The General Car Thread.

[Costa Fierro]

You know how much the 6.9 would cost? Nobody knows, because it was not sold stateside.

$40,000 brand new, $52,995 by the time the W116 ended production. And they still managed to shift over 1,000 units despite being less powerful than non-NA models, as US emissions regulations in the 1970's sapped power from the engines.

Also, the Lincoln was heavier, because it had a larger interior.

The Lincoln was heavier because it was bigger. That's it.

Let's not forget the W116 could be overrated. The 1973 Car and Driver test compared the pedestrian Olds Cutlass Supreme sedan with the Mercedes 450SE - and the Oldsmobile wasn't found much worse.
It was definitely much better than 70s US Car Basher #8745 from the Jalopnik cooment section would say.

Not really. The W116 was considered to be among the greatest sedans ever made, and continued to cement the reputation of Mercedes-Benz as producing refined, well engineered, powerful cars.

[Vassenor]

(Image)

They do share a certain similarity, but the differences are greater than a similar comparison today, at least to my eves.

That one looks like it's trying too hard to look like a tackier Rolls Royce.

[Petrolheadia]

You know how much the 6.9 would cost? Nobody knows, because it was not sold stateside.

$40,000 brand new, $52,995 by the time the W116 ended production. And they still managed to shift over 1,000 units despite being less powerful than non-NA models, as US emissions regulations in the 1970's sapped power from the engines.

Also, the Lincoln was heavier, because it had a larger interior.

The Lincoln was heavier because it was bigger. That's it.

Let's not forget the W116 could be overrated. The 1973 Car and Driver test compared the pedestrian Olds Cutlass Supreme sedan with the Mercedes 450SE - and the Oldsmobile wasn't found much worse.
It was definitely much better than 70s US Car Basher #8745 from the Jalopnik cooment section would say.

Not really. The W116 was considered to be among the greatest sedans ever made, and continued to cement the reputation of Mercedes-Benz as producing refined, well engineered, powerful cars.

Part of the W116's reputation was how much better it was than the contemporary average European car, a sedan a bit above 4 metres long and an engine around 1.3-1.6 litres, which wasn't as powerful, spacious or well-equipped as the average US car in the 70s, a sedan around 5.5 metres long, with a 250-350 ci V8.

As the Car and Driver test from 1973 proves, the W116 was barely better than the pedestrian Oldsmobile Cutlass Salon midsizer. So, how the hell can the 6.9 be more than 4 times better than the Lincoln? (hint: probably can't).

[Petrolheadia]

(Image)

They do share a certain similarity, but the differences are greater than a similar comparison today, at least to my eves.

That one looks like it's trying too hard to look like a tackier Rolls Royce.

You say that because you're jealous Rolls-Royce just couldn't build something so good-looking.

Sorry, England, America wins again.

[Costa Fierro]

Part of the W116's reputation was how much better it was than the contemporary average European car, a sedan a bit above 4 metres long and an engine around 1.3-1.6 litres, which wasn't as powerful, spacious or well-equipped as the average US car in the 70s, a sedan around 5.5 metres long, with a 250-350 ci V8.

You're forgetting that this car was the first of the "S-Class" cars that Mercedes-Benz made. It was better than the average European car because it was their flagship model.

As the Car and Driver test from 1973 proves, the W116 was barely better than the pedestrian Oldsmobile Cutlass Salon midsizer. So, how the hell can the 6.9 be more than 4 times better than the Lincoln? (hint: probably can't).

The 1973 test would have had a W116 that wasn't equipped with the larger engine, the 6.9 litre V8 came to the US in 1977.

You say that because you're jealous Rolls-Royce just couldn't build something so good-looking.

Sorry, England, America wins again.

The Lincoln isn't "good looking" by any stretch of the imagination. It's big and square. It's successors in the 80's were big and square.

[Auzkhia]

That one looks like it's trying too hard to look like a tackier Rolls Royce.

You say that because you're jealous Rolls-Royce just couldn't build something so good-looking.

Sorry, England, America wins again.

Rolls Royces and Mercedes look way more timeless.

Lincolns and Caddys from the time look super 70s, therefore rather dated. While, I do appreciate some Malaise era cars, the enjoyment is actually somewhat comedic, due to their size and boaty behavior.

[NeoOasis]

You say that because you're jealous Rolls-Royce just couldn't build something so good-looking.

Sorry, England, America wins again.

Rolls Roycesand Mercedes look way more timeless.

Lincolns and Caddys from the time look super 70s, therefore rather dated. While, I do appreciate some Malaise era cars, the enjoyment is actually somewhat comedic, due to their size and boaty behavior.

I'll have to agree here to an extent. I personally find Rolls Royce to have aged fairly badly, and it looks kinda dull. Mercedes though, does actually look fairly timeless to me. Still fairly fresh after all these decades. Still... both cars don't look like a decidedly bad choice was made in their styling.

Lincoln though... Who thought opera windows were a good styling cue ever? And as novel as headlight flaps are, they ultimately end up looking gimmicky no matter their position in this day and age. Also I'm going to go ahead and complain about landau tops in cars from that era. It was stupid, pointless, and has aged worse than Steven Tyler. As far as useless styling went, Landau tops are up there with fake factory hood scoops, fake exhaust pipe exits, and fake wood trim.

[Auzkhia]

Rolls Roycesand Mercedes look way more timeless.

Lincolns and Caddys from the time look super 70s, therefore rather dated. While, I do appreciate some Malaise era cars, the enjoyment is actually somewhat comedic, due to their size and boaty behavior.

I'll have to agree here to an extent. I personally find Rolls Royce to have aged fairly badly, and it looks kinda dull. Mercedes though, does actually look fairly timeless to me. Still fairly fresh after all these decades. Still... both cars don't look like a decidedly bad choice was made in their styling.

Lincoln though... Who thought opera windows were a good styling cue ever? And as novel as headlight flaps are, they ultimately end up looking gimmicky no matter their position in this day and age. Also I'm going to go ahead and complain about landau tops in cars from that era. It was stupid, pointless, and has aged worse than Steven Tyler. As far as useless styling went, Landau tops are up there with fake factory hood scoops, fake exhaust pipe exits, and fake wood trim.

Silver Shadows and Corniches still make you look rich, but maybe in the eyes of some old fogeys, young people won't have the memories, and even if they did, Ferrari looking things are what they think of first. They can be had for a price of a second hand mid-size car.

The W116 and many Benzes from the 70s and 80s still look fresh, it's really a 1979 car, but it looks like it could pass for a 1989 model year. 10 years in car design is a long time, especially for an innovative company like Daimler-Benz.

I personally like the Mark IV, but it is a product of its times. American Car design was very dated, aside from maybe the C3 Corvette.

[Petrolheadia]

Part of the W116's reputation was how much better it was than the contemporary average European car, a sedan a bit above 4 metres long and an engine around 1.3-1.6 litres, which wasn't as powerful, spacious or well-equipped as the average US car in the 70s, a sedan around 5.5 metres long, with a 250-350 ci V8.

You're forgetting that this car was the first of the "S-Class" cars that Mercedes-Benz made. It was better than the average European car because it was their flagship model.

As the Car and Driver test from 1973 proves, the W116 was barely better than the pedestrian Oldsmobile Cutlass Salon midsizer. So, how the hell can the 6.9 be more than 4 times better than the Lincoln? (hint: probably can't).

The 1973 test would have had a W116 that wasn't equipped with the larger engine, the 6.9 litre V8 came to the US in 1977.

The S-Class wasn't Mercedes' flagship. That was the 600, not updated since 1964 and not sold stateside since 1972.

Also, I highly doubt that the 6.9 would be better enough to offset the nearly $20k difference in price between it and the 4.5.

[Costa Fierro]

The S-Class wasn't Mercedes' flagship. That was the 600, not updated since 1964 and not sold stateside since 1972.

It became the flagship of the Mercedes models sold in the US.

Also, I highly doubt that the 6.9 would be better enough to offset the nearly $20k difference in price between it and the 4.5.

You also said the 6.9 was never sold in the US.

[Petrolheadia]

The S-Class wasn't Mercedes' flagship. That was the 600, not updated since 1964 and not sold stateside since 1972.

It became the flagship of the Mercedes models sold in the US.

Also, I highly doubt that the 6.9 would be better enough to offset the nearly $20k difference in price between it and the 4.5.

You also said the 6.9 was never sold in the US.

It wasn't sold in 1975.

In later years, it was available, but I was comparing luxury cars from the Continental's mid-production period.

[Petrolheadia]

Imagine it's 1968. You are a 21-year-old fertilizer factory worker from Tennessee, who has a 1955 Chevrolet 210 hot rod, but is now looking for a cheap truck to supplement the Chevy in stuff like hauling firewood. The new truck has to be relatively reliable and cheap to run. The options in the budget are:
- 1954 235 ci Chevrolet 3100,
- 1953 239 ci Ford F-100,
- 1954 ('55 model year) 230 ci Dodge C100,
- 1953 240 ci International Harvester R110,
- 1955 246 ci Studebaker R-Series 1/2 ton,
- 1950 230 ci Willys Jeep Truck 1/2 ton.

Which one would you buy? I'd get the Chevy.

[Auzkhia]

This is the 2018 Quirks and Features Meme.

[Petrolheadia]

This is the 2018 Quirks and Features Meme.

Talking about car reviewing, the last issue of Motor had a comparison between the Opel Insignia (Buick Regal for the hamburger-eaters) and Renault Talisman (a sedan Nissan Rogue that isn't the #5 American bestseller).

Guess which one won in handling? The Renault.

So there for the Regal being a gearhead savior.

[Aboveland]

This is the 2018 Quirks and Features Meme.

Wow, that's spot on. They left out the Maserati hate and "it's just... weird!"

Imagine it's 1968. You are a 21-year-old fertilizer factory worker from Tennessee, who has a 1955 Chevrolet 210 hot rod, but is now looking for a cheap truck to supplement the Chevy in stuff like hauling firewood. The new truck has to be relatively reliable and cheap to run. The options in the budget are:
- 1954 235 ci Chevrolet 3100,
- 1953 239 ci Ford F-100,
- 1954 ('55 model year) 230 ci Dodge C100,
- 1953 240 ci International Harvester R110,
- 1955 246 ci Studebaker R-Series 1/2 ton,
- 1950 230 ci Willys Jeep Truck 1/2 ton.

Which one would you buy? I'd get the Chevy.

Definitely the Studebaker, because it's got the coolest name.

[Petrolheadia]

This price must be either a social experiment or a joke.

[Auzkhia]

This price must be either a social experiment or a joke.

No, just some delusional person trying to flip a junker that they found.

[Petrolheadia]

This price must be either a social experiment or a joke.

No, just some delusional person trying to flip a junker that they found.

You just can't honestly put up an $2500 price tag on a Grand Prix after a standoff with... something.

[Auzkhia]

No, just some delusional person trying to flip a junker that they found.

You just can't honestly put up an $2500 price tag on a Grand Prix after a standoff with... something.

In this case, ignorance and overconfidence, a deadly combination.

Edmunds and KBB have free appraisals, it is simply inexcusable.

According to KBB, this would be a somewhat high but ok price, if it were in perfect condition. This car should be $250, just a couple hundred bucks.

[Petrolheadia]

You just can't honestly put up an $2500 price tag on a Grand Prix after a standoff with... something.

In this case, ignorance and overconfidence, a deadly combination.

Edmunds and KBB have free appraisals, it is simply inexcusable.

According to KBB, this would be a somewhat high but ok price, if it were in perfect condition. This car should be $250, just a couple hundred bucks.

$200 at best.

Realistically, it should be in the "free stuff" section.

[Petrolheadia]

'67 Thunderbird - no, the CLS wasn't the first 4-door coupe.

[The Two Jerseys]

'67 Thunderbird - no, the CLS wasn't the first 4-door coupe.

And that's not even the first hardtop sedan...

[Val Halla]

I love Toyota, they have an incredible ability to make fun cars despite being a mostly bland brand. The AE86, the MR2, the GT86... all cool stuff

[Auzkhia]

'67 Thunderbird - no, the CLS wasn't the first 4-door coupe.

They made a sedan variant, ok.

[East Fredonia]

What happened to that road trip RP?

Second week of managing my state. My economy and government seem to be doing pretty well.

This is the wrong thread.