As Good As Many Modern Luxury Cars and Cheaper To Run! Mercedes 420 SEC

The W126 era of Mercedes S Class was way ahead of its competitors, so much so that it can still stand comparison to the best of today's luxury cars. But more surprising is that using this every day for three yeas would work out cheaper than buying a Porsche Taycan.
Tayna Car Batteries are fantastic and supply all my car batteries! Use the code NUMBER27YT for a further 5% off! - www.tayna.co.uk
Support NR27 And Get:
1. Members Only Monthly Live Chats 2. Priority Replies To Comments 3. Loyalty Badges
/ @number27

[@limyrob1383]

You know you are in a "real" Mercedes when you have 2 ashtrays and no cup holder😂

[@21stcenturyozman20]

I have the joy of owning a 500 SEC. Of the 17 Benzes I've owned, that SEC is the pinnacle! Definitely the era of proper Benzes, before all the bling and failure-prone gadgetry that followed. *A cupholder story* A few years ago a Mercedes commercial in the USA showed a seminar presented by Mercedes engineers, touting their accomplishments over the years. The audience were engineers from other carmakers. The Germans held forth ... In 1908 we introduced the supercharger ... (the others all murmured). In 1937 we standardised on independent suspension on all axles ... (more murmuring). In 1954 we introduced direct fuel injection ... (yet more murmuring). And in 1959, the disc brake ... (same response). Also in 1959, the occupant safety cell and progressive crumple-rate end sections ... (more murmurs). In 1961 we made seat belts standard equipment ... (ditto response). And in 1964 we went to four-wheel disc brakes as standard equipment ... (mumbles from the audience). In 1965 we introduced side protection rails in the doors ... (murmurs again). In 1972 we improved and strengthened our side-impact protection system ... (mumbled responses). And in 1975 we added ABS to our braking systems ... (increasingly bored murmurs). Then the speaker gets a twinkle in his eye and says with a slight smile: And last year we even added a cup holder ... and with that the Americans jump up, shouting "We had that first!"

[@andrewallen9993]

@@21stcenturyozman20 I have a 1964 w110 200d. Whilst it has Jaguar disk brakes (Dunlop) in front it has drums in the rear. Oh, and pre combustion chamber direct fuel injection, a British invention from Harry Ricardo.😀 It has three ashtrays and no cupholders.

[@bustjanzupan1074]

Yes, it just should be a little more beautiful (a little less ugly) ... although it is still not so bad.

[@SveinMBortne]

@@bustjanzupan1074 a friend of mine also a former high end Merc owner he says that many of the Mercs look like German laydies... He mean square and not so pretty. But there is someone for every body.

[@INNIMA]

Its because the person buying this wasn’t in a rush or on the go like the rest of us scrambling 9 to 5 commuters

[@aromaticsnail]

Mercedes survives as a car maker because of the reputation of this car's era

[@arthurdardalis]

Well said, spot on comment👍👍

[@johanankarback6821]

That´s very true! In the 80´s and 90´s they were the best. Nowadays the accountants rules and they are just like any other car.

[@Brukner841]

@@johanankarback6821 competition and demand are very rigid now so they all compete with each other, but Mercedes still makes some superb cars, and some turds as well

[@christianvanneuves9958]

29th most reliable car brand in USA. Nuff said.

[@dinispaulino7512]

Absolutely!

[@rolandsaucier1006]

YES! This is why I am so happy with my 97 Mercedes C280. It cost me 7000 to get it purchased, sorted out and inspected. Now it simply runs like a dream. I have no car payments. Just insurance and fuel. The car is safe. Has plenty of power. I drive it daily and haven't had a single issue for over a year and a half. I'm very happy.

[@volvo24091]

Used to have one of those. Great car. But it did have a massive oil leak which I could not fix due to the crumbling engine wire harness. The leak fixed itself when I moved cross country to cooler climes.

[@listenmullahsb]

Will ULEZ allow you to use it still?

[@kwaynr1301]

Just wait another year. Keep us posted

[@brianmilligan1787]

SERVICE THE CAR YOU LEFT THAT BIT OUT

[@scslre]

2/5 safety rating. sounds great.

[@hendongooner7383]

When Mercedes made proper cars and not the dross they serve up today.

[@ianwatson3315]

I had a 1992 190 2.0 and various G wagens from 88-92 and all were flawless cars which never let me down.

[@richy69ify]

@@ianwatson3315 so great that you got rid? 😌

[@LowreyContractorsUK]

@@ianwatson3315 why did you stop buying them. ? I have had them constantly for the last 40 years My Mercedes now on my drive CLS shooting brake owed for 6 years , and E Class cabriolet, owned 8 years Only time a Mercedes has let me down was in my SL 380 years ago. I snapped the key off in the ignition lock

[@grumbo39]

I cant get over so many younger people today, who buy the A series (Renault) and other complete junk. Theres no personality there, nothing to see.

[@richardmason1392]

I'm the model register captain in the Mercedes-Benz Club for the W126. I love them. Couple of corrections about the SEC. First it wasn't launched until 1981. the saloon was 1979. Likewise the saloon in N America could be had with a diesel but not the SEC, that never had a diesel. I drive a 560 SEC & I would happily use it daily except I want to keep it looking pristine.

[@jenseninterceptor1065]

I daily my V126

[@jgg02]

This represents for me when Mercedes was at the height of their line up. Understated elegance and not as vulgar or plastic as later generations

[@DavidRamsay-Kerr-n3p]

I think the quick shot of an SEL that Jack showed as the sister to the SEC was not, in fact, the Bruno Sacco-designed car, but the model that preceded it.

[@terry7893]

The govt EPA regulations forced all cars to get better mpg. The only way mfgs can do that, is by going with lighter weight plastic.

[@bondjamesbond9041]

Agree with what you said regarding Mercedes during the production of this car. Today Mercedes are just a shadow of its former self being only averagely reliable and offering their customers so so service.

[@worldofrandometry6912]

Having had several newer Mercs, this is not my experience, but it's a trendy thing to say that they don't build them like they used to.

[@Nord_Mann]

@@worldofrandometry6912but they don’t no more, and you know it😉 On my grandfather’s Volvo 760, my 964 or this MB 420SEC you could hit your fist at absolute max power into the roof without making a dent whatsoever. Try it on your new MB and get back to us with the result😂

[@roelfkromhout]

⁠​⁠​⁠​⁠@@worldofrandometry6912 the word ‘several’ tells me a bit about why this has not been your experience.

[@housey4297]

@@worldofrandometry6912 I am pleased for you, but being the owner of one of their halo cars I can confirm their service (across 4 dealers and counting) is fairly consistently dire. Not my first Mercedes either and their network is average to rubbish. The stories I could share. Additionally my GT R has had significant warranty work done too. Engine mounts, dampers, airbag/seat belt sensors and buzzes and rattles. Not ruined my experience, but annoying.

[@faheemabbas3965]

Every day, the car world gets worse. Mercedes will never be the same ever again. German luxury will never be what it used to.

[@dappergent9422]

Beautiful car. Sadly, we'll never see cars like this again.

[@hughoxford8735]

Dunno. Have you seen the Lexus LC500?

[@malcolmlane-ley2044]

Jack, as much as I enjoy almost all of your content I am genuinely salivating at the thought of owning an SEC. This era was the zenith of Mercedes build quality and now I'm retired and do less and less mileage I would relish the 500 SEC as a daily driver based on my experience of my R129 weekend car which is a bit less practical but still wafts along beautifully without creaks or rattles after 174000 miles The car's value hasn't changed over the last 6 years and because everything is so simple to fix with cheap and readily available parts the only time it visits a garage is for it's MOT.

[@stocksxbondage]

Miss my SL500 very much! The hydraulic convertible was too much to keep fixing for me so I let her go. Phenomenal car! Engine aside, I miss shutting the door. The tank like seal and window motor sound 🤤 It really makes modern cars feel like children’s toys.

[@marko7843]

​​@@stocksxbondageWord... When we found out the SL 300/500/600 had 18 hydraulic cylinders to operate the top, we were scared off. That little thing was more complicated than a four-door Lincoln convertible!

[@lbowsk]

Wise move. That's just idiotic and guaranteed to cost you money and aggravation down the line.@@marko7843

[@antking8847]

the drivers side mirror not being electric will have saved weight - everyone forgets the added kgs of all the motors added to modern vehicles for seats, bootlids etc. Great car - thanks Jack

[@marcusjohnson488]

Possibly why they chose to put aluminium bonnet and trunk lids on the SEC

[@Assimilator1]

A minimal amount, wouldn't be noticeable in MPG. I'd fit LHD passenger electric mirror to it :p

[@jamesgraham446]

Also one less thing to potentially fail.

[@taunuslunatic404]

Do you think the weight of an electric mirror would be noticeable on a 1.5 tonne+ car?

[@Assimilator1]

@@taunuslunatic404 Exactly!👍(Nope)

[@michaelpegasiou4531]

My Dad had a blue metallic 560 and he let me use it whenever I wanted as long as I put the same amount of petrol back that I had used,I was only 18 so it was a painful balance of fun and expense.I remember it was built like a tank and went really well while making a great noise.Thanks for reminding me Jack 😊

[@user-pt1ow8hx5l]

Waouw. Pappa B had an Xj-S in our life. 12 cylinders. And then changed to a Merc 560. The consumption of those engines kept speeding excesses to a bare minimum, didn't they?

[@rnb250]

Maximum speed achieved? 🤩

[@NinoPrez007]

The 560 SEC was my favorite car of all time!.... that's awesome to hear!

[@garethdavies2538]

I bought a 560SEC with only 60,000 miles on it 12 years ago and drive it less than 1,000 miles a year. It will outlive me!@@NinoPrez007

[@luiscarlosvieira3966]

"As good as many modern..." ... I think is "Better than many modern..." A new set of suspension and steering bushings and a set of shocks ....and you get an awesome ride....

[@danf4447]

a new suspension and steering bushings and shocks= european vacation or a second car. every car is a great car if money is no object

[@luiscarlosvieira3966]

@@danf4447 no... aftermarket parts are really cheap.... and bushings are the cheapest parts you can buy... and makes huge difference on drive feeling...

[@monsterkillsports3499]

This car screams "Old money" when the cars music and people were honest.

[@dandare1001]

To me it screams new money, and little taste. It's funny how opinions differ.

[@nova-oy4qy]

@@dandare1001 new money? these are cheap.

[@dandare1001]

@@nova-oy4qy I meant when they were new.

[@dj_efk]

Couldn’t agree more. Contrast that with what one of those brand new RR Sports says nowadays.

[@PhilbyFavourites]

Gents (my assumption you’re both male), it depends what age perspective each of you are looking at it from. “Old money” you’re younger, sub 45 “New money” you’re older 50 plus… you might remember this Merc when it was new. Still a lovely motor with such presence - it’ll turn heads for longer and with more admiration than the afore mentioned Taycan…

[@ryanmccormick2150]

When Mercedes really was the best or nothing......now every single Mercedes is an "AMG" with Dacia build quality! Cracking stuff as always Jack buddy 👍

[@ageandorange9514]

And they even have Renault engines if you get a 4cyl now. 😖

[@ryanmccormick2150]

@@ageandorange9514 I know..... crazy!

[@stormtrooper9404]

@@ageandorange9514Funny thing since you mentioned… Renault engines are more reliable today than the “mercedes” ones! (Just God knows where are they put them together, and with what parts! 🤮)

[@syedwaji7011]

I recently sold my 420SEL three days ago. The car sat on my driveway for about a year since I was preoccupied with other vehicles. We installed a new alternator, checked the fluids, and the buyer was able to drive it from Florida to Kentucky without issue. Just goes to show how wonderfully these automobiles were built. Now I need an SEC!!

[@micha3828]

But the BMW e38 7 series was and is a beautiful car, too. I love these 6 cylinders. I have one in my 3 series convertible.

[@cupwithhandles]

Do you mind if I ask what you sold it for? That has always been one of my grail cars, and now it's a classic.

[@marcusott2973]

Two years ago, I bought a W126, the best I could find. But it isn't exactly luxury. A 1982 280SE 4 speed manual, electric passenger mirrors, front electric windows. Cloth seats, 80k km. It's my pride and joy, it belonged to a fastidious pensioner. The underside suggests it's never seen a winter and possibly very little rain.

[@truxton1000]

I would say it’s luxury due to the way it looks and the build quality.

[@michaelhilton8439]

The 300SE is a vastly more refined drive, especially with the automatic gearbox. The 280 engine is a leftover from the w116 and from a different era, although it's very robust.

[@marcusott2973]

@michaelhilton8439 In German, this lowly edition is unofficial called the "BuchhalterAusstattung" = accountants trim. Normally reserved for government vehicles. It's eye-watering in its originality, the spot welds in the wheel arches are still perfect.

[@user-pt1ow8hx5l]

Wonderfuel. They even sold the 190 with only 4 gears in 1988. In poverty-spec.

[@michaelhilton8439]

​@@marcusott2973sounds fantastic!

[@ShannonSouthAfrica]

The days when a Merc was a Merc.

[@danieleregoli812]

I still have the very vivid memory of seeing my very first 560 SEL in a sort of grayish baby blue, spiritedly sprinting from a standstill, and leaving me speechless and fascinated... That car was perfection on wheels. That was in 1986... I was out for a walk with my late Grandfather and late cousin...and I was but a short, chubby boy...That memory is etched in my mind.

[@steveelliott3591]

I have always thought this car was one of the most beautiful MB ever designed and built. I still to this day want one.

[@leegurbutt]

Hi Jack, I did the same maths last October when the lease termijn for my Tesla Model S came to an end and I needed a replacement. I have surprised all that know me by choosing a 21 year old Jag XJ 4,2 V8. I found one that had just 50k miles on the clock and was as good as new. I’ve enjoyed the car now for 5 months, 5000 miles and it hasn’t missed a beat. I’ve decided that I don’t want to burden the planet with the production of a new electric car, but to enjoy these old machine whilst I still can. So I will be changing every 12 months. Now looking at a Quattroporte 4,7 ZF or an Merc SEC. I’m loving the experience. Keep up the good work pal!

[@ian-nz-2000]

100%! My daily is a 2002 XKR which has cost me no more than its annual service and a few bushes.

[@timonsolus]

Absolutely. Best thing you can do for the planet is to never, ever buy or lease a brand new car.

[@johnpearson492]

I fully agree with your method and personally purchase similar vintage vehicles to enjoy them and run them. They are inexpensive to buy, it prevents a new car from being built (better for the environment). I currently have a 99 BMW M3, 90 Jeep Comanche, and an 09 Honda Civic Si. I almost went the route of the supercharged Jag from the early 00s or late 90s, but found the Civic I wanted first. Enjoy yours and feel good that keeping an older vehicle on the road longer is always the cleaner and more financially responsible option.

[@geekandguide]

Top man!

[@maxnicholls7254]

For a very similar reason my daily is a "95 XJS convertible and despite popular misconceptions it has been utterly reliable

[@mattb4353]

Save the planet and buy an old car.

[@stocksxbondage]

Exactly! Give tax credits for buying 20+ year old cars if it’s really about the environment.

[@svonkarmo433]

I am driving a 24 years old car and happy to see this video.

[@thomash2806]

That’s my all-time favourite car, the C126. I fully intend to buy one soon. It will replace the 2002 W220 S320 petrol that cost me €2250 3 years ago and that I run as a daily. I’ve done 50k km and I get 7.5l/100km (37 uk mpg) on a run, 9 (31) on average. My mum had an automatic 1.4 Corsa that struggled to get 30mpg… So yes, I think with a light foot the fuel consumption figures of the 126 will be surprisingly good.

[@GeelongVic7140]

This car speaks of Peak Mercedes era, without a doubt.

[@taylorjs2534]

As someone below stated (maybe others too), the old vs new comparison is interesting, but it isn't fair to bring 'EV' into the story. Pick any new expensive car, and you'll come to the same conclusion. Also, as good as that car is, if it breaks, who will fix it? I have a 2001 BMW 525i as a daily driver. It cost $6K Canadian 6 years ago, has >200K kms, and is amazing (so I appreciate your video). But, I fix it. People buy new cars so they don't have to. That's not a revelation.

[@harpo7226]

Always wanted one of them in black. After watching roadhouse. 😂😂😂😂

[@jonwarshawsky5288]

Well done - really enjoyed this. I’d add that Mercedes, BMWs and Porsches of that era have a panache unmatched by anything in showrooms today. To be fair, though, you’re going have service and potentially expensive repairs on an older Mercedes, whereas a Taycan on a four-year lease is effectively free in this regard. Still, the depreciation is steep.

[@javic1979]

he added 2000pounds per year for maintenance. so that 8000 pounds over 4 years or 32,000 mile would be more than enough

[@oliverlondon5246]

I really love this car. My family had a 500 SEC in baby blue metallic back in the days

[@JohnJoannou-xq5rq]

My uncle had a 420SEC, went to Cyprus and back in it. Loved every bit of it. Them were the days of Mercedes and they are long gone now. Good looking machines and they are not really looking their age!

[@shabbos-goy9407]

must have got a bit wet!

[@BernardAsare-bh9gp]

To understand the amount of distance traveled ɓy your uncle, I need to know where he traveled from and to what area in Cyprus

[@free_gold4467]

Paphos to Larnaka? 😂

[@free_gold4467]

Was that the 'James Bond' version?

[@sebastiend.5335]

Next time please let us have a listen on both horns!! ;) Greetings from the Netherlands

[@pandras8312]

Great video! Couple of interesting things about the c126: The philosophy of the mirror adjustment is as follows: Mercedes at the time figured using a switch in the centre console and looking down to do it would be more dangerous than a simple manual knob, so they made the driver's side wing mirror manually adjustable. Since you will probably use and adjust it more frequently than the passenger side, the safety precaution works. However, when it is time to adjust the passenger side mirror, using a centrally mounted switch is still less risky compared to reaching across the cabin while driving, so they went with that as you tend to adjust it more rarely. The exterior door handle was never black but also never color matched, it was always a blurry grey color. Many SEC owners had them repainted, including Bruno Sacco himself, having admitted that the grey door handle was a visual flaw. Thankfully they never made a diesel c126, the OM617 and later OM603 engines were only offered in North American market saloons, with 300/350 SD/SDL model designations, depending on engine model and wheelbase. The c126 was not the first Mercedes coupe with automatic seatbelt arms, I believe it was introduced as early as the c114.

[@lebojay]

I went with the XJ-S. No regrets.

[@UberLummox]

Cool looking. How long have you had it?

[@romac9516]

You chose the best looking car ever to exist sir. Enjoy.

[@UberLummox]

@@romac9516 Really????? 1960s cars says hi...

[@nigelbond4056]

Me too 👍

[@romac9516]

@@UberLummox 😢

[@laurencehastings7473]

When cars werem't computers. When every garage could repair it.

[@eoinosullivan2636]

Love my C126 560 SEC. Great review, Jack.

[@sjjw43]

My Dad owned 3 of these from new, a 380, 420 & 560. The 380 & 420 he did 80,000 miles in 2 years each (he was a busy guy) & between the two the only non cnsumable failure was a broken spring. The 560 was fab & I was old enough to drive this. He acme from series 2 & 3 Jaguar XJ6's culminating in a Damilar Double 6 Vanden Plas that set fire on the A1! Within 2 weeks he secured the 380 sec that a customer had failed to make the final delivery payment on otherwise he would have waited 2 years for one. He order the 420 sec after the first year with the 380 sec. Thank you for your video's!!

[@sjjw43]

I saw a 500 sec yesterday in a supermarket carpark & I was suprised how small it looked compared to modern cars. At the time it was an imposing car that people looked at. Now it can seem low key.

[@Bob-nu3xe]

you were lucky we never had a car!

[@sjjw43]

@@Bob-nu3xe Do you have one now?

[@christianvanneuves9958]

The heady days of the mid 1980s, when having a Mercedes on contract was something that could be sold on at a substantial profit. Mercedes employees got their Benzes with a discount and could sell them ("Jahreswagen") after a year for better than full new price. The situation may have been somewhat different with RHD cars.

[@motorfab7014]

Bruno Sacco's masterpiece

[@ilmelangolo]

with the R129!

[@antoniocalimero1173]

The C124 look the best.. its perfect

[@TheModmc]

>an old mercedes looks better than an old bmw unsubscribed ;P

[@brokenwidget3828]

😂😂😂

[@Number27]

😆😆😆😆

[@vittorio870]

Back when Mercedes Benzs were over made to LAST !! ❤

[@bobdobalina838]

You're driving on the wrong side of the road!! . . . from the passenger seat! ( Side note: a saloon is something that a cowboy would burst into and yell "draw pardner!)

[@ranjanaluwihare1511]

Gosh, the last of the true Mercedes engineering & bullet proof build quality RIP! 😢

[@cliffcrabtree4359]

I had a Mercedes Benz 190E years ago, lovely 2.0 automatic. Drove like a big Merc. Wish I still had it. The bonnet opening was even sweeter on the 190E, you released the bonnet catch inside the car ,and a little tab popped out of the front grille, pulling in that released the safety catch. So well built like all the Benz of that time, never been the same since.

[@Dreyno]

The VW Passat 1998-2005 had the same feature. Far better than fishing around blindly for the catch.

[@melcu1990]

ive got an '89 built 190E 2.0 auto just like yours was, bought it in 2022 and its a bit of a dog but still beautiful to drive. mot on monday, wish me luck...

[@Leonardo555ZZZ]

At 1.33 the W203 is pictured , which was designed by Hartmut Sinkwitz.

[@philip4193]

I've got one of these (an '83 380SEC) and driving it around town & on the freeway it feels similar in performance, braking and handling to a modern car; I sometimes forget that I'm actually driving around in a 40 year old car with 155K miles on it when I'm behind the wheel. Sure it doesn't have all the screens, gadgets & gimmicks of contemporary vehicles but it is also so much more of a driver's car that you really don't need all that stuff; the large greenhouse and lack of B-pillars gives the driver outstanding all-around visibility and offsets the need for blind-spot sensors and parking assist etc. And one thing most modern vehicles can't compete with are those wonderful soft, comfortable but supportive front seats; modern car seats tend to be firm bordering on hard and I find myself with an aching lower back & sore backside after a few hours behind the wheel in them. These are wonderful old cars and unfortunately an end of an era too, as vehicles of this high a level of engineering design, materials and build quality are just too expensive to make today.

[@ralfhtg1056]

One of the best looking Mercedes ever! And I alwys find it astonishing that in the UK and in the US the fuel consumption is measured by taking a certain amount of fuel and look how far you can get with it, while many other european countries take a certain distance (100km) and look how much fuel it takes to get there.

[@ssadelaidian3811]

There was a time when Australia used miles per gallon. These days it is litres per 100 km. I've always thought it should be km per litre. This makes it easier to mentally calculate how far you can travel on a full tank or to estimate how many litres you need if you already know the distance.

[@ralfhtg1056]

@@ssadelaidian3811 well, I know the habbits and range of my car. Simple Observation.

[@arthurdardalis]

Another Sacco masterpiece, makes me really sad that Mercedes today has average quality and lower down its range, Renault engines. A complete disgrace but this is the result of spotty faced marketers being allowed to have an opinion. Carl Benz must be turning in his grave.

[@derekheeps1244]

A W126 a modern luxury car . I had three of them , all at the same time ! best S Class of the various ranges .

[@nk53nxg]

This car must have looked like a spaceship in 1979 😂, I was born in 1980 and grew up in a motoring family and Merc of this period were so futuristic and advanced compared to almost every other car maker, I remeber the 190, SL and SlCs the most. The style of this Merc is timeless and very restrained and classy. The early 2000's C and E class were the start of the rot, the early 2000s E class with its bug eyed lights, slabby side profile and ugly arse end were hideous compared to this styling gem. Those late 90's early to mid 2000s Mercs were also rust buckets, I know, I was a body tech.

[@leenevin8451]

Looks better than an early 70s 6 series

[@davidcharles7446]

My 1989 560 SEL, purchased from the original owner, has been with me for almost 12 years. It is a hobby car, not a daily driver, in pristine condition. I have absolutely no intention of parting with it. The most common words people use to describe it is “beautiful car.” Totally agree. Yesterday I drove it on a 300 Km round trip which was mostly at 110 KMH on a highway. It still beats most other modern cars. One thing I noticed following them is that they are more affected by bumps in the road. Whereas the S class is stable and unperturbed. Yes, they truly are better than modern luxury vehicles!

[@marcelhandsome6042]

I remember driving behind one of these in North London last year and was captivated! in a dark matt black C reg 1986 version and it looked absolutely AWESOME! upstaged everything on the road! made every car look so ordinary and ugly in comparison! This car like a Merc W124 will last forever!! unlike the brand-new Mercs.

[@AaronRandolphChen]

Love this! Love the design too. I had a '86 420 SEL in the US when I lived there. The engine idle was so smooth that you had to look at the tachometer to know if the engine was running or not. What a marvelously refined V8 that was.

[@johnmarsh2078]

The mercedes is a breath of fresh air environmentally compared with the filthy electric vehicles. Firstly the Merc's carbon footprint disappeared many years ago. The environmental cost of mining its steel and aluminium and the oil used in its plastics and paint were subsumed many years ago, so only the petrol it uses and new tyres etc have any impact on the environment.A Tea-can on the other hand requires LOADS of mining not only for its steel and aluminium but for cobalt by children in DRC but also loads of diesel oil for diggers and compressors , and the spoiling of forest for mines. Then there's the problem of the water used in the processing of Lithium. Then the fire risk and the disposal of old batteries and the fact that PRC is the world leader in battery production. Electric cars should be banned for the way the third world is exploited. If the EU can ban the making and importing of hexavalent chromed parts (good luck with that EU) then it should ban EVs.

[@iarpak]

I was a teenager in the '80's and fell in love with German cars. Back when they truly were head and shoulders above everything else. And the SEC is my all time favorite. Agree completely with you, this is one of the best modern Mercedes designs. Absolutely love it, and love the saloon as well. Thank you for this video. Loved it. Edit: I am from the USA. Love your channel, as well as Harry's.

[@THECONTROVERSIALCYCLIST]

Oh yes, this is where its at. Beautiful engineering to the max, and just sublime looks with car manufacturers willing to take up the mantel and admit what was better and try to beat them..... This was a Golden era.... More please

[@jonathanjackson9208]

We never had an SEC diesel in North America. The only diesels we had in the W126 were sedan based variants. We also never had the 420 either. We had the 380, 500, and 560 in later years. I personally had a 300SE in that exact color and loved driving that car even though its wasn’t all that powerful!

[@vornamenachname5589]

He got this wrong. Diesel was only available for the sedan.

[@richardscott4631]

I know you don’t like them, but I have a 1989 300SL. And love it. My ‘daily’ is a 2010 Audi A8 (which is great), but I’m now looking for a Merc W126 se (I need the 4 doors on my daily). This era of Mercedes are just timeless and they’re so well built, they put newer cars to shame. I’ve run the numbers so many times and running a new car is, in my eyes, a colossal waste of money.

[@phillipevans9414]

R129 and W126 are peak Mercedes and my two personal favorites, and would be looking to acquire one of each to play with in a few years when I retire. I am with you on new cars being a waste of money too. Surely used/classic (ie "100% recycled" cars) make more sense both economically and environmentally. Cheers!

[@richardscott4631]

@@phillipevans9414 mines actually an R107, but yeah, the 129 is also a great car

[@michaelarchangel1163]

A bloke here in Burry Port had a 560 one in white but doesn't have it now. Still has two Bentleys, and Audi A8 mk1 and his late dad's Jag XJ6 though. Be honest Jack, when that seat belt came out, you were dying to say. 'Ooh, I 'ate you Butler'.

[@howardsportugal]

This era of merc really was the end of the line in terms of absolute quality - love them! I had an E320 & it was a brilliant car...biscuit leather, metall8c light blue...would have kept it forever except that it saved my life when I was hit at 70mph whilst stationary.

[@BanjoLuke1]

Yes, it is a silly comparison, but it is valid. My wife runs a 2010 Saab Cabrio as a work car and it is: A. Lovely to be in. B. Absurdly cheap to run. C. Reliable. Of course, there are occasional "big costs" on a car with six-figure mileage, but over a tax year or over the life of the car, the maths make sense. It was a good era for cars... Heated seats and powerful aircon. Cruise control. Funky adjustable intermittent wipers. Six gears, all of them madly long. A funky cup holder. Lots of leather. And on a nice day, no roof.

[@montazownianr1]

ugly

[@bandidol200]

Beautiful design, don't forget the Bruno Sacco penned the R129 SL's and co-penned the R230 SL's as well. Fabulous car you've got there! 😎

[@kettle_of_chris]

If I had the money, I'd buy a triple black 560SEC, do an LS7 engine swap (and everything that goes with it) and use it as my daily driver. For me, new cars inspire about as much passion as 5 pounds of Tofu.

[@ThorneyedWT]

In this era of Mercs go for diesel and you'll have decent mileage too. They are bulletproof, parts are still mostly available, and what's hard to buy is easy enough to rebuild. Next step would be to slap on turbo (or bigger turbo if it already has one), and that won't really hurt reliability much. Engines are so overbuilt that people are doubling stock horsepower and keep driving for several hundred thousands km without any problems. The biggest downside is rust. They had good paint but it was long-long time ago.

[@Schlipperschlopper]

Please Rover SD1 Dual Plenum V8 Vitesse hand shifted and Corvette C3 1972 or 1973 Convertible hand shifted roadster!!!

[@berwhaletheavenger]

The 124 Coupe looks much sharper to me. A pre facelift 300CE in a dark colour - and absolutely standard - would do me.

[@benjaminvolant2469]

I'd have this over pretty much any EV. Pure class.

[@JamesGadbury]

I presume the Merc is now road tax and MOT exempt? I can relate with this old German delight. Back when I think the Germans were on top of the automotive world with many classes of car. Jack, I'd love for you to try out and road test my car one day. I'm running a 1990 Audi 90 20v and regularly use it for weeks at a time throughout the year. Audi didn't produce many of these. The 2.3 20v 7A engine was only in production for a couple of years (circa 1989-91) before Audi dropped the normally aspirated inline 5 pots and 90 model for their new V6 and next generation B4 Audi 80, losing one of their USPs in the process. I think Audi made a big engineering effort with the outgoing 90 20v model (gunning for the 325i), but it was marketed poorly and got overlooked. Potential buyers assumed 6 cylinders were better than 5 (debatable!), and Audi didn't yet have the reputation of their direct competitors BMW and Mercedes. Owners though, seem to either lovingly hold on to them or hold fond memories. Barely anyone else remembers them. Actually, outside of classic Audi enthusiast circles, and in the 23 years I've owned it, I've never met anyone that knew exactly what the 90 20v model is. Visually and externally, very understated. It's one that hides everything under the skin. The design, quality, comfort, performance, ergonomics and driving feel still holds up today. All smooth and reassuringly solid. The body is galvanised. The old Audi's relative simplicity, usability, individuality and ease/cost of maintenance surpasses modern cars imho. Fuel consumption is the biggest issue, and I worry about parts availability over time. It averages 32 mpg, will do 35mpg on a motorway run at 75mph but it's no slouch. 0-60mph in 7.5 seconds, a 140mph book speed, it can cruise at 80-90mph effortlessly and has a range of 500 miles - quite capable, still! ABS, discs all round, power steering, 5 speed manual and the glorious sound of a straight 5 cyl engine redlining to 7k+ rpm. I bought mine when it was 9 years old for £2,500 with 90,000 miles on the clock. Now at 218,000 miles, I've covered nearly 130,000 miles in it and never plan to sell it.

[@thedarkknight1971]

I LIKE 'Older cars' for many reasons, ONE BEING, they're easier to work on and modify/upgrade WITHOUT ALL these little annoying separate computers/control modules and such moaning that you've changed the bulbs to LEDs (for example), or done 'This' wrong or 'That's' not right beep this, error code that lol. Also, like he says, designs, they are SO different, not like nowadays where it's all jelly mold boxes... Uniqueness, easier to work on and tweak/upgrade without needing a bloody laptop/reflash etc... 😏👍 It might not be a well known classic (or even considered a 'Classic' though it's named as one lol), but, I REALLY miss my '88 VW Polo 1.3 Classic (2 door saloon) in white white trim, bumpers and... a black rubber boot spoiler! woohoo! 🤣, it was a bloody good car! 😎🇬🇧

[@detonator2112]

This era of Mercedes is the best. Strange that you didn't notice that the US models had much higher stance which makes it look a bit weird. In the Euro specs' lower stance it looks much much better.

[@09juliancarr]

I would love something like this, but living in London makes it impossible. This would be £12.50 per day for ULEZ and another £15 per day Congestion Charge if I use the car! - which is a further £18,250 over 4 years for ULEZ and if I used the car 3 days a week, another £9,360, which kills the comparison. Problem is, if you live in London, it is a challenge to buy a fully electric car, as I do not have off street parking! So... I ride a bike!

[@SimonWallwork]

I still run an Audi S8 from 1999. There were some great motors made then- your Merc is a honey.

[@trevorsanders5303]

The 560 SEC is the best car Mercedes ever made

[@paultucker1272]

Wonderful car. Growing up watching Miami Vice though, these need to be an AMG or Lorinser full fat versions.....relative subtle (for the day) bodykits, lowered and nice multi-spoke wheels. No self respecting Miami drug lord would be seen in anything less lol

[@tim1polman]

I've been daily driving a couple of Saabs now for the past 4 years. I wholeheartedly agree that you dont miss out in terms of luxury. (My Saab 9000 Aero was cheap, because it wasnt mint. Sorted the engine, and chipped it (255hp/450nm now) so it can hold its own in traffic quite well. Its got cruise control, heated seats, sunroof, parking heater, electrically adjusted seats, 1800kg towbar, huge boot. I mean, i think its brilliant.

[@Schlipperschlopper]

Please Rolls Royce Camargue Pininfarina and Peugeot 604 Gti hand shifted saloon.

[@RUfromthe40s]

why call it 2nd generation S-class as it only was refered to in the 90´s ,if so this is the 5th generation or what is the rule to call it S-class?i would be interested to know, the other 3 generations don´t count and why is it so?i know people who worked for Mercedes their entire lifes in diferent european country´s, also don´t know it, one was the owner of the SEC from the 80´s i own, but my first S-class as it´s called today was a 1962 230S ,the older body and excelent car in every senses and even being heavier and old it´s easier to drive compared to a fiat uno/punto or a renault 5/clio from the 80´s or 90´s in older and less large roads in older streets from the city where i live maybe the oldest city in Europe, interior south of Portugal ,Beja(check it, i live 300 meters from the castle at the most) other thing i don´t understand is having automatic gears it seems not good for this type of car or any other sport or so called now super cars, it´s dangerous because any one without any experience driving more powerfull cars would easilly crash as it happens so often with 16 year old kids who their fathers have money but no sense of security, about mirrors ,you´re talking to a at the time best cars in the world ,so you prefer both rearview mirrors on the door to be manual but the far side mirror it would be not pratical to be handled ,maybe you forget that at this time this function was never yet seen on more common brands even the 73 mercedes cars are like no other at the time built ,or the most comercial brands would seem like chiken cages while mercedes had systems that even today no car as it, so 85 electric mirror control you think they both could be like that, but you even said it it´s logic to be like that, and was a very expensive car at the time and today there are not many of this allthough 5 years ago i bought from trhe first owner a second SEC in mint condition ,only didn´t had alloy wheels but the iron wheels with a plastic cover but more well done than all cars today and it looks good, in the 70´s it was said that the best cars in the world were mercedes and rolls royce ,it´s just a matter of seeing other cars from the same year and then tell me which were like those two brands i refer,i also have a jaguar coupé from the 70´s and doesn´t have so many features, i only bought it because i after driving a rolls royce silver shadow that had permit from citroen to use their hidraulic suspenction, i waited some years and they wouldn´t become less expensive but the first time i saw it´s coupé i wanted one but even more dificult to find ,this in 76 and ended up buying the jaguar coupé or the XJ ,i think .The four door version was released in 1970 or around it, even 80´s cars had not this all more modern functions, i have a renault 5 turbo from mid 80´s that was only sold in metalic blue and red ,didn´t had nothing of the mercedes features only r.p.m. counter that at the time wa very rare to see in cars, regular ones as today all have them, you could have power windows but pay a litle more money, well not so litle as i also bought in 88 a fiesta 1.4S ,the RS wasn´t allowed to be sold because of all or 99% of them crashed with a 1.6 engine, in the first year but had the RS cosworth Sierra built in Belgium by this time and didn´t had automatic control of the side mirrors ,so you judge the car by today standarts who reveals that todays cars or most of them are not safe at all and compared to this one would have to be known by the perfect car as i own from 76 and also 84 ,two 6 series coupés from BMW as called now. the diesel versions only released in the U.S. and CANADA happened also with the C123 ,i bought one from Canada but had those huge bumpers that in wintertime one can seat and drink some beers and feel the heat coming from the engine to next catch some waves with surf boards and very economical at the time compared to the 230 or 280 engine on the C123 gasoline cars at the time diesel was so cheap that the diference in price was maybe 1/5 of the gasoline, nice feature ,the front bumper and being diesel that when i bought it i was seeing for the first time a diesel C123 in indigo blue metalised paint ,also it had the two round lights to the american market instead on the two also round lights but covered in total by glass

[@danf4447]

ac goes out..1000 for compressor. evap goes out. whole dash has to come out 18+ hours of shop time plus 450. of evap coil. several carbs for cold start then warm start that go bad. if it ever ever overheats a bit the aluminum head warps, resulting in a head gasket failure and then re-milling the head if you can back to specs so it doesnt fail... oh yeah... great. thats 5-7k in repairs there already. trust me. run. buy a jag buy a volvo . buy anything else

[@myredute]

Still suffers from the things I don't like about my W124 E280. Reticulated ball steering, throttle lag because of the long throttle cable, lack of central locking & roof lining falling in!

[@blackvulcan3]

I've stuck with my 2014 Audi TDi Quattro for similar reasons. I do around 5000kms a year and new cars cost a fortune and depreciate. My car is the last of the cars without all the interrupting 'safety' features. Its frugal enough, has plenty of torque and with the Audi dual exhaust sounds fabulous, not like a sewing machine. I will keep my car for a while yet, do some modest upgrades (I have 19 inch rotors on the way & blacken the badges to modernise it a touch) but otherwise its a great car, reliable (as I've always serviced it) & since I own it outright costs me pennies to run.

[@neilturner6749]

Jack - a mint 560SEC is around £50,000, not £20,000 ! I think you might have confused saloon with coupe prices

[@Affalterbach1967]

Maintenance costs could be much higher, and you suffer downtime waiting for the garage to get parts and complete the job. But still, you save thousands over a depreciating high end electric car.

[@wjekat]

What you calculate has always been true, under optimal conditions of course it‘s cheaper to run a used car than a new car. The only real value of a new car is the new car guarantee. The risk of a used car always is an unbudgeted catastrophic mechanical failure. They will occur, even with a golden era Mercedes…..

[@Wargasm54]

I had a chance to buy a 560SEC for peanuts about 20 years ago. Still kicking myself in the ass for not getting it.

[@Shane-zx4ps]

They were the best built barge until the Lexus LS400 came out in 1989, which rewrote the rule book on how to build a luxury car

[@joserasak]

W126 with facelift are the best S class in terms off design. those times were graet, engeneers making cars, not managers.

[@arconcritter]

Further to your discussion of the reasoning behind the huge door handles. I had a conversation with a Mercedes salesman back in the 80’s at the Toronto Auto Show, where Mercedes had a huge display focusing on the safety features in their cars. Looking at a 560 SEC, I was told that the reason for the large non-flush handles was so that in the event of a catastrophic accident, the rescue services could put a winch line on the door handle and literally rip the door off. The reinforcement of that handle assembly into the door frame itself is substantial as could be seen from the cutaways MB had in their display. The good old days when Mercedes engineered things in their own bank-vault way 😊 Oh and the door handles here in Canada were chromed and looked 👍🏻

[@woodrimcars2324]

Great video and not a silly comparison I'm 62 and don't want EV or Hybrid been driving a 96 Jaguar XJ6 4.0 for 9 months trouble free here in France works perfectly for me. Must point out I'm too young for a Mercedes Benz but a nice 635 with a manual box would be nice.

[@rolandkeith5322]

These are a no budget build back in the day and my 1989 420 SEC is still every bit as good as when it was new.

[@Bowl_of_roses]

Great car - and absolutely right about electric cars - they should be lighter and use less energy. All the efficiency gains of petrol and diesel car engines over the last few years have been sacrificed to greater size and weight, and electric seems to be going the same way.

[@brokenwidget3828]

You always choose cars of interest to me, thank you for the great content 🎉

[@JMc.D]

The other use of the ridged lights was that in snowy climates the snow would accumulate on the back lights. The air would get pulled into the recesses and the snow would fall off.

[@MacarthurfitnessequipmentAu]

I'm not surprised by the figures. Its the reason I daily drive classics like a W126 300SE, W140 400SEL and a few others. I get to drive cars that I absolutely love for the fraction of the junk thats sold these days.

[@glenoh88]

It used to look good, then outdated (boxy) then good again! It will be timeless going forward.

[@LorenzoWood]

The driver’s side mirror was manual because it gives you easier, more precise control of the position than you got with the electric actuator, and because it means you didn’t need a mode selector for the mirror joystick. Like the larger passenger side wing mirror in the W124, it’s a lovely example of a detail that’s there because it works.

[@SpiritualStuntman]

The difference in build quality between then and now is embarrassing. I miss those old cars.

[@stephenricketts7764]

A very nice car with the pillarless doors they really set it off. It wafts along so gracefully and I think that the engine is very capable. An interesting comparison I think if a little silly as you say but I understand your point Jack. A great review thanks. 👍👍

[@babelhuber3449]

While the Taycan comparison is a bit unfair (most Taycans are company leasing in one way or the other, or are leased by rich guys who don't care), it's true that this era was peak reliability: The eighties cars didn't rust like in seventies and had simple technology. No turbochargers, no direct injection and ridiculously low hp per liter of engine displacement: With 230hp and 4.2 liters, it has about 55 hp/l. Today's 4l V8 have at least 450hp, which is 112.5hp/l. A 2l 4 cylinder 230hp engine has 115hp/l. The BMW M30 six cylinder engine from this era is called "Eisenschwein" (iron pig) in Germany because it's so difficult to kill 😂

[@SDK2006b]

Exactly - most EV’s of this price are obtained through company schemes, where due to lower Benefit in Kind (BIK) tax the monthly price isn’t LOL. My £80k EV (BMW iX) is costing me about £25k over 3 years for 12k miles pa, and that includes insurance, maintenance and tyres. I charge at home for 7.5p kWh, or from my home solar, so less than 2p per mile☀️⚡️👍🏻

[@johncalberg1573]

It was actually replacing the SLC which is why that series stopped. The SL continued

[@markiehunter5535]

I owned a 500SEC (220k km - 450k km) and it was largely trouble free. I installed new oil rails and a new timing chain at the start. New alternator brushes at about 250k km. From about 350k km the valve guides on one cylinder began to leak a bit of oil, and the spark plug on that cylinder required cleaning every so often. A magnificent vehicle.

[@johanankarback6821]

Theese were one of the best cars ever made when they came out and it is absolutely one of the best looking cars ever made too.

[@johan8724]

I have a 89 model 560 sec bit rusty here and there but runs fine

[@HTOP1982]

It's not a broken market. The only thing broken is that people overpay for hyped up cars like the Taycan.

[@leenevin8451]

Highest depreciating car in uk currently

[@HTOP1982]

@@leenevin8451 For good reasons too. It's an EV, so the pool of buyers is not large. It's an expensive Ev, smaller still. It's not an SUV, smaller still. It's not that good looking, smaller still.

[@leenevin8451]

@@HTOP1982 I’d love an ev because I need to save my money and not spend it on fuel. Ironically they’re too expensive

[@HTOP1982]

​@@leenevin8451 Being poor is expensive! EV's make a lot of sense for a lot of people, provided they get the right car, at the right price, and can charge it the right way- at home. There are plenty of 2020 Nissan Leaf's hitting the 11K GBP mark now. and at that price point, it's a tempting proposition. Even on finance, less than 170 pounds over 48 months!! Provided you charge at home!! because of you charge on the road, you are going to pay about the same as petrol or diesel, and could have bought the equivalent car for 3 grand...

[@jonathanfrankel6787]

I remember pages of these on Ebay for under a grand , in the mid naughties.