[mccombie_5]

I have planned ahead for next year, and ive budgeted for a 93-96 Fleetwood Brougham, but ive recently been drawn to the attention of the 92-99 Mercedes Benz S600/600SEL.

Im unsure of which to go for, because i would have to import a Fleetwood because there are very few in this country.

Cadillac Fleetwood Pros and Cons

+ Bulletproof LT1
+ nice body
+ Front Bench Seat
+ Rarity Value
+ Smooth enough to remove your own appendix in on the move

- Low MPG
- VERY large and difficult to park
- Left Hand Drive
- Expensive to import
- Wouldnt fit in my garage

Mercedes 600SEL Pros and Cons

+ VERY smooth 6.0 V12
+ 155mph Top speed
+ Bargain price
+ Right Hand Drive
+ Buletproof body, engine and interior
+ Parts readily available
+ Easier to park

- V12 Very thirsty
- Expensive to service
- Hard to find low miler
- Styling similar to E-Class of the time

I know im asking in a Cadillac forum, but im finding this really hard, bear in mind im in the UK and importing a Fleetwood would be very difficult

 

[I~LUV~Caddys8792]

Hmmmm....

A friend of mine has a 1989 Mercedes Benz 560SEL over here in Minnesota
It's a pretty fast car, compared to my Cadillac, it's interior and overall design is somewhat sterile and very european. His hasn't needed any major work so far, but from what i've heard, parts and service are quite expensive over here in the US. But i'd imagine it's less so in the UK. Mercedes over there are like Cadillacs here, nice and luxurious but somewhat common and not too exclusive. They are both gas hogs, as you could imagine. But actually, the enormous Fleetwood Brougham is better on gas. The S600 is rated at 13/19 mpg w/ the 5 speed auto or 13/16 with the 4 speed auto.
The Fleetwood Brougham is rated at 17/26 MPG. So there's one definite bonus to getting the Fleetwood. A drawback of the Brougham, atleast for europe is that it may be too large to navigate down those narrow streets. The Brougham was never designed with Europe in mind. But the S600 was, I assume it's much less floaty on the roads, and it probably handles better also. So basically, the Fleetwood Brougham is cheaper to run and rarer, but its harder to drive around in England, Where as the Mercedes is easier to drive around in England, its not as rare and its probably more expensive

 

[mccombie_5]

The early SEL's cost about £5k here, thats about $8k US, but they rise to about £15k ($25k) which will be nearer what im paying, if i get one it will be a 1997 or 1999. The FWB is bigger than my ESV, which will take up two spaces at my local Waitrose store, so im going to have difficulty. There arent that many S600s about, there are the 400 and 500 models, but i will have to look hard for a 600.

Ive seen one Fleetwood in the UK before, it had wedding ribbons on the front.....

 

[davesdeville]

Man, I parked my 75 Deville (230.7" long, 80" wide) in a compact car spot inside a parking structure. Parking can't be that huge of a deal.

 

[I~LUV~Caddys8792]

mccombie, I would personally go with the fleetwood brougham because NO ONE else has one in the UK. And it seems the only way to differentiate between the S600 and the S500 is the badges and wheels etc etc.

 

[Adam]

Man, I parked my 75 Deville (230.7" long, 80" wide) in a compact car spot inside a parking structure. Parking can't be that huge of a deal.

:yeah: . i dont think parking would be the issue. i forgot that UK roads were more narrow and that would be hard to drive that big ole thing down the road, but if you can do it in you ESV then the Fleetwood should be no problem. really it comes down to personal taste. i like Benz's (well kinda, more than bmw, hate those) but Caddylacs are my favorite and i think Fleetwood's look better so i am voting Fleetwood (but we all knew that). its whatever you want Craig, we will still like you (some of us anyway). i can see parts availability to, that might be tough. ok here's what you do, buy the Benz and buy a house in the US, buy a Fleetwood for your house in the States and you'll have your Benz for over there! everyone's happy (except you wallet/ wife :thumbsup: ).

 

[Adam]

this:

or this:

hmmm, tough decision. GLAD IT'S YOURS!!!!!!!!!!!!! id still go with the Fleetwood but that Benz is working me. i might add one of them to the collection here in a few years.

 

[mccombie_5]

I cant always park the ESV, sometimes it simply doesnt fit in the space, like i say i have to use two at Waitrose, and there arent any parking spaces at the side of the road to park it in, its too big to parallel park so imagine a Fleetwood.......

At a push i could buy both..... im going to need to replace the car i keep in Scotland soon, its a 1992 Vauxhall Cavalier and its not exactly the most wonderful car in the world, so if i get the MB and leave it up there, use it when were on holiday etc...?

http://www.trustvehicles.com/photos/silvervauxhallcavalier_k.jpg (cavalier)

I really like the SEL its a good looking car, and the Fleetwood is too. I just think a Mercedes would be easier to drive, especially in the area i live in, its small raods, sometimes single track....

I really want both! Claire would be a bit pissed off though, because shes looking for a new car too, she likes the current MB S class, i had an S500 a few years ago (2000) and it didnt match the SEL for build or looks.

Im going to have to think hard about this, i really like both cars

 

[Leloz]

If you have the money for maintenance, fuel, and insurance costs, go with the Mercedes!

I have a 1998 Mercedes S600 with a few AMG/Renntech upgrades and it has been the best vehicle I have ever owned. We bought it slightly used in 2000 and now it has 59,000 miles on it. Everything from oil changes, service schedules, to fuel will be more expensive than the Fleetwood. The 50,000 mile service was almost $4,000 alone. I have had a few problems here and there, but overall it has been an amazing vehicle.... with a MSRP of $141,000 it better be! I would never sell this car or trade it on a newer model because the W140 is the last of the great MB vehicles. Besides my old 1989 560 SEL, this was the best MB I have ever owned. Goodluck!

 

[mccombie_5]

I can maintain one no problem, its just faced with the glam factor of a Fleetwood against a MB.....

Im thinking of getting a MB now, and a Fleetwood if i can find a suitable one later...

My sister recently bought a 99 CL600 and that is also a beautiful car, but its about £10k more than a 99 S.


I want that V12 under my right foot!

Were they still available in Long Wheelbase format in 1999?

 

[Leloz]

Yes, long wheel base was available in 1999. From 1997-1999 you could also get the 4 seat option(rare here in the USA) and Navigation (not in the USA).

 

[mccombie_5]

Yes, long wheel base was available in 1999. From 1997-1999 you could also get the 4 seat option(rare here in the USA) and Navigation (not in the USA).

THe four seat optioned models of all cars tend to be more luxurious...... My Phaeton is for example.

I'll look for Navigation, i dont use those things much but my wife does....

I have about £25k to spend on one, i could get a CL for that money, but i think id rather have a LWB S600

S600 LWB:

Cost New ('99) £ 102475
Franchised Dealer £ 16630
Independent Dealer £ 15875
Private Good £ 14240
Private Poor £ 10585
Part Exchange £ 12095

CL600

Cost New ('99) £ 107775
Franchised Dealer £ 24155
Independent Dealer £ 23060
Private Good £ 20860
Private Poor £ 15920
Part Exchange £ 17570

The prices arent that bad, its about 15% of the original value for the S....

 

[mccombie_5]

Anyone else haev anything on this, im really stuck for this one, those Benzes are REALLY nice

 

[Leloz]

The Mercedes hands down, there is a reason why it costs $100,000 US dollars more than the Fleetwood. :thumbsup: You will not regret it, plus you already have a DHS, ESV, and STS.. :thumbsup:

 

[mccombie_5]

Well i would say the 320SEL i had in 1994 was worth double the price, they were the best Benzes......

That cost £55k ($90k US) and that was worth every penny. I wanted the 600 at the time but i couldnt justify spending £100,000 on a car, its strange thuogh, a year later i spent more than double that on a Bentley.......

anyway, now its about 15% of that i can

Im really tempted, the Fleetwood is something id really like, but its not the most practical car here........ the Merdedes can be used for any number of things

 

[davesdeville]

How much do Fleetwoods cost over there anyway? Or to import it or whatever? Because if you can pick up a good one for $5k, $30k isn't all that different from $25k when you look at it...

 

[mccombie_5]

I found some on Autotrader.com, Fleetwoods, i will have to find out how much import fees would be, anyone know how long, wide, and high they are??

Theres a gold one, in Florida, no milage, have emailed the vendor and asked about milage etc, its $8995 so add that to my budget and it takes me to £30k, which is about $50k US, but the Most expensive S is £10k below my top cap budget, so i can affords both really...

 

[mccombie_5]

OKay the dealer just emailed me, the car has 82k miles on it, its $8995, gold, Brougham package, no visable rust or other bodywork problems

 

[I~LUV~Caddys8792]

the broughams are 225.1" long, 78" wide, and 57.1" tall

If you want such a large land yacht, why not just get the biggest of them all?
The 1976-79 Lincoln Continental/ Town Car
233" long, 80" wide, and 55.2" tall. Its got a 460 cid V8, gets about 9mpg, and is soooooo cool

 

[mccombie_5]

the broughams are 225.1" long, 78" wide, and 57.1" tall

If you want such a large land yacht, why not just get the biggest of them all?
The 1976-79 Lincoln Continental/ Town Car
233" long, 80" wide, and 55.2" tall. Its got a 460 cid V8, gets about 9mpg, and is soooooo cool

LOL id rather have a Fleetwood Brougham