Best 6-10k dollar car? - Page 3 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

iwrock · #31 08-13-2008, 09:25 PM

I am telling you, W140...

pawoSD · #32 08-13-2008, 09:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by iwrock

In the span of ownership of our land yacht, we pretty much put tires and gas in it, and changed the oil..... Was a pretty dependable vehicle, perfect for those roadtrips...

How old was it during this span of ownership? And how long/how many miles did you actually put on it? How many miles were on it at the time of purchase and when you sold/traded it?

Gotta have some facts to back up "it was a great maintenance free car" statements.

Hatterasguy · #33 08-13-2008, 09:29 PM

Looking at my friends S320, its hard to beat.

Maybe a W210 as well.

Hatterasguy · #34 08-13-2008, 09:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pawoSD

How old was it during this span of ownership? And how long/how many miles did you actually put on it? How many miles were on it at the time of purchase and when you sold/traded it?

Gotta have some facts to back up "it was a great maintenance free car" statements.

Don't be a wuss, its a nice car!

iwrock · #35 08-13-2008, 09:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pawoSD

How old was it during this span of ownership? And how long/how many miles did you actually put on it? How many miles were on it at the time of purchase and when you sold/traded it?

Gotta have some facts to back up "it was a great maintenance free car" statements.

Had it for like 3.5 years.... Owned it from 00-04. It was a 93 500SEL. We probibally put something like 40k-ish miles on it. Dont know how many miles it had when we bought it, but it was pushing like 125k miles when we sold it.

Jim B. · #36 08-13-2008, 10:19 PM

Ford Crown Victoria with the Police Interceptor package, (these are NOT sold new to the public) that includes the higher hp motor, dual exhausts, better rear end ratio, full size spare tire, heavy duty radiator, alternator, frame and other extras.

Do NOT buy a vomit comet (street patrol unit) or one of the dog units (K9) with the louvers on the hood. The stink on those will NEVER go away

Instead go for one with the Street Appearance Option: either in a non metallic pastel color, or a nice metallic, that have full wheel covers, chrome grille, all body trim, and can't be mistaken for a police issue Crown Vic

Most were issued to Police Captains, watch commanders, detectives, inspectors, investigators, and also to the FBI, Secret Service protection units, and some other government agencies, and they never saw high mileage, extended idling, or high speed pursuit use and most are retired after just a few years, and 50-70k on the clock

They are the gems, and highly sought after and very very hard to find, but they ARE out there.

Leads on locating the SAP (street appearance package) ones can be found on www.Crownvic.net

Or, you could go to look at any used Mercury Grand Marquis, and there are plenty of them off lease, or as rental returns (Rent one for a day and see what you think ) and a couple of years old one with the premium LX package with leather seats can be found without much trouble. Six thousand dollars should net you one 6 or 7 years old

With the decent comfort, safety, longevity and aility to run hundreds of thousands of miles without big repairs their value in terms to run for dollars per mile simply cant be beat. Police departments and taxi owners know this very well.

A264172 · #37 08-13-2008, 10:35 PM

Elwood: You don't like it?

Jake: No I don't like it...
[Elwood Blues floors the pedal and jumps over an open drawbridge]

Jake: Car's got a lot of pickup.

Elwood: It's got a cop motor, a 440 cubic inch plant, it's got cop tires, cop suspensions, cop shocks. It's a model made before catalytic converters so it'll run good on regular gas. What do you say, is it the new Bluesmobile or what?
[a brief thinking pause while Jake attempts to light a cigarette]

Jake: Fix the cigarette lighter.

PaulC · #38 08-13-2008, 10:59 PM

If your range is $6 - $10k, set a price limit of $8k and keep $2k handy for surprises. Forget German; most VW's in that range are ca-ca; Audi is more so; Mercedes? Unless you want a car older than dirt and/or with starship mileage, no.

Honda Accord, Toyota Camry, and the American cars mentioned earlier in this thread are your best bet.

Medmech · #39 08-13-2008, 11:01 PM

Volvo

PaulC · #40 08-13-2008, 11:07 PM

A 2-year Escalade lease.

Medmech · #41 08-13-2008, 11:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PaulC

A 2-year Escalade lease.

Will 10K get you two years for wheels like that? Times really must be tough @ GM.

PaulC · #42 08-13-2008, 11:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Howitzer

Will 10K get you two years for wheels like that? Times really must be tough @ GM.

Ah, 10k, 20k, what's the difference?

A264172 · #43 08-13-2008, 11:25 PM

They're probably giving out one year leases by now anyway.

Skippy · #44 08-13-2008, 11:44 PM

Couple of ideas:

1. I second the Ford Panther platform idea. I'd also add that the Lincoln Town Car shares the Panther platform with the Crown Vic and Grand Marquis. I had a Town Car and it was the lowest cost per mile car I've ever owned. My mom currently has a '00 Grand Marquis and it has been trouble free, economical (for a land yacht), and surprisingly peppy (at least for a guy who's used to Mercedes diesels).

2. Buy something for much less than the budget and spend the remainder to fix it up. I happen to know where you can get a W114 Mercedes pretty cheap

. This is a good option if you like to wrench and prefer older cars.

3. Buy something for much less than the budget. Drive it until it breaks. Get rid of it and get another cheapo bomb. One of my co-workers gets $300-600 cars from craigslist and personal contacts all the time and swears by this strategy. Of course, he's also a part-time curbstoner.