'87 300D 88k miles, another What's It Worth thread

[babymog]

White, palomino interior, not sure if leather or tex, southern car with 88k miles on it.

I've been asked to make an offer, pretty much sight-unseen though, I'm thinking it's worth $3500 retail if all is good, maybe $1200 sight-unseen as-is (buying from a dealer).

Seem like I couldn't go wrong for $1200?

[Bio300TDTdriver]

Jeff,

If you tell me what other cars you own, I'll tell you what I think.

Sight unseen I would agree with the $1200. It should be worth that in parts. Did they give you the VIN so you could at least verify the mileage? Not that it really matters on a 23-24 year old car.

[Skid Row Joe]

Originally Posted by babymog

White, palomino interior, not sure if leather or tex, southern car with 88k miles on it.

I've been asked to make an offer, pretty much sight-unseen though, I'm thinking it's worth $3500 retail if all is good, maybe $1200 sight-unseen as-is (buying from a dealer).

Seem like I couldn't go wrong for $1200?

True.

Plus an '87 is much more valuable than the '95 (that cannot get out of it's own way.) Drive on down, or have a trustworthy PeachParts forum member check it out for you.

[barry123400]

Originally Posted by babymog

White, palomino interior, not sure if leather or tex, southern car with 88k miles on it.

I've been asked to make an offer, pretty much sight-unseen though, I'm thinking it's worth $3500 retail if all is good, maybe $1200 sight-unseen as-is (buying from a dealer).

Seem like I couldn't go wrong for $1200?

If it's a dealer be careful. I know of no car dealer that would let a true 88k mile original slip through his hands at this price. Unless totally unaware.

On the otherhand there will be lots of cars out there with low milage claiming odometers. You almost have to have someone check it out and have him get the body serial number.

There was a bait and switch awhile ago I remember. Sold one car and got another. Another dealer sold one with an undisclosed cracked head. Paypal made him come good for it but I consider that the exception by paypal.

[Skid Row Joe]

Originally Posted by barry123400

If it's a dealer be careful. I know of no car dealer that would let a true 88k mile original slip through his hands at this price. Unless totally unaware.

On the otherhand there will be lots of cars out there with low milage claiming odometers. You almost have to have someone check it out and have him get the body serial number.

There was a bait and switch awhile ago I remember. Sold one car and got another. Another dealer sold one with an undisclosed cracked head. Paypal made him come good for it but I consider that the exception by paypal.

That's not always true. Sometimes dealers want to sell cars as eagerly as private parties. 23 year old cars are not very saleable items in the real world. Even if in good condition, the dealer wants to move it. Besides, many dealers are very reputable, and DO stand behind their cars in one or more ways.

Also, how is ANY dealer expected to know everything that is happening to an old used car they're selling? The fact is they can't know about everything.

The dealer I bought my '83 300SD from, (that some here claim I never owned) pledged to work on my car at what would be considered less than cost at the authorized MB dealer in town. He worked on my car for over 10 years in me owning and driving it.

I had an excellent buying and owning experience doing business with a man that I still consider a trusted business associate/owner, 19 years later. I still would do business with him long before I ever would with ANY MB dealer.

So, your multiple assumptions about a car sight unseen, and unpriced by a dealer, is misdirected and way off the mark IMHO.

[babymog]

There's really a longer story to it all.

First, I have the VIN, just don't have a carf@x to run it, might do that later.

I'm a dealer, buy and sell Prevost motorcoaches, and spend some of my time running around the country looking at them to buy. I look through the other inventory at the auctions when I have a little time, never know what you'll find. So I happened across 2 '87 300Ds at 2 auctions this week, one had average miles (over 200K) and went for $500, the other with 88k was at an auction where I wasn't, I didn't bid on it but the dealer contacted me after the no-sale.

It's unusual to see stuff this old at auction, but most new-car stores don't have the staff that can sell esoteric stuff like this, just put very little real money in them and move them at auctions. It's just what they have to do to sell a new(er) car.

So I stumble across this car, would really hate to see it get away even though I don't really need another one, if it's nice it'll make a great car for my daughter (or me).

I think I'll offer the $1200, see what happens. They can always counter.

I sure wish the Russian VIN site was still running.

[vstech]

well, I paid 1500 for my white/palomino beast, and I've put quite a bit into it. you are very familiar with the 87's as you've helped me plenty on the two I've got. 88K is awesome!, but a head can be blown in short order from a short trip, and low coolant or a bad fan clutch...

[babymog]

If it's a near-perfect car with 88k, I'll put a head on it (although my spare just left for CA). I'd want to spend more like $500 for it if it needs a head though.