Selling a Mercedes is hard to do - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Alan S · #1 02-21-2003, 10:54 AM

I want to first apologize to everyone that was interested in my car. A little background, last week I decided to sell the car and purchase something newer that would get better gas milage. Let me tell you, I drove a glut of new cars, everything from VW's to Honda's. I just never felt good in any of them. After test driving, I would sit in my 18 year old car, shut the door with an authoritive thump, and say to myself, "what the heck am I doing?" Nothing came close to the comfort, ride, or feel of my car. They all appeared to be mass produced, tin cans (no offense to anyone). I decided I would put up with the extra cost in fuel, and live happily with my trusty old 123. In conclusion, I hope the few who were interested in my car will understand, and I wish you all good luck in finding the perfect 123. Alain S.

Holson Adi · #2 02-21-2003, 11:04 AM

I can totally understand what you mean. I was going to sell my car and get a Toyota too. I drove both the Camry and Corolla. I mean the Camry's a really nice car. However it lacks that certain something about the way the MB moves on the road!!

Long live 123

300SDog · #3 02-21-2003, 03:06 PM

Is it selling the Merc... or settling for something else that causes the problems? Japanese cars have flat seats..... and other makes become obsolete in design at just 3 yrs.

Alan, you might as well confess the 123 / 300D has character that sets it apart from your ML and V-8...... call it a hedge against serious fuel problems that are likely to occur in the next 12 years - or compare it to the clackity-clack hand propelled lawn mower people enjoy just because of the sound it makes.

Myself, I'd invest in every standard shift 240D I can find.... knowing this car will never be obsolete..... and that American tastes are due for an ass-whipping as gasoline prices are at/near $4.00+ per gallon world-wide.

footnote: You will often find MB diesels to be especially prized commodities in rural environments and among backwoods survivalist types.

engatwork · #4 02-21-2003, 03:10 PM

I know how you feel.

CBGraves · #5 02-21-2003, 04:15 PM

I bought my 300SDL in October. Ive put about 10K miles on it since and I've enjoyed every mile. The guy I bought it from was selling so he could buy a Toyota Camry. He was not the wrench-turning type and had spent a lot of money on the car in the previous year. I'm sure he was getting grief from his wife about it. The door locks quit working and I guess that was the last straw. Bottom line is I got a near perfect MB with only 108K miles on it. I often think of him driving his Toyota and wishing he was still in the MB. I feel sorry for him.

Alan S · #6 02-21-2003, 05:11 PM

Dieseldog, your absolutely correct. The 300D has character, the cars I test drove were just "blah". Great transportation, but no emotion or personality. I can't begin to tell you how many people come up to me to talk about my car. But more importantly is the relationship I have built with her. Through the help of members on this board, I have spent countless hours working on her, and fixing misc. items, that have ultimately formed a bond between the old girl and I that did not show until I was going to sell.

#7 02-21-2003, 06:33 PM

Glad to read that this is a common disorder amongst the Mercedes diesel owners. Have seen a few pass through that had to sell off their cars for one reason or the other. I think we all get grief at home about the time and $ we spend on these old cars.
Well maybe that is caused by feeling abandoned as we spend some of those long weeks under the hood.
I always remind mine that the string of Toyotas, Fords, Corn Dodgers and whatever I owned prior were worse, a lot worse.
So tell me. Is that glass half empty, or is it half full?

engatwork · #8 02-21-2003, 06:42 PM

My significant other asked me the other day why I never "caught up" on the car work that I have going on and why I did not just go get a Honda or something. I told her that the "turning wrenches" on them is only 1/2 the fun

.

michakaveli · #9 02-21-2003, 06:47 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Holson Adi
I can totally understand what you mean. I was going to sell my car and get a Toyota too. I drove both the Camry and Corolla. I mean the Camry's a really nice car. However it lacks that certain something about the way the MB moves on the road!!

Long live 123

Sell the 123 and get a 210!!!!!

mikemover · #10 02-22-2003, 12:35 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Holson Adi
I can totally understand what you mean. I was going to sell my car and get a Toyota too. I drove both the Camry and Corolla. I mean the Camry's a really nice car. However it lacks that certain something about the way the MB moves on the road!!

Long live 123

We just GOT RID of my girlfriend's Camry and got her an 82 300D...It's easily TWICE the car that the Camry was. Driving that Camry was like driving a toaster--It got the job done, but there was no passion or fun involved. It was like an appliance, not a car. She is SO MUCH happier with the 300D. Good riddance to the Camry...I hope I never have a reason to drive another one.

Mike

PS DON'T sell the 123 and get a 210!!! A good 123 can outlive YOU!

Holson Adi · #11 02-22-2003, 03:20 AM

hehehe neah. i can't sell this car. I've spent too much TIME on it and passion and just so much of me had been spent on it. So...

If I'm getting another car it's gonna be a second car.. that's just the way it is. Even if it's a Ferrari

I really want a W210 E300D-T though.. but we'll see what I can find

right now the 123 will suffice (also budget doesn't allow a W210)

haasman · #12 02-23-2003, 12:47 AM

Alan

How much would you pay to get a brand new (or almost brand new) '85 300D?

Just curious,

Haasman

#13 02-23-2003, 01:43 AM

I am wanting to sell my 300CD, but it is going to be so hard for me. About the only way I will truely part with it is if someone is willing to pay close to my asking price. If and when I part with it, I will probally go out and buy another W123, most likely a 240D, or 230E if I can find one.

gsxr · #14 02-23-2003, 10:34 PM

If anyone wants my 1984 300D reaaal bad, drop me a line. It's almost mechanically perfect. Latest goodies are a 100% brand new front suspension & steering, new front calipers/hoses/rotors/pads, recent rear calipers/hoses/etc, new OE dealer Bilstein shocks front & rear, and everything works - locks, antenna, sunroof, cruise, ACC, air conditioning, you name it. 0-60 in 13.x seconds, Hella E-codes, west coast car 99% rust-free, 99% oil leak/drip free. Silver with blue interior.

My only complaint is that it's not an OM60x engine! I've also got $13k in records from previous owner (#2) back to about 1990, plus what I've done to it since buying it in 2001. I would like to replace it with a 190D, which is also a better size for my petite wife...

DavidB29 · #15 02-23-2003, 10:50 PM

I have had similar experiences to those described here, but the worst (for me) was last October when I lost my 1992 300D 2.5 Turbo in an accident. It was not a very bad accident in any respect except that a lot of expensive stuff on the front of the engine compartment got compressed by the bumper of the SUV ahead of me when it stopped faster than I. It would have been repairable, I think, but the damage was costly and the insurance company totalled it. It was a very nice car, in good shape, running nicely. And to add insult to injury, I had had an oil change THAT DAY, and a professional wax job only a few days before, because I was on the way to an MB Club event!

Losing the car was bad enough, but then I had trouble getting another diesel. I guess the combination of the cold weather, approach of the holidays, and general scarcity of diesels all conspired to make it very difficult to find a decent one. After a few weeks, I could not stand borrowing and renting cars any more, so I bought a 300E. No offense intended to all my MB friends who love the gas Benzes they drive, but man o' man, I have more appreciation now than I did before of why I drove diesels for all those years! Sure it is a nice car, but there are more things to go wrong, and they go wrong more often, and the car drinks more fuel than I expected -- averaging only 18 mpg so far (1500 miles), and you know what has happened to gas prices in the last few weeks!
So, I really don't mean to whine (the 300E really is a nice car, and the quiet is very pleasant), but you folks lucky enough to have nice diesel Benzes, enjoy them and appreciate them while you can! In the spring, I just may have to start looking for another nice 300D 2.5.....