DDK - Die Deutschen Klassiker

I've had my 911 for 30 years and it's great.
Or at least it is for me as it would now be described as a hotrod and a few years ago a Bitza.

It is a neat, tidy usable classic, a strong 3.2 and box, non matching and DIY RHD conversion. Several other mods, but it looks almost stock from the outside.
It has hill climb history so has been thrashed for 13 years. Just re-painted and rust free. The engine is 130K miles and has never been apart, uses no oil and runs really well, box is an aluminium 3.2 with cooler and rebuilt twice and works well.
I might get 35K for it, that thought maybe a discussion for later, and is not the point of this thread.

I quite fancy an 80's SL Merc. Different etc to the above, cost would be about £40K if from a good specialist such as SL Shop.

My reason for typing this is about people's thoughts on the relative value of each car today and where they might each head bearing in mind I'm 67 and my wife is starting to have trouble alighting from the 911 and does not like going any further than 150 miles in it, always reluctant to use it even on good days

As we get even older there will be a time/need to sell, 1, 5 or 10 years on, and I wonder if the SL will keep up or do better...

We know one or two people who’ve switched to either those or Pagoda Mercs for touring. They’ve done so from a variety of older cars and been delighted with them. They can cover huge mileages effortlessly, quietly and comfortably unlike most other from that era. If there is an issue it is that some could do with a higher final drive ratio, SL shop can advise.

IMO there’s not much else that compares.

Air cooled Porsche’s are noisy and touring is far more fun with the roof down.

Agree with the above. Plus I think your money is safer in a mint SL than a home built hot rod.

Ultimately, buy what you will use and enjoy most. Hard to put a value on good times and memories.

I also agree.

As a slightly younger man than you I’d be happy to take first dibs on the noisy, uncomfy 911.

If you need an expert ear, have a chat with Jon Aucott from Avantgarde. He’s one of life’s nice guys, an SL know-it-all and a 2.7 RS owner. And he’s in Tamworth.

Don’t do the sl shop......overpriced.......you can get a minter private for less than 15k, I’ve had a cple of r107's over the last 5-6 years, the last one I bought had been owned by an older gentleman who had it for 15 yrs and just used in the summer around his local roads,loads of history and receipts for work done that was less than 15k,

Thank you all for the sensible replies and pm's.
I quoted SL Shop just as a reference.
The bulkhead issues bother me, but easy to ask about.
They hire them for £240 a day which might be worth it to be sure it would be right for us.
Need to think out the garage issue deeper.

I've kept a manual Pagoda 230SL and an 80's 380 SLC ( coupe version of the convertible ).
The Pagoda always felt a tad agricultural to drive but the 3.8 V8 was very nice and surprisingly economical. Certainly no problems keeping up with traffic.
Silky smooth competant engine with autobox plus power steering and aircon.
Obviosly a totally difference driving experience to a 911, but a much more relaxing long distance cruiser . I don't think your wife would be troubled driving ot exiting an R107.
Also, £ 40k for the Merc ?
I would have thought this closer to the mark

https://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C1140325

Again, good to read these realistic posts, that is a great car and does show that another option is open to me, sell my Boxster and add some ££££ and keep the 911!
How does anyone feel about the Merc surviving winters outside? (Covered)
Real food for thought. I am sure the Merc would fit our changing lifestyle that the Boxster fulfills so very well.

The SL Shop is not far away and the NEC Classic Show is fast arriving where there are many SL's there to see up close.
I'm not going to rush this, it will be the last classic car I will buy.

We now keep our 230SL in long term storage as cold winters in a ventilated barn were starting to get to her. The odd small bubble on a wheel arch etc. Easily sorted but best avoided we thought. However, in original condition and before expensive restoration, it lived out in all weathers under a couture 'breathable membrane' with the hard top stored on its rack separately, without so much as a blemish on the stainless...

Good to read, thanks for the post.

I could have the best of both worlds here.
For just one reason the Box...r is living on a knife edge, the wife has mentioned a 997.1 but I can't stand the thought of scored bores because my luck is always in a negative direction with modern Hobby-Cars, but my 987.2 + 10K would get a nice SL with a signed-off bulkhead, and I think the SL will hold/appreciate it's value where the Box will not.

If the SL can live outside in UK winters then the garage bit is sorted and an SL will be a nice change to the Box after 3 years and a lot of cost, AND keep the 911 hot rod.

Don't forget than the SL hardtop is big and heavy. Will require 2 to remove and fit.
Also needs somewhere to store.

I know SL shop are local to you and a placeholder in your post. Keep it that way

If you do get a 107, the 86-89 cars are a very different (better) beast than the early ones. Still have the bulkhead issues but they drive much better. Being a Merc, extras were extra so many will be “poverty spec “ if that’s not an oxymoron. The hard tops weigh a lot. So winch in the garage or you and a strong friend to remove/ fit it

There is an E reg one in a garage near that’s the same colour as my Pagoda which keeps catching my eye. It’s not this one > https://www.colinferns.com/listings/2901/ but this is £14k...

Interesting, and ref hardtop:
The wife will not go in a top down car due to cancer issues past and present so the roof drops only when I'm on my own in the Box'r. and I'm not that fussed about the wind in my hair bit.
Thus, and SL with a hard top would become a coup.

I am so used to Porsche over all these years that a step outside the box makes me nervous, so a trip to the SL shop to be frank with them so I can then chat about the +/- of the SL range, esp the ned side on cost of parts etc.
I would be worried about leggy examples which will be hard to avoid in quite an old car at a budget of £25k max.

Just read a few Buyer's Guides and the cars are no different to Porsches, faults, just in different places.
Indie inspection could be a wise move when you are a novice to the marque.

Anyone know of any?

Mundane service parts are surprisingly cheap if you go direct OE and not MB reboxed. Full seal replacement costs on the hard tops - for all SLs - are crippling so get a good one that's spent it's life off the car in the garage/barn. We didn't. However, as with most quality MB parts, you'll only replace them once in your ownership, especially the rubbers.

Test