[V8] retirement

[cobram at juno.com]

 diemarthadie at aol.com writes:

> 'encourage' people into newer models.  Cutting costs by ending 
> service 
> for models 20+ years old is a simple step for bean-counters.  Your 
> '80s 
> M-B could very easily find itself as abandoned as the V8Q in a 
> relatively short period of time.

There is no indication of this at all.  The opposite is actually
happening, Mercedes is and has always looked to enhance it's image by
having official parts and support for vehicles going farther and farther
back.  They even sanctioned the "old timers" project, and it's been very
well received.  Unless Mercedes decides to completely dump it's high end
line (when pigs fly) they have always realized that there is no better
advertisement for a new Mercedes than some guy seen driving around in a
50 year old Mercedes without a care.  

Not going into the merits of their new offerings, some of the new
Mercyless Benz's are incredible, and some of the others...well, you know.
 In the non-enthusiast segment, perception is everything (Volvo's decades
long "safety" propaganda is an example).  I spoke to the Mercyless Bends
zone rep for my area about a year ago, and he told me that the home base
was actively seeking out small suppliers for OEM parts which were getting
close to being NLA.  All this comes at a price of course, but the good
news is that the parallel (non-OEM) is also huge.  

I have an '87 300TDT wagon, there hasn't been one part I haven't been
able to get (not that it needs many), and have been surprised by how
cheap they were.  Some motherless POS in a pickemup backed into the rear
glass and took off.  After market for the glass was $350, Mercedes had it
for me in 2 days for $240 delivered.

Comparing year/year, a non scientific observation in my area has at least
100 Mercyless Benzes of the same vintage as my 200TQA and V8Q on the road
for every type 44 or lower.  As a matter of fact, mine is the ONLY type
44 I've seen on the road in a long time.  This might not indicate much in
some parts of the country, but not that long ago in my area Audi's of
this vintage were like Chevrolets in Dinah Shores era.  If I need a turbo
feed hose for the '87 300TDT, Mercyless Benz will have one here tomorrow
morning, for the 200TQA, Audi will just laugh.  And it's not numbers
either, the '87 300TDT was a one year car for Mercedes, and they can
still get just about anything for it.  And when you call for parts or
prices....they guy on the phone actually knows exactly what you're
inquiring about, no Abbot and Costello "what KIND of V8 Quattro is it?")

If Mercedes can't get it (some vehicles were never officially imported to
the US), someone in the world has it and is probably still making the
part.  A lister needed the steel injector hoses for a Unimog that was
probably exported unofficially by Rudolf Diesel to the US, it was an off
the shelf part in Brazil, since they're still making basically the same
engine there for the Sprinter Vans and small delivery trucks.

Audi...well, not so much.  Roger, you want to trade a nice V8Q parts car
or 2 for that rust bucket GMC?  My interests have shifted from AWD to 2
wheels in the last couple years, and am in the market for something to
ferry around CL and other acquisitions.

I don't know what's holding you there, but if I were able to retire I'd
head down to Arizona or some such, a friend sent me a listing for a
3000sq. ft. house (cost $205k to build) that's newer than your Audi's,
with an 8 car garage that has a 20 ft. ceiling, sitting on close to 5
acres of land with mountain view, sellers are asking for a whopping
$135,000.  You can't get a deeded parking space in this city for that.
 
BCNU,
Developer: Someone who wants to build a house in the woods.
Ecologist: Someone who has already built his house in the woods.