My son is ready to retire his 2004 Saab 9-5 wagon to get rid of payments due to the price of gas. He is driving 150 round trip to work daily and the gas is killing him so even if he gets something that gets only slightly better mileage he will not have a monthly car payment. He likes wagons, has a 4 year old son and I am a long time MBZ owner. We have located a local 1 owner 1998 4-matic E320 wagon that we can by for cash $4000. It has 166k miles. Please any thoughts about this type car? mileage? dependibility with those miles, any known issues? thanks

The E320 is a heavier vehicle, coupled with a larger engine and increased frictional losses brought on by the 4 Matic system. Not a snowball's chance in Atlanta that your son will see a gas mileage improvement over the SAAB.

not looking for mileage improvement wanting to get rid of monthly car payment...add real cash back to his budget. I checked on Edmunds they list the 4-matic wagon at 25 mpg highway is that realistic?

As long as its in good shape and was taken care of no reason not to. Although if possible I wouldn't get 4Matic, since AWD does hurt mileage.

25 on the highway sounds about right.

__________________
2016 Corvette Stingray 2LT
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

If you can only get 25 on the highway with that car there's a problem. We get 25 or 26 mpg with a mix of 30% city and 70% rush-hour highway with a good portion of low-speed stop and go. I've had extended trips at 33 mpg with the cruise control set at 70mph.

I don't know your market as far as pricing goes, but honestly, 4K sounds a little cheap to me. I wouldn't buy it without a full inspection. Most wagons sold in the US were 4Matic (all of them in Canada are 4Matic).

__________________
Jonathan

2011 Mazda2
2000 E320 4Matic Wagon
1994 C280 (retired)

I vote no. I think it has too many miles given that your son racks up 750 miles/week commuting. Has the transmission been replaced? I wouldn't assume much more than 200K miles if not, and he'll be there inside of a year.

It'll do 25MPG highway, and probably better. I have a 2001 model wagon, but with RWD rather than 4matic. It generally delivers 27 highway, give or take an MPG. Best ever is just over 30, but that's with the engine already warmed up and a steady, Texas-size tail wind for a couple hundred miles. Maybe the Canadian gent is thinking Imperial gallons, but no way one of these will do 33.

- JimY

Yeah...you're right, I just checked. Imperial gallons. That just spoiled my whole day

__________________
Jonathan

2011 Mazda2
2000 E320 4Matic Wagon
1994 C280 (retired)