The Mercedes-Benz 560 SEL W126 is an Automotive Masterpiece, and Maybe the Best Car Ever Made
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- čas přidán 13. 10. 2021
- Chapters:
0:04 Early Morning Drive
0:15 Introduction - weather, animals
3:25 Introduction to and overview of the W126
12:51 Exterior
18:13 Trunk
20:48 Engine
24:42 Back Seat
29:46 Interior
41:26 Test Drive
46:02 Highway drive
Once a vintage Mercedes-Benz works its way in to your bloodstream, it will likely never come out. I'm not talking about modern Mercedes-Benz products, or even cars they built from the mid-90s onward, but the true highly engineered and luxury cars they built in the 60s, 70s, and 80s, and especially the S-Class mode
In particular, the W126 is a masterpiece, and could well me the best Mercedes-Benz, if not the best car, ever produced. Other Mercedes products like the W123 and W124 have to be considered for that honor, but they are missing the flagship quality one can only get from an S-Class, and a quality the W126 had in abundance.
Designed by Bruno Sacco's team, the W126 perfectly bridged the gap between vintage Mercedes-Benz, and modern features that improved safety, economy, and ride quality. It was a far better machine than everything else built in the same time period, but also had a price tag to match - this particular 560 SEL would cost well over $15)K in 2021 dollars, much more than the price of a new, well equipped S-Class. These cars were built to a standard, and not a price tag - and although they were unquestionably luxury cars in terms of their appointments, build quality, and materials chosen, much of the luxury was engineering - it was not a cliché for Mercedes-Benz to brag that their cars built during this period were engineered like no other car in the world.
This is an in-depth review and road test of a 1987 Mercedes-Benz 560 SEL. The review is by Bill with Curious Cars, and the car is for sale at Autohaus of Naples, on the web at www.AutohausNaples.com, or by phone at (239) 263-8500. - Auta a dopravní prostředky
I would be proud to drive this car today. The styling is as fresh today as it was in ‘87. At least in my humble opinion.
I had a 560sec for 10 years one of my top 10 bucket list cars loved it
Same here, timeless design. And craftsmanship.. too bad they dont make them like this anymore
I think it looks dated, but STILL gorgeous and that's pretty good considering some car designs are dated and are now just not very nice to look at. I'm not gonna name any examples because it's so subjective the older cars I find gaudy in 2021 might be the opposite of what anyone else thinks, but this era and model of Benz have, and most would agree, withstood the test of time.
@@theschof96 Dated? man, this car still looks awesome. No wonder why every dictator on this earth owned a few of those.
@@tedmarakas2626 I just mean dated in the sense that you wouldn't see a car with this kind of stately look in this day and age. It's not rounded and giant wheeled enough.
Yesss 45 minutes of pure Sacco-era Mercedes appreciation
Back when Mercedes Benz was making lifetime cars. That's why alot of these old tanks are still roaming around.
Same as BMW with the 7 E32....they said my dad's 750il would last forever and it is still in the garage.....
I own an 88. Great car but the old MB reliability is a fallacy. It will last a lifetime if you continuously spend $ on maint and repairs. The same can be said for ANY car.
I have a 1986 300E with 800,000 original miles
@@camand2769 sure, you have to maintain the old cars. I think the point is they were just build better. You are correct, maintenance will have to be spent - but it takes much longer to get to the point where the car is just falling apart.
@@camand2769go buy a comparable’88 model from a different maker and see how you go. You’ll be selling your kids’ kidneys to keep it going
"I'm rambling"! Dude you ALWAYS ramble! That's why I watch all your stuff, it's classic. The fat cats in our neighbourhood had these back in the day. The interior of the front doors has a funny wedge shape ledge and they'd all have their left arm resting there. They ALL did it. Power play....German style.
@Michael Lawson
He HAS TO mind the birds lol; otherwise they’ll poop all over the pristine car! He doesn’t want that happening, especially while in the middle of filming. Why else do you think he is minding them?
I adore my 1989 560SEL! Navy blue, dove gray leather, red pinstripe! Best car I've ever owned! I still have the window sticker for mine...in '89, it was $85K!
Identical to mine (though I removed the pinstriping) ! Love it!
This is hands down the classiest, most elegant design in Mercedes history, in my opinion.
By a 'country mile', beautiful Merc. Whatever happened to the class of this car?
Back when you needed the BIIIIIG bucks to own one. Unlike the S class today.
Agreed. Even when you see it at a distance- you know exactly what it is!
Back when an S class still had that commanding presence and was distinguishable right away. This and w140 s600 are the standard of benz.
I have a 89 260e this review was exlent my Gage oil figer tap to bird's are funny. Keep going.
Here's my little 500 story. In 86 i worked for a upwardly mobile company (i was not upwardly mobile) where i got to drive a 500 SEL, think it was an 84 if i recall correctly. Anyway i was only 19 and it was such a smooth powerful tank, i was very impressed with the quality and power. I drove an old 67 Mustang coupe at the time, no air, no PS, drum brakes...which i loved but this 500 left such a strong impression on me. It was a leased company car, my boss preferred driving his new 5.0 LSC, which was a nice ride too. So at the last year of it's lease ( the boss didn't use it anymore so it sat....) i got to drive it when i needed too for work, even got to take it home on weekends whenever i wanted... we had some fun in that car that summer. I just wish i could travel back and drive that car with my girl, out on a hot summer night, cruising and having more fun than we deserved... Just to feel that feeling of that 500 the first time i drove it. The 80's, we did things big. Thanks boss, you were aces...
Great story
Nice story 👏🏼
good memories!
A1😊
My 87 year old Brother-in-law from Germany had the coolest Mercedes I ever saw. It was a '57 300C Limousine, 4-speed, on the tree, huge canvas sunroof, & even built in hydraulic jacks for every wheel! Plus a 7 speaker AM/FM Blaupunkt Hi-Fi radio. Very cool!!!
Bill, I don't mind the long reviews from you at all. The reason is that once you get past the weather, animals, and avian updates you then go into the most wonderful data storms. I truly enjoy your expertise and I value any homework that you may have put in. The only difference the long videos mean to me is that sometimes I have to watch them later rather than at the moment I find a new one has been released. And that's fine. I found this one four hours after you released it, and already three thousand people have viewed it, so the length of the videos doesn’t keep people from watching.
I say keep them long and data packed. I'm a happy subscriber!
This to me was the most beautiful Mercedes ever produced. I've always wanted a 560SEL like this. Gorgeous car.
I own the 420 sel and everytime I pull up to the gas station I get people telling me what a beautiful car it is
I have a blue 89 and love it. Never once left me on the side of the road, feels like a bank vault, and is dead quiet inside. This is clearly the greatest era in terms of build quality.
I bought one of these 2 weeks ago, a 1990 in black. It is the replacement for a 2010 CTS that died at 105K... Your videos have not only been informative as i go through each system, but also they are an encouraging reminder that these cars are worth saving. I am already becoming confident working on her. These cars appear to respond well to being given a little love here and there. Love the history you pack into your reviews. And the weather reports... i grew up in Florida in the 70s. Thanks.
In 1991, when I was 11 years old, my dad bought a nautikblau 420 SE, which was about a year old back then. I bought my first W126 in 2000, a 1982 380 SE. Today I still own a 1989 560 SEL. The car had one owner before me (a famous entrepreneur family), is in excellent condition and has done almost 230,000 miles. Last year I sold a 1988 nautikblau 560 SEL which I bought from the first owner in Spain. The car had just 68,000 miles and it also had the HPF option. With a well maintained HPF, it's a much better driving experience, but if there's a problem it's very expensive and sometimes hard to get the parts. So I decided to keep the high mileage car.
Despite the high mileage, even the leather is in top condition. A few weeks ago I got a brand-new Audi A8 as my company car. It's a fantastic car, but you can't compare it to a W126. These cars are built to run forever. The modern Audi feels a bit like a cellphone on wheels, touchscreens here, ambient lights and all that stuff. The Merc is just pure driving joy.
Absolutely the best Mercedes ever made! My uncle had one, in the exact same color combination as the one you reviewed, my father purchased it from my uncle in 95 and drove it for another 10 years when the salt air from living in Melbourne, Fl took its tole. I purchased a W221 2 years ago. S550. It’s been a great car, extremely reliable, but I doubt it’ll last as long as my Dad’s/Uncles did. However, she is still going strong and I would imagine that with the maintenance schedule that I keep she’ll be around for at least five more years.
Recommended is every 30k kilometers. I do it once a year approximately 10k kilometers for me since this is my weekend/vacation car. Oil and filter, brake fluid flush, coolant flush and cabin filter.
Thank god you uploaded, I’m stuck in class sitting here bored out of my mind lol
I think you mean BORED Tony. You've been watching too many videos.
bored by the board?
Not enough classes lol
Don't seem to find laughter in illiteracy.
@@michaelwhite2823 thanks sir I fixed it and am very embarrassed. Bouta sit in the corner of my room and think about my actions
Honestly 50 minutes is a good length for me. 😎🤣
Bill! You missed a Very cool and somewhat unique for the time feature! That second pin-lock on the trunk lid, is NOT used by the central vacuum locking system. It is actually manually operated with the key. If you turn the key to the extreme position (past lock), you can engage this "trunk interlock" device, which will in essence turn your trunk into a locked safe!! In this mode, the trunk is ONLY unlockable with the key.
Wow!
It took me a while to understand the trunk on mine. I struggled so hard to get the trunk open when I first got it. Even the gas tank was locked and I didn’t understand why lol
I like how the sales literature called that a "particularly strong lock".
Bill is encyclopedic in his knowledge and a raconteur in his presentation...there's only so much he can do in these "short" videos... LOL! ...But that is an interesting feature!
@@MiSwAg Even the C280 I bought, locks the fuel door when the rest of the car is locked (designed when fuel shortages and stealing gas was a thing...) but I'm going to have to read the book and see if there is any "vault mode" for the trunk!
a beautiful car, timeless design. MB should be ashamed of what kind of crap they are putting out these days.
First! Afternoon Bill from Ron in a very cold and wet Manchester. Sorry your weather is crap, hope you get some cool days in the future. Sorry the birds are causing you stress and worry. What a fantastic Mercedes-Benz!
Hey Bill, my God your videos are fine 😂 I'm sorry but I have to mention, as a genuine fan and enthusiast of classic MB, the regular sedan is W, long wheel base is V - V126 in this case. As you mentioned, nobody uses that V describing long S Class. BTW, X stands for Maybach platform.
Can't wait to another video. Greetings from Poland 🇵🇱
When I was in high school a friend's mother had this car and used to let me take it out on Newport Beach on the weekends. It was a magnificent machine.
Love how you review a car, so honest and down to earth, well done. Love the Mercedes.
I used to own one, traded it in for a Cadillac about two years ago. Been missing it ever since.
I’ve been into and have had MB since I was a teen. My dad was always a Cadillac guy, but did have a 75 S280 he loved. It took a long time but he admitted his dream car in the 80s, when his business was growing and raising my sisters and I , was a 560 SEL. So I surprised him with a midnight blue 1989 560 SEL last year and we have been tinkering with it but he never got to drive it much. , then his health really suffered this past summer and isn’t driving at this point but when he can come home From the hospital I want to take him home in his beloved car. It makes him happy.
I remember in the early 2000's my friend's dad had the 88' 420 sel. I was about14 or 15 yrld and just remember riding around in this MB . It drove like a dream, felt like a tank and I been wanting one ever since. A TRUE Mercedes
Get one...I did last year!
I may be too dramatic but seeing a 35~40 year old Mercedes going 100 mph on the highway makes me so happy I have tears falling down my face, those things will easily outlive any new car
I drove one of these as a taxi in Denmark back in th 80's. Still my dreamcar to this day. I think it was i 500 though, but back them it was a spaceship. Still is. i was 20 and would have worked for free just to drive the damn thing!
Bill is an American treasure.
Mercedes in those days were built to a standard, now they’re built to a price. You were really a somebody if you drove these back in the day.
This guy is hilarious. One of the best reviews of the old Benz.
The best car ever! The best Mercedes of the golden era of Mercedes cars! No nonsence here like modern cars today! Thank U for sharing! Regards from Latvia!
Omg. The classic Benz. Man o man. Great one bill!
Lol right you have to get one of these for your channel
brother but please don’t stop showing love for Lexus 😎
@@theodoreyoung8777 ✌️you got it man!
@@JoesGoldenGarage 🤝
As an owner of 1991 420 SE here in Finnish Lapland, these cars are absolutely perfect winter cars, despite of rear wheel drive. These heat up quicky even in -30 celcius degrees, the windshield wipers and washers are all heated. Even front doors heat up inside so you could not feel any draft. As addition to these the very powerful seat heaters that were standard equipment here in the Scandinavia, at least in Finland and Sweden.
You nailed it, Bill. I had an '82 500 SEL , and later, a 560 SEC, and I concur with everything you say about them!
A review/rant by Bill - my day is now complete!!!!!!
The electric cable with plugs in the trunk is for the multi-disc CD player. It was the type that used a magazine which I recall held six CD's. The audio unit in the dashboard had control over the CD player, and it showed a read out for which disc in the magazine was playing, which track was playing, and a numeric queue for where in the track was being played. As well, the dashboard audio unit had all the standard controls for the CD player.
The passenger side air bag became available at some point and I seem to recall it was a $2000 option. It was a shocking price but M-B felt their market could afford that. It must have been a great mention during high-executive water cooler chat.
I was obsessed with this generation of S-class when I was in high school. I love how you just blow right by the blinking speed monitor that shows you're going about 20mph over the limit. Hahaha
I should add that I learn a hell of a lot more about each car that you review than I do from most automotive you-tubers. Watching these videos is a treat, even when I absolutely hate the car!
Your love for the avian inhabitants of yr. place gives me the giggles. Likely they are gunning for a poop bombing. Your love for fine motorcars is even better, & there could not be a better example of the pinnacle of automotive excellence.
Really love your channel Bill.
I used to think Jay Leno's Garage was my favorite but now all I do is watch your wonderful videos and laugh and laugh. Very informative and excellent content.
Congratulations Bill on the 100,000+ subscribers too! Well deserved!
I have a near mint 1990 560 SEC and to me its the best car ever made. I would go for one of these if I had garage room for it.
Bill has been killing it with the reviews lately
Bill is the type of Man with whom i would kick back an enjoy a glass of whiskey on the rocks with a cuban and listen to his historical rants all day !
The W126 was built to go for decades…I love this generation so much..
Instant Classic..!!
Wonderful, wonderful review Bill. I was lucky enough to have had one for eight years and you really took me back.
The narration just makes this review gold.
When I was in HS in the mid-late 80s, my dad’s company car was a black/saddle 560SEL (86) and my mom had a white/saddle 560SL (87). They were rolling bank vaults, and I loved every minute driving them - Mother rarely drove herself anywhere so she pretty much let me have her SL. I was one lucky kid. After college I got the E320 coupe, which I eventually traded for a 2001 CLK430. Since that one, I’ve owned 11 Benzes, including a 2012 w221 S63 and my current 2017 w222 S550 4M, which is probably the best vehicle I’ve ever owned, and I love the tri-star hood ornament. (Waiting to place my order for the new SL!). My point… I am a diehard MB guy, never had any issues, all have been fantastic. They were indeed Engineered Like No Other Car in the World, and Das Beste oder Nichts!!! Awesome video btw, thank you for the nostalgia!!! You are freaking HILARIOUS! (Btw, JR Ewing drove a 380SEL then a 500, Sue Ellen had the SEC!)
OMG this brings back memories of watching ole JR Ewing. Lol. Miss Dallas!
Dallas and J.R. was when I started loving this car.....
@@mpazs And this is the same color spec too.
Bill you've now voiced over the classic scene in Alfred Hitchcock's Birds and it's the best thing to ever happen to the internet.
Those door panel heating and cooling was fantastic. Was always “comfortable“ without the wind or noise of fan being on high. Miss my 420sel
I owned a 91 300 SEL, all black. I put over 300K miles on it and owned it for 20 yrs. many trips across the US at 90mph for mile upon mile. Many scoffed at it being a big 6 cly. It was very fast and got 30 mph at 90 all day long ! With it's big fuel tank 600 miles between fuel stops. .You could load this car
up with large people and all their luggage and still cruse in comfort . It was a real head turner. God i wish i still owned it !
Do you mean 30 mpg?
I'm 44 and the W126 was the S-class of my childhood. It's still _the_ S-class for me. Even the newest ones are 30 years old now, but I'd gladly daily a good example.
I hope you're having a good sense of humor with your "Sister" channel Birds, Goats & Automobiles. I watch you religiously and get a kick out of B's,G's & A's. It really is an homage. Happy reviewing!!
I'm sure you're educating people on the vehicles is what motivates them to purchase from you.
Cheers to annoying birds, cats, goats and your cellphone interrupting you.
Father had 87 260SE; it was a legendary vehicle
I could listen to you talk about Mercedes Benzes from the 80s all day long. You have a dry sense of humor that's endearing but your knowledge and explanations are quite intriguing. Please continue these types of reviews. I love it.
Keep ‘em comin Bill! Your videos are a highlight to my comfortable Vermont fall mornings.
Bill, I treasure the longer information filled and opinionated reviews, please do keep them coming! This is one of my all time favourite motor cars 🙂
So good to see you reviewing the w126 again!
A w126 380sel was driven by JR Ewing on the tv series “Dallas” in 1980. Beautiful car and looked great on screen. The stock footage of this car seen entering or exiting the gate at the SouthFork ranch was the zenith of the 80’s image of wealth/properaity.
My grandfather had one of these when I was growing up. It was posh.
My dad had a first gen. 40 yrs later I still remember the rich smell of the leather
Thanks Bill,
I’ve been home all week waiting on a hernia operation and it’s given me a chance to catch up on your videos. You are amazing and so informative. Hope the weather improves. Keep it going!
This guy cracks me up.
God this channel makes a great drinking game. Every time I hear "fast review" I laugh sofa king hard. I love it, don't change.
Props for the Victor Maitland reference. I hear he has Herpes Simplex 10....
" you don't need to have instagram and friggin' snatchy-twitchy-tickety-toks in your dashboard" - the single best comment in any car review ever!
As a kid in the 70s/80s I grew up with a plethora of GM B/C/E bodies. I could never understand then why someone would spend so much on a Benz when they seemed so spartan. Mom's Riviera even had a CRT touchscreen dashboard-Ha! Fast forward a decade and a neighbor offered me his 456000 mile 300SD for a couple Benjamins. At the time my daily was a 91 Fleetwood and I also had a 67 Eldo in the garage. That old beat up Mercedes was a revelation. Still solid and strong after almost a half million miles. Parked the Fleetwood at work for 6 months and drove the Benz instead. These 126s weren't that "fancy" but were so good in terms of mechanical/structural quality you felt like a king! I'm not sure you could buy a better car at the time than a 126/123/124. Perfect? No. Nothing ever is, but these cars represent true integrity & honesty in their purpose as automobiles that has been lacking since their discontinuation.
Back when Mercedes built fine cars. Today’s examples are poorly made and unreliable. Beautiful car.
Love your channel! Your so passionate when you talk about cars.👍
Yep, all cars today are basically the same. Nothing but rolling computers with 5 different screens and the same color interiors. Guess it is what it is.
@@jeremiahallyn4603 I read a story of a Jeep getting wet and it was ruined. Totalled out. A Jeep! The guy wanted to put another engine in it and fix it and the mechanic said it can't be done. The computers are so integrated into it and it's not possible to fix A JEEP GETTING WET!
Mercedes had to de-content their vehicles to try to control costs. Lexus was eating into their market share at an alarming rate. Not that I’m a Lexus fan but facts are facts.
Love your morning before sunrise drives. Great adder.
Flagship car.
I've owned a '88 420SEL since May of 2003...it was already 15 years old and had 144K on the clock...it's now 33 years old with 320K on it. Original engine and trans...zero issues...never burned a drop of oil. It doesn't have the 5.6 Litre V8 or air suspension or heated seats, but I don't GAF. Plenty of punch from the 4.2 Litre V8 and less to go wrong. Nevertheless it's been extremely dependable. It's a wonderful, solid beast of a wafter. It was showroom when I bought it from the previous owner, and I've kept it that way. Just love it. It's not my only car but it WILL be my last car. Only weak spot: the A/C doesn't take kindly to R-134 conversion. It works fairly well (as long as you start from a shady spot), but I have other options on scorching days. THANK YOU for this review!! Love you man!
When a Mercedes was a Mercedes. Arguably the nicest center console switchgear to ever grace an automobile, beautiful burled walnut as well 👍🏽
Anyone thinking he complains about the weather too much has never experienced Florida weather. He's speaking from the heart.
Bill - your definitely a rambler, but I really enjoyed you going over this Mercedes Benz. I’m a 44yr old car collector. I estimate I have owned close to 100 since I was 15 and got my first car in 94/95. I currently have a 1989 560 SEL . I found it under a tarp in the desert of Arizona. Sitting on 4 flats I pulled this tarp back not knowing what I was going to find. I saw a box 4 door slightly disappointed until I walked to the back saw 560 SEL - knew that was something special and building back excitement the walk around to side and front recognized the Mercedes Benz emblem on back trunk and all four tires and then the hood w/ wipers on headlights was awesome. This is my first Mercedes Benz, favorites is sun roof heated seats front and back electric head rest and power scope steering wheel. Top favorite of all of everything is two things - this car looks brand new all inside interior badge soft leather like new. Last for best that v-8 boy , man. Has 135k miles.
Here lying the problem- has not ran since 2001 according to service tag on inside of the door. Absolutely in great to perfect condition. Absolutely has everything it originally came with missing nothing got the first aid kit even. It’s a Boss car and the sales tag originally still in here says 65k you hit that bad boy exact price. I took off the air filter and no surprise like new carb in excellent shape Original battery . The battery charges and it brought the life back but it’s not quite there yet. Its lungs and heart needs the blood pumping through it. I’m replacing the fuel pump and fuel relay switch here shortly. I have it and just need to get it up in the air.
When you just sit in this car at a 44 yr old man I’ve only collected sports cars 60s up but this car gives you what you said over and over - confidence and it’s very confident itself. The original rims I think you can say if there was any lack has mine shedding it’s aluminum coating flaking off. Disappointed very, the first thing I told my fiance the moment I started to work on this car is holy shit this car is the most quality car parts used and the installation is maze genius to make everything flow so smooth underneath the dash to under the body. Just slick, quality from front to back inside and out stereo is same as yours. But these damn rams - really 65k and you did this car 99.9% quality. Mercedes it’s a shame you did the rims like this to have them flaking is almost embarrassing. So bill despite my rambling lol could you please recommend a solid aluminum rim and an awesome looking tire for this car that you describe to a T . I learned things I had know idea. Most helpful and great freaking job man.
I like the length of your Videos Bill. I get an hour for lunch at work and the videos fit in well with that time
Congrats on passing 100k subs Bill.
Well deserved 👍
Love his videos!! I watch just for the rants!
You are doing your part to improve the attention span of the public. Nice job.
Nice video, man! Keep up the great work!
Love your reviews.
Love it, this and the one that came after are my favs! 😍
Such a handsome car. Screams money and success
It's THURSDAY, Bill. More COVID whiskey please. 😂
Bill I've been hoping for one of these one day, this will be a real treat of a review.
Takeee itttt eassssyyy 🤌🏼🤌🏼🤌🏼
@@eliebassil878
For da love of God
I knew an interior decorator who drove one
love to wathc your videos ,i love mercedes i have a w-124 1992 200 e ,its a veteran I am from Norway ,have the car in many years inlo driven 153.000 but i love this one..your videos make me glad
absolutely beautiful video!
your videos make my day! Go Reagan!!!!
This my favorite model of all time. Classy, great feel, etc. Love it!! My favorite color too. Dude you're a riot😂
Beautiful...the silver bullet. Had purchased in 1998 a second hand 86 version...back in the day....It really was a pleasure to drive and demanded your attention. Very classy.
I'm looking forward to the part 3 of your compilation
The best sounding v8 from the inside. Subtle, yet nimble and screamy at the higher revs.
My aunt in California had one new in the early 80s metallic blue beige interior. When I visited her in late 80s we went on long road trips in it is San Fran to LA in 8hours incl. Stops.
This was the pinnacle of Mercedes. Ten years later, they were just another car company.
Absolutely beautiful!!!
dont worry about them i freakin love your rambleing lmao
Excellent review Bill
I had a 76 280SE four speed stick, had the Dohc straight six with dual exhaust. Mechanical fuel injection, ran great,
I always prefer the straight 6 and proportions of the SE, even in the w116.
My w126 is an 89 300se, 904L midnight blue and palomino leather interior.
Great job Bill 👌.
Nice car. Nice review.
Great job Bill I owned four or five Mercedes and enjoyed every one of them they were the masterpiece of auto engineering
I had one of these in brown in the early 90’s lovely car, handled like a barge but classy. The reviews never fail to amuse me Bill. Clive (UK)