Need your guys' opinion

Ok guys, I need your oponions. I turned 16 this april and I want a 86-1991 Mercedes W126 to be my first car. But I am having alot of trouble convincing my parents that it's a proper car for me and it's safe, reliable, and damn well worth it for my first. I know this maybe a little bit more proper in the Benz sub-forum, but it rarely gets traffic and I just need an opinion of what you guys think.

This is what I know about it:
-It can be a really great value for the price
-It's a very reliable Mercedes-Benz
-It's expensive for parts (all Germans are) but Mercedes still has a surplus of parts for all their cars since the 1960s
-It's a safe car, because the chassis is built of solid steal and the car literally resembles a tank, I know this car literally is a tank, if someone comes crashing into you, it's like trying to break down a 5 foot solid steal vault door with your bare fist. It has ABS, it has driver and passenger airbags, the later models
-I think specifically the 560 came with something that resembles traction control, and later down the road it came with side impact airbags (correct me if I'm wrong with this)
-It's just overall a great car, to spare you all the specifics I know
-I know this car is powerful, but it isn't that fast..it takes as long as the fastest Toyota Camry to reach 60 MPH.

Now I'm sure that there are plenty of adults here who have kids and I need your perspectives. My parents don't approve of my suggestion and my pursuit for this car as my first. They just don't like the idea of me getting a Mercedes-Benz at all. They say: "Oh it's too expensive, or it's too nice, it's not safe, it's not a proper car for you, it's too expensive to maintain, it's a Mercedes-Benz (yea, i hate how we live in such an egotistical world), it's dangerous in the snow (yes I know that, and winter tires do help)," etc. What they don't know that is yes it's a very reliable car, it's been known that the W126 Chassis is one of the most reliable cars in the world. What they don't know is that, the pattern I see, is that if it's a reliable car, then it should not be too expensive to maintain. (from what I know, if I'm wrong with any of my information, please correct me)

For you adults, I want you to look in a parent's perspective. would you approve of your kid having this car as his first (specifically, a 86-91 560SEL, 560SEC or 420SEL)? Is the car not as reliable as I think it is? Do you think this car is too nice for a first? Do you think it's not a proper first car? Is this car expensive to maintain a year (in terms of oil change, checkups, etc) I don't exactly know what the parents question, I know a good amount of what they question, but they some how do it much easier than I can think of.

All you older folks' (and younger) help would be hugely appreciated.

I know if you were my kid i wouldn't get you one, at least not at 16. in fact i don't think 16 year olds should have a car to themselves. anyways, if you buy it go for it. it's just that insurance is going to be killer and it's got some pretty good power and you'll probably go speeding for a good while. hopefully if you do this you'll get a ticket before you do anything too stupid. I got one a few months back and i don't speed anymore, it was stupid how fast i was going.

For a first car i'd get a junker, just something to screw around in and not feel bad when it goes kaput. but it would be pretty attractive to your friends to show up one day in a merc lol.

I'm not familiar with that car, but I don't see how it could be unsafe, as long as it's in good shape. It's the driver that makes a car unsafe. (EDIT: but 16 year olds ARE often times unsafe drivers) If you find a clean, lower mileage model, I agree that maintenance costs shouldn't be a problem.

I'd let my kid get almost any car he wanted... as long as he paid for it like I did when I bought my first car at 17. If dad's the one footing the bill, you have little say in my opinion. Get what he wants and be thankful. Then start saving your money for the car you want.

wow, crazy. i want a 1.4-litre golf for a first car. a 1.6 audi A4 is pushing it for a first car over here. if you were my kid you'd get a civic or something to learn in.

Seems like a reasonable request to me. You seem to be the mature type anyway. (IE; not wanting some mad vtak y0 type-r fo sho.) The 560 cars do put out quite a bit of power though. If I was your parent i'd get your the 420SEL out of those 3.

if they're getting it for you, be happy with anything. Damn...

If you're getting it, lol. Good luck. Although it's due to tickets, but without them, i was still going to pay 1700 every 6 months. Yeah...

well, at 16, you don't have much experience buying cars, much less a used ride. Nor do you have much experience driving. I don't know, but I am going to presume your income is limited and that you have little mechanical experience with cars, much less a Benz.

The Benz is a good, if not great vehicle. IMO, I would suggest you find a nice domestic instead to accelerate your new driver's learning curve. Go with a Buick, or a Lincoln, or even a Caddy if you are enamored with some type of "status". My reasonings follow:

1] insurance will likely be somewhat less, especially if you take out a loan.

2] Availability of repair parts, at reasonable price. Also, availability of mechanics who charge reasonable fee to do the repair if you can't do it. Have you ever seen shop rates for a GM vs an Import mechanic. Your wallet would cringe at the import.

3] Heaven forbid, you crunch it, hopefully repairable, see 2] above.

4] An analogy, maybe unfair in your case, but I want to express it. See my comment about your learning curve above. Expand to the truism that a bullet once fired, cannot be brought back. Similar to a new driver overpowering a curve and going into the woods. A heavy-powered vehicle begs for you to tromp it, just to see what it will do. That is trouble in the making, as well as a temptation you may not understand to ignore.

5] A 16 year-old in a Benz is in a microscope from law enforcement.

I would continue, but I do not wish to overdo my post. I hope that gives you some fodder to consider when you get your first ride, although I truly understand your excitement at having your OWN first car!!!!!!!

I bought my first car at the age of 19 (no parental help on this purchase) and I QUICKLY found out what it costs to maintain a vehicle... there are soooooooooo many little things that add up REALLY fast that you'd never think about. Tires, for one, can be hard to find in certain sizes, so you have to look around until you not only find them, but find them at an affordable price. Oil changes add up, too... even if you change it yourself. Light bulbs burn out, and can get pricey. Not to mention fixing other assorted things that go wrong with a vehicle that is old (electronics start to go, suspension needs to be fixed/replaced, motor pieces need to be fixed/replaced... I've had more grease on my hands than I care to admit to from fixing all these myself).

Sparknotes version: If your parents are generous enough to buy you your first car, welcome the opportunity and hope they might meet you somewhere between what you want and what they want.

Nobody's mentioned the gas yet. That will be your biggest expense (perhaps after insurance) with a W126.

My advice is to not get a 560. I've been considering a W126 for myself for a few years now and have fairly extensively researched them. The 560 puts out close to the limit of what that gearbox can apparently handle, and that seems to be one of the first things to go. Also, only the 560s had hydropneumatic suspension, which is expensive and prone to failure. Otherwise, the cars are essentially bulletproof and will go forever, and will go extremely safely.

Unfortunately I can't offer advice as a parent, and even if I could, it would be flawed as I'd love to see my kid buy something as cool as a W126. Your parents' fear about safety is unfounded. Your parents' fear about expenses, however, is valid. If you get one, keep a cache of cash available. Always.

And please, please, get a 420 ;) Same number of cylinders, only 30ish hp/50ish lbft less, but a much simpler, cheaper, more reliable machine. :)

i wish i could afford such a car, i'm getting a 4-door golf mk.4 1.4-litre.

Not a abad request there like tanx too... Imo I'm 18 an I'm finnally picking up my first car (1994 mazda rx7 manual) So I'd say thats a good request but if I were you I'd rather get an E36 series bmw.

If I had a son/daughter, I think I would get them the most affordable, efficient sedan I could find. Something like a civic or camry. Only advice I could give you is locate one locally and go for a test drive with it. Maybe the 'rents will change there mind.

Where do you live? If in Europe then yes. In the US then no.

I don't think you should have any car that you can't afford to register, service, insure, clean and fill with petrol.

Tell your parents that it's the car that introduced airbags and crumple zones and that it won't fold like a tinny Japanese crapbox if you crash it (K that's mean, the newer ones are safe, but still).

God help you if something DOES break though....


It was Volvo who introduced side airbags (In the 1996 S40/V40, S70/V70 and S90)

Just pray nothing breakss. Old BMWs, Mercs and Jags like to break, and they are rediculously expensive to fix.

First car needs to be reliable and slow.

if they're getting it for you, be happy with anything. Damn...


I agree 100% Unless you've been driving responsibly albeit ilegally for a few years, then you should just get a POS and be happy. If you think you're mature then you should try to pay for it yourself or at least pay your own insurance, taxes, gas, etc.

I do see those on the road, but I'd be hesitant to get ANY 15+ year old vehicle, especially as a first car, regardless of past reliability.

Better off getting super reliable, newer vehicle with less power to start. Good advice above...