In the market for a 300TD

[SGT John]

If anyone knows where I can find a diesel wagon with the third row seats, please let me know I'm in NC, but can travel a little for a good deal.

Third kid on the way and need to get the wife out of her 2005 Accord.

John

[dwoloz]

Seems rare to find a good deal on any wagon these days
I'd jump on the opportunity if it presented itself

[JimmyL]

I simply wouldn't put my family in one of these cars for them to drive every day. They simply aren't reliable enough when you get right down to it. Too many "little things" are always happening.
Just a thought.
Good luck with your search, though.

[ImBroke]

Originally Posted by JimmyL

Too many "little things" are always happening.

While I do agree with you, it's been my experience so far that the little things that do go wrong will still let you get the car home to be worked on. I'm sort of looking for a TD myself, but I'm in no hurry. Good luck with your search John.

[airbus]

Originally Posted by SGT John

If anyone knows where I can find a diesel wagon with the third row seats, please let me know I'm in NC, but can travel a little for a good deal.

Third kid on the way and need to get the wife out of her 2005 Accord.

John

Think about a Volvo 240 wagon. They had a higher safety rating than the MBs and they are as reliable and much cheaper. Gassers are for sale everywhere, diesels are harder to find.

Congratulations for "#3".

[JimmyL]

Originally Posted by airbus

Think about a Volvo 240 wagon. They had a higher safety rating than the MBs and they are as reliable and much cheaper. Gassers are for sale everywhere, diesels are harder to find.

Congratulations for "#3".

I actually second that thought. I've had both, and while I think I like my MB wagon more, I certainly enjoyed the Volvo wagon. {'83 GL}
The Mercedes feels more solid and "sturdy", but the Volvo's have more comfortable seat material on a comparative older model. They don't nickel and dime you with all kinds of little things going wrong.
But while safe, you can tell which one was the more expensive import.
I was looking for a Volvo wagon when I stumbled upon my first MB, and the rest is history. {and in the driveway.....}

**something to note**
My advice in this thread is based on my wife, and the whining I would hear if she had car problems! Thanks goodness I got her in a Toyota van, and literally nothing has broken in about 7 years now.....

[Fitz]

I'm halfway looking for a nice MB wagon too, but I am discouraged by the level of mania I'm seeing in the market. Check out this 84 on eBay:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&sspagename=ADME%3AX%3AAAQ%3AUS%3A11&viewitem=&item=160152911912

What is the purpose of bidding up a car to this level 8 days before the auction is due to close? The owner admits to some rust and a broken AC, what problems remain to be discovered? Insane.

I have driven Volvo wagons for 15 years. The 240 was a little slow but a great car. My 940 Turbo is quick and good looking but parts are getting harder to find and the car has almost no resale value, even with only 120,000 original miles

The MB wagons are appreciating in value, but reading this forum daily has put me on notice that if I buy one I will either be spending a great deal at the mechanics or more time in my garage. All of that is okay, but I'm not going to overpay at the outset for the privilege.

[ImBroke]

Originally Posted by JimmyL

**something to note**
My advice in this thread is based on my wife, and the whining I would hear if she had car problems!

Had to jab ya,, sorry.. I understand completely.

[Douglas.Sherida]

Originally Posted by Fitz

I'm halfway looking for a nice MB wagon too, but I am discouraged by the level of mania I'm seeing in the market. Check out this 84 on eBay:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&sspagename=ADME%3AX%3AAAQ%3AUS%3A11&viewitem=&item=160152911912

What is the purpose of bidding up a car to this level 8 days before the auction is due to close? The owner admits to some rust and a broken AC, what problems remain to be discovered? Insane.

I have driven Volvo wagons for 15 years. The 240 was a little slow but a great car. My 940 Turbo is quick and good looking but parts are getting harder to find and the car has almost no resale value, even with only 120,000 original miles

The MB wagons are appreciating in value, but reading this forum daily has put me on notice that if I buy one I will either be spending a great deal at the mechanics or more time in my garage. All of that is okay, but I'm not going to overpay at the outset for the privilege.

You said it, that auction is insane!

[dmorrison]

I sort of agree with Jimmy. I turned our 82 300TD into out daily driver after American Airlines near bankruptcy in 2003. Last January I bought a new Honda Accord as a daily driver.
During those 3 and 1/2 years I did get tired of the continuous work that the old cars needed. For the 88 560SL I don't really mind, It is a toy not a daily driver so if it has to sit for a month. I done' care. But a daily driver, well you just need it.
The accord is under full warranty, I actually purchased the 8 year 120,000mi extended warranty so I never touch it.
The 240 Volvo. Never owned one but it seems like a smaller car than the W123 wagon.

Dave

[kerry]

Originally Posted by Douglas.Sherida

You said it, that auction is insane!

It's a one owner with good records, but my god, it's from the rustbelt! I do admire the attempt to explain it's upper class pedigree by referring to Georgetown and Columbia. Who'd want to buy a car that drove a child to Mohawk Community College.

[Jim B.]

The Volvo 240 wagons are really big, roomy, safe and everlasting cars.

A British magazine reviewed them and called them "Antique cars for antique dealers"

They are among the best cars Volvo ever made and copies of the last examples, from aroung 1992-1993 fetch good prices today, because those in the know about them, really like them.

They are slow with the 4 cylinder engine, but really last a long tme.

I overheard two lawyers talking about them in Court once, one of them mentioned seeing one in a body shop. The owner told him the car had rolled over seven times in a wreck.

The occupants merely thumbed the catches on their seatbelts, and got out of the car, uninjured.

All the doors on it still opened and shut, and none of the glass had broken.

Amazing. Impressive.

[Douglas.Sherida]

Originally Posted by kerry edwards

It's a one owner with good records, but my god, it's from the rustbelt! I do admire the attempt to explain it's upper class pedigree by referring to Georgetown and Columbia. Who'd want to buy a car that drove a child to Mohawk Community College.

I bought a one owner 84 euro astral silver of galaxy blue wagon (170,000 miles) from the same geographic region about 3 months ago. The owner runs a school bus company with four diesel mechanics on staff, and I have meticulous records since new (honest to god: oil, filter and fuel filter changes every 3000 miles). I paid about 1/6th of what this one is going for now.

That auction is insane!

That car would have to be PERFECT before I would spend that kind of money on it.

FWIW, my car drives to Yale everyday. Does that make is worth more money?

Gawd I can't wait to sell my 85 wagon on E-bay. Its going to go up next week. It's also from Fairfield county, it even has someone else's monogram on the doors, that should add an extra $4000 to the price.

[kerry]

Originally Posted by Douglas.Sherida

FWIW, my car drives to Yale everyday. Does that make is worth more money?

Couple of grand at least.

[Richard Eldridge]

$10,200 is, in my opinion insane for this wagon. The AC isn't working. Of course, it "just needs a charge".

I found mine, after looking at about 15 others, 4 in person, and the rest on Ebay, right here in the Cars for Sale part of this forum, for $3000.

I guess they are going up in value. I read somewhere that between 1980 and 85 , only 28,000 or so were imported into the US.