250 vs. 280 why one over the other?

[Douglas]

I thought you were going to say there's a big difference between being a "lady's man" and a "girly man"  (must be uttered in the voice of the "Governator").

On the subject of this thread, I think the whole 230 vs 250 vs 280 thing is blown way out of proportion. Certainly, the values are disproportionate. I fear that the price spread is going to create a dearth of 230 SLs over the years as people will be less likely to restore them if the resale value is lower..... That would be tragic.

[Ricardo]

I dunno Douglas, do you think people will pass over 230's because the potential resale could be lower? I think it's all about infatuation with the intrinsic beauty of these cars and they all look wonderful......and I'll bet the price spread is mostly a US thing. A nice 230 is still worth more than a ratty 280 and aside from California and Texas, the A/C issue is probably not a major determining factor for a convertible.....and just think of all that extra CHROME....

Arthur
They tell me there's no cure either.....except for a zero bank balance.....
Richard
043  001854

[A Dalton]

<<They tell me there's no cure either.....>>

 It's Terminal .. no cure known to Man...
 I knew it was over when my Best Friend asked my Wife what she tought I might like for X-mas ...

"Oh, That's easy," she said .. " Just get him another Benz Service CD "

[A Dalton]

Very nice .043/Euro

 http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Mercedes-Benz-SL-Class-W-113-1967-250SL-250-SL-FULLY-RESTORED-NOT-280SL-W113_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ6338QQitemZ4587124851QQrdZ1

[norton]

Very nice car, and a great color combo, it looks the car in the photo on our home page, I wonder if Bob Geco knows this car?

Mike Halleck
Chesterfield Mi
71 280SL
68 250SL (parts car)
94 E320 Coupe

[Douglas]

That's a very nice looking 250 SL. Clearly, a meticulous example. My one question is why is there so little clearance over the front tires? Looks to be riding low in the front. Front subframe mounts?

[A Dalton]

He may..
 I see a member here is bidding ..
 If they had mentioned the s/top color , I could give the Trim code..
there are 4 trims for that color/combo.  Not enough pics to tune in to it. I think it might be 213 b/c of the blk square weave.....
 Something one might want to inquire about if bidding..
 Might want to know if speedo, oil, and temp are gauges are Euro/meric too....as I noticed milage was given in Miles
 Looks very good.....

[TA250SL]

I also noticed this car on EBay and believe it might belong to the local Yahoo W113 Group member Peter Gick.  There are a few pictures in the old  files section under his name PGick.  If it is, I can vouch for it as a great looking car, exactly as described.  In fact, it was Peter who first inspired me to obtain my own Pagoda.

Tom
Early 1967 250SL
Euro version    
Los Angeles

[hauser]

Here's another 250sl.  http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Mercedes-250SL-280SL-113-Pagoda_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ6762QQitemZ8011357119QQrdZ1  

We got on the subject of the 250sl and all of a sudden they're popping up on ebay.

1969 280sl 5 spd
Gainesville, Fl.

[Chad]

douglas, perhaps the riding low is just a custom spring he has substituted in???

-CD-
1967 230SL, 113.042 10

[glennard]

re:230 vs 250 vs 280   Drove  ?s(can't remember his name-Possel drove it, too)280SL at Blacklick 2005.  Told him my 230 seemed to have as much pep as his 280. He went into shock.

[norton]

And another 250SL on ebay http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Mercedes-Benz-SL-Class-1968-MERCEDES-BENZ-250SL-Restored-40K-Miles-not-280sl_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ6338QQitemZ4587544623QQrdZ1

Mike Halleck
Chesterfield Mi
71 280SL
68 250SL (parts car)
94 E320 Coupe

[A Dalton]

Got bought with a 'BIN' before completing the auction..

 http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Mercedes-Benz-SL-Class-W-113-1967-250SL-250-SL-FULLY-RESTORED-NOT-280SL-W113_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ6338QQitemZ4587124851QQrdZ1

[Mike Webster]

Rob,

I always wanted a Pagoda and last fall I decided to buy one. I knew little about these cars, and, living in S.E. Michigan, knew I would have to travel to find one. I set a budget of $50,000.00, which I figured should buy me a good car.

I first set out to view the most expensive car for sale by a reputable seller and benchmark it. I found a true 1971 280sl, all origional except for paint with 71,000 miles at Hatch & Sons. I flew out over the Christmas Holiday's to view it. Asking price, $70,000.00. The car was beautiful and needed nothing. Although I didn't buy the car, Hatch told me not to buy anything under $50,000.00, and 280's only.

A few more months of internt shopping and I came across a recently restored 1966 230SL. I flew out to California to view it. The work was done by a reputable restoration shop, and this car was beautiful. Asking price, $43,000.00. Now $43,000.00 is a lot of money for a 230 (I have yet come across one costing more), but everything on this car was new/rebuilt. I purchased this car and have thoroughly enjoyed it all summer. The car is not concours ready, but with the help I get from the Pagoda Scholars I read on this forum, it gets a little closer each month.

Was Hatch right? Should I have gone with the 280? I guess it's about what you're after. All I know is that I love my car. I'll let the Pagoda Scholars be the judge.

Mike in Detroit
1966 230SL silver/red

[Mike]

I saw Mike's car in July at Joe Alexander's event in Ohio.  It's one of the nicest I've seen and I would have guessed that the purchase price was much higher.  While it probably does not make a lot of sense to think about the investment value of these cars when making a purchase decision I do think that the 230 offers an advantage over the 280 because the entry prices for the 230's are lower - unjustifiably in my opinion.   That's OK though because you can end up getting something really nice like Mike's car for a lot less than a comparable 280 would cost.  I also note there are subtle yet important (at least to me) differences in appointments giving the 230 the edge in terms of style.  For example, look at both the inside and outside mirrors of the 230.  The 230's clearly have more style.  The seats and interior appointments are another area of difference.  These differences  make me lean (ever so slightly) in favor of the 230.  In hindsight, I'd probably keep an open mind and buy the best one that you can afford, regardless of which version it is.

Michael L. Hund