Used cars

22nd March 2007

It’s just a shame it arrived a decade too late in the Nineties, by which time conspicuous consumption had got a bad name.

Dressed in an Armani suit of steel, the W140 S-Class featured acres of flat
panelling which was devoid of stylistic touches. In its own way, the big Merc was brave and unapologetic – although the coupé version, badged CL, was a much more handsome beast.

Behind the double-glazed windows, the S showcased the German marque’s latest technology, which included doors and a bootlid that closed themselves, electrically adjustable memory seats and heating that remained on after the engine was turned off. Considered to be the last of the truly bulletproof Mercedes saloons, the W140 was in part a response to the rapid growth of Lexus in the American market.

Prices now start from only a few thousand pounds, while £15,000 will get you the keys to virtually any good-condition W140 you fancy – and that’s with as little as 50,000 miles on the clock. But on any potential buy, be sure to look out for worn and leaking suspension, air-conditioning prob-
lems and wiring harness failures.