One Year Gone: 1986 Mercedes-Benz 560SEL 49K – STILL $26,995

November 26, 2023 Update – The original owner continues to try to sell their ’86 Mercedes S-Class at $26,995; no one seems interested, at least at that price.

November 3, 2023 Update – The original owner continues to try to sell their ’86 Mercedes S-Class at $26,995; no one seems interested, at least at that price.

October 24, 2023 Update – The current owner replaced their tenth listing with a fresh Craigslist ad in as many months.  Everything about the ad, including the already-lowered asking price, remains the same for the fifth consecutive month.  Over the past ten months, one thing that changed is that the original owner continued using the car as they racked up an additional two thousand miles.

September 26, 2023 Update –The original owner replaced their ninth listing with a new Craigslist ad.  Everything from the last listing carried over to the new ad.

August 12, 2023 Update –The original owner replaced their ninth listing with a new Craigslist ad.  Everything from the last listing carried over to the new ad.

July 22, 2023 Update –The original owner replaced their eighth listing with a new Craigslist ad.  Everything from the last listing carried over to the new ad.

July 10, 2023 Update –The original owner replaced their seventh listing with a new Craigslist ad.  Everything from the last listing carried over to the new ad.

June 17, 2023 Update – After six months of failing to sell their 49K-mile ’86 S-Class Mercedes, the seller lowered their asking price in their latest Craigslist ad.  While lowering their asking price from $28,995 to $26,995 is a step in the right direction, time will tell whether potential buyers find it to be a realistic ask.

June 6, 2023 Update – The original owner replaced their sixth listing with a new Craigslist ad.  Everything from the last listing carried over to the new ad.

May 21, 2023 Update – The original owner replaced their fifth listing with a new Craigslist ad.  Everything from the last listing carried over to the new ad.

May 4, 2023 Update – The original owner replaced their fourth listing with a new Craigslist ad.  Everything from the last listing carried over to the new ad.

April 11, 2023 Update – The original owner replaced their third expired listing with a new Craigslist ad.  Everything from the expired listing carried over to the new ad.

March 19, 2023 Update – The seller replaced their second expiring listing with a third Craigslist ad.  The pictures, description, and asking price all remain the same.

February 25, 2023 Update – The seller replaced their expired Craiglist ad with a fresh listing. The pictures, description, and asking price all remain the same.

If you could go back in time and buy a new classic car, which would you choose? That’s a seriously tough question for any gearhead. If you can’t decide, buying a low-mileage specimen of an incredibly overbuilt model like this sub-50,000-mile 1986 Mercedes-Benz 560SEL is a worthy substitution for this fantasy. Known for its bank vault-like build quality and stoic driving experience, finding one of those still with its original owner is as close as it gets to going back in time. You’ll find this 49K-Mile 1986 Mercedes Benz 560SEL for sale W126 on Craigslist on Long Island for $26,995 (the original ask was $28,995). Comparing that price against the Classic.com model guide shows that the seller is paying a premium on his car owing to the low mileage and one-owner status, as the going rate is closer to $16,000.

If you are serious about buying this low-mileage W126, you can start the conversation by emailing the seller using the contact link in their Craigslist ad.  When you connect, please mention that you saw their 560SEL featured here on GuysWithRides.com.

The appeal of buying a classic car from the original owner is a strange one. For some folks, it really does move the needle on a car from “interesting” to “must buy.” I never gave much thought to this until I started seeing comments on auctions and forum posts wherein armchair quarterbacks would question why a car had been traded around so much. I always figured it was because people grew tired of having one hobby car and wanted another; others read that the car was problematic. Wherever the truth lay, it’s not surprising to see a W126 with its original owner as these were the precursor to the Lexus LS400 that treated its first-class customers with all the respect in the world, always starting when asked and rarely stranding its occupants. If the labrador retriever is like a Jeep for the middle class, a W126 was a St. Bernard to the upper-crusters.

The Wesley Kagan YouTube Channel features this unique modern look at the engineering that went into Mercedes’ W126:

But it’s only the build quality that appeals; it’s also knowing you own a model from perhaps one of the best eras in Mercedes-Benz engineering. I’m not sure we can say that currently, as the models the company keeps churning out seem more forgettable with each passing year, ending up at the shady used car lot in a bad neighborhood within five years or so after being sold new. The fact that this W126 looks as good as it does is a testament to how the owner cared for it and how durable they were. Even when neglected, a W126 or W124 can still look entirely presentable. The seller points out that this is a no-needs car and that it has been dealer-serviced since it is new, two points I will not contend with based on how good it looks in the photos. Is $30,000 a fair ask? I’m not entirely sure, but I know this is one of those cars worth the money to buy – and it’s still cheaper than a time machine.

Here’s the seller’s description:

“LIKE NEW, NEEDS NOTHING. ORIGINAL CAR WITH ORIGINAL PAINT. LOTS OF PAPERWORK DEALER SERVICED. REAR POWER SEATS, REAR HEATED SEATS, AND MUCH MUCH MORE“

The best Benz: is the W126 the peak of Mercedes-Benz quality in the U.S. market?