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"retirement" car

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NutmegCT

NutmegCT

Great Pumpkin
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"retirement" car

Wondering if you guys would give me some honest feedback.

In another year or two I'll be fully "retiring", ready to do some driving around the USA, and replace my 2000 Mazda Protege. Great little car it's been.

I've always been a penny pincher, but wanted eventually to drive a "big heavy" car in my retirement life. So I've thought about selling the Mazda in a year or so, and getting something like an early 1980s Mercedes Benz, say ... a six-cylinder 280SE. Not specifically that model, but the "big, heavy, comfortable" early '80s MB. It would be my "main" car.

Obviously many things to consider, especially fuel, repairs and maintenance. Mission: weekly grocery runs, semi-weekly volunteer work, and monthly multi-day driving trips (see family, friends, and former students around the USA). Thus, the "comfortable" factor comes to play.

Dreamer? Stupid? Great idea? Been hittin' the sauce again? You fool - get the XK120! etc. etc.

Any thoughts?

Thanks folks.
Tom
Edit: PS - in no way could I ever afford to buy a new MB outright. I still need to eat.
 
Re: "retirement" car

Well, my first instinct is to say..."you fool, get the XK 120"!, BUT, I do understand the "retirement big car" thing!
In retirement, (fixed income implied!) one should also consider maintenance and repair costs! I just have not made comparisons like that to know where the Benz stands, in comparison to, say, a Lincoln or whatever other "big car" fits into the category with comparable options!

When I first got married, (37 years ago) our only car was a clapped out Sprite, but it fulfilled our needs, providing economic transport, a boot big enough for groceries for two and shopping trips! After 37 years of it, one does need a "bigger car" to go out to dinner with friends, for more comfort and amenities on trips etc.! As I get closer to old-cootdom though, I think I am getting back to the need for my basic Sprite again! :devilgrin:
 
Re: "retirement" car

Tom,
Mike made some good points about reliability and cost of maintenance. I picked up a late model Acura TSX when I stopped collecting a paycheck, and my wife got a Subaru Legacy Wagon. I have not been doing mega-mileage as a lot of our trips have been a fly and rent-a-car journeys in other parts of the country, but so far the finances of these late model used cars have worked well. Sadly, both are automatics as that makes them more usable for Peg to share the driving, but they have been reliable so far, and the wagon can take bigger loads, while the sedan is comfortable even for my mom when I pick her up at the assisted living home.

But it has to be something you will be happy with over a long period as well, unless you suddenly win PowerBall and get to buy something fun, heavy, and disposable.

Good luck in the quest, and enjoy retirement.
 
Re: "retirement" car

Tom, congrats on your (impending) retirement, I'm sure you're earned it!

The "retirement cruiser" you seek is out there. If you purchase an antique, it's going to require restoration and/or maintenance, of course. However, if you buy a new or slightly used car it may be easier to live with, and possibly less expensive, IMHO.

For example, I owned a 1969 280S Mercedes for a few years, it was a great cruiser and head-turner and a thrill to drive (manual gearbox - rare). It wasn't completely restored by the PO (I bought it from the original owner!) but was very well-maintained. I then drove the heck out of it, used it for a 120 mile (round trip) daily commute for about 6 months.

It developed problems. The differential (ring/pinion) had to be replaced, among other things. Expensive, irritating. But boy, was it fun to drive and a great conversation piece. Not remotely practical, though. Coulda bought a late model, bullet-proof Ford Taurus or Chevy Impala for the same price, with no problems.

Bottom line: if you buy an antique that will be heavily used, get one that's had a complete (frame-off) restoration. When all of the parts are replaced/restored simultaneously, everything works in harmony. No old parts/systems working against new parts/systems. All new, all functional.

Then, and only then, do you have a "relable" car that you can drive with confidence (or, with as much confidence that's possible with an antique car!)! :crazyeyes:
 
Re: "retirement" car

Tom, I buy cars strictly on emotion.

If you love it, buy it!
 
Re: "retirement" car

Not that I’ve got any plans of retiring anytime soon – I know that the Big Five-Oh is right around the corner for me (only 49). But perhaps this is something I should be thinking about as well.

Anyway I think I like the idea of a large sedan for my daily driver in my waning years and think an older used Mercedes would be a great choice. But I think I’d go with something a little newer that doesn’t have a lot of miles on it and I’d do a lot of research whatever model I chose. Recalls & maintenance costs etc.

But from a purely emotional standpoint – you got’a be happy with whatever you choose.

Me? If I was retiring soon I’d probably consider some of the newer 90’s Jaguars like the XJ8, the XJ6 or maybe a sweet BMW 7-series like say a 735i, 740i or like the beautiful 750il (5.4L V12) I saw for sale last week. Of the MBs I've always kind'a liked the mid-90's S-class cars.

I guess I’ll always have my fun toy cars as well as a full sized truck but I think a sedan would be practical and fill the bulk of my needs. I just don’t think that means I have to drive an old Lincoln Town Car, a Crown Victoria or a Grand Marquis as seems to be the norm for all the old geezers around here. :smirk:
 
Re: "retirement" car

My dad has a Formula Firebird. It always brings a smile to my face when I think of him pulling into the handicapped space at the pharmacy with it, big V8 rumbling. Alas, he's in a rest home now, and he's mentioned selling it.
 
Re: "retirement" car

As I figured, once the car is "restored", then maintenance and reliability are uppermost.

Anyone have a suggestion on where to find "maintenance and reliability" info on the older MB's? a decent "post-shark fin" forum?

Of course, I could always fantasize a coast to coast drive in a 1957 Dodge Custom Royal Lancer ... but reality tells me that eventually you have to find a place to park it.
 
Re: "retirement" car

:angel: Heck, I probably don't know what I'm talking about but this female on Social Security bought a 96 Jaguar XJS 2X2 convertible a couple of years ago. I didn't realize what a great daily driver it turned out to be. Sure it uses hi-test but how much driving are you going to do. It's a solid and fun car. My mother-in-law (85 but don't tell anyone) gets in and out without trouble at all and likes the top down as long as she can wear a scarf so her hair doesn't get mussed. I don't recommend it for back seat use for an older person as it is difficult to get in and out of and there really isn't any room.

Again, I guess what 'Twosheads' said "Tom, I buy cars strictly on emotion. If you love it, buy it!" is exactly what I did and if I live long enought would do it again.

I should be practical and say where we live we need a 4 wheel drive and have found the GMC Envoy to be a great car and will keep it as long as it looks good and behaves well.
 
Re: "retirement" car

Nothing against the big old Mercedes but I vote for a big old Jag...I'm telling you, the more I drive that car the more I like it! Absolutely comfortable - like floating on silent air - but it handles like a sportscar....heck, I'm gonna take it on our trip to St. Simons Island this summer!:

jag01.JPG
 
Re: "retirement" car

Get the SEL, you appreciate it a lot more.
 
Re: "retirement" car

Part of me wants to advise you to buy a basic "appliance" car and not worry about it being classic or cool. Keep your hobby-car and your daily driver separate.
But as John says, if you love it buy it....the first thing to do is to make yourself happy.

In our case, we just got rid of our '02 Protege and bought an '08 Honda Accord last week. We got the base model which still has more doo-dads than I know what to do with (an IPod jack, cruise control, ABS, ASC, remote trunk, radio controls on the steering wheel, etc, etc.). Our's is a 2.4L four.

It's a very nice car for about 19 large. A similar Civic is just as nice (but smaller) and can be bought for a tick over 16K. There are about a zillion other cars in this catagory and most are miles better than the cars we had when we first started driving.

Of course in our family, that's "her" car. *My* daily driver is a Miata, which I love and would happily drive cross-country in. For hobby purposes, I have my MGB street-classic.

My 30-something daughters both have sort of neat street cars that are a little "off the beaten path".
A SAAB 9-3 2 door ('03) and a Jaguar X-type ('05).
Both are 5-speed stick shifts. The Jaguar (yes, we know it's really a Ford Mondeo) was bought used and was very reasonable and is sort of unique. And it's been great so far and wonderful to drive...just a bit bigger than the Protege with excellent handling. The 2.5 Duratec engine in that car was voted one of the best engines of all time by the SAE. The SAAB has more power and less handling and is probably better in snow.
Both handle better than the Accord but are less cushy.
 
Re: "retirement" car

Ya know ... my first car (HS graduation) was a ten-year old 1955 Jaguar Mark VII. Drove like a tank - and felt *great*. My parents said, if I was hit by a Greyhound bus, the bus would be more damaged than me.

But over the years, I've heard from many sources that Jaguar quality and reliability have, well, "suffered". Especially over the last 20 years. Same for MB, but much more so for the last ten years.

What do you think about the "recent" Jaguar and MB quality/reliability?

T.
 
Re: "retirement" car

"Recent" has frankly sucked. Benz with overpriced unreliable electronics, Jag with timing chain tensioner failures at under 30K miles... ugh.

The thought you are ruminating is one I went thru a few years ago. Hence "Diesela". acquired for less than $2K, quarter million miles, stone reliable. We've gone thru the brake system, one cheap DPO alternator R&R, a battery, put Michelins on her and some shocks. She's got A/C issues but in a few weeks I suspect I'll be hounded sufficiently to deal with that. We expect to drive it another quarter-million. It ferries Herself to-and-fro from work and occasionally transports us to the "Obligatory Semi-Annual In-laws Visits" of around 500 miles round trip. 24 MPG highway, turbo works fine so-far. Last of the really stout Benz cars, IMO. And ride/handling/braking are typical Benz. Diesela has become one of the family.
 
Re: "retirement" car

Well the folks in LA had a 57 chev until it got stolen, (probably south of the border as a low rider), bought a lincoln cont with all the bells n whistles, had all sorts of lil niggles with it, ie replace alt for around 600 bucks!, had an old pacer I used to borrow when I was over, felt like being in a chopper with all that glass!(wish they still had it, its a classic!), then went to an auto toyota, now a honda, small, cheap, good fuel econ, and reliable!, mind you they now in hawaii, cant do too many miles on an isle!
 
Re: "retirement" car

Toyota: reliability, without doubt. But absolutely devoid of any "personality".
 
Re: "retirement" car

Ah but doc, they driving with memories, and rear vision sunnies, kinda like volvo drivers - never get behind one, they think ya all is physic as to their next manuevere! :!
 
Re: "retirement" car

Classic Motorsports for March 2008 has a good article on MBs from the 60's through 2000.
 
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