Balancing value & enjoyment

I send my thanks to Russ Smith for his valuation of my Mercedes-Benz 300E-24 in the 5 July issue of CCW. I agree with Russ’s figure of £7000 – my agreed value policy with insurer Footman James is slightly more than this.

There is a point I want to make, though. In his summary, Russ says: ‘ The 24,000 miles you have added to it have taken the edge off the price paid’. In the four years I’ve owned the car I’ve enjoyed every single mile I’ve driven – I’ve even taken it to Austria for a family holiday.

I bought the car to enjoy, not as an investment and in my view, the fact that I am using it regularly is the main reason that everything on board works as it did on day one. So, I may have affected the value, but what price should I put on the enjoyment? Too many people look upon old cars for their investment potential. ❚ John Threlfall, Clitheroe, Lancashire Couldn’t agree more. What’s the point of owning a classic if you can’t enjoy it? – Ed