Poll : Benz or Neon - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

#1 08-01-2002, 11:11 PM

Alright, a friend of mine is having a debate which car is prettier and will outlive one another.

Her complaint is that her 99 Purple Plymouth neon is prettier and built better than my W116 80' 300sd.

The Warden · #2 08-01-2002, 11:39 PM

The SD, hands down.

Think about it...how many miles does your sig say the 116 has? Now, what kinda condition will her Neon be in when (if) it gets to that kinda mileage? If it makes it that far, chances are it won't be on the original engine or tranny, and the interior will probably be just about destroyed.

IMHO it's not even debatable...

190D22 · #3 08-01-2002, 11:48 PM

Wow... that woman is retarded. There is NO question that the benz is a better built car. Like The Warden said, when (if it can even reach it) the neon gets the same mileage your 116 has now, it will be very sick mechanically and will most likely be dead by then. People always think 120,000 miles on a car is A LOT. But w/ a diesel benz that's just breaking it in!!! There's absolutely NO comparison. Mercedes-Benz tried to build the best car they can, and that's what we're all driving. Dodge... cut corners, make it cheap, SELL SELL SELL!

I just can't believe she actually thinks that! That just blows my mind... someone actually thinks a neon is a better car than a diesel mercedes. People say to me "your car is old, but it's a mercedes, and it's diesel, that makes it rule!"

WOW...!

GermanStar · #4 08-01-2002, 11:57 PM

Duh......

http://germanstar.net

Larry Delor · #5 08-02-2002, 07:22 AM

Better built than a W116? :p

Make a bet with her. Tell her for every mile her Neon makes it past 293k mi. like your SD, you will pay her $5/mile. For every mile she is shy of 293k, she can pay you $1 per mile.

You should start receiving payments in 2-3 years.

Lance Allison · #6 08-02-2002, 07:33 AM

Have your friend go to any Dodge dealer and inquire how many Neons come in for head gaskets and cam/crank seals.

S E V E R A L...The percentage is rather high. I know several people with the 2.0 engine in the Neon and others with the similar 2.4L used in the Stratus/Breeze cars. Most have had problems with this engine.

Then have her ask a Benz mechanic how often engine work is needed on a 300SD. The percentage will be much lower.

Gee, I wonder what a 15 yr old Neon with 300k miles would look and drive like?!!!!

Ken300D · #7 08-02-2002, 09:25 AM

In the 2004 model year, these are the same cars. Just a different hood ornament.

Ken300D

Nate Stanley · #8 08-02-2002, 10:14 AM

OK, EVERYBODY--

Let's put this into perspective from another angle. Whether one car will outlive another is one thing, but we all want to outlive our cars no matter what we drive, so---

Suppose you spin out and cream a bridge abutment at 40 mph.

Which car will do the best job of protecting its occupants?

Or, to put it in another way- suppose a W116 and a Neon met in an off-center head-on collision- who would have the best chances? In such a case, many of the small cars built today have failure in the driver's footwell area, where the front wheel is driven straight back into the driver's legs. Though airbags are good at saving upper torsos and heads from damage, lower extremeties are really taking a hit in the smaller cars.

Give me the Benz any day!!

Mercedes Man · #9 08-02-2002, 10:15 AM

Neon? That's a disposable car! It wasn't made to last.

rickg · #10 08-02-2002, 10:26 AM

Hahahahahahahahahahahahahaha ect!!!! Ya, right. A Neon is better. OK. Sure. You betcha.
Here's another stab in the heart for that arguement. My brother-in-law has a neon that needed a new tranny at 30,000 miles. (standard trans). So when I was shopping for a car awhile ago, he said "Get a Neon. It's a great car"
"But you had to put in a new tranny at 30,000 miles!"
"But it's ok now."
"yea, for another 30,000 miles. No thanks."
So I went out and found the 300 SD I currently own.

benchracer · #11 08-02-2002, 06:44 PM

Ty,

The debatable situation here is not between the Neon and the MB. What I find to be the issue is your judgment of people. How could you stoop to having a friend with such poor taste and reasoning abilities? First, she thinks the Plymouth is more attractive. Second, she bought a purple car. The color purple should never meet ANY car. It's obvious just by her color choice that she has no taste. End of debate.

psfred · #12 08-03-2002, 12:08 PM

Ty:

Ask her what condition her dad's 1976 Aspen is in. Should answer the question.

Peter

#13 08-03-2002, 12:29 PM

The real problem here is we are asked to compare two things that are not even nearly equal! Look at it like this, how many 1980 Chrysler, Dodge or Plymouth cars do you see driving around today? I would be willing to bet that most of the older MB being driven around today will still be driven around in another 5 years, and possibly even another 5 after that. Personally I had been driving by 1989 Cevy 4X4 Suburban. It has over 200K on it and no engine rebuild, uses no oil! , and it is in excellent condition. It has been my daily driver for a long time. Last spring my wife and I decided that we no longer needed a full size Suburban, and a Ford Expedition both. The $500 a month lease on the Ford was almost up, so we decided to get a used car. Now to make a long story short, I got a 1980 300D with 300K. I feel in LOVE with that car! Not with appearances so much as engineering beauty (corny!) Any way a now a couple of months down the line and I now have a 1983 SD as my daily driver. I could be driving ANY car, but I am driving what I want, enjoying it, and saving money hand-over-foot by not having any car payment.
For me it has been great. I would probably drive a Neon, only as a rental, and only for one day. Enough said.

Kyle Blackmore · #14 08-03-2002, 01:09 PM

OMG,here's a nightmare for you.You take the Benz to the dealer for some work and they give you a Neon as a courtesy car

#15 08-03-2002, 02:47 PM

I am going to play devil's advocate and probably catch a lot of flack. Older MB - hands down over Neon. But I have to say the late 80's to now MBs do not seem to have the quailty as the older MBs. Too many auto temp, self closing doors, etc to break down. For the price of an MB, one could by several Neons and trade them in every few years before they self destruct.

I have a 75 300D (3rd owner and have had for 16 years) and have just repalced "rubber" parts and shocks thru the years. Purchased a used 87 300D, and it has been a never ending money pit.

Ron