Reviving Classics: Is a £1,700 1997 Mercedes S320 Cheaper to run and greener than a £100k Electric S-Class?
Let's explore the cost and environmental efficiency of buying older iconic luxury cars like a 1997 / 108k miles S320 W140 Mercedes 320S class Matt at High Peak paid £1700 to buy it and plans to spend £5k recommissioning it. The nearest equivalent electric vehicle today would cost around £100k (?)
In a world pushing electric vehicles as the future, there's something rebellious about resurrecting a 1990s luxury icon. Enter High Peak's latest project: a 1997 Mercedes S320 W140 with 108,000 miles, snagged for £1,700 and earmarked for £5,000 in recommissioning. Watch the YouTube reveal here. It's the kind of car that screams understated opulence—think legendary Merc smoothness without the modern price tag.
But does keeping this petrol guzzler (22mpg) alive for another 100,000 miles beat the economics and eco-credentials of its electric heir, the Mercedes EQS? We're talking total ownership costs, emissions, and even the ripple effects on jobs and skills.
Spoiler: the old-school approach wins on wallet, but EVs edge out on (alleged) planet-saving... with caveats; and given that the carbon climate hoax is coming apart all the time - some relaxation of the bonkers taxation might even be on the cards when the overall benefits of keeping proven solidly good cars running longer are factored - especially as electric downsides continue to pile up.
Cost of Ownership: Classic vs. Cutting-Edge
Let's crunch the numbers for 100,000 miles (about 10,000/year over a decade). We're using UK figures: petrol at £1.35/litre, home EV charging at £0.26/kWh. No insurance, taxes, or resale drama—just buy-in, fixes, and fuel.
The verdict on the environment: Reuse is a circular-economy hero—no new mining, steel, or lithium nightmares. But the S320's thirst makes it 2.3x naughtier in daily driving. Net win for the EV unless you're idling in the garage most days (<5,000 miles/year). Both trounce buying a new petrol beast, though.
Economic and Social Wins: Power to the Independents
Numbers aside, classics like the W140 fuel the unsung heroes: indie garages. UK stats? ~80% of repairs happen off-dealer forecourts, sustaining 500,000 jobs in SMEs packed with battle-hardened pros mentoring apprentices. That's hands-on grit—far from the battery-swapping sterility of EV dealers.
Your £40k servicing pot stays local, propping up resourceful shops over Mercedes megafactories. It sparks affordable luxury access, cultural nods to automotive history, and sidesteps EV e-waste headaches. Here is a blueprint for smart, soulful motoring that employs the right people.
What do you think—time to tart up your own relic, or plug in the future and wait to be driven to the police pound when you park on a yellow line?
Insurance and finance costs are not included in this, but would be another gain. Depreciation? :-)
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https://wote.uk/back-to-the-future-of-motoring
www.wote.uk | October 14, 2025