I met Sam about 3 yrs ago, and was impressed by his knowledge of Classic
Cars and in particular the Mercedes marque. At the time I had 3 Austin
Healey's and had not thought about owning a Classic Mercedes I had also
aquired a 1960 mini, and was restoring another! I have owned 3 S Class
Merc's and currently have the new shape (pre face lift) model which is a
fantastic car.
Sam spoke to me about the great value the R107's were and how I should
consider one for its all round ability, not just when the sun shines!
I visited Sam's showroom and workshop on several occasions, and Sam allowed
me to test a number of 107's without any of the usual "pushiness" associated
with dealers. I also, at that time met Tim (the chief technical guru) who
shared his knowledge of the marque and answered the many questions I had. My
son, then decided to buy a 107 as he wanted a sports car that he could use
during the summer and that could accommodate his small son, so my enthusiasm
was further ignited, but I had started to follow and study the Pagoda SL's,
but had never driven one. Sam reminded me that he had just started to hire
out various models and had bought in an early Pagoda which he invited me to
hire for the day. It is a very sound idea to test drive one for a good
length of time rather than a ten minute blast up the road to get a feel for
any car you are considering buying. You can be very disappointed with a car
that you may dream of owning, if you have not experienced driving one
before, and to my mind, before owning a Classic you should explore all
aspects of it's driving style and characteristics. However, after driving
the Pagoda, I was not isappointed, and decided after further consultation
with Sam, to seriously look for one. Sam of course, offered to assist me in
purchasing one and took all my requirements into consideration and began searching for a suitable vehicle for me. However, I did manage to find one
that was suitable, but needed restoration. That is an ongoing project.
What I liked about it was it's practicality. It felt like a modern car, but
had classic lines. It had good power, so you could imagine doing long
journeys in it. Motorway use would be no problem, and fuel economy was good
for a car with a 2.3 litre engine. What was nice was the ease with which you
can erect the hood even though it is manual, and the fact that you have a
hard top makes it perfect for those days in winter, where you want to use
your classic, but English weather does not always permit!
I was able to hire the car for the day at a very good rate, and Sam made
sure that car was in tip top condition before he allowed me to take it out.
He also explained the controls and what to do in the unlikely event of a
problem whilst in my care.
I had a great day exploring the Worcestershire countryside, and I do believe
I found a suitable pub to have lunch so I could sit and admire the car along
with a few other locals! I was very sorry to have to give the car up, but it
gave me a great opportunity to experience this particular model.
I would hire another, if I was thinking of buying further models, although,
I have since bought an R107 from Sam to use whilst my Pagoda is being
restored. Again, another great car to own and drive, and Sam will be looking
after the servicing and upkeep of the two cars from now on.
I recommend any purchaser to "try before you buy" as owning a Classic is
much different to an everyday modern car, but the pleasure you will get from
ownership of the right car for you will be immense.
Regards
Jim W
Redditch
Warks
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