Without going into family squabbles, my son and I have run into some motherly opposition regarding whether or not that 240D euro we're looking at is "safe enough" for a teen driver.

I know it doesn't have airbags, but my argument for safety goes as follows:

IIHS says that most teen accidents are the result of either A. lack of attention or B. speed.
This 4spd 240 is a car that doesn't exactly drive itself, like a modern Jap appliance, and therefore REQUIRES attention during operation. Add to that the fact that he won't be getting any speeding tickets in it, seems to me a fair argument.
Given the lack of crash test data on vehicles this age, can anyone give me any more factual or anecdotal evidence (rhetorical ammo) regarding the structural safety of this car? I know it's not as big and heavy as a W126.
Thanks!

__________________
You're a daisy if you do.
__________________________________
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

I think the W123s are very safe for their age, with lots of structural integrity. They do lack the active features of newer cars (air bags, ABS, traction control, etc.). While I prefer old cars for myself (I'm not a big fan of most of those active features), I will probably buy a later model C or E-class for my daughter when she gets her license in a couple of years. The car is less likely to survive, but it is probably safer for the occupants. How much money are planning on spending (a W123 might actually be the safest car for the cost)?

I got hit 2x in my 123, neither of them were I injured in. Civic hit me moving between 30-40mph. i really didnt even feel it.

__________________
1982 300DT *4-speed*// proper 617 donor for conversion // W126 big brakes // front wagon swaybar // european lights & bumpers // rear headrests // lumbar support // warning triangle // overdrive water pump pulley & 9 blade fan // Too many more to list Dark blue/ Palomino.

1983 300D euro no longer a 4 speed. . swap/parts carr

I was T-Boned in my W123 300D by a Saturn Vue. I was doing 40 mph and he was doing ~15mph. My driver door and front fender were smashed in some, but there was no frame damage. i could have replaced the fender and door and the car would have looked normal. i had no injuries even though i was hit on the driver side. I would give my Wife or kids another W123 in a heartbeat.

__________________

Grey '91 350SDL 214k Dad's car
Beige '81 240D 4 Speed 254k SOLD
Blue '82 300D 225k SOLD
White '95 E300D 46k SOLD
Blue '87 190D 2.5 Turbo 315k SOLD
Brown '80 240D 4 Speed 716k SOLD
Beige '80 300D N/A 119k SOLD
Blue '85 300D Model 186k T-Boned

My wife and our two kids typically cruise around in 123 300D (no bags or ABS). Check this out http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EqMEGA76HsE My car is usually a V126 300SDL (driver's bag, ABS). Drive a safe car, wear your belts, drive defensively, no other teens in the car. Just because it's "slow" doesn't mean one can't operate it like a "donkey."

__________________
James Marriott
2003 Buick Regal
1983 300D (228k, frau Auto)
1996 Suburban K2500 (192k, 6.5 turbo diesel/4WD towmaster 10,000)
www.engineeringworks.biz
1987 300SDL junker 170k
1982 300SD junker, 265k

In 1982, I saw a 123 get T-boned at a highway intersection. Don't know the speed but both cars were moving fast. The 123 was knocked into a ditch and the incline caused it to flip end over end (more than once) and land on the roof. I approached the 123 and the doors opened and a family of 4 walked away. The other car was destroyed and I assume the occupants were injured - others were attending to their needs.

I put my family in one a few months later and we still drive it daily.

__________________
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

The 123 is very safe and especially a great car for someone his age! I kind of feel he's playing the card of it's not safe enough so you'll consider getting him a "nice" newer car with more speed. Lol

I was in a 300E for my first car in high school and was pretty satisfied with that. That brings me to the point of the w124 which is just as great of a car as the 123 and has traction control, abs and a driver airbag and you can get one for the same price as a 123... It's up to you though and I say either one of them is awesome!! Good luck! Let us know what you end up getting!

__________________
2007 BMW 328XI

This is the photo of an S123 (estate) that got into a high speed front collision. The interior looked survivable, despite the dash moving slightly into the cabin and the roof buckling a little where the sunvisors are (were).

Door got jammed, hard to open, but this is an unusual speed for a W123 to be caught in (worst case scenario).

__________________
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7271/7...144c3fc1dc.jpg

My 300D Turbo was cut off by an old woman who failed to yield while making a left turn, she had a 08 Camry SE. I hit her car going about 35mph in the left rear door. Her car was really smashed up, her rear door was crushed bumper flew off, all windows in the rear were shattered. My cars front bumper came loose and left headlight broke, and the hood was slightly bent. I was a but amped up on adrenaline afterwards but once I calmed down I had no injuries. I still have the car and feel extremely safe, its a unibody and weighs a lot.

The old woman's air bag deployed and unfortunately bruised her face, I felt very sorry for her but it was her fault according to the authorities.

I must be honest and say the the brakes locked and caused my to hit her but you can buy ABS for a w123 if you so desire.

I am 19 years old and was 18 when the accident happened, and If I had to do it again I would want no other car then my Benz.

-Dan

Well a teenager can get into trouble no matter what car you put them into. newer car have the most safety features.

there fore you need to get him a new 2009 E55 AMG Sprot Package with all the bells and whistles, he will look cool to his buddies, be able to pick up the chicks, and come home safe.

OK now back to reality.
the w123 is a safe car for the most part, has safety built into if as far as crumple zones front and rear, the body is a unibody with a strong structural cage.

Are you buying the car, or is he buying the car? If you are and he doesn`t like it, he may abuse it call it a POS when it doesn`t run.
hopefully he respects you and your decisions, is a responsible young man and appreciates what he has.

here on www.mercedes-benz.tv/index.php there is a video "Legindary Young Timer W123" click "Drive Magazine" then on bottom right click "All Films". < 1 / 40 > page35 is the film. shows the design, testing etc...

lot of interesting videos to watch

Page 2 is interesting "mile stones in safety. they used real people in the crash tests.

Charlie

__________________
there were three HP ratings on the OM616...

1) Not much power
2) Even less power
3) Not nearly enough power!! 240D w/auto

Anyone that thinks a 240D is slow drives too fast.

80 240D Naturally Exasperated, 4-Spd 388k DD 150mph spedo 3:58 Diff

We are advised to NOT judge ALL Muslims by the actions of a few lunatics, but we are encouraged to judge ALL gun owners by the actions of a few lunatics. Funny how that works

This should be the direct link:

http://mercedes-benz.tv/en/clip-625/Legendary+Youngtimer+W123

__________________
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7271/7...144c3fc1dc.jpg

No offense, but I find the basis of this thread to be some what absurd. No one can argue that the Benz is a safe car. The W123 is one of the finest vehicles to have come from the marque.

The vehicle you put your loved ones in has only a portion to do with ultimately how safe they will be. How many here have had higher level driver education? The basic state run "defensive driver" or driver safety classes are a joke. I am talking about real hands on, highway speed drills in a controlled environment.
Like this: http://www.bsr-inc.dreamhosters.com/

Look under "recreation and safety".

I have had many in my family take the "accident avoidance" class and it has saved their lives already IMHO. By avoiding accidents and being vigilant about being a good driver, you will not need to test the vehicle's ability to withstand the wrath of god.

I have avoided many many accidents and attribute this to hundreds of hours of driver training.

Purchase your son a W123 and several driver development classes. There are similar schools across the country. Make sure all classes include on hands driving.

Best of luck.

__________________
83 300TD (need rear wiper assembly dead or alive)
84 300SD Daily driver
85 300TD almost 400k miles and driven daily.
98 E300D *sold
86 300SDL *sold and made flawless 10 hour journey to new home.

I bought 240ds or 300ds for all my kids to drive. Slow, agile handling, excellent brakes and easy to maintain.

Two were rear ended heavily in 123s. Both walked away. both cars were totalled but both cars I repaired and continued to use.

they don't have side airbags so a side impact would worry me the most compared tot he best of the newer cars but the post is padded..

__________________
[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.

They do have side impact beams for that purpose.

__________________
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7271/7...144c3fc1dc.jpg

My parents were happy when I got my 240D. It's got pretty much what you need. No airbags, but as long as you're wearing your seatbelt, it doesn't help that much, seatbelt does 90% of the work. ABS and traction control would be good for a teen driver, but those will bump the price up on a newer car, so W123 is definitely safe for the money. Said teen driver should do some sort of advanced driving school in their car so they know it's limits (skid school, autocross).

__________________
1983 240D 3.0T 4-speed manual, now sold

1989 Subaru GL Wagon 5-speed Touring Edition