I don't think you can use Kelly or Edmunds. Yes they give a value....but honestly where can you find a used car that will probably last you..minimum another 50-75K for $3000. And by the way it's a Mercedes.

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Tom in AZ

1985 300SD, smoke silver, blue interior, 146K
1973 280, 85K (sold)

I don't have it on ebay yet. I don't NEED to sell the car now... I think if it hasn't sold by the end of August, I might put it on ebay. I don't even have a for sale sign in it right now, but am going to put one in the window this weekend.

I actually have someone interested in it... goes to school here at UCF - he said he needed a loan though.... so I don't know how that is going to work out. He called me this morning wanting to go for a test drive and to take it to his mechanic to have it looked over. Hopefully he has a good mechanic - I know what condition the car is in inside and out, and I'm not going to let some mechanic tell me otherwise. Anyway, hopefully it all goes well. If not, then it stays on the market. I'm in no rush to sell.

They are undervalued in those publications because they are diesels. Thanks to GM's bungled attempt at building diesels in the late 70s/early 80s, people in the US still have a negative perception of diesel-engined passenger cars.

There is NO other car in a similar price range that will be as reliable and durable.

Mike

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1979 300 SD
350,000 miles
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1982 300D-gone---sold to a buddy
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1985 300TD
270,000 miles
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1994 E320
not my favorite, but the wife wanted it

www.myspace.com/mikemover
www.myspace.com/openskystudio
www.myspace.com/speedxband
www.myspace.com/openskyseparators
www.myspace.com/doubledrivemusic

I agree, it's just a different way of looking at value. Would you rather pay $300 a month to drive a generic car that will be toast in 5 years (when it's finally paid off) and then start over; or do you want to spend $4-5000 upfront and maybe $1-2000 per year to drive more or less indefinitely in a classic?

Good luck, I'm sure you'll do OK if you can wait. Unfortunately, it's tough to get a loan for an older car because the banks do use book value (regardless of what we think of it). Hopefully he can make it work out.

Ok I'm willing to accept that it's worth more than "book value" but comparing price to the idiots buying on e-bay is rediculous!

Danny

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1984 300SD Turbo Diesel 150,000 miles

OBK member #23

(\__/)
(='.'=) This is Bunny. Copy and paste bunny into your
(")_(") signature to help him gain world domination

Well I, for one, am not going to stop them from paying that much.

E-bay is unbelievable. People have a Mercedes and they think they can charge whatever they want for it. I've seen people spend unbelievable amounts for a 114/115. On the other side, people spend ridiculous amounts to restore an MB and then wonder why they can't recoup their costs. I bought a 1973 MB 280 here in AZ for $1500 and thought I got a steal. Then I found out what I had...solex carb!! I was lucky to drive it for 6 months, spent about $700-800 on it and sold it for $1600. But it was a lesson.

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Tom in AZ

1985 300SD, smoke silver, blue interior, 146K
1973 280, 85K (sold)

Well, none of that all matters anymore. I'm not going to sell. Mom is getting a new car next June, so I am going to take her's, she is going to get a new truck, and then my dad is going to keep my car as his daily driver, and his truck is going to be an "expedition vehicle" - thanks for all the compliments on the car though!

better change up your signature then!
sounds like you will be getting the car back.. someday...
good for you

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1984 300D Turbo - 231k....totalled 11/30/07 RIP

A little late in the thread but I have to jump in. You are exactly correct. What is missing mostly in the discussion is the simple business principle of supply and demand. In SC, I looked far and wide, and wasted a lot of tire rubber driving to look at junk called "mint" by the seller. If there are only a few excellent low mile 123 300Ds out there and many people want one, what's that going to do to the price? A seller that has one knows that. The 67 Corvette in the barn fable is just that....a fable. I waited and searched months and finally found a 85 300D 101K the way I wanted it to be and gladly gave $3900 after the PO asked $4500. The bottom line is this, who of you who REALLY wanted a pristine 123 and found one would pass it over because it was $4000 instead of your "ideal" $1800? None of you would....you just wouldn't admit it on this forum
Slcom1983