Thanks for all the great information. As to the couple of comments about the kid wanting a faster or sexier car, nothing could be further from the truth. He wants this euro so bad he can taste it. All about the "soul" of the car rather than how it enhances his chick cred.
There's a Bondurant school in Phoenix, I'm considering their classes even though he's had private lessons from retired CHP defensive driving instructor.

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You're a daisy if you do.
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84 Euro 240D 4spd. 220.5k sold
04 Honda Element AWD
1985 F150 XLT 4x4, 351W with 270k miles, hay hauler
1997 Suzuki Sidekick 4x4
1993 Toyota 4wd Pickup 226K and counting

123's were the second safest car in the world when they were new. The only vehicle that could be safer would be the contemporaneous S class. That modern vehicles might have finally caught up with them, and possibly in some instances surpassed them is certainly possible, but to suggest that a 123 is inherently unsafe is simply nuts.

There were two well publicised cases back home in South Africa where within about a decade of each other two 123's went off cliffs. The cars were wrecked. The drivers were fine. The first one was so famous that MBSA used the event in their advertising campaigns.

I would have no hesitation in having a teen in a 123, especially a 240D.

- Peter.

PS. I forgot to include that for the price I'd say a 124 would be a very safe bet as well.

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2021 Chevrolet Spark
Formerly...
2000 GMC Sonoma
1981 240D 4spd stick. 347000 miles. Deceased Feb 14 2021
2002 Kia Rio. Worst crap on four wheels
1981 240D 4spd stick. 389000 miles.
1984 123 200
1979 116 280S
1972 Cadillac Sedan DeVille
1971 108 280S

My 16 year old daughter requested a Benz for all the right reasons #1 being the unique look but the safety, sane speed and secure handling were also right up there as soon as she began driving it.
No accidents so far... knock on wood

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1981 240D 143k 4 spd manual -SOLD

2004 VW Jetta TDI 5 speed 300k -still driven daily

I would say that when a different car company uses the 123 in their ad campaign as an advertisement for safety in their automobiles..... It must be safe... Right?

I think that "back in the day" the early Volvo's and Mercedes set high standards for safety that are still being followed to this day. I think you will be OK.

Apparently Kia thinks so.

There was a thread on here recently where a guy and his family were involved in a pretty bad accident at speed in a 123. They all walked away from it...

Search and you will find it.

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AJ

1985 300D (SOLD)

I find this photo to be shocking and very disturbing. Who would put those stupid looking chrome wheel arches on such a beautiful car?

I got t-boned in a w123 by a 93 GMC pickup at 40mph directly in my driverside door. The side of the car caved in about 10 inches. I jumped out the sunroof unharmed. Drove the car home too. It literally drove like nothing happened. I got pictures if anyone want to see. His license plate was embedded between between the crack of the door and the B pillar.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bAOFn_7igYc

If I were in that saturn I could of DIED. Or been paralyzed. But I walked away. A w123 saved my life. That strong B piller and reinforced door kept me from being smashed by a truck. One firefighter remarked on how incredible the car was saying "Ive never seen anything like it".


Now Ive upgraded to the even MORE safe W126. Id rather have STEEL and extremely well engineered crumble zones protect me than bags of air

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1981 300SD 512k OM603

Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying the W123 is unsafe (my wife and I both drive them). It was one of the safest cars of it's time, and is still very safe compared to many cars on the road.

However, I do not believe it is the safest car available today. It may well be the safest car you can buy for less than $10K (new or used), and that's not bad. If you are willing to spend more money on a high quality newer car, you can buy more safety. I do believe that a late model E-class is safer than the W123 (I hate the looks, but they are safer). So, if you want to spend $20K on a car for your kids you have plenty of options. If you are planning on spending $5-10K (or less), the W123 isn't a bad choice.

Video, Safety, Crash Benz
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/video-forum/248134-video-safety-crash-benz.html#post2146284

video clip would not play - removed due to use violations.

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Charles
1983 300D, bought new, 215k+ miles, donated to Purple Hearts veterans charity but I have parts for sale: http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/mercedes-benz-cars-sale/296386-fs-1-owner-83-mb-300d-turbo-rebuild-parts.html

240d auto would be just about the safest car on earth. Just short of a horse.

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http://superturbodiesel.com/images/sig.04.10.jpg
1995 E420 Schwarz
1995 E300 Weiss
#1987 300D Sturmmachine
#1991 300D Nearly Perfect
#1994 E320 Cabriolet
#1995 E320 Touring
#1985 300D Sedan
OBK #42

so I promptly bought another. My wife is now a true believer and she drives 2008 Honda Element with air bags up the ying yang. She's glad we were not in that car.

Tragedy Has struck

I learned to drive in a '74 Pinto (Yes, the exploding model) so I would have no problem putting my son in 240D. In fact, I have a nephew that's almost old enough to drive and that's what I plan for him.

I'd much rather him be in a heavy steel car with no airbags than a car like the Honda I destroyed with Stella.

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1981 300TD "The Green Lantern"
1980 300TD
1983 300D Euro "China Cat"

Horses are dangerous, as in motorcycle dangerous. You're right about a 240D being safe, though it probably has a higher probability of getting rearended than some other cars

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Whoever said there's nothing more expensive than a cheap Mercedes never had a cheap Jaguar.

83 300D Turbo with manual conversion, early W126 vented front rotors and H4 headlights 400,xxx miles
08 Suzuki GSX-R600 M4 Slip-on 22,xxx miles
88 Jaguar XJS V12 94,xxx miles. Work in progress.

It plays for me.

I like horses and motorcycles, and W123s; my kids have ridden on/in all three. However, the car I buy for my kids to drive will have airbags and ABS.

later model w123's did have optional ABS

you'd be wise to buy her a 190e if you care about her safety, plus you'd be getting a really nice car for a cheap price

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