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#1
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Should I keep the 240D?
Hi all,
I own a rust-free 82 240D in fine condition. I live in the Northeast but the car came from Arizona. I don't drive it in the winter, where it sits in my garage. Last summer I barely drove it. I also own a 92 Volvo wagon (my overall beater/commuter car for the last 3 years) and acquired last fall an 82 Land-Cruiser Diesel wagon (for camping, pulling my trailer, mild off-road excursions). I plan on replacing the 92 wagon this Summer with something a little more recent, requiring less maintenance and upkeep (given that I am also maintaining two 82's). I'm debating if I should keep the 240D or just sell it off and go down to 2 vehicles. However, I'm not sure I could find one in these parts in such fine shape again. I'm retiring from work in 3 years and felt the 240D would be a nice car with "just retired" on the licence plate to drive around when I no longer need to commute! Plus for the little I could get for the 240D, I think it's worth more to me to keep it, even if I presently use it seldomly. I also have a couple of teenage kids (single dad) on the cusp of getting their licence, so keeping the Volvo makes sense (safe car, low value in case they smash it up). But with two 82's and one 92, I'd like a car I can just turn the key and drive (Camry, CRV, something like that). Thoughts??
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1983 300TD 240K - 1982 240D 215K - 1996 Dodge Cummins 70K |
#2
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If the 240d is sorted it is a very very reliable car.
Tom W
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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. |
#3
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If finances aren't part of the equation....I would absolutely keep the car. But this is also coming from a guy who would give his left nut for a rust free 240d
As Tom said - super reliable, easy to work on (especially if you're retired).....and you're right, you probably won't find one in that condition in your area again.
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1981 240d - 135k - Arlene |
#4
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I love 240Ds, but not that much!
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#5
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if space and $$ aren't at issue, keep it.
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Ginny in Denver-ish 78 300SD, 265K (mine) |
#6
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A bit of embellishment, sure ....but I think I'm jaded from my discovery last night.
I was working on the rear end - trying to track down a strange clunking noise at highway speeds and jammed my screwdriver up the one of the rear drainplugs - and whoosh...a ton of water comes pouring out. I pulled up the trunk lining and sure enough, a whole pond of water had collected back there, as the plug was clogged.......and some nice rust too. Time to break out the Por15 again and replace the trunk seals. Or beg the OP to sell his......for cash though, not testicles.
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1981 240d - 135k - Arlene |
#7
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I had the same problem in my 85 with the water drain plugs, I was lucky enough to get it before the rust did. Anyway, keep the car. You said you have two kids getting their license? Give one the volvo, give one the 240. The 240d is a great first car. Its very reliable, classy, not a speed demon and probably the most important thing about a first car...Safe as hell. Trust me I know
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1981 300SD 512k OM603 |
#8
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I would keep the car, you're right that they are very hard to find in that condition and imagine how fun it will be to have to cruise around in on your own time.
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-diesel is not just a fuel, its a way of life- '15 GLK250 Bluetec 118k - mine - (OC-123,800) '17 Metris(VITO!) - 37k - wifes (OC-41k) '09 Sprinter 3500 Winnebago View - 62k (OC - 67k) '13 ML350 Bluetec - 95k - dad's (OC-98k) '01 SL500 - 103k(km) - dad's (OC-110,000km) '16 E400 4matic Sedan - 148k - Brothers (OC-155k) |
#9
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Thanks a lot to all for the thoughts. Indeed you've convinced me (not that I needed much, just a gentle nudge) to keep the 240D for my "golden years"!! I'll ponder on whether I dump the Volvo and go for something newer, though as I indicated, it might prove a safe car to throw the keys to the kids for, when they want to go for a spin (they find it butt-ugly though, it's the station wagon - swedish brick!).
Somebody once said, to someone looking to trade his car for something else, that sometimes the best car(s) for you is the one(s) sitting in your driveway. The devil you know is better than the one you don't... I also have a pile of used 240 parts from a parts car I had bought, so can probably keep the Volvo wagon going for a year or two more. Decisions...
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1983 300TD 240K - 1982 240D 215K - 1996 Dodge Cummins 70K |
#10
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Quote:
My first car was a 72 AMC Hornet wagon. It was a nerd car (as someone told me) but it held me and 9 of my friends and I woke up after a few parties in the back of it (sometimes even alone). Ugly or not, it was mine. I pointed that out to those who gave me their opinions. Usually they had no car to call their own. . .
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Ginny in Denver-ish 78 300SD, 265K (mine) |
#11
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Quote:
anyone elses "left nut". Think about this, You wake up one Sat. morning and go out to the garage.......NO Benz! how do you feel? Or better yet, imagine seeing the tail lights going down the street, You ain't driving.......It ain't coming back. If these senerio's don't bother you, Sell it, maybe the next owner will love it. If it give's you a sinking feeling in the pit of your stomach, give it a nice detail and put it back in the barn.,
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81 Mercedes 300SD 289k.......SOLD 82 Mercedes 300CD 252k......slow ride 82 mercedes 300 SD...mi Unknown 83 Mercedes 300D ????ksniff..gone too 84 Mercedes 300D 148k........SOLD 85 Mercedes 300TD 386k and holding some one elses project |
#12
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Quote:
he says as he rests his hand on the polished green fender of his fine coupe... to OP, I say keep it, sounds like you will need it soon and youll have a lot of trouble replacing it then
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1982 300CD Turbo (Otis, "ups & downs") parts for sale 2003 TJ with Hemi (to go anywhere, quickly) sold 2001 Excursion Powerstroke (to go dependably) 1970 Mustang 428SCJ (to go fast) 1962 Corvette LS1 (to go in style) 2001 Schwinn Grape Krate 10spd (if all else fails) |
#13
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Jimmy L. '05 Acura TL 6MT 2001 ML430 My Spare Gone: '95 E300 188K "Batmobile" Texas Unfriendly Black '85 300TD 235K "The Wagon" Texas Friendly White '80 240D 154K "China" Scar engine installed '81 300TD 240K "Smash" '80 240D 230K "The Squash" '81 240D 293K"Scar" Rear ended harder than Elton John |
#14
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In the overall scheme of things will it hurt anything to keep it? You will not easily replace it in the future. I also suspect the value may start to increase over the next few years.
In my opinion it might be an affordable antique for the kids to fight over someday. I doubt it will become worth less than it is today. I would also think the major concerns might be storage space. That can be a problem. Presently for example I have too many cars and are far enough north that proper indoor storage is very important. At my age I do not want to construct another heated building so will sell a couple or so. This retirement thing sometimes works out somewhat different than expected as well. Today I signed a contract for four hundred hours of my time. The excess premium offered made me do it. They seem to know how to manipulate me. I think I am being corrupted. |
#15
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Quote:
In all seriousness....I threw that wacky comment out there to temper my advice (and everyone else's). You ARE asking a bunch of MB nuts if you should keep a sweet old 240D or a volvo. Volvos are great cars but Of COURSE we are going to tell you to keep the benz.
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1981 240d - 135k - Arlene |
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