240D or Cressida - tough choice? - Page 2 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

moon161 · #16 03-10-2011, 08:29 PM

Recent repair records indicated the owner spent a FORTUNE on it last couple of years, including an $8,000 bill (I think he got soaked by an independent garage) who replaced the injection pump, lift pump, etc. because the truck stalled when parked up hill...

Probably sucked air in a leaky fuel line. Leak was probably such that gravity flooded it when parked level.

layback40 · #17 03-10-2011, 08:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rstl99

Then again, nothing is forever, interests come and go, and once you've reached 55 as I have, I'm probably not looking to preserve a car for another 20 years!

Personally, I wish I _could_ limit myself to 2 vehicles, heck, maybe even one. Haven't found the perfect vehicle, and I do have some specific needs to be met, plus want to have a reliable daily driver, and a "specialty" car to tinker with and drive for fun or pride. Add a winter beater and you're up to 3! It's crazy, I know.

Replace the head-gasket on the Camry, that's a possibility. Maybe I could try to do it myself once I'm retired and have some free time to give it a shot.

The Cressida seems to me a bit like the W123 in MB, the last of a series of cars from a time when there was arguably more quality in the design and construction.

Indeed, as I am on the verge of retirement, part of me wants to down-size, simplify my life (e.g. vehicle fleet), so I can enjoy doing other things. Another part of me (the tinkerer I suppose) wants to have more cars to tinker with. Maybe I should give myself some time to see how I accomodate myself with the CTD and the Benz and wait a while before acquiring something else. See how retired life takes me.

You are the same age as me.
I am not retiring just yet.
Just got my mother a 190E, she is 83, working on her driving a few years more.
As well, I have too many cars (have other work related trucks etc, but they dont count), the jeep, the 124 wagon & the 123. I should only have 2. The jeep for work/play & maybe another for going out.
Your truck is something you want for travel etc. The 240 is a keepsake, the camry was/is a beater.
Your real question is "Do I need a beater? Could I get by with the other 2 in the salt if I am not wanting them to last for ever?"
I guess if you are retiring you will not be forced to drive daily in the winter for work. A part from shopping & appointments, what need do you have for a beater? You may find an urge to spend most of the cold winter some place warmer.
Maybe you could dump the camry & try for a year on the other 2? That will soon make the decision for you.
The HG on the camry is not a hard job, but do you wish to spend your retirement wrenching? I would prefer to be traveling.

Good luck with your decisions !!

rstl99 · #18 03-13-2011, 10:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by layback40

You are the same age as me.
I am not retiring just yet.
Just got my mother a 190E, she is 83, working on her driving a few years more.
As well, I have too many cars (have other work related trucks etc, but they dont count), the jeep, the 124 wagon & the 123. I should only have 2. The jeep for work/play & maybe another for going out.
Your truck is something you want for travel etc. The 240 is a keepsake, the camry was/is a beater.
Your real question is "Do I need a beater? Could I get by with the other 2 in the salt if I am not wanting them to last for ever?"
I guess if you are retiring you will not be forced to drive daily in the winter for work. A part from shopping & appointments, what need do you have for a beater? You may find an urge to spend most of the cold winter some place warmer.
Maybe you could dump the camry & try for a year on the other 2? That will soon make the decision for you.
The HG on the camry is not a hard job, but do you wish to spend your retirement wrenching? I would prefer to be traveling.

Good luck with your decisions !!

Hi layback40, and thanks for the useful thoughts/self-questions.
Indeed, a beater may no longer be required due to no need for commuting. I have a feeling that when I get more comfortable with the truck this summer, I may just use it during the winter. Bit strange to take a 3/4 ton 4x4 Cummins to the corner store for a pint of milk, but we'll see how it goes. I suppose in time it's not unthinkable that I venture off on road trips into southern US during the winter, anyway.

The camry seems to be running fine now, I keep checking the oil for contamination and the rad for coolant loss. Negative on both counts. I'll have a good look at it in the Spring and who knows, maybe it will keep driving for another year or so...

Yeah, not sure I'd want to do that kind of wrenching (HG), though will have some time on my hands. My GF has to work another 6-7 years, so she won't be able to accompany on lengthy road trips for a while. Not sure she's into that kind of lifestyle, time will tell. I have a country getaway place an hour and a bit from the city, so will be spending a lot of time fixing up the old house there, canoeing, relaxing. I'm thinking of getting a project vehicle to tinker in my garage, maybe an old Land-Rover truck or something. I like that kind of tinkering. The truck will haul me and my stuff to and from the country place. The Benz will be my around-town car. When next winter comes around, I'll see.

I decided to pass up on the long-distance Cressida. Nice as it may be, I don't want to get saddled with a 4th car at this point. Prefer focusing on other things, such as doing PM on the Dodge and Benz, and having fun doing other things.

Well, I suppose the good thing about being retired is that I'll be able to decide what I do and when I do it. Looking forward to it.
Thanks again.
--Robert