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Lexus would get so much exposure if they offered an LC 500 with a V-8 in manual
The LC isn't really that kind of car IMO. It'd be like Mercedes putting a manual in the SL, or Bentley putting one in the Continental GT. They'd sell a single-digit number of units.
If they put a manual in the IS500 and RC-F? Now you're talking...
Have I mentioned I hate Mercedes wiper blades? They skip and chatter, terrible. I replaced the set from 10k miles at 40k miles, $260 for the new blades. I kept the old ones in case the new ones started skipping. Well, they skip like hell. I strip the windshield every wash and make sure its perfectly clean, clean the blades with isopropyl alcohol, and this is how they skip:
My experience with using rubbing alcohol on wiper blades is that it hardens the rubber and makes them chatter.
A car like that somebody doesn't bid on it for it to be a driver, thats a keep and hold car. One day that car will be worth so much that tha $15-25K they spent replacing everything will be money well spent.
Not really. If that car is perfect and has not one blemish on it, perhaps. To me it looks just like a regular R129 in decent shape with low mileage. You don't want these with low low mileage.
It's easy to acquire one of these and not spend TWENTY THOUSAND to get it going.
It'd be like Mercedes putting a manual in the SL,..
Mercedes did at one time have manual in their SL model.
Originally Posted by AJT123
Not really. If that car is perfect and has not one blemish on it, perhaps. To me it looks just like a regular R129 in decent shape with low mileage. You don't want these with low low mileage.
It's easy to acquire one of these and not spend TWENTY THOUSAND to get it going.
People obviously buy those V12. Otherwise we wouldn’t see them still on the road. If you want the absolute top of the line, then the V12 is it.
Have I mentioned I hate Mercedes wiper blades? They skip and chatter, terrible. I replaced the set from 10k miles at 40k miles, $260 for the new blades. I kept the old ones in case the new ones started skipping. Well, they skip like hell. I strip the windshield every wash and make sure its perfectly clean, clean the blades with isopropyl alcohol, and this is how they skip:
Hitting the washers will get you a few minutes of smooth operation. Its been raining like hell here all day and in one day of running around I used a whole gallon of washer fluid. So tonight I scrubbed down the glass again and put the old wipers back on, silence. Bizarre.
Ignore the streaking thats just the humidity collecting when the car is stopped:
I was having the same issue with the 2013 X5. I even mentioned it here a while back. Put some Michelin wipers from Costco and it's been perfect. If they start to chatter again. Replace. Wouldn't you try aftermarket?
Mercedes did at one time have manual in their SL model.
Of course they did, the car was introduced in 1954. But they'd never do it today, and the LC500 didn't exist a quarter century ago. The 1993 R129 SL300 was the last time it was offered, and they sold....zero, down from 25 the year before.
Of course they did, the car was introduced in 1954. But they'd never do it today, and the LC500 didn't exist a quarter century ago. The 1993 R129 SL300 was the last time it was offered, and they sold....zero, down from 25 the year before.
there are still more mercedes models available in manual than we realize, they're just not sold in the US... same with all the diesel engines
my car but with a little diesel is a pretty common european taxi, just shows what a good job mercedes marketers do for them to be thought of as such an exclusively top tier luxury brand over here (and the opposite for toyota lol)
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Yep, and it was a dogleg. Still, pass. V8 and automatic is ideal, for me at least.
I was kinda looking at the idea of a the SL with a manual offers a unique experience and perspective. Just like the SLC models that at one time came with rear seats and a fixed roof. The V8 models are everywhere so that not really unique
Yep, and it was a dogleg. Still, pass. V8 and automatic is ideal, for me at least.
oh wow a dogleg 1st gear, how race car of them! off the top of my head i know the 190E cosworth also has this, as does the ferrari F40
with a 5-speed it actually makes a lot of sense... 1st only really is used to get going, and that way the ever important 2nd to 3rd shift is quickly straight back toward you... you just need to make sure not to forget this!
I was kinda looking at the idea of a the SL with a manual offers a unique experience and perspective. Just like the SLC models that at one time came with rear seats and a fixed roof. The V8 models are everywhere so that not really unique
I can't imagine the original owner of a V12 Mercedes not having the money to fix their V12 motor.
Oh sure, of course it's neat, and rare. Maybe I'm just too old (is this really happening to me lol?) but I'd pass on the manual.
However like I have said before, the 6 cylinders felt better than one might think. I've been surprised by heavy, 6-cylinder MBs more than once. I drove an SL320 briefly YEARS ago and it had some get up that I was not expecting.
And of course the original owners have money to fix it, lol. But there's a huggggge difference in reliability, for second hand buyers like me.
V8 models are "everywhere" but keep in mind mine's the Silver Arrow. I have confirmed with the dealer that there are no other Silver Arrows in their system with Knoxville or surrounding town addresses, so I likely have the only one in town or maybe East Tennessee. That's pretty cool.
I have no doubt that the manual transmission offered in those R129's is wholly unsatisfying to operate. They had a good gearbox in the W203 C350 and R171 SLK very briefly but other than that every Mercedes manual I've tried has not been good.
One of my friends bought her husband a 1996 SL600. It was about 15 years old and had 100k miles on it. Beautiful car, but scary to own. They didn't keep it for long.
But they'd never do it today, and the LC500 didn't exist a quarter century ago. The 1993 R129 SL300 was the last time it was offered, and they sold....zero, down from 25 the year before.
