R129 or R230 with rear bench? - MBClub UK

kbhogalW126 · 18-11-2007, 05:53 PM

Hi Folks!

I'm thinking about maybe swapping the CLK for either an SL500 R129 or R230 in the new year.

If I do this we will keep the C270 as our long distance family car with the 300 E-24 as my day to day run around.

My question is this though as we may want to occasionally take the impending wee one out with us for a trip in the convertible.

At present we can get a baby seat in the back or front of the CLK.

I know you can get a rear bench in the R129 which, in theory, you could fit a baby seat to.

Has the R230 ever come with a rear bench, as small as it may be?

Or should I just forget the SL's and look for a convertible W209 CLK?

Thanks in advance.

Regards,

KJ

stats007 · 18-11-2007, 06:00 PM

You can get seats made for the R230, but they weren't a factory option as far as I'm aware. I'm not sure you can fit a baby seat in the back anyway.

CLK would seem a more sensible choice if you have a family.

television · 18-11-2007, 06:07 PM

There is no way that you could fit any seat into the 230, the rear lids open for storage and to get to the CD changer, there is no room at all behind the seats and nothing to fit anything to

BTB 500 · 18-11-2007, 07:07 PM

The rear seats on an R129 only have lap belts, which may be an issue. I'd have thought a CLK would be the sensible option.

kjay · 18-11-2007, 08:01 PM

can you live without an SL though??

Me? I'm finding it tough

television · 18-11-2007, 08:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kjay

can you live without an SL though??

Me? I'm finding it tough

The SL is the only thing in my life, along with the forum full of nice members.

gl boy · 18-11-2007, 08:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by television

The SL is the only thing in my life, along with the forum full of nice members.

thats sad to here 1st words 2nd words thats nice.......

gl boy · 18-11-2007, 08:31 PM

you should go for the w209 clk great car for 4 adults unlike the the sl which is only got enough room for 2 ....plus the baby seat will be safer regards jon

nickg · 18-11-2007, 08:54 PM

you can get a baby seat in the rear of the 129. You need to get the lap belt converted to a 3 point belt but this is not difficult.
There is a place in Queensbury, NW London that does it for about £300.
I had it done on my previous car about 3 years ago and they did a v good job

kbhogalW126 · 18-11-2007, 09:18 PM

Thing is that we have 2 cars which are essentially the same thing - C270 and CLK270.

I want a bit of fun while keeping the C270 as our family car.

I like the pillarless look of the CLK but I wish it were a tin top convertible!

I don't really want a ragtop as then it's obvious that it's a convertible.

(My company don't allow Convertibles or sportscars to be used at work however a tin top isn't as obvious)

I am allowed to drive the CLK as it isn't strictly a sportscar.

I could always use the SL for my 8 mile return daily commute and then take either the 300 or the C270 in if I need to carry any passengers (very rarely - but the ability to carry 3 passengers as per car allowance rules has to be there.)

Would I be better off with the 129 or the 230?

Are there ay members here that have owned or own both?

Regards,

KJ

television · 18-11-2007, 09:23 PM

I have had a 129 for 12 months and the 230 for the same time

stats007 · 18-11-2007, 09:27 PM

Malcolm has owned both - I've had three SLs (R107 & R129) but only driven R230 loan cars.

The R129 is a very good car (provided you buy sensibly) - it's a modern classic - you can enter shows and have it as a weekend toy if that is your thing. You also get the rear seats rather than having to retrofit something to an R230 that probably wouldn't allow a baby seat anyway. It isnt going to depreciate much either.

That said the R230 is a more modern drive, better seats has all the toys and the convenience of a folding hard roof as opposed to a separate hard-top.

I would personally go for a late R129 SL500 - Designo Mystic Blue if at all possible

.

kbhogalW126 · 18-11-2007, 09:27 PM

What would you recommend?

129 or 230?

How easy is it to get the hard top off the 129?

TIA,

KJ

television · 18-11-2007, 09:30 PM

The non glass roof is easy, the glass one very heavy, I had a hoist

television · 18-11-2007, 09:35 PM

The 230 is much quieter with the roof up, both car drive great, the 230 can be as expensive in some area's as can the 129 in different ones.

For me I find the 230 a better car all round but saying that it cost double or more than what a good 129 cost, where do you stop and start, I would love a 65 now, but one has to put stop somewhere

18-11-2007, 05:53 PM	#1
kbhogalW126 Hardcore MB Enthusiast Join Date: Sep 2005 Car: '95 E320 Coupe, '06 Saab 9-3 Vector Sport 1.9 Tid Posts: 762	R129 or R230 with rear bench? Hi Folks! I'm thinking about maybe swapping the CLK for either an SL500 R129 or R230 in the new year. If I do this we will keep the C270 as our long distance family car with the 300 E-24 as my day to day run around. My question is this though as we may want to occasionally take the impending wee one out with us for a trip in the convertible. At present we can get a baby seat in the back or front of the CLK. I know you can get a rear bench in the R129 which, in theory, you could fit a baby seat to. Has the R230 ever come with a rear bench, as small as it may be? Or should I just forget the SL's and look for a convertible W209 CLK? Thanks in advance. Regards, KJ __________________ Current cars: '06 Saab 9-3 Vector Sport 1.9 Tid, Silver '98 S320 W140 '03 Volvo S80 2.9 T6 Twin Turbo 01 Mitsi Shogun Previous Cars: '95 W124 E320 Coupe, '90 W124 300-E-24,03' W209 CLK270CDi A'garde, 52' W203 C270CDi A'garde SE,55' VW Golf MkV GTTdi 2.0 DSG, 02' W203C180 A/garde Auto,06 Saab 9-3 Vector Sport 1.9Tid,1.6 Pug 206, 91 W126 300SE,Some Fords,94 Volvo 440 GL,91 Volvo 940 GLE 16v,87 Volvo 740 GLE

18-11-2007, 09:18 PM	#10
kbhogalW126 Hardcore MB Enthusiast Threadstarter Join Date: Sep 2005 Car: '95 E320 Coupe, '06 Saab 9-3 Vector Sport 1.9 Tid Posts: 762	Thing is that we have 2 cars which are essentially the same thing - C270 and CLK270. I want a bit of fun while keeping the C270 as our family car. I like the pillarless look of the CLK but I wish it were a tin top convertible! I don't really want a ragtop as then it's obvious that it's a convertible. (My company don't allow Convertibles or sportscars to be used at work however a tin top isn't as obvious) I am allowed to drive the CLK as it isn't strictly a sportscar. I could always use the SL for my 8 mile return daily commute and then take either the 300 or the C270 in if I need to carry any passengers (very rarely - but the ability to carry 3 passengers as per car allowance rules has to be there.) Would I be better off with the 129 or the 230? Are there ay members here that have owned or own both? Regards, KJ __________________ Current cars: '06 Saab 9-3 Vector Sport 1.9 Tid, Silver '98 S320 W140 '03 Volvo S80 2.9 T6 Twin Turbo 01 Mitsi Shogun Previous Cars: '95 W124 E320 Coupe, '90 W124 300-E-24,03' W209 CLK270CDi A'garde, 52' W203 C270CDi A'garde SE,55' VW Golf MkV GTTdi 2.0 DSG, 02' W203C180 A/garde Auto,06 Saab 9-3 Vector Sport 1.9Tid,1.6 Pug 206, 91 W126 300SE,Some Fords,94 Volvo 440 GL,91 Volvo 940 GLE 16v,87 Volvo 740 GLE Last edited by kbhogalW126; 18-11-2007 at 09:25 PM. Reason: typo

18-11-2007, 06:00 PM	#2
stats007 Hardcore MB Enthusiast Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Hampshire Car: 575M Posts: 5,888	You can get seats made for the R230, but they weren't a factory option as far as I'm aware. I'm not sure you can fit a baby seat in the back anyway. CLK would seem a more sensible choice if you have a family.

18-11-2007, 06:07 PM	#3
television Banned Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Dorset on South Coast Car: R230 SL500 Posts: 12,271	There is no way that you could fit any seat into the 230, the rear lids open for storage and to get to the CD changer, there is no room at all behind the seats and nothing to fit anything to

18-11-2007, 07:07 PM	#4
BTB 500 Hardcore MB Enthusiast Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Berkshire Car: '97 R129 SL500, '07 Vito 120 Dualiner Long, '96 Audi A4 TDi 110 SE Avant Posts: 13,573	The rear seats on an R129 only have lap belts, which may be an issue. I'd have thought a CLK would be the sensible option.

18-11-2007, 08:01 PM	#5
kjay Hardcore MB Enthusiast Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: buxton, derbyshire Car: C200k Coupe 2003 Posts: 1,012	can you live without an SL though?? Me? I'm finding it tough

18-11-2007, 08:31 PM	#8
gl boy Hardcore MB Enthusiast Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: church stretton/shropshire Car: Mercedes GL 320 & Mercedes CLK 63 AMG Cabriolet Posts: 861	you should go for the w209 clk great car for 4 adults unlike the the sl which is only got enough room for 2 ....plus the baby seat will be safer regards jon

18-11-2007, 08:54 PM	#9
nickg Hardcore MB Enthusiast Join Date: May 2004 Location: London Car: 2000 SL500, 2005 Touareg 5.0 V10 diesel Posts: 1,025	you can get a baby seat in the rear of the 129. You need to get the lap belt converted to a 3 point belt but this is not difficult. There is a place in Queensbury, NW London that does it for about £300. I had it done on my previous car about 3 years ago and they did a v good job

18-11-2007, 09:23 PM	#11
television Banned Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Dorset on South Coast Car: R230 SL500 Posts: 12,271	I have had a 129 for 12 months and the 230 for the same time

18-11-2007, 09:27 PM	#12
stats007 Hardcore MB Enthusiast Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Hampshire Car: 575M Posts: 5,888	Malcolm has owned both - I've had three SLs (R107 & R129) but only driven R230 loan cars. The R129 is a very good car (provided you buy sensibly) - it's a modern classic - you can enter shows and have it as a weekend toy if that is your thing. You also get the rear seats rather than having to retrofit something to an R230 that probably wouldn't allow a baby seat anyway. It isnt going to depreciate much either. That said the R230 is a more modern drive, better seats has all the toys and the convenience of a folding hard roof as opposed to a separate hard-top. I would personally go for a late R129 SL500 - Designo Mystic Blue if at all possible .

18-11-2007, 09:30 PM	#14
television Banned Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Dorset on South Coast Car: R230 SL500 Posts: 12,271	The non glass roof is easy, the glass one very heavy, I had a hoist

18-11-2007, 09:35 PM	#15
television Banned Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Dorset on South Coast Car: R230 SL500 Posts: 12,271	The 230 is much quieter with the roof up, both car drive great, the 230 can be as expensive in some area's as can the 129 in different ones. For me I find the 230 a better car all round but saying that it cost double or more than what a good 129 cost, where do you stop and start, I would love a 65 now, but one has to put stop somewhere

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