Random thoughts. I had a 190SL...

[MichaelB.]

I like the car, but the 113SL is SO MUCH of a better car. In every department.

I hear so many people fawn over the 190 but I guess even after a pleasant ownership and wild appreciation I still prefer the 113 I have today.

[Ulf]

I guess the fuzz about the 190 SL is due to it's rounded, more 50's look and the resemblance to the big brother, the 300 SL Gullwing.
I wouldn't mind having a 190 complement my 230 SL, but I also know which one would get the most use ;-)

Ulf

[thelews]

Comparisons between the two cars are useless, they are a generation apart.  You might as well compare the 113 to a Ford.  I have both.  The 113 is a much more modern car, has a 6 cylinder fuel injected engine, is built to much closer tolerances and has power steering and air.  The 190 SL is far more vintage, doesn't fit as well, no power steering, 4 banger and not engineered from the ground up like the 113 was.  But, most everyone will agree that the 190 SL is higher on the eye candy scale.  I also find the car (with 205/70-14 tires and 14" wheels) to be smoother riding than my 250 SL and the seating position and viewpoint of the driver are entirely different.  113s are easier to keep running well, so there are more well running 113s out there.  Not much is worse than a poor running 190 SL, and I know too well about that!  But, when the 190 SL is running as designed and hitting all four flawlessly, she's one sweet boulevard cruiser.  I just came back from a 1000 mile trip in mine and it was wonderful.

[JamesL]

PLEASE don't tell me the underside of the 190 and it's engine bay are as clean as your 250


 

[MichaelB.]

PLEASE don't tell me the underside of the 190 and it's engine bay are as clean as your 250

For some reason... I bet they are! 

[thelews]

http://www.flickr.com/photos/8292359@N06/sets/72157603042682741/show/

But, like I said, I drive it and just went 1K miles with it, the last 200 in rain and bugs and 70+ mph.

It took me time, but it looks just like the pictures in the link again.

[Richard Madison]

I was introduced to the 190SL's when I happened on a 190SL "Convention" being held at West Point NY maybe 10 years ago. There must have been 30 or 40 190's gathered near the West Point's Thayer Hotel...quite an impressive sight. The cars were real beauties, adorned in pastel and fun car colors from the 1950's.

I was driving a Havana Brown 1971 280SL and asked if I could walk around. Our own Dan Caron (Dr. Benz), one of the hosts, let me park (but to the side, of course) and take a look. The cars were in excellent condition and looked like fun to drive although I guessed they'd be a little noisy, bumpy, and chilly in cold weather.

I'd describe 113's as Sporty Touring cars while 190SL's are real Sports cars...a tiny engine but more than adequate to keep the 190's moving very nicely.

I spoke to some of the drivers. A few had driven long, very long distances to get to the the event...cross country treks are not unusual for 190SL's.

I met the other host, Jim Villers. Jim was very familiar with 190's as well as 113's. He said (if I remember correctly) 190's were pure collector cars while 113's could also be daily drivers. 190SL's go long distances to shows because shows are their reason for being.

I told Jim that it was great to have so many cars in one place, to see that the meeting was two or thee days long with receptions, dinners, seminars, and more. Why, I asked, can't 113 cars gather in one place for a several day event? (This was before this Group existed.)

Jim looked at me for a second, then said, "Organizing 113 owners would be like herding cats." They are a different breed of owners. Jim doubted that a 113 club could ever be formed.

Well, Jim might have been only partly correct. We do have this Group and we also have Pagoda University...but we still don't have the single annual get-together in the fashion of the 190's. I doubt many 113's would drive coast to coast to see other cars...and are we going to a dress up for a reception and dinner? I doubt it.

Sorry for going on but the 190 topic recalled the days of old before any real 113 group's were born.

Dan, thanks again for letting me park near the 190's that day so long ago.

Richard M, NYC

[MichaelB.]

http://www.flickr.com/photos/8292359@N06/sets/72157603042682741/show/

Now how did I know it would be that perfect?.. Well done.

BTW Richard. Nice write up there.

[MBfan]

http://www.flickr.com/photos/8292359@N06/sets/72157603042682741/show/

Now how did I know it would be that perfect?.. Well done.

BTW Richard. Nice write up there.

Hello Michael, thanks for the link, you got the car of my dreams!

[ja17]

Hello,

Yes, I must agree with John L.  A good 190SL is not really comparable to a W113 (" a different generation"). A 190SL was my first car, only car back then and I drove it every day for ten years . A good 190SL is a pleasure to own. A 190SL with problems can be a nightmare.

The W113 are a much more "modern" driving car.  Compare a 190SL not to the W113s but to the MGs, Alfas and Austin Healey Sports cars of the era (snap in plastic windows, leaky tops, poor electric, primintive seating)

[thelews]

I'd describe 113's as Sporty Touring cars while 190SL's are real Sports cars...a tiny engine but more than adequate to keep the 190's moving very nicely.

Here's a link to that convention   http://www.190slgroup.com/pic_stry/2002/2002_conv/W_P_conl.htm

I'd describe 113's as Sporty Touring cars while 190SL's are real Sports cars ... I'd disagree with this.  The 190 SL is not a sports car in the true sense of the word, they are boulevard cruisers, actually the first of the generation of SLs to come.  They are happiest going straight or on easy curves and sailing along in their smooth, relaxed, beautiful glory.  So, your description of the 113, while accurate, is also true of the 190 SL which gave birth to the concept.  Dare I say, my 190 SL is smoother riding than my 113.

BTW, the picture of my 190 SL above (in front of the rock house) and below (Mackinac Bridge and home) are from the same trip in Sept. to the MICH. convention.

[Peter van Es]

I told Jim that it was great to have so many cars in one place, to see that the meeting was two or thee days long with receptions, dinners, seminars, and more. Why, I asked, can't 113 cars gather in one place for a several day event? (This was before this Group existed.)

Jim looked at me for a second, then said, "Organizing 113 owners would be like herding cats." They are a different breed of owners. Jim doubted that a 113 club could ever be formed.

Well, Jim might have been only partly correct. We do have this Group and we also have Pagoda University...but we still don't have the single annual get-together in the fashion of the 190's. I doubt many 113's would drive coast to coast to see other cars...and are we going to a dress up for a reception and dinner? I doubt it.

Well, Jim and other doubters might be wrong. For the European Event more than 25 people drove their Pagoda over 1800 km's to attend, and a bunch of people flew in from the US and Australia... pretty much like for PUB. In total we had 66 attendees.

We had a fun filled programme with an official reception by the major in the medieval town we got together in, a great drive (sporty or leisurely, depending on driver and navigator) to a great auto-museum with a behind the scenes look at really special cars (a Mercedes-Benz W196 racing car, an Alfa 6C2300, Bugatti's and lots more), a formal dinner with people dressing up in 60's gear, prize giving and awards, wine tasting and lots of car talk in between.

I've created contact with other Pagoda groups (the pagodentreff.de group and the official German Pagoda SL group - of whom a representative joined our European Event for a day) to see if we can organize a joint 2013 50 years of Pagoda celebration!

So it can be done... I'm in conversation with some of the attendees to see if we can organize another European Event again... and there is the Australian initiative. My view is that as our cars get older, our owners will be more open to such initiatives.

Peter

[Larry & Norma]

That's nice to know Peter, can't wait for the next one! (Car fixed now )

[peterm]

Richard now I understand the nidus for our 113 meeting at the thayer more than a few years ago.  I think we had 16 cars and that meeting cost me a bundle.  As soon as I drove in Doug informed me I'd be needing new kingpins as the car was riding improperly.   Then this was wrong, that was wrong I was quite the novice.