"The intended driver is in need of basic transportation. I actually want to discourage use other than getting to and from work. The person is 25 years old, has a life time of being, shall I say, not terribly productive, and uses every excuse under the sun to never get his lazy arse out the door to even look for work. Plus since he won’t be paying for anything, it needs to economical in the extreme."

I wouldn't even consider buying this person a car. Not being mean, its just that at the present time he has problems he needs to deal with that no car can cure. Buying him a car might well make things worse.

I might get him a bus pass or a used bicycle but anything more than that would be up to him.

If you insist on getting him a car, I would not give him a MB or diesel car of any kind. A used Toyota or Nissan would be much better.

i have had three or so of the 115 diesels. the previous commenter (pagielli?) is right ... they are an aquired taste for the hard core diesel person... the 4 cylinder cars are deathly slow if with auto. barely ok with a stick. that said if you understand them and appreciate their simplicity and ruggedness are fun in their way... again if you are hard core diesel head.

as for any family advice... good luck.

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

A bus pass is a good idea which I hadn’t thought about. The obstacle is that the person currently lives waaaaaay out there in low cost housing land. The plan is for the next couple of years to a) get him to complete his GED and start at some kind of vocational training, b) get him a means of going to school & work. Given this combination a bike or bus will simply take too many hours of the day.

I’m not even sure if I’ll ascent to the car prior to his completing his GED. I’ll take the need for a manual transmission as part of the vehicle’s must have elements.

Someone said an MB such as the model I’m looking at would be a bad choice. Why? I think it’s an issue of perception. He thinks MBs are the coolest thing on the planet. By giving him a unique vintage vehicle, I hope he’ll feel some pride of ownership and maybe even raise his self-esteem if only a whisker, while it being in a very humble and inexpensive car. It’s a tool, after all, a means of encouraging interest, and a way to permit him to be motivated; but and indented as a dream come true.

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...Tracy

'00 ML320 "Casper"
'92 400E "Stella"

I actually drove a 1969 220D 4 speed from 1972 to 1980 so am familiar with the model. It was very safe, comfortable, reliable and economical though slow. It was OK once you got it rolling down the hiway but not much fun in traffic.

But that was 25 years ago. The car you are looking at is over 20 years old. It was a good car in its day but that was a long time ago.Times have changed and what was barely acceptable then may not be now. And even a Mercedes will show wear, rust, metal fatigue, cracked dried out rubber parts etc. After all that time. It is definitely past its "best before" date.

If you are not a mechanic or a diesel fan (I am) then you would be far better off to buy a later model Japanese economy car for the same price.

As far as what he "wants" why spoil his dream. Give him something to look forward to and work toward - buying his dream Mercedes. Once he gets a job, moves out of your house and saves up the money.