Getting old?

[Zephyr]

Or getting lazy?
Had a big drive with the wife's W124 convertible.
More than 150km distance following mostly B roads staying at speed limits and enjoying the scenery.
Compared to the Z3 and the MX5, the big and heavy Mercedes was like a sofa on wheels, absorbed whatever bump the road had, felt like a solid piece of granite when pushed hard on turns and also had the power to pull away from slow traffic as if it had double the hp that the factory declares.
Somehow it made me redefine my driving and made me adjust to its scope.
Marvelously cruising under the afternoon orange sunset, next to the sea, feeling the summer breeze and listening (from an outdated but so well designed stereo) to my favourite tunes.
All of a sudden I realized why the 124 is her item of passion and since we now have two of them, a coupe that I intended to sell and the convertible, with both of us getting their retirement, maybe it is time to settle and reconsider

why I am sharing this here?
well... have no friends who can understand, just some old farts driving SUVs to their local grocery shop, and no other social presence to get bashed at.

and keep in mind my initial forum name was intended to be "midlife crisis" but was taken, so I guess that this circle is about to make ends meet and that the "sporty roadster" chapter comes to an end...

Thoughts?

 

[t-tony]

Do what makes you happy!

Tony.

 

[ExMX5owner]

Or getting lazy?
Had a big drive with the wife's W124 convertible.
More than 150km distance following mostly B roads staying at speed limits and enjoying the scenery.
Compared to the Z3 and the MX5, the big and heavy Mercedes was like a sofa on wheels, absorbed whatever bump the road had, felt like a solid piece of granite when pushed hard on turns and also had the power to pull away from slow traffic as if it had double the hp that the factory declares.
Somehow it made me redefine my driving and made me adjust to its scope.
Marvelously cruising under the afternoon orange sunset, next to the sea, feeling the summer breeze and listening (from an outdated but so well designed stereo) to my favourite tunes.
All of a sudden I realized why the 124 is her item of passion and since we now have two of them, a coupe that I intended to sell and the convertible, with both of us getting their retirement, maybe it is time to settle and reconsider

why I am sharing this here?
well... have no friends who can understand, just some old farts driving SUVs to their local grocery shop, and no other social presence to get bashed at.

and keep in mind my initial forum name was intended to be "midlife crisis" but was taken, so I guess that this circle is about to make ends meet and that the "sporty roadster" chapter comes to an end...

Thoughts?

No comment me old mate....

 

[Duncodin]

I know exactly where you're coming from.

Been there. Done that. Got the TShirt.

I love the look of a super low BMW. Any beemer looks cool when lowerwd. A lowered merc, on the other hand, just looks like it's got broken springs.

But tell me we're going on 300 mile drive and you'd have to fight me for the MB124 keys.

 

[Jam03]

It’s not just one type of car that can make you happy. I think that is why people who love cars and have unlimited resources tend to have a wide variety of them. There’s no shame in getting old, or enjoying a more relaxed driving experience. Just disappointed you haven’t shared any photos of your trip

 

[Zephyr]

It’s not just one type of car that can make you happy. I think that is why people who love cars and have unlimited resources tend to have a wide variety of them. There’s no shame in getting old, or enjoying a more relaxed driving experience. Just disappointed you haven’t shared any photos of your trip

the wife has some good ones, will post later on a thread.
my photos themes

are mostly based on my weird interests

 

[RickyBobby]

Having had and sold so many Zed's I am starting to think cars are a lot like music. By which I mean you don't always want to drive the same thing.

I've reached that conclusion not just from the numerous Zed's I've owned but also from having a small number of other car's in the family that I use - let me elaborate.

I'll start with the current Z3 in the context of the other 19 I've owned. I'm on my 3rd 2.8 widebody and somehow I keep coming back to this variant. I just love the looks and for me it's the perfect combination of power, sound and the raw driving experience. I've been down the more power route with a couple of 3.0si's (E85 & E86) and the Z4MC and concluded that although they provide more power they result in me placing to much emphasis on the driving experience i.e. I drive them like a t**t and am always lucky to get out of them without a speeding ticket or need of a body repair shop (for me, the car or both). I've been down the less power route and had a couple of M44's and an M43 - loved them all and constantly kept telling myself they were perfectly adequate from a power perspective and were much better suited to the B-road driving I tend to do when I go out in the Zed. However, as much as I tried to kid myself I always lusted after the looks of the widebody and never quite came to accept the pre-facelift lumps. I e been down the more comfortable and practical route with 4 E89's and concluded that everything they are is everything they aren't i.e. to comfortable and refined and detach you from the driving experience when compared to the Z3. That said I always keep going back to them especially through the winter because I don't have a garage - fingers crossed that doesn't happen again now I have the hardtop

I guess that's why from a Zed perspective I've settled on the 2.8 - for now anyway. The other thing to mention is I also like to drive the Z3 because of the reactions it engenders from other car users and members of the public. I've had everything from that sounds lovely, that looks lovely, what is that, I remember those ...etc.

So the other car we have is an X-reg SAAB 9-3 SE automatic. I've had a few SAAB's Over the year's and although they drive crap I just love how they look and like the Z3 the reactions they engender. Very rarely do I take that car out and not bump in to someone who wants to recall the day they owned a SAAB or tell me about the one they own.

Then it's the Chrysler Grand Voyager - we bought this car when our 14 year old twins were born and we went to having 4 kids and 2 dogs. We've had the car so long the Mrs would never sell it - it is the ultimate workhorse. Camping and golfing trips and runs to the local skip or airport there is nothing it can't handle. It's the 2.8 diesel and I love driving it - the elevated driving position is great and 40mph feels like 70mph.

Finally the Tesla Model Y - this is now the preferred daily. Having previously had the Model 3 we went for the Model Y for a bit more space for the kids and dogs in the back. Have to say I love this thing it's smooth, fast and a great posing mobile to turn up to the golf club in (yes I am shallow). It's a company car so service and maintenance isn't an issue but we had the Model 3 for 4 years and in all that time it needed a couple of tyres and the air filters changing. Personally I love the EV experience and all the related technology - the Tesla constantly gets software updates that you download via wi-fi to benefit from new features like improved matrix headlights to speed camera warnings on the satnav. The only problem with the Tesla, aside from the roof not coming off, is the fact that you couldn't me more detached from the driving experience.

I could easily have made a case to keep every Zed I've owned but that's why I currently own the 2.8 alongside the others cars - in fact if I borrowed your W124 I'm sure I could make a case for getting one of those.

So like I said at the start cars are like music and if you can have more than one you will always find the perfect opportunity to drive them

 

[RickyBobby]

It’s not just one type of car that can make you happy. I think that is why people who love cars and have unlimited resources tend to have a wide variety of them. There’s no shame in getting old, or enjoying a more relaxed driving experience. Just disappointed you haven’t shared any photos of your trip

Amen to that!

 

[RickyBobby]

the wife has some good ones, will post later on a thread.
my photos themes View attachment 305395View attachment 305393View attachment 305391are mostly based on my weird interests

Is that a Cortina MK III - I always remember the Beige 2000E my dad owned?

He got the 2000E after his MKII Lotus Cortina was written off - god knows what that would be worth now?

 

[Zephyr]

Is that a Cortina MK III - I always remember the Beige 2000E my dad owned?

He got the 2000E after his MKII Lotus Cortina was written off - god knows what that would be worth now?

In Greece we had the Taunus. (a Cortina under a German name). So yes. Its a Cortina MK3

 

[andyglym]

I don't tend to take my Z3 out into the Lake District to much these days, I tend to use it in the Yorkshire Dales, Northumberland and the likes as the roads are smoother and don't rattle my fillings out. My 'go to' mode of transport is my bike as it soaks up everything the roads have to offer.

Easier to get in and out of too

 

[Synclare]

.

 

[Toby]

Nothing wrong with wafting along in a luxobarge soaking up all the undulations, listening to a bit of Matt Monro 'on days like this'

Just dont argue with a Bulldozer

 

[the Nefyn cat]

I don't tend to take my Z3 out into the Lake District to much these days, I tend to use it in the Yorkshire Dales, Northumberland and the likes as the roads are smoother and don't rattle my fillings out. My 'go to' mode of transport is my bike as it soaks up everything the roads have to offer.
View attachment 305429
Easier to get in and out of too

A bu**er to keep clean, though. Luckily there's a bloke in the Lakes that has a lot of cleaning products.

 

[Zephyr]

Mazda Mx5 sold.
For 2.300€ more than the price I paid for it.
Because clean car, summer and byuer said that he didnt even want to bother with negotiations. (Actually his son bolted himself to the seat and refused to get out unless his dad bought him the car).
Proud owner of two 124 series now.
Back in the 90s having the duo on my driveway would make my neighbours offer their daughters to be my wives with no questions asked.
30 years later, I am just a weird necrophiliac.
But who cares...

 

[AntStark]

Result! If I had to have one car for the rest of my life it would probably be a W124 sport line convertible.

 

[RickyBobby]

 

[AntStark]

Porsche built monster of a machine

 

[Jamezee]

Must admit that I do like to melt into my old e38 7 series and waft about with ease 80% of the time…however knees allowing and weather permitting the coupe and zeddy perk me up even if the coupe ride can tend to make me feel a wee bit nauseous on a blast .
When that perk me up smile feeling goes so will the cars. …..and I’ll get a qashqai

 

[Zephyr]

View attachment 305857

a man of good taste