I've managed to spend about a full tank's worth of driving time with the 2.3-16 and i have to say... it's been a real blast!
It's hardly 'fast' if one were to compare its performance to the standards of today's modern pocket rockets and what-not, but there's a charm to driving a relic from the 1980s that a new car can't quite replicate.
If you think this car is a slow lumbering beast of burden, think again. the 1st gear is horribly long (i've been in on-off touch with a chap from Ireland about a rebuilt rear drivetrain assembly including LSD with a closer ratio final drive from the later spec cars, but he's been reluctant to arrange shipping or even give a quote, so...)
Once in stride from 2nd gear up, the engine pulls strongly and if you had blind-folds on, you'd be hard-pressed to identify it as a car from another generation. Sure it has its share of creaks and rattles but there's no denying the impression that this is a thoroughbred through and through. Moreover, it makes such a delightful ruckus when it's really on the move.
From what i understand, the dog-leg gear-box has its roots in motorsports, where 1st gear was either for pootling down pit-lanes or getting the car out of gravel, because in a race, the rest of the time out on the track would see service of the other gears; 2-3-4-5 are positioned in a 'H' pattern for optimum shifting.
Updates: the parts are still arriving in bits and pieces, which include a 'correct era' X-spoke steering wheel and 1 original rim. The gear-knob has arrived and was screwed on the same day!
i was a little concerned previously especially when mechanics were moving the car around because the dog-leg first gear catches a lot of people by surprise and the gear-shifter that came with the car was the one sans shift markings. (attached here for reference)
On another note, I was pleasantly surprised to discover that local Mercedes-Benz dealer cycle & carriage still keeps stock of some of this car's parts. (Thanks to S. for pointing me in G's direction) but unfortunately, although they have 3 rims, 1 piece has been ordered from Germany...
(* Picture from mercedes-benz, i think, downloaded off the Internet for reference only)
Yeah i know 15-inches are a little 'weedy' but heck, i plan on going for the original look and they're going to be shod in 205/55R15 rubber (yeah a real bitch to find in stock too, but Stamford Tyres has several models in stock: Continental CPC2, Falken ST115 and ZE512).
http://www.stamfordtyres.com.sg/
The current 16-inch AMG replicas just aren't doing it for me.
Tinting is in the pipeline at some point too.
I was recommended Rikecool's grey-tinted Titanium 28 Film (LTA-Friendly, of course, when you have yearly inspections, the last thing you want to do is to 'go illegal' :p)
http://www.rikecool.com.sg/
After that i'm looking out for an 'old-school' head-unit for the cabin. My preference is for form over function haha so a simple Nakamichi comes to mind (especially since the orange illumination of the HU ought to match the interior lighting).
(image from http://www.nakamichi.co.jp/mss/cd500.htm)
UPDATE (29th Aug09):
Great Stuff! Picked up the head-unit over the weekend. Limited units left available as ex-stock and at a Great Price too! Now I'm just waiting to free up some time to get it installed. PM me for more details. Nakamichi's older CD-400 HU is also in stock.
UPDATE (26th Aug09):
Steering wheel just arrived today from Germany!
