Used MB as First Car for Niece? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

retmil46 · #1 10-25-2006, 01:07 AM

I have a young niece down in Lockhart TX, 30 miles south of Austin. She'll be turning 18 next month, and graduating from high school early next year. Both her and her parents have been looking for a vehicle for her, to get a part time job so she can start putting away money for college, and as transport to and from school. Their family finances are rather tight right now, and her old soft-hearted uncle has offered to help out.

Two vehicles I've considered are both MB diesels. One is an '87 300D Turbo I've checked out first hand here in NC, 136K miles, $4500. Another I found on autotrader this morning, an '83 300SD Turbo, 161K miles, $4700, down in TX about 30 miles from their location.

My first concerns would be her lack of automotive maintenance skills, and limited financial means when it comes to getting the car serviced or repaired if something goes south. Given this, perhaps something more mainstream, such as a Honda Civic, where experienced mechanics and parts would be more readily available (and potentially cheaper) would be a better choice.

Bottom line is, we want to get her something safe, reliable, decent gas mileage, relatively inexpensive to maintain and service, with as little potential as possible for becoming a money pit for unanticipated repairs.

So I'm asking for opinions either way - would a used MB diesel be a good choice, or would the mainstream/Honda Civic route be better in this case? Also, would anyone be able to recommend a good MB diesel mechanic/shop in that area (Austin/San Antonio) where she would be able to get the car serviced/repaired without spending a fortune at the dealer?

PatricdeBoer · #2 10-25-2006, 01:13 AM

Unless she wants to learn how to do basic maintainance, I'd go with the honda.

H-townbenzoboy · #3 10-25-2006, 01:18 AM

Where is she going to college? Assuming she goes to somewhere like UTSA or UT in Austin, she'll be commuting over the dangerous rural highways, Hondas have airbags and all that type of cool safety stuff, but the older MBs do tend to be a bit safer in accidents with the crumple zones and safety cage. It's a tradeoff, do you want to buy her something that's easy to maintain and probably not as safe, or do you want a car that's known to be safe, but nearly or over 20 years old and due to old age, may be prone to leaving her on the side of the highway at night? If she's willing to do the basic maintainence and it checks out VERY well, I'd get her the 124, it gets a tad bit better fuel mileage than the 300SD and faster off the line (needed for those onramps).

#4 10-25-2006, 01:37 AM

Repairs and insurance are going to be sky high for a twenty plus year old MB. If it doesn't have an airbag, the insurance will be more than a newer vehicle. Plus, diesel fuel costs around .40 cents MORE than premium around here. If I didn't do my own work on the '84 300D, it wouldn't be cost effective to own at all. A Honda or Toyota Camry would be a better choice, unless they have a resident MB mechanic.

dmorrison · #5 10-25-2006, 01:42 AM

I have a 82 300TD, My daughter has a 83 240D, But I made her get under the car with me everytime we worked on it. And money is not a factor.
I would recommend a good used Honda for her. Mercedes are expensive to maintain unless you do it yourself, Hondas are quite cheap for repairs, compared to Mercedes. Also consider a Toyota.

Dave

Afraid to say that we will be buying a new car this January ( probably ) and it will be a Honda Accord. I'll Keep what I have, But the Honda Accord, Civic and Toyota Camry are the #1 cars on Consumers Report on reliability.

dmorrison · #6 10-25-2006, 01:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John Holmes III

Repairs and insurance are going to be sky high for a twenty plus year old MB. If it doesn't have an airbag, the insurance will be more than a newer vehicle. Plus, diesel fuel costs around .40 cents MORE than premium around here. If I didn't do my own work on the '84 300D, it wouldn't be cost effective to own at all. A Honda or Toyota Camry would be a better choice, unless they have a resident MB mechanic.

Not the insurance. Don't carry collision, and it's very cheap. My Son's and Daughter's insurance is about $45 a month, under my policy.

Dave

#7 10-25-2006, 01:47 AM

From a cost/reliability point of view, a late model ricer is a better deal than any 20 year old car. An old benz is somewhat affordable if you do a lot of the repair/maintenance work yourself, but it is still primarily a hobby. My 20 year old benz diesels will outlast the new ricers, but the ongoing repair/maintenance costs per mile are significantly higher.

#8 10-25-2006, 02:00 AM

Unless she is equipped to do basic maintenance and repair the car herself, get the Honda.

pmckechnie · #9 10-25-2006, 07:43 AM

Being a mechanic and owning both a 91 300D and a Honda Accord, I would have to say that the condition of the car and past maintance are the keys to the desion. I would recommend the Mercedes 300D if it has had regular maintaince and repairs made when needed over a ricer with the same mileage that wasn't maintained correctly and little things not fixed when needed. Asian cars can be just as expensive to maintain ad a Mercedes if both have been treated the same in their previous life. I know, I work or both. If I had a daughter just learning to drive I would much rather have her in my MB than the Honda. After getting my MB in good condition and fixing the things that were put off by the previous owner, I have not had any problems with it, and it has 303,800 miles on it now, runs great, gets 34 MPG on the highway at 70 or 80MPH.
Go for safty first then get a fun sporty car later.
Just my $.01 worth as my opion ain't worth $.02.

NoSpark · #10 10-25-2006, 01:18 PM

When my cousin turned 18, my Uncle bought my 13yr old 150k mile 190E. I didn't want to sell it, but was willing to make the sacrifice to keep my cousin safe. It lasted her though college and made (6) 3000mi treks across the country every year. Other than oil changes, nothing else needed to be touched.

#11 10-25-2006, 01:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NoSpark

When my cousin turned 18, my Uncle bought my 13yr old 150k mile 190E. I didn't want to sell it, but was willing to make the sacrifice to keep my cousin safe. It lasted her though college and made (6) 3000mi treks across the country every year. Other than oil changes, nothing else needed to be touched.

I've also considered a 190E/D for my daughters first car (she's 15 now), but I would be available to maintain it. I would be reluctant to give anyone an old car unless I thought the had the skill and/or money to handle the usual day-to-day maintenance/repairs.

captainmonk · #12 10-25-2006, 02:12 PM

my daughter will be driving my 86 SDL soon (grade contingent) I'd rather have her in a big slow car that is safe But her grampy and I are around to fix it Expect to spend some money first year but if you do it right should run well after that or thats the way it works for me

vstech · #13 10-25-2006, 02:21 PM

My daughter works with me on the cars, and she is certain she will drive one of them when she gets her license (she is 10), I take that with a grain of salt, as teens have their own opinion change drastically as they age, but she does like working on it with me.
John

sixto · #14 10-25-2006, 02:35 PM

If she'd not a DIYer, there are probably a lot more shops than can competently handle a Honda than a 20 year old MB.

Sixto
93 300SD

Cressida · #15 10-25-2006, 05:39 PM

I'd forget the SD. A teenage girl is not going to want to try and drive that big of a car despite how nice you may think it is.

I'm looking into a similar decision for my 16 year old daughter. She doesn't want to touch a car even though she is headed toward studying to be an engineer.

I've thought about the w124 but I'm now heading for a 5-10 year old Japaneese model. There are so many nice example out there that it should be a lot easier to find a suitable one.