Mileage per season

[J. Huber]

Yesterday, I finally broke out of the garage for a drive. Ahhh. Anyway, March seems to be the official start of my "Pagoda season" each year. Generally, the hard-top comes off, and if any mechanical stuff is due, this is the time. So last night, I decided to look back over my records and calculate my mileage per year since I got my car (1987). I found the results kind of interesting...

(March to March)
From 05-06 2858 miles
From 04-05 1988 miles
From 03-04 2982 miles
From 02-03 1180 miles
-----------------------------------------
From 1992-2001 990 miles a year average
-----------------------------------------
From 1987-1991 3106 miles a year average!

These results reflect a couple notable trends:

In the most recent block (2002-present) mileage is up. This clearly corresponds to my joining the online Pagoda community! I tend to drive shorter stints but very often.

In the middle block (1992-2001), I was coming off a rebuild and I think I babied the car. Plus a few actual babies during this time.

In the early years, I was young and restless Pagoda owner. A lot of those miles came from roadtrips to Tahoe, Las Vegas, up and down the California coast. I was pretty fearless (until that rebuild [:0])

Any other long-term owners want to share some numbers?

James
63 230SL

[JamesL]

Oct 2003 - so coming up 2.5 years

And I've done about 8,500 miles in that time. 2,000 of which was in a 2 week hit last summer. Relatively little since. However, new carpets, and a hard top refurb are coming a calling

[Benz Dr.]

I used to drive my two cars ( 190 and 230SL's ) about 7 - 8 thousand miles per year. These were daily drivers during nice weather and usually from March until early Dec. This time of year is great driving while it's still cool out, particularly in cars like 300SL's and 190SL's that tend to be so hot in the summer heat.

Dan Caron's
 SL Barn
benzbarn@ebtech.net
 slbarn.mbz.org
  1 877 661 6061

[Ben]

I used my car very regularly since I got it in 2001, sometimes even in the very wet season [:0]

Nov to Nov01-02 -  9900 miles
                 02-03 -  8500 miles
                 03-04 - 10500 miles
                 04-05 -  5800 miles .....stopped driving it in December 2005 !

All in all its pretty consistant, although my records would not be very accurate

Now its retired and being re-painted    so the mileage will stay under 3000/annum  

Regards,
Ben in Ireland.
'64 230SL 4sp.

[J. Huber]

Ben, I think your little work-horse has earned its place among the "semi-retired" crowd. What's interesting is that most of our cars probably started out as primary, regular daily, cars putting on miles such as yours. It's a great testament that yours continued this into its 40s.



James
63 230SL

[bjudd]

"Now its retired and being re-painted    so the mileage will stay under 3000/annum   "

Does this happen with everyone?  The nicer we make them, the less we drive them?





bjudd
1969 280 SL 5 sp

[J. Huber]

I hope not. One thing I've learned first-hand is these cars run better when driven often (not to be confused with hard). For me, all it takes is a drive to the post office, the market, or the corner coffee haus to make my car (and me) happy.

James
63 230SL

[Ben]

quote:Does this happen with everyone? The nicer we make them, the less we drive them?

...........nah its just that I will have another oldie to drive for a few years and keep the 113 as my weekend car, whereeas previously it only rested at the weekend ! I will still use it weekly !

Regards,
Ben in Ireland.
'64 230SL 4sp.

[peterm]

600 in the  three years since purchase.  This year to date 6 miles!! This summer planning a 600 mile round trip to a show.

[Cees Klumper]

I covered about 32,000 kilometers (20,000 miles) in 6 years, so that's a bit over 3,000 miles a year.

Cees ("Case") Klumper in Amsterdam
'69 white 280 SL automatic

[Raymond]

Since acquiring the car almost exactly three years ago, 6,025 miles.  That now includes a head rebuild, bottom end engine overhaul, re-paint, transmission work and fuel injection issues that kept it down for a cumulative total of several months.  

She's finally running well now, and I plan to exercise her a bunch real soon.  

Ray
'68 280SL 4-spd Coupe

[Klaus]

okay, 57,000 miles in 24 years - 2,375 mpy.
(Today, 40 miles, with hardtop, still cold in NY)

Klaus
1969 280 SL