280se or 280 sel

[Paul S]

So does the extra 100mm make any difference to the ride of the car? Is the rear suspension the same? I have driven 1 280sel and it seemed a lot bouncier in the rear (this may have been a problem with rear suspension).Also does the extra weight of the sel affect the performance noticeably?
Would love to hear what others think
Paul

[CraigB]

I can't give a text book answer but I would say that the differences would be minimal. I have driven 280s/se and my later 560SEL and i cant say that the length of vehicle is something that struck me and weight difference would be minimal, its all just in the back doors etc.
The bounciness is definitely shocks i would say - rear suspension is the same. The other long wheel base car in that same style is the 300sel or W109 but that has air suspension and greatly improved ride and handling, but also more potential for repair costs on an old car. Still, as a keeper i would always go for the air suspension if available, although all mine are sprung.

[TheMadRacoon]

I can't give a text book answer but I would say that the differences would be minimal. I have driven 280s/se and my later 560SEL and i cant say that the length of vehicle is something that struck me.

I can't compare a w116 SE/SEL but the first thing thst struck me on driving a 420SEL (W126) was the different track to wheelbase feel of the car relative to the 450SE (W116). Ironically I never put it down to the longer wheelbase but rather the chassis, though I can't recall that there were any great differences mechanically other than the SLS on the 420SEL.... and of course the difference in weight of the engines.

The 420SEL felt longer in the nose (amplified by the view over the bonnet) and initial turn-in mirrored this. The 450SE felt squatter, more 'square' if you know what I mean.

I said I didn't feel it was the LWB because it was a similar feeling to the W201 chassis. So, from my experience, the W126 & W201 (and I guess W124) are out of one mould and thd W108, W114, W116 & W123 feel to be out of another mould.

But not having driven a W109, long wheelbase W116 or short wheelbase W126 for comparison I can't say definitively.

EDIT: Thinking back, the more vertical positioning of the steering wheel of the W126 & W201 may have also contributed to their different 'feel'.

[bahnstormer109]

280SEL!

[Paul S]

I love all these replies but of course Paolo's Fergal Sharkey reference is the funniest

[bahnstormer109]

AM radio helps my road rage.

[oliveoyl]

Se

I think it looks better in side profile.

That said if you have tall back seat passengers then the sel is a much more comfortable place to be legroom wise.