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  #1  
Old 10-13-2004, 01:56 AM
The Warden's Avatar
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Location: Pacifica (SF Bay Area), CA
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Unhappy What a travesty...

A friend of mine's stepfather works at a Toyota dealership. My friend's car is in the shop, so he got a ride from his stepfather, and is now at the dealership waiting to go home. Being bored, he gave me a call.

Someone came in with a W116 300SD with only 175K miles and in apparently excellent shape, and traded it in on a new Toyota Echo.

She only got $600 for the car, and they're going to turn around and sell it wholesale...

Is that sad or what? I don't think I want to know what's going to happen to that poor car...too bad I don't have the $$ to jump on it...

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  #2  
Old 10-13-2004, 02:03 AM
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In California there's a grace period for trade-ins. You have 2 or 3 days to buy back your trade-in at the established value.

Sixto
95 S420
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  #3  
Old 10-13-2004, 02:07 AM
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How can you trade in a Mercedes SD for an Echo...what's happening with this world.
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  #4  
Old 10-13-2004, 02:12 AM
The Warden's Avatar
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Jorn
How can you trade in a Mercedes SD for an Echo...what's happening with this world.
My thoughts exactly...

Actually, since I also know his step-father, I talked to him briefly about the possibility of doing a trade...don't know how much $$ it'd wind up being, though; may not be worthwhile...
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  #5  
Old 10-13-2004, 02:17 AM
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Location: Florida Big Bend region
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A while back, I noticed a newspaper listing for a 1985 300SD with supposedly quite low miles (maybe 130k). Very slim on details, but it gave a stock number and the number for the local Toyota dealership.

I wasn't getting my hopes up, but I certainly thought it was worth checking it out. This isn't a really hot market for M-B diesels, so I could imagine that a trade-in there could be a good deal if the car wasn't well and truly thrashed. It's just not what they want on their lot, and I doubt that they'd have the willingness or experience to deal with even the most rudimentary "issues" that a trade-in M-B diesel might have.

Use the trusty telephone. Talk to someone, who has to ask around the dealership for someone else to ask. Wait. Eventually receive a vapid, "Uh, I think that one's already gone to auction." I think I even briefly tried to engage him on the issue of why one would bother to put an ad in the paper, then send the car off to auction just a few days later, but I quickly saw that it was useless.
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  #6  
Old 10-13-2004, 06:03 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by The Warden
A friend of mine's stepfather works at a Toyota dealership. My friend's car is in the shop, so he got a ride from his stepfather, and is now at the dealership waiting to go home. Being bored, he gave me a call.

Someone came in with a W116 300SD with only 175K miles and in apparently excellent shape, and traded it in on a new Toyota Echo.

She only got $600 for the car, and they're going to turn around and sell it wholesale...

Is that sad or what? I don't think I want to know what's going to happen to that poor car...too bad I don't have the $$ to jump on it...
After finding out how low the cost of shipping is, I would buy it if someone is willing to check it out (for a fee).
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'87 300TD - 132K - Soon 4-Sale
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'77 VW Type II - 77K - Restored
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  #7  
Old 10-13-2004, 06:20 AM
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See my other post; I might beat you to the punch...if I don't, though, I could check it out for you.

For shipping, take a look at these guys...before deciding to fly out, I almost used them to transport my 123 from Texas out here...the rate seemed reasonable. IIRC they do online quotes...
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  #8  
Old 10-13-2004, 06:28 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by The Warden
See my other post; I might beat you to the punch...if I don't, though, I could check it out for you.

For shipping, take a look at these guys...before deciding to fly out, I almost used them to transport my 123 from Texas out here...the rate seemed reasonable. IIRC they do online quotes...
Actually, I hope you do decide to buy it. If you don't and the reason is other than the condition of the car, I would be interested.

On the shipping, it cost $850 for the last purchase with the seller paying half of that. It was delivered to my yard on the top of the hauler. I consider $1,000 +/- reasonable if the vehicle is bought reasonably.

Like I stated, I hope you find it worth buying yourself.
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'87 300TD - 132K - Soon 4-Sale
'84 300D Turbo - 122K - Driving
'77 VW Type II - 77K - Restored
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  #9  
Old 10-13-2004, 08:36 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by The Warden
A friend of mine's stepfather works at a Toyota dealership. My friend's car is in the shop, so he got a ride from his stepfather, and is now at the dealership waiting to go home. Being bored, he gave me a call.

Someone came in with a W116 300SD with only 175K miles and in apparently excellent shape, and traded it in on a new Toyota Echo.

She only got $600 for the car, and they're going to turn around and sell it wholesale...

Is that sad or what? I don't think I want to know what's going to happen to that poor car...too bad I don't have the $$ to jump on it...
hell if that was rust free and good shape AND on the east coast I would hop on it.
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1979 300SD W116
1983 300D W123
1975 Ironhead Sportster chopper
1987 GMC 3/4 ton 4X4 Diesel
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"He who fights with monsters might take care lest he thereby become a monster. And if you gaze for long into an abyss, the abyss gazes also into you." - Friedrich Nietzsche
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  #10  
Old 10-13-2004, 11:34 PM
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Thumbs up

Steve,

I just got back from looking at the car, and I decided not to go for it myself. The car's not immaculate, but while I couldn't test-drive it, it looked like it would make a decent daily driver, and would certainly be a good restoration candidate. I just decided that it wasn't worth losing my 123 over. The dealer wants to sell it to a wholesaler, but I told my friend's step-dad that I knew someone (you) who might be interested in it, and he was amenable to that. So, if you're interested, let me know.

This is what I took note of:

Engine/mechanical:
  • I didn't have a chance to light the engine off, but he told me that the engine fired right up and sounds okay. If you're serious, I can go down there and test-drive and hopefully do a compression check.
  • There are 165K miles on the odometer; not 100% sure that's accurate, but it probably is.
  • Valve cover gasket needs to be replaced.
  • Oil cooler is leaking at the top seam.
  • Battery terminals are bad; the whole cables should probably be replaced.
  • The cooling expansion tank was bone-dry; couldn't pull a hose to see if the radiator was full or not. This could be a non-issue.
  • The fan clutch might be bad (just from spinning the fan with the engine off).
  • I think the idle adjust cable isn't attached properly to the bracket on the throttle assembly (although I could be wrong).
  • The air cleaner assembly is loose; could be bad mounts; could be a bad bracket; I wasn't able to find out.
  • The cruise control actuator is gone and looks to have never been there, BUT there is an OEM CC control stalk on the steering column.

Exterior:
  • No visible rust! If there's a speck of rust on the car (other than a couple of small paint chips at the door rims which, I figure, is normal for any car), it's underneath and well-hidden. The jackpoints look perfect, as does what underside I could readily see (didn't have work clothes on, so I couldn't crawl under the car).
  • Paint (a dark blue) looks to be in good shape, although the car needs a wash like nobody's business.
  • There's an outside mirror on the right side as well as the left (best I can tell, this is rare on a 116).
  • The "belt" trim pieces on the passenger's front door and on the front panel are missing.
  • A couple of the chrome strips are missing on the grille.
  • The M-B emblem just below the hood star is in, but is rotated (probably a simple fix)
  • There are some dings on the front bumper.
  • The p/o put on some ugly aftermarket rims and didn't change them back before trading the car in.

Interior:
  • Blue MB-Tex
  • Some cracks on both front seats and the front armrest, but it's not too bad (far better than my car!). The button on the armrest is missing, though.
  • ACC and air conditioning supposedly work; couldn't test this, though.
  • The dashboard is cracked, although there is a cover on the dash that's in pretty good shape
  • The back seat's in good shape, except the very back part of the backrest where it meets the hat rack. The hat rack is also sun-damaged.
  • First aid kit missing.
  • Top of driver's side door panel has some cracks.
  • Wood trim and just about everything else looked pretty good.

I think that's everything...again, I wouldn't call the car pristine, but it wasn't bad by any stretch of the imagination. Assuming the engine does really run well and the tranny (and the rest of the drivetrain) is in good shape, I think it's probably worth $2000 to $2500. My buddy's stepfather thinks the dealer's going to ask $2500 for it...

If anyone's interested, let me know! Thanks!
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  #11  
Old 10-14-2004, 11:09 AM
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Am I following this thread right? Did that car go from $600 to $2,500?
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  #12  
Old 10-14-2004, 02:25 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Jim Anderson
Am I following this thread right? Did that car go from $600 to $2,500?
They are in business to make money.
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  #13  
Old 10-14-2004, 03:39 PM
The Warden's Avatar
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Location: Pacifica (SF Bay Area), CA
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Quote:
Originally Posted by TwitchKitty
They are in business to make money.
What he said.

The dealer gave the person $600 trade-in value towards a Toyota Echo. Highway robbery IMHO, but that's how things go
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  #14  
Old 10-14-2004, 03:48 PM
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The dealer can ask whatever they want, however a new car dealer probably isn't going to want to keep an old Merc around for long. A few weeks at most, the Ford dealer that I got my SDL from only had it for a week. Offer them $1,500 I bet they would jump. How many people come to a New Toyota dealer looking for an old Merc diesel?
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  #15  
Old 10-14-2004, 03:52 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Hatterasguy
The dealer can ask whatever they want, however a new car dealer probably isn't going to want to keep an old Merc around for long. A few weeks at most, the Ford dealer that I got my SDL from only had it for a week. Offer them $1,500 I bet they would jump. How many people come to a New Toyota dealer looking for an old Merc diesel?
exactly if he takes it to auction he can only expect wholesale price. not much more than he paid if that much.

__________________
Proud owner of ....
1971 280SE W108
1979 300SD W116
1983 300D W123
1975 Ironhead Sportster chopper
1987 GMC 3/4 ton 4X4 Diesel
1989 Honda Civic (Heavily modified)
---------------------
Section 609 MVAC Certified
---------------------
"He who fights with monsters might take care lest he thereby become a monster. And if you gaze for long into an abyss, the abyss gazes also into you." - Friedrich Nietzsche
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