May pick up a 1983 300D locally...opinions

[boneheaddoctor]

Found a 1983 300D.........interior very nice and dry ecept for needing wood in the center dash area...........Tach and temp not working..factory stero shot,no rust or rust repair I could find.........runs fine although a bit weak on power. ALDA unmolested and no signs or being abused. Figure thats an easy fix...no nailing, engine rocking car at idle...(rack damper needs adjusted) zero smoke.... Floor under mats clean and dry. boot on lower ball joint split on drivers side LCA.

I can get this for $2,900 Trying to decide if I will call the guy up today and tell him I want it. 149,000 with a clean carfax.

Wife likes it..........should I grab it.

[Brian Carlton]

No, you shouldn't buy the 300D.

What would you do with it?

I thought you were looking for a W126 that you could use as a daily driver and one that would be comfortable on long trips, as well?

The price is acceptable, but, is certainly not a steal with all the things you have to fix.

[boneheaddoctor]

Originally Posted by Brian Carlton

No, you shouldn't buy the 300D.

What would you do with it?

I thought you were looking for a W126 that you could use as a daily driver and one that would be comfortable on long trips, as well?

The price is acceptable, but, is certainly not a steal with all the things you have to fix.

Palamino interior with no signs of the pink tone they start to take.

I was going to sell my honda......and my saturn use this as a daily driver till I feel comfortible enough with the business climate in my job to go out and buy a new car.

This car was local.......and NO shipping charges or surprises about one I wasn't able to personally inspect and drive before bidding.

Seller bought it 2 months ago as was real unhappy with power...or lack there-of. His other car is an acura integra.......the power issue will be a real easy adjustment. maybe just filters.......at worst valve adjustment and alda tweek.

[Larry Delor]

The price isn't all that special.
Having one of those, and remembering what needed to be done around the mileage that the one you are looking at has, the following items come to mind:
Upper and lower ball joints (you know the drill) (check for inside/outside tire wear)
Steering linkages will follow soon after. (might as well get the assemblies)

The rotors may be approaching their retirement age too.

For that kind of $$, the A/C better work too.

If you can beat him up on the price, maybe it's not such a bad deal then.

Not trying to poo-poo your find...Just trying to get you to buy it at a much lower price

[boneheaddoctor]

A/C works.........clmate control fully functioning....

The wood panel on climate control is MIA and the dash pice above that was poorly glued on...........wish my 300SD interior was in that good of shape.

Proble with non local cars is shipping.........which adds almost $1,000 to price from CA and almost $800 from Florida.....

I am pretty critical on what I call nice. And pretty fearfull of the Ebay scams and the horror stories you guys have talked about here.

I just did the front end on my 300SD this past spring...that was a PITA .....and about $700 in parts.

[Brian Carlton]

Originally Posted by boneheaddoctor

.

Proble with non local cars is shipping.........which adds almost $1,000 to price from CA and almost $800 from Florida.....

I am pretty critical on what I call nice. And pretty fearfull of the Ebay scams and the horror stories you guys have talked about here.

This is very true. We tend to forget the $500. that must be spent to go down and pick up a vehicle from Florida.

The additional risk with these e-bay transactions is also a serious consideration.

You could easily blow over $1,000. in parts on little things that the seller did not disclose.

I'm in the process of replacing my combination switch on the SDL. No washer.
Purchased that way. Never disclosed. Cost of switch and gaskets is about $150.00!!

The price is not excessive, it's just not a steal. Of course, the perfect 300D might show up tomorrow in Virginia at a price of $2500. (the floor IMHO). Then again, you could wait another five years to find one.

If you are serious about selling the Honda and the Saturn, then time becomes more important, and, waiting an indefinite time to save $500. (the maximum that you could conceivably save for a similar vehicle) becomes unrealistic.

[boneheaddoctor]

Originally Posted by Brian Carlton

This is very true. We tend to forget the $500. that must be spent to go down and pick up a vehicle from Florida.

The additional risk with these e-bay transactions is also a serious consideration.

You could easily blow over $1,000. in parts on little things that the seller did not disclose.

I'm in the process of replacing my combination switch on the SDL. No washer.
Purchased that way. Never disclosed. Cost of switch and gaskets is about $150.00!!

The price is not excessive, it's just not a steal. Of course, the perfect 300D might show up tomorrow in Virginia at a price of $2500. (the floor IMHO). Then again, you could wait another five years to find one.

If you are serious about selling the Honda and the Saturn, then time becomes more important, and, waiting an indefinite time to save $500. (the maximum that you could conceivably save for a similar vehicle) becomes unrealistic.

I have one local guy...sold my last engine to...a DOHC honda ZC .......something never sold in the USA. He is going to rebuild that in the Future for Turbo........and he said if I could wait till april when his seasonal work picks up he would give me $5,000 for it (my honda) about the saturn....the Saturn......well custom wheels come off, the same guy wants those. And sell the car either local or on Ebay........

My brother says I am nuts wanting another old benz.......

[Larry Delor]

The car is in Fla. ? Where abouts? Maybe you can talk me into driving it up there for less than $500

Then again, it is rather cold up there, isn't it? Too bad it doesn't have heated seats.

[boneheaddoctor]

Originally Posted by Larry Delor

The car is in Fla. ? Where abouts? Maybe you can talk me into driving it up there for less than $500

Then again, it is rather cold up there, isn't it? Too bad it doesn't have heated seats.

No this car is about 15 miles from my house................in VA.

It was recently on ebay and I can get it for less than the high bid which didn't hit his reserve price. SInce he won't have to pay ebays fees.

[Larry Delor]

Ahh. ok. Well, maybe next time.

On a related note, I missed a nice deal here locally. Also an '83 with 178k. Needed a little work...mostly a vacuum pump rebuild (the guy had a rope attached to the shut off valve, and had it hanging out he side of the fender)
No rust, paint was passable (had repainted trunk and hood), and it needed mounts and a tire (busted belt). Asking price? $900

I could still kick myself for not buying it.

[boneheaddoctor]

I think I will tell him I will look at it one more time...and bring a floor jack to check suspension good. And give me a chance at a second impression. Then hold off any offer till then. This will be a 12 month use car............its total lack of rust and fairly low milage makes it practicle in my mind. Rust is why I plan to retire the saturn though realisticly it has a few years left in it. I want to sell the Honda to some kid becasue the temptation of that power is overwelming..........seriously. The greedy money grubbers plan to drasticly increase fines here to pad their already bloated taxes even more.

[stayalert]

Were I you I would not jump on the car. I would express some muted interest and check back in a week or so or have them call you....that's my penny..

[boneheaddoctor]

Originally Posted by stayalert

Were I you I would not jump on the car. I would express some muted interest and check back in a week or so or have them call you....that's my penny..

Well if I find a sloppy front suspension I don't want it. I can accept the broken radio and the tack and temp guge...those are easy fixes as parts are easy to find.


But mostly is there are a few 126 300SD's I am keeping my eye on. This car is great shape....with no rust any of the usual spots or anywhere else I looked for that matter.

He isn't going to drop much if any.......He paid 2,600 for it 2 months ago and paid $300 to fix an issue where it blew fuse for wiper motor. His bottom line is break even. But it will be a few days before I can get out to check the front end. Navy blue with Palamino interior. Nice but a 126 is more what I want..............under 150,000 miles in great shape with no rust, and at a fair price. My annual milage has been under 20,000 lately....at that rate it might rust out before it wears out.

And I absolutely HATE rusty cars. Or ones that appear cosmeticly rough.