About a year on cars honestly. Then I bellyache and ponder and feel guilty for another year, all the while planning and looking and thinking. Then in the next year or two, something will come along. If I could afford it I'd just keep them all, but hey..

__________________
One more Radar Lover gone...
1982 VW Caddy diesel 406K 1.9L AAZ
1994 E320 195K

I don't know the SDL is only my second car. The Camry I wanted to sell about 6 months after I got it. It wasn't for me boring, slow, and got poor mileage. How the heck can a 4cy get under 20mpg? What does it do with that fuel, it didn't go to hp!

I don't know what my next car will be, but I do know it will have lots of power. I have had two slower cars and now I want something that will destroy rear tires. I really like the new Mustang, a GT with a 5spd would be very nice. But $25k is tons of money and Fords lose value like crazy. I do want an E55 bi turbo one day, so fast If I ever got another W126 I would look for a euro 560SEC.

__________________
1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

The new Fords will hold their values very well. The new Mustang, Freestyle and Five Hundred have estimated depreciation rates of 50% after the first five years of ownership. That's slightly better than the Toyota Camry and right up there with Honda, Lexus, M-B, etc. By limiting sales to rental companies, Ford is really kicking up the resale values of its vehicles.

__________________
1999 Mercedes-Benz S600, 103K miles - garage queen
1988 Mercedes-Benz 560SEL, 89K miles - daily driver
2007 Hyundai Sonata Limited, 31K - daily driver

In my younger days I used to buy new at least every two years. Don't want to think of the money I've spent on cars over the years. The stable I have now is the most satisfying I have ever had and there is no plan to upgrade soon. Just did the evaporator on the 400, so how much worse can it get ? Just love the TE, and am now looking forward to spring and getting out the SL. Consider myself very fortunate to own the cars I have and have no plans to make any changes soon. My wife loves her 400E and couldn't get her away from it with a pry bar.

__________________
95 SL500 Smoke Silver, Parchment 64K
07 E350 4matic Station Wagon White 34K
02 E320 4Matic Silver/grey 80K
05 F150 Silver 44K

Sell? What you mean, sell?

Don't understand.

Ken300D

__________________
--------------------------
1982 300D at 351K miles
1984 300SD at 217K miles
1987 300D at 370K miles

I am going to keep my SD forever, I like it too much and I don't think I could ever mentally cope with parting with it. I do however plan on finding a 300E manual....once I pay off this one, I want a zippy gas car for some fun

__________________
-diesel is not just a fuel, its a way of life-
'15 GLK250 Bluetec 118k - mine - (OC-123,800)
'17 Metris(VITO!) - 37k - wifes (OC-41k)
'09 Sprinter 3500 Winnebago View - 62k (OC - 67k)
'13 ML350 Bluetec - 95k - dad's (OC-98k)
'01 SL500 - 103k(km) - dad's (OC-110,000km)
'16 E400 4matic Sedan - 148k - Brothers (OC-155k)

Ok, girls you want a challenge to keep you interested in your Benz's ? Never mind doddling under the hood, doddle at what you feed it. Make your own fuel, biodiesel that is, pure fryer grease, converted to burn in any unmodified diesel engine.
Wanna learn how to do it right ? http://journeytoforever.org/biodiesel_make.html Complete step by step. Once you get into it you'll not have time to get bored. You can make a little or make a lot, it's up to you and your needs and supply.
Have fun, burn clean.

__________________
1983 240D 4 speed running on B100 and SVO
www.b100wh.com/b100wh.html#reactor
My Biodiesel Reactor/Processor

about 2 years if nothing exciting happens to the car or if something drastically bad happens to it.

Exciting means - no "enhancements" or new to make the car look different, like a set of different mags, maybe a different paint, or a new Head unit...

__________________
Mike

----------------------------------
1975 200 - Sold (no pix);
1978 200 - Sold - http://www.pbase.com/hboy/redbaron
1979 300TD - Sold
http://www.pbase.com/hboy/greenwagon
http://www.geocities.com/hboy726/300TD.html
1985 230E - now my daily driver...

Judging by the Fords currently on the used car market that is an ambitious plan. The Taurus is a pos and have no re sale to prove it. The Mustangs will probably do a little better. Ford made the 500 for rental companies, like the new Pontiac G6. Only time will tell but I don't see the Japanese unseated any time soon.

Back to the topic, I think a black on black Mustang, with a nice set of wheels and maybe a blower and larger exhuast would be very nice!

__________________
1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

Everyone here is making some great points on how long to keep a 'new' car. Imagine if you bought a brand new 2002 CL55 AMG. That cost was $120,000 brand new. I am now seeing this car used with under 30,000 miles for about 50grand. In another 3-5 years this car will in the 20's and I think. Then people like me can start picking these up and holding on to them forever. I wonder how much mileage I could get out of a CL..maybe 200-300 if I am luck and the technolgy doesn't go south. The new G-class is coming down quick as well. hmm.

I'm not a Ford fan but I read news about the events in the auto industry on a daily basis. You got the facts wrong there I'm afraid to say. Ford has sworn off supplying its cars to rental fleets as it is trying to fix up the image of its brands. To date, Ford has supplied not even one Freestyle, Five Hundred or Mercury Montego to rental fleets. Mustangs supplied to rental fleets are actually 80% less than they used to be. The Taurus has been killed anyway, so its resale value doesn't matter to newer Ford sales. In fact, for two years Ford has lost market share largely because it has refused to send its cars into rental fleets. I too don't see the Japanses unseated soon, but then again no one saw the Japanese unseating Detroit several years ago. The beauty of life is that things change and no one can predict them as much as we can try.

__________________
1999 Mercedes-Benz S600, 103K miles - garage queen
1988 Mercedes-Benz 560SEL, 89K miles - daily driver
2007 Hyundai Sonata Limited, 31K - daily driver

Ha ha I wish you the best of luck. These cars are dropping fast in resale value due to their stratopheric repair prices. Now, were you planning to buy these cars outside warranty? You'll be getting rid of them as quickly as you purchase them.

__________________
1999 Mercedes-Benz S600, 103K miles - garage queen
1988 Mercedes-Benz 560SEL, 89K miles - daily driver
2007 Hyundai Sonata Limited, 31K - daily driver

Im on my 3rd W123 300DT, and I plan on it being my last. The first one I drove for a year and 40K miles, and got tired of it.... sold it for $5200 and ended up buying another one, an 85 300DT in midnight blue. 2 months later it was totalled- spent the next 7 months searching high and low for the perfect 300DT. Then one day I found it. "1984 300DT, Orient Red/Palomino. 1 owner, all records, garage kept, etc etc etc. "

The car was located in San Diego, so i had a friend take it for a PPI, it came out with flying colors, and the next week i flew down and picked up the car at the airport. I will NEVER forget walking out of the terminal, and seeing my new car awaiting me at the curbside... my jaw was dropped... I was expecting a nice car, esp. from what I was told. But I didnt expect it to be as good as it was!!!! No trim warping on the interior ANYWHERE, no "pinkomino", literally no dings, no oxodiizing of the paint etc etc etc.... Needless to say I drove home withh the biggest grin on my face...

With that said, I will NEVER part with this car... after growing tired of my first 300DT, selling it, and then searching... I came to the realization that when I find the perfect example I cannot sell it.... there arent very many nice examples of these cars left out there, so if you get tired of your "classic diesel" realize that it may be months or years until you fiind another one that meets your standards if you find yourself with that classic MB diesel CRAVING. I consider the loss of my second 300DT a blessing... if i hadnt lost that car to an accident, i wouldnt have the cherry of a car I have now. Ive invested a little over $10K this past year, and i dont plan on stopping anytime soon.... ITS ADDICTIVE!!!!!!

Now on the other hand, I have found myself wanting a second car not because I am tired of my w123, but because I dont want to continue using it as a consistent daily driver.... its tooo nice to let it suffer another year of use every day..... and i worry that another fool will make a bad move and end up wrecking my car....
YES IM OBSESSED... calll me SICK.... all of the diesel fumes have been getting to my head! And my car is the sole beneficiary of this addiction.

SO basiically, I want a second car to use as a daily driver.. somthing that I wouldnt worry about too much... I like VW's... like the feel and styling, and they drive nicely aswell. HOWEVER they arent the best in terms of construction, and reliability. About a month ago i found myself in my local VW dealer drooling over the new 05 Jetta GLI... which is the final celebration of the current generation of Jettas as a re-designned Jetta will bow to the public roads halfway through this year. For the first half year, VW filled their current GLI Jetta with all sorts of little bits that transform the car into a marvelous machine for its class and price. Subtle body kit, 18in. BBS wheels, Recaro sport seats, black interior with red pinstripes, aluminum trim, sport pedals, and every avail option.... I WANT ONE!!!! The sales man took me on a 45 minute testdrive!!!!
Its the perfect car in my eyes to enjoy while its running ok, then when the lease is up, or warranty expires (if I were to purchase) I could return it or sell it and get somthing else. All the while my 300DT can remain as more of a pleasure car, and I wont have to worry about it.

Alright, someone get me to a head doctor NOW!!!!!

PS, I dont want one in the color below. Id prefer Gray or Black Magic..(black metallic). Cheers!

Attached Thumbnails

 

__________________
Nate

1995 E420
1992 BMW 525i
1984 300D Turbo sold
1993 Volvo 244 sold
1995 Volvo 944T R.I.P!


"The details are not details. They make the product."
-Charles Eames

www.cbs.nu

I bought my Chevy stepside PU brand new in '79. Still have it 26 years later (grew up in that truck). Bought my '67 Camaro in '92. It spends all it's life sitting in the garage covered in blankets. (It actually has the interior of a '79 300TD on the hood. My trusty '97 F-150 I bought in late '96, and am in year nine @ 160K. Replaced the alternator. That's it!
Then there is the baloney-lipped '80 300TD I've had since May. It is easily the most irritating.
After driving the Volvo diesel today with manual tranny it makes me want a manual 240D more than ever. What does it say when a person wants one of those for excitement?????

__________________
Jimmy L.
'05 Acura TL 6MT
2001 ML430 My Spare

Gone:
'95 E300 188K "Batmobile" Texas Unfriendly Black
'85 300TD 235K "The Wagon" Texas Friendly White
'80 240D 154K "China" Scar engine installed
'81 300TD 240K "Smash"
'80 240D 230K "The Squash"
'81 240D 293K"Scar" Rear ended harder than Elton John

Sell?
People ask me why I have 4 Benz's. I tell them I keep forgetting to sell them.

The 420SEL is up for sale....I'd rather drive the E420. The E was a model that I wanted for a while; now that I have it, I really don't have a hankering for anything else. (Except for a mild interest in an SL)

If you have done everything to the car that you can do (besides non factory stuff), then it's not that the car is boring you... It's that you don't have anything left to "fix" on it. So? Sell it, and get another one
(Don't do like me, and keep buying... eventually you will run out of parking space )

__________________
It is a truism that almost any sect, cult, or religion will legislate its creed into law if it acquires the political power to do so. Robert A. Heinlein


09 Jetta TDI
1985 300D