As you're in the family planning stage, why not wait a little for the newer diesels to come down in price.

__________________
With best regards

Al

Suburban, with the 6.6 v8 or pay a shop to throw a 6BT in there. A turnkey 90's diesel burban refreshed and ready to go with a 6BT shouldn't be over 25k

__________________
$60 OM617 Blank Exhaust Flanges
$110 OM606 Blank Exhaust Flanges
No merc at the moment

We're still a few years off from needing this. But my wife has already made a few comments.

Minivan: not a chance
Sprinter: I don't want a butt ugly van
Suburban: not a chance
w124 wagon: It needs to be higher up

I will not host an American car in my driveway. I've see too much crap to encourage that type of product.

I think it will come down to a diesel swap into an asian or german crossover or suv. Or a s124 with a 606 engine.

__________________
Onus probandi incumbit ei qui dicit, non ei qui negat

I recondition w123/w126/w124/w140/r107/r129/ steering boxes!


1984 300D "Elsa" odo reset 6/2011 147k
1983 300TD "Mitzi" ~268k OM603 powered
1995 E300 "Adelheid" 262k [Sold]

A neighbor of mine has 4 kids and he has a normal 2002ish suburban....seems to suit them well. They also have a Montana Minivan......I imagine the fuel costs are significant, but they never seem to have any issues.

Honestly importing or hacking a vehicle sounds like a terrible plan. With 4 kids you're going to have 0 time to work on them anyways.

The newer sprinter's are not ugly, they are pretty awesome. But $$$.

__________________
-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)

I don't see anything coming into that price range until well after the vehicle is needed.

My son is 3, my daughter 6 months. If we have another in one year and the final one in a year and a half after that one, then that's a total of 4 kids in a minimum of 2.5 years from now. Even if a GL or R class diesel would fit our needs, I don't see either being offered for under 10k in 2.5 years (unless they were totaled and being sold as parts cars).

__________________
Onus probandi incumbit ei qui dicit, non ei qui negat

I recondition w123/w126/w124/w140/r107/r129/ steering boxes!


1984 300D "Elsa" odo reset 6/2011 147k
1983 300TD "Mitzi" ~268k OM603 powered
1995 E300 "Adelheid" 262k [Sold]

...does this mean no MPV ?




I really started to like that car .

__________________
"Senior Luna, your sense of humor is still loco... but we love it, anyway." -rickymay ____ "Your sense of humor is still loco... " -MBeige ____ "Señor Luna, your sense of humor is quite järjetön" -Delibes

1982 300SD -- 211k, Texas car, tranny issues ____ 1979 240D 4-speed 234k -- turbo and tuned IP, third world taxi hot rod

2 Samuel 12:13: "David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.” And Nathan said to David, “The Lord also has put away your sin; you shall not die."

No MPV. My aunt has one and I've always hated the way they looked and drove.

I was totally serious when I said that there was a "no minivan" clause in our wedding vows.

__________________
Onus probandi incumbit ei qui dicit, non ei qui negat

I recondition w123/w126/w124/w140/r107/r129/ steering boxes!


1984 300D "Elsa" odo reset 6/2011 147k
1983 300TD "Mitzi" ~268k OM603 powered
1995 E300 "Adelheid" 262k [Sold]

Third row seats in Mitzi?

__________________
$60 OM617 Blank Exhaust Flanges
$110 OM606 Blank Exhaust Flanges
No merc at the moment

If her back hurts some now, wait till babies 3 and 4 come out.

Speaking as someone who has already raised 3 children, get a Sienna or Honda MV. No better kid haulers available. She'll have 4 kids - bet she won't care in the least what the vehicle looks like as long as those kids will shut up and let her be.

__________________
You can't always get what you want, but if you try sometime you just might find you get what you need.

You know what you guys need? The following car with the following bumper stickers

__________________
"Senior Luna, your sense of humor is still loco... but we love it, anyway." -rickymay ____ "Your sense of humor is still loco... " -MBeige ____ "Señor Luna, your sense of humor is quite järjetön" -Delibes

1982 300SD -- 211k, Texas car, tranny issues ____ 1979 240D 4-speed 234k -- turbo and tuned IP, third world taxi hot rod

2 Samuel 12:13: "David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.” And Nathan said to David, “The Lord also has put away your sin; you shall not die."

She's had two surgeries on her back due to slipped/ruptured discs. Pregnancy had nothing to do with it. Her first surgery was a full 2 years prior to my son's conception.

I don't know how many more times I can say "no minivan".

__________________
Onus probandi incumbit ei qui dicit, non ei qui negat

I recondition w123/w126/w124/w140/r107/r129/ steering boxes!


1984 300D "Elsa" odo reset 6/2011 147k
1983 300TD "Mitzi" ~268k OM603 powered
1995 E300 "Adelheid" 262k [Sold]

Sorry, we're a no bumper sticker family.

And I don't vote.

__________________
Onus probandi incumbit ei qui dicit, non ei qui negat

I recondition w123/w126/w124/w140/r107/r129/ steering boxes!


1984 300D "Elsa" odo reset 6/2011 147k
1983 300TD "Mitzi" ~268k OM603 powered
1995 E300 "Adelheid" 262k [Sold]

Not yet, but they are in the garage.

__________________
Onus probandi incumbit ei qui dicit, non ei qui negat

I recondition w123/w126/w124/w140/r107/r129/ steering boxes!


1984 300D "Elsa" odo reset 6/2011 147k
1983 300TD "Mitzi" ~268k OM603 powered
1995 E300 "Adelheid" 262k [Sold]

So out of curiosity, how did your wedding vows go? Something like, "...'til death or minivans do us part."?

__________________
"Senior Luna, your sense of humor is still loco... but we love it, anyway." -rickymay ____ "Your sense of humor is still loco... " -MBeige ____ "Señor Luna, your sense of humor is quite järjetön" -Delibes

1982 300SD -- 211k, Texas car, tranny issues ____ 1979 240D 4-speed 234k -- turbo and tuned IP, third world taxi hot rod

2 Samuel 12:13: "David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.” And Nathan said to David, “The Lord also has put away your sin; you shall not die."

I was joking . Seems to that practically every other minivan has some combination of those stickers....why????

Now to something more serious: I know that Mercedes made higher springs for W123 sold in areas with rough roads -- for example, I believe Delibes' wagon rode on those. Was something similar made for the W124 or could you have a place make you coils that would achieve the same effect?

__________________
"Senior Luna, your sense of humor is still loco... but we love it, anyway." -rickymay ____ "Your sense of humor is still loco... " -MBeige ____ "Señor Luna, your sense of humor is quite järjetön" -Delibes

1982 300SD -- 211k, Texas car, tranny issues ____ 1979 240D 4-speed 234k -- turbo and tuned IP, third world taxi hot rod

2 Samuel 12:13: "David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.” And Nathan said to David, “The Lord also has put away your sin; you shall not die."