comparison. I had a SL600 V12, forum member akash had a SL280. Same driving conditions etc he would get about 30 miles more to a tank or less! If you both drove them hard, well he drove his hard keeping up then mine was actually more economical as the engine was under no stress.

In a W107, a 500 is fun. My W107 500SL regularly gave me 16-18mpg round town. 22 on a motorway. You have to tune these old mercs up very now and again or your mpg suffers. And besides, try to beat the sound of a V8

 

[stats007]

The 280 is quite a good engine in the R107 - I had a '72 350SL and running on Michelin XWX tyres it was very easy to wheelspin - especially in the wet. That said I wouldn't buy the I6 - especially a manual.

R107s need careful inspection before buying - there are also probably 50 private cars for sale at any one time so pick and choose carefully! Always pay a bit more that you wanted for a good example - you'll save a lot of money in the long run.

 

[wobbly]

I have seen a manual 280SL on e-bay and have a few questions.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=4649243347&fromMakeTrack=true

Can anyone tell me the best place to find out how much a car of this age is worth?

Would a 280 be underpowered, I was ideally looking for a 500.

Thanks, Peter.

If you want a 500 then buy a 500, you will only be disapointed with the 280.

Before buying my 500, I test drove a 280, and 300, but they do not compare to driving a 500

Wobbly

 

[stats007]

The only downside to the 500 is the horrible rubber spoiler on the boot - and the fuel consumption. The ideal R107 IMO is an '86 - '89 420SL.

 

[wobbly]

The only downside to the 500 is the horrible rubber spoiler on the boot - and the fuel consumption. The ideal R107 IMO is an '86 - '89 420SL.

Everyone I speak to mentions the fuel consumption,

Take from the owners manual, here is the amount of litres to travel 100km.

300SL manual
Urban 14.5 litres
At 90 kph 8.1 litres
At120 kph 10.2 litres

300SL auto
Urban 14.0 litres
At 90 kph 9.4 litres
At 120 kph 11.6 litres

420SL
Urban 14.9 litres
At 90 kph 9.4 litres
At 120 kph 11.4 litres

500SL
Urban 15.9 litres
At 90 kph 9.5 litres
At 120 kph 11.4 litres


I dont think the 500 compares to badly. yes around town its a little less, but on a run, its better than the 300 auto, and about the same as the 420.

Just yesterday, I travelled 118 miles home from Weymouth using about £23 of petrol.

As for the rear spoiler, well, it was the late eighties!!! And it isnt that bad !

 

[fatherpierre]

What you need to take into account is fuel figures will vary wildly from manufacturer's claim, particularly when the engine's been used for 20 odd years!!

My 500SEC drinks the stuff like it's a petroloholic as have some of the 280s I've had. My last 280SE was much better on fuel than the 280CE I had before it - and it was more responsive.

If fuel's a big issue then no old SL will please unless you can find a diesel conversion!

The drive and sound of a V8 will make you want one though

 

[PeterE320Cdi]

Thanks for all the replies. One of the reasons for looking at an SL is that my new sensible family car (E320 CDi) makes my old fun car (Triumph Spitfire) seem slow. So I reackon I should hold out for a 500, fuel economy is not an issue as the annual mileage will be low.