Need a recommendation!

[Tom McMenamin]

Trying to buy a car for my wife.

She is about 5'3' and she has a heavy foot! She has wrecked every car I have ever bought and I refuse to let her drive my 560SL.

Her last car was a BMW 635Csi and she wiped it out and the ins. co tottaled it! (1987) Beautiful car.

At any rate, I need some recommendations on what to get in the Mercedes line that doesn't require massive maintenance (Is their such a thing?) Is real stable and is reasonable to operate?

Any Suggestions? I'll take all I can get to make a decision!

No Sherman tank recommendations! I've already thought of that but she can't reach the pedals!

No sherman tanks, hmm, well how about a Hummer? Get a nice big hummer with a seat cushion so she can see out the window and scoot up so she can reach the pedals.

ask her to picture herself going shopping with her girlfriends in a hummer, lol.

I too have wrecked many many cars, i had 6 cars before i was 18. and had a few more since then (now 21). so i kinda know where you and her are coming from.

A benz or volvo is a safer choice, since she cannot drive a big big car due to her size. Porsches are smaller and faster so she might enjoy one of those.

But if its a mercedes you want, hmm then get a 81-85 300D turbo. They are safe, not too big and with the heavy foot, you are mechanically limited to your speed at take off. they are very troublefree and long lasting.

[Kuan]

Well, how about a W123 240D? 0-60 in 28 seconds. Since she's totalled every car you've ever bought. Not too much maintenance involved in these diesels and they run forever.

Kuan

[el presidente]

I agree with Kuan. Built solid and will last a long time with proper maintenance.

240D/300D? Yes!

Get her a 500E-E500 and a Shoei helmet.(just kidding) W124 260E!

Are you kidding? Don't waste a good 300 CE on someone who has "wrecked every car you have bought her." I'd go with something reasonably safe and very common so there will be no tears shed when/if she smashes if up again. Get her a Ford Taurus from the mid 1990s.

And besides, I might want to buy a 300 CE in a few years, too.

-Sam

[suginami]

My answer depends on your budget.

Naturally, the current models will have less maintenance, but are really expensive.

If your budget is $20,000 and higher, then an E320 would be my recommendation, or a 98 and newer C-class.

If you're in the $10,000 - $20,000 range, then I would recommend a 94-97 C220, C230, or C280. You can also afford any W124, which, according to my local MB dealer are better cars but more expensive to maintain.

If your budget is less than $10,000, then any 190E and any early model W124 would be in your range (86-92). You can sometimes find a 93-95, but they are usually higher mileage and therefore higher maintenance / repair costs.

I can't imagine your wife would drive a diesel, especially after driving a BMW 6 series.

[BenzOnline]

If it is planning to get wrecked, I would not consider a Mercedes at all!! But then again, safety is another issue, which no other car has.

She could get a Volvo 850. Plenty of those around, 8-second zero to 60 times, and there's that Volvo safety.

My earlier recommendation still stands, though.

-Sam

[bobbyv]

you could invest in driving lessons. You could get a Sherman tank of a car and she will come out unscathed, but what about the other people driving around her?

[mikemover]

I agree with Kuan, get a 240D or a pre-82 300D. Both are non-turbo diesels, very slow, very durable and very safe. Both can often be found in good shape for reasonable prices, too.

bobbyv is right also: How about investing in some driving lessons for her as well!

Mike

[G-Benz]

I recommend....BUS PASSES!!!

[ebennz]

hi tom
i'm partial to the w124 for the overall quality and safety and reliability and survivability. 300e/e320, the later ones have dual air bags.

i do have to politely disagree with suiginami's "dealer", i don't agree with the statement on maintenace.

consider checking what consumer reports says on cars in your price range.

just my opinion

peter

[suginami]

Ebenz, you are more than welcome to disagree!

I am also partial to W124's. I test drove some used C-classes before I bought my 93 W124, but they just didn't feel as solid.

I wonder what the dealer meant by the C-class having lower maintenance costs.

Maybe he was referring to the 98 and later models that have the computer that tells you when to take it in for maintenance on the "A" or "B" schedule. They run on synthetic, and I've read on this forum that the dash light doesn't come on very much. Well past the 7,500 mile mark between oil changes.

The early C 280's have the M104 engine so one would think they'd have the exact same maintenance costs.

I must also concur the 240D route. With an auto, she'll never be able to get it going fast enough to do any real damage.

I would have recommended a Yugo, but somehow I doubt that you are as eccentric as I. :p