W124 Kombi

[imadoofus]

This could go under several different topics.

What's the load length, width and height of a W124 estate? Also, what's the tailgate aperture?

I need a loadlugger fairly quickly, and the cost of hiring a van would go some way towards buying a Merc.

It's got to be reliable (why the heck did I say that? ), and cheap.

I like the look of

This and

Third-from-bottom here

Comments? Suggestions? Advice?

Thanks

PJ

 

[bolide]

You've got 6 feet of length with the seats folded. The last couple of inches have the retractable loadspace cover sitting in it, but that's only about 2" deep. It's removeable as well...

Remove the squabs, fold the seats flat and you'll get another 8-16" of length, depending on how far forward the front seats are

You've got 42" between the arches so reckon on getting something flat in there that's up to about 68" x 42"

The rear opening isn't 42" wide at the top because the sides slope in a bit but a box about 30" high by 36" wide would slide straight in, as would a box about 12" high by 42" wide

Max load is about 1/4 ton. Max roof load straight on the roof is about 120 Kg, more with cross rails


Nick Froome
www.w124.co.uk

 

[imadoofus]

Thanks Nick,

Just what I needed to know.

PJ

 

[jeremytaylor]

They both look so good, and only two owners in 10 years - says it all really.

I would add how how much of everything works (e.g electrics, air con. etc. and decide from that.

 

[RJIF]

sorry i cant comment on the spec but they both look like good workhorses! if theres anything i always see floating around its an old E-class estate and they always look like they have pulled their weight in the years passed, i would say that if it suits your requirements you could do alot worse than invest in one of these

 

[imadoofus]

What I really want is a Range Rover Classic (Vogue SE), but I think a MB estate will pass the domestic scruitineer more easily ( ) I think it'll prolly carry more, too.

Going down to London later in the week, so I'll try to check these two out (plus a lovely-looking RR I've seen not too far from my Mum's).

PJ

 

[bolide]

Range Rover Classic

What I really want is a Range Rover Classic (Vogue SE), but I think a MB estate will pass the domestic scruitineer more easily ( ) I think it'll prolly carry more, too.

Hmm. I have to tell you, I had a 1982 Range Rover for 3 years (13 MPG, thankyouverymuch!) and had a saying about it: "It's amazing what you CAN'T get in a Range Rover!"

A Mercedes Estate has twice the load-carrying capacity of a Rangie, does twice as many miles per gallon (if not more) and is better at carrying that load

A Rangie is a great off-roader but it's a pathetic load carrier and handles like a pig unless the load is between the axles. I love them to death, but there's no comparison, at all, in any way


Nick Froome
www.w124.co.uk

 

[andy_k]

I've had a Range Rover in the past as well and have devised a simple simulator for anyone thinking of owning one.

Regular running costs (to be repeated daily)..................

1, dig a large hole at the bottom of your garden

2, take all of your money and throw it in there

3, set fire to it

Servicing costs (to be repeated every two to three months)...................

go to your bank and borrow the maximum you can on an overdraft then repeat steps 2 & 3 of the regular running costs

Unexpected breakdowns and running expenses (to be repeated on a monthly basis)

max out all of your credit cards

repeat steps 1 & 2 of regular running costs

This should give you some idea on how much it costs to keep a Range Rover on the road

As to the W124s you've seen, they look great, now maybe I'll get shot down for this but I'd look out for a late one with the 5 speed box. It really is much much better than the 4 speed equivalent.

I'd rather have my W124 than any Range Rover or van, they are superb mile eaters, you can get a wardrobe in the back with the rear door closed and with the self levelling suspension you don't even notice even the heaviest of loads

Andy

 

[imadoofus]

Sage advice, Nick and Andy.

Truth be told, if I really wanted a Range Rover, I'd have bought one by now. Deep down, I know what you're saying is right....

Thanks

PJ

 

[Flash]

I'd rather have my W124 than any Range Rover or van, they are superb mile eaters, you can get a wardrobe in the back with the rear door closed and with the self levelling suspension you don't even notice even the heaviest of loads

New Sprinters are even more comfortable and higher up than a Range Rover and very quick too and you can get several wardrobes into the back...

Personally, I find driving a Sprinter more comfortable than a car as high up, the cabin interior has all the equipment/options of a car and they do shift off the mark...

 

[Will]

I think the W124 Estate makes most sense here, but to add a little to the ownership experiences on a Range Rover, I must say that it's not always that way.

About 2 1/2 years ago I bought a 1991 Range Rover Vogue SE Auto, in excellent condition (well above average for the year) and paid under £2K for it. The post '91 Vogue SEs had a very good spec for the time - full leather, electric seats, air conditioning, heated front/rear screens, auto dimming RVM, electric heated mirrors, electric glass sunroof, 4x e/w, cruise, ABS, etc. It had been well looked after (new top tailgate - common problem, new matching Goodyear tyres all round, new discs etc) and everything was working correctly (including all electrics - seats/windows/mirrors/roof, cruise etc), had all old MOTs and a good wad of service history/bills to prove a very fair 101K miles. After a few months I gave it to my father as he liked it so much (I made the mistake of letting him use it a few times , at the time he had a more basic Discovery)

I serviced it myself as I have a good contact at a LR/RR parts company and the parts were peanuts, plugs/leads/dizzy cap/rotor arm/air filter/oil/oil filter/flame traps/belts (probably a few things I've forgotton!), replaced both headlamps and indicators (one headlamp was slightly discoloured, one lense had a small crack in it so it made sense to change the lot as they were so cheap!). All these parts came in at under £100 in total, other than this it's had a new exhaust (£110 fitted) and the only failure it's suffered from was a leaking gearbox oil cooler - about £100 odd and a 1/2 job to fit (sits in front of the radiator, behind the front grille - gets corroded)

It's still on the same tyres, and other than a few more oil/filter changes (about £10 a time, Rover V8s don't like modern synthetics afaik), it's been faultless. He reckons he get's an average of 17mpg , which doesn't seem to worry him, and it's done plenty of miles in his ownership. So in summary, including a couple of MOTs it's cost under £500 to run over the last 2 1/2 years - not bad going IMO :bannana: .

He doesn't keep it as clean as I would, but tbh I must say I envy him for this approach to motoring - he just sees it as a comfortable car that fits his needs, there's quite a lot of load carrying ability (certainly compared to most cars) but possibly not as much as in a W124 estate? I'd probably go for a W124 estate if you want a 'car' that can carry decent loads whilst still maintaining 20+mpg, but if you really wanted a Range Rover (at least one of the classics, without air suspension ) don't rule it totally out.

Will

 

[bolide]

Range Rover

I think the original Charles Spen King-engineered / David Bache-designed Range Rover is a true design classic and a British car milestone never to be eclipsed - and I told Spen King as much when I met him

But: luggage space is dismal. Early cars had the rear seat further forward - later cars lose space at the back but have more legroom. The tailgate is too high for easy loading. The top tailgate rusts out and springs open on rough roads. The car is underpowered in 3.5-litre form but great in late 3.9 injected chain-drive xfer case models. Cabin draughts are terrible in windy weather and you'll always have cold feet and a draught across your kidneys despite a great heater. Interior lights are terrible. Door locks & security are laughable. Self-levelling never works. Manual boxes are awful (much like a W124!). Cabin is noisy. Brakes are superb but will fade like fury when provoked. Interior space is great in models without a centre console but awful in cars with. Glovebox on early cars was designed by Satan himself. Later grey interior trim is drab in the extreme. Stereo is awful. Finally they are desperately, grindingly uneconomical

If I had to buy one it'd be a late 3.9 with a chain-drive xfer case (look for the model with the fuel filler flap above the waistline), in Derwent Green with Saddle leather. With aircon, ABS & etc and maybe it'd be an LSE. I'd keep it for 3 months, enjoy every second but retire hurt after spending more than £1000 on petrol

Mine was totally reliable for 3 years and about 60,000 miles but it cost £6k in petrol during that time - more than the car cost me. I was spending £200 / month on fuel in 1992 at 13.1 mpg. I bought a Golf TD, got 48 mpg and haven't had a petrol car since


Nick Froome
www.w124.co.uk