My daughter is about to get her learner's permit and I've been thinking about buying something for her to learn with. Any thoughts on a relatively late model C-class, maybe a 2005 or so? I want something new enough to have ABS, air bags, etc.; but not too large. I thought about a E320, but that might be a little too large for a kiddie car. Whatever I get will be a 4matic so I can also use it as a winter beater. Thoughts?

That's an awful nice kiddie car. If it were me I'd be looking for the wagon variant so I can get some cargo use out of it as well as a winter beater. Plus the "cool" factor for the daughter will probably bring it down a few notches to keep her grounded.

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1985 500SL Euro w/ AMG bits 130k
1984 300SD Turbodiesel 192k
1980 240D Stick China 188k
2001 CLK55 AMG 101k
2007 S600 Biturbo 149k Overheated Project, IT'S ALIVE!!!

I think an SDL would be about right. Other than that, about a '97 E class would be good.

I thought the same thing about the wagon, but there is no way I'm going to get either the wife or the daughter to drive a wagon. I'm not sure a C-class has much "cool factor," which is one of the reasons I'm looking at them.

Wow, you're a good dad.

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1979 Black on Black, 300CD (sold), 1990 Black 300SE, Silver 1989 Volvo 780, 1988 300CE (vanished by the hands of a girlfriend), 1992 300CE (Rescue).

LOL, I don't see the SDL happening. I actually thought about a E-class but they are still a little too big for a kid's car IMO.

I just don't want her beating up my 123s.

I drove 2003/C240 Wagon 4matic for one winter few years back, it was fantastic even with the snow here in Salt Lake City, I was driving every day up to Deer Valley, never let me down.
Your kid must the luckiest girl around

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"If women are so bloody perfect at multitasking how come they can't have a headache and sex at the same time?"
Billy Connolly

I would actually like to have a wagon but I don't think that's going to happen especially if my wife is going to be driving it sometimes. How is the power in the 240 4matic, is it adequate to drive up the occasional mountain at speed?

This isn't actually going to be her car, I just want something available for her to drive.

Lucky kid, I ended up with a 15 year old chevy celebrity as my first car and that was after I worked for 6 months to buy it. I would say the w124 would be an excellent size but forget about long term durability of the 4matic system.

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TC
Current stable:
- 2004 Mazda RALLYWANKEL
- 2007 Saturn sky redline
- 2004 Explorer...under surgery.

Past: 135i, GTI, 300E, 300SD, 300SD, Stealth

The C240 is very capable car. I don't know if you are familiar with I-80 going east from Salt Lake City but Parleys Canyon is very long and steep you are going from 4000ft (SLC) up to a 7200 ft to the summit inside 9 miles, so it is very hard climb. Once when the car was up to 70mph it drops gear only once just before the end (maybe 400 yards) so for me this is real performance test Just keep going and going and going.

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"If women are so bloody perfect at multitasking how come they can't have a headache and sex at the same time?"
Billy Connolly

My first car was/is my 560 SEL; I'm not gonna lie but it was a PITA to learn to park, let alone in reverse, as a new driver.

Why not look for one of those C-Class wagons?

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1987 560SEL (210,000 miles)

Thanks, I've been up that hill in my 240D (in third gear). I'll probably start looking around for one.

I had a C320 4-matic and positively loved it. It might be too much engine for a new driver but it was a great highway cruiser and was a tank in the snow with a set of Graspics on it. It did a good job in the crash.

Speaking of Insurance Claims.....

I also think the 320 might be too much, but the 240 or 280 sounds like a real possibility. I do want to get something small, but I wouldn't trust most small cars to be safe in a crash; so that pretty much narrows my choice to a c-class.