Today’s “good price or no dice” S 500 is a big car. In fact, it’s so big that it needs seatbelt extenders as well as little pop-up bars on the rear fenders so the driver knows where the damn thing ends up. Let’s see if a car this big can still come at a low price.
So, I have to admit, I’m a little surprised that most of you wouldn’t buy the $34,500 that yesterday’s 2018 Kia Stinger GT was asking for. I mean, it’s got reasonable mileage, a nice color combination, and a rock-and-roll-style twin-turbo V6 under the hood. Still, when the vote closed and the dust settled, the price dropped 78%, and No Dice suffered heavy losses. I think it will at least be closer.
If you’re thinking about proximity, you probably wouldn’t consider Mercedes’ W140 version of the S-Class, as these cars tend to leave room for passengers. After all, once the car was launched, it was criticized for its massive increase in size over its predecessor, the W126 S-Class. The company’s initial response to the criticism was a specious claim that Germans, on average, were getting taller and therefore needed bigger cars.
Whatever the reason, when it debuted, the W140 represented the largest and most ostentatious S-Class in history, offering cutting-edge features such as double-insulated side glass, a soft-close trunk lid and doors, all subdued but timeless. wrapped in an elegant body.
This 1994 Mercedes S 500 showcases the styling’s take on two-door coupe form, and there’s plenty of room to fit it, so don’t feel the need to cramp it. In fact, these cars are so large that, before sonar parking sensors, Mercedes used little indicator bars on the rear fenders that would pop up when the car was in reverse, so they could be used in The rear corners are clearly seen in the rearview mirror. On the coupe, the doors are so long that power seat belt extenders are needed to prevent front passengers from straining their muscles when trying to reach the retracted buckle. Overall, it feels like a throwback to a time when size equals importance, especially in American cars.
This particular S 500 comes in black with a dark grey lower part and rocks some nice AMG wheels. These look about a decade or so newer than the car, but subtly accentuate its ’90s styling. According to the ad, the car once had a minor shunt that required some cosmetic repairs, but had no impact on the car’s structure. The repair documents came with the car and there was no evidence of any apparent bodywork problems in the advertised images. The seller did notice a few other minor cosmetic flaws with the car, but again, these aren’t apparent in any of the photos.
These were, and still are, quite luxurious cars, and the cabin of this model carries that graceful demeanor very well. It’s filled with grey leather, with plenty of stubby wood trimming the dash and doors and below the center console. Admittedly, it all got better as both the leather and wood showed signs of surface cracking. Nothing is intolerable, but it does show that even classes have a due date.
Other issues here include some drooping blades on the center vents, a stubborn rear window hood, and an aftermarket stereo that’s been mounted on the dash. The seller does point out that the Becker factory is included with the car. The passenger door card was also damaged, which the seller said happened to the previous owner.
On the plus side, the ad lists a series of maintenance and update work that has been done, and it appears to have receipts as evidence. The M119 V8’s 4,973 ccs deliver 315 horsepower and, according to the seller, run “rock solid.” Backed by Mercedes’ four-speed automatic transmission, the engine has recently undergone fluid changes. A lot of work was also done on the engine, most notably a cooling system update and a replacement of the bad engine bay wiring harness.
However, not all the happy pixies were able to keep the car going, as the seller advertised some “known defects”. These include the aforementioned rear sun visor, as well as the sunroof that needs lubrication or other work. There’s also said to be a problem with the climate-controlled engine heat recirculation button, but it’s said to be a moot point because the heater works. There are a few other hiccups, but nothing to scare off a buyer’s deal. This big Mercedes has 111,000 miles on it and a clean title waiting to be handed over to that lucky and intrepid buyer.
To do so, however, is an asking price of $8,499. The seller claimed well below what Hagerty had marked the model for, a factor it said had been set to “compensate for defects”.
We just have to see how imperfect or perfect the $8,499 asking price might be. What do you say, is such a big coupe worth that much money? Or, do you expect perfection?
You decide!
San Diego, CA, Craigslist, or if the ad disappears, go here.
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