My good friend just bought himself an E-type series I roadster. Prior to him getting the car I told him that I would outrun him if the course was reasonably twisted. Obviously he refused my claim stating that he had 60 more HP. I admit, it's is lightning fast straight out, scaringly in fact. However, the brakes are crap and the car doesn't feel so well balanced as the pagoda. Well we drove around on some small twisted roads this weekend, and was I right!!! Sure enough as soon as there was a straight he would catch in. But the moment the coad twisted a bit and especially when there was braking to do he fell behind and he even had some more modern tyres fitted. Another fact is that the Moss transmission in the E-type is dreadfull, not least 2nd gear. Sometimes it took ages for him to find it while my manual, though not being the best transmission Mercedes has built, was easy and reliable.
IMO People tend to forget that the pagodas, at least the 230 but also the 250 was designed with a smaller engine, but with far superior roadholding than contempory cars. That was actually the philosofy for Uhlenhaut when he constructed the car. This and the fact that many automatics (not least for the 280) were made and the fact that they attracted another audience and therefore image than E-typers, gives a false impression of the pagoda.
THe fact is that it (the 230) was as fast as a Ferrari 250 GT on a test in a French track, won the Liege-Sofia-Liege rally in pretty much standard trim, and could outrun the gullwing (especially on twisty roads) (all according to Meredith). So why people keep saying that "this is not a sportscar" is simply not right. They misunderstand the principle on which these cars were built. I remember I once saw a rally car (not even a WRC) leave a Lamborghini Diablo in its dust on a track, it's the same principle.
When it comes to design the E-type and the pagodas are very different, but equally wonderfull to look at. IMO the series I roadster is the best of the E's, but also the worst braker and most uncomfortable of them. However, I wont recommend buying a series I if you are taller than 180 cm, it simply gets to irritating when you have the top half of your head above the windscreen and can't see half of the road because of that. So Joe, the E-type is a beast, as Trice put it, but a wonderfull one!! Whereas the pagodas are better built, and more refined and comfortable.
Just my opinion based on field research :mrgreen:
Enjoy summer here on the northern hemisphere.
Ulrik
'67 250 SL Papyrus White 113043-10-000023
