Which would you pick (semi hypthetical what car)?

My dead E300D is listed for sale, and I am going to be looking for a new car in the $3500 range, and I saw examples of each of these for about the same price with about the same mileage.

Mercedes 450SLC

https://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/cto/5464595987.html https://sfbay.craigslist.org/pen/cto/5467040744.html

Mercedes C36 AMG https://sfbay.craigslist.org/sfc/cto/5531093287.html https://sfbay.craigslist.org/sfc/cto/5525326843.html https://sfbay.craigslist.org/nby/cto/5524536376.html

Assuming you have to use it to commute to work every day unless it is broken plus maybe 250 miles a month of weekend driving, and it it does break you have to fix it yourself but have other cars available to drive in the mean time, which would you pick?

C36

The 450SLC appeals to me, especially with euro lights and bumper.

Another 450 vote. They always look like such classy cars.

1. Way more class than the C36, and I bet much more reliable.

450, they seem to be appreciating somewhat.

In almost every case, 1974 was a tricky year for emission controls for US spec cars. Most manufacturers hadn't quite figured it all out yet.

And specifically, my friend's mother had a brand new 1974 450 SL and he said that the car was a nightmare. It was constantly at the dealership. I really like these cars, but I would try to find one that a few years newer, maybe a 380SL. I think that the 450 is the only option if you want an SLC though.

The 450 is a car I'd be happy to walk out to every morning. It has a certain corduory blazer with elbow patches elegance to it.

My first thought was "always get the newest thing available" just because the systems work better (heat/AC/brakes/cooling) and on a daily commute that matters. But the 450 IS a much classier looking car and may well stay at least even on your investment. The real question is which one would you look back at and admire when you park it? Put me down for a 450 vote.

The advantage to the 1974-75 cars would be no emissions testing at all. You can find the occasional grey market 280 or 350slc but yes most are 450s. One concern with those (that I would have to look into further if the question moved beyond mostly hypothetical) is if the fuel injection can handle e10 fuel without issues. I have a feeling that might be a problem, and parts for those engines are not cheap.

The 107 chassis Mercs are maybe the best built cars they ever produced. Unless you really need the tiny back seats, I'd get a 450sl, or even better a 560sl with the factory hardtop. That way you have the option of going topless when you want--- and with the hard-top on, they are as solid as a coupe.

The C36 does nothing for me, and those were from a time when Mercedes has having major reliability issues. The 450 is a tank, and built to go a million miles. They are very thirsty though.....and not sports cars. They are hugely comfortable cruisers, and the build quality is amazing!

The Red SLC. A 90's C class does nothing for me.

I vote for the 450SLC. Would not want to keep a Mercedes from the biodegradable wiring era happy with OBD2 emissions testing.

I wonder what the return of the SLC name will do to prices.

There isn't anything in your requirements to indicate one over the other.

Therefore, my advice is to drive both and provide us with driving impressions.

450SLC. It is the very definition of a "money" car. The type of car that you look at like any other "premium" car, but when you get in it, you realize that the original owner must have been obscenely wealthy because everything screams craftsmanship.

I do want to try to drive both, I have no idea if I'd like either of them or not once I actually drive one. The older car would be preferable due to the smog issues, it's going to slowly get more difficult to smog 76-99 cars because they still require the roller test, and 2000+ doesn't and new shops don't have much reason anymore to pay for the setup to test older cars. I'm actually not even sure I can fit in a w202 so that's an issue also. But, I am not sure if the old Bosch CIS can handle new fuel without having constant expensive problems.

The 450. Please buy the 450.

In reply to Travis_K:

The CIS should present no issues with new fuels. Most of the critical seals are joined with soft copper washers that can be annealed and reused. Cheap readily available rubber O-rings can be replaced easily if needed but that's highly doubtful to be caused by new fuels anymore than pure old age.