The Showroom - Ft. Lauderdale - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

#1 11-29-2006, 12:45 PM

Anyone bought a car from these guys?

http://worldclassmotorcars.com/index.htm

Their web site has some beautiful W126s. Enough so to make a one-way plane ticket on AirTran from ATL to FLL possibly worth the $$.

Anyone dealt with these guys? They don't post prices on their web site

but if you look on Autotrader the prices are listed there.

Let's just say their prices are optimistic at best.

Hope there is room for some serious negotiating.

tscorda · #2 11-29-2006, 01:23 PM

Yes I spoke to them via phone on a real old diesel about a year ago. Must of been a 110 fin back. They wanted too much for the old bear.

Tom

Jim B. · #3 11-29-2006, 07:04 PM

Matt,

Something makes me uneasy about these.

Their 300SE W126 has a license plate insert that reads "Mercedes Showroom" from Ft Lauderdale

If this is that place, and I think it may proabably be, back in the mid -late 90's when I started looking for a Mercedes, "Mercedesshowroom" they had these glossy ads in the Robb Report. I had joined another Mercedes MB list (early internet days) and that dealerr's name did come up. The consensus was that at that time, many of their cars were old NY cars, or rusty NE ones, they would buy and then bring them to Florida where they would be detailed to a fair-thee-well, then rise resplendent on their lost at hefty prices.

If it's them, I'd make sure to get the full history on any car I liked, before I jumped on a plane to pick one up.

I finally focused my W126 search in 1996 in Southern California (see comments in buyers guide www.mbcoupes.com) and wound up with an Encore (later called Starmarked) '91 coupe, from House of Imports a MB
dealer near Disneyland. I still have the car today.

I'm sure some of the cars are OK, but I'd be careful about this place. What I heard was enough to make me shy. I'm not slandering the place, just I have personal qualms about it from what I have heard, if it is that place in fact...

BTW on www.benzworld.com, there is a W126 afficianado called Bruce Mendel, I think in NJ, who likes to collect these, and has several for sale, around 100k or less miles on them, and from what I see, seems honest. You might want to think about checking out what is there.

Jim

suginami · #4 11-29-2006, 07:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim B.

BTW on www.benzworld.com, there is a W126 afficianado called Bruce Mendel, I think in NJ, who likes to collect these, and has several for sale, around 100k or less miles on them, and from what I see, seems honest. You might want to think about checking out what is there.

Jim

This Bruce M dude just posted here on the shop forum today about selling his fleet of W126's.

holthoff · #5 11-29-2006, 08:39 PM

That place IS the old Mercedes Showroom, and I recommend avoiding them at all costs. At the risk of sounding like a complete fool, let me tell you why...

When I was just starting to get into old Benzes (and was apparently quite naive), I bought and had delivered from Mercedes Showroom a great looking '82 300TD, 136K miles, which they described as the "nicest we've seen in years." I had it checked out by an "independent" mechanic whom they "recommended," and (of course) it earned a superb bill of health -- "drives like a three year old car," they said, no rust! great compression! blah blah blah.. I still can't believe I was so dumb!

Anyway, when the car arrived I immediately discovered rust in the tailgate section. I should have sent the car back right then, but I didn't. No, instead, I drove the car a while and found that the rear accumulators were shot and that it shifted like the San Andreas fault (i.e. very hard). Eventually, I had my mechanic check it out, and he found the transmission near the end of its life plus, as a bonus, the rear half axles needing replacement. Oh, I almost forgot, lots of blow-by, too!

Then it really got bad. I considered having the rust repaired and started looking more closely at the body. I found a huge hole under the battery tray, then a recently bondo-ed section in the rear quarter panel, and finally serious rot around all the back windows.

In short, pretty much every serious issue a W123 could have, this car had.

On the dealer's behalf, I must report that they did offer me a refund of $1000, which I took, idiotically, before discovering the full extent of the car's problems. In order to cash the check, I was required to sign something written by lawyers that basically said I would not hold them at all liable for any other issues with the car. Nice, huh?

Needless to say, I learned a lot from the experience. And thankfully it does have a happy ending. Not long after selling that car for a huge loss, I went to visit my mechanic, whom I missed. We'd become friends, after all, as a result of me paying him so many visits! Anyway, he took pity on me and sold me an '84 300D that had been sitting outside his shop a long time, looking a little neglected (but with only 68k on the clock). Price: one thousand bucks. I'm happy to say that it's the best and cheapest car I've ever owned, and I look forward to driving it for many years to come...

MTUpower · #6 11-29-2006, 10:37 PM

I'd stay away from them also...and I live just 40 miles from them.

uberwgn · #7 11-29-2006, 10:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by holthoff

which they described as the "nicest we've seen in years." I had it checked out by an "independent" mechanic whom they "recommended," and (of course) it earned a superb bill of health -- "drives like a three year old car," they said, no rust! great compression! blah blah blah.. I still can't believe I was so dumb!

Yeah, a friend bought an '87 300D T from them a couple years ago. It appeared to be an exceptional example in the photos. The car had a lot of miles and he paid a lot of $$$ for it. Same deal: car arrives with all sorts of surprises and some rust. He's still regreting the transaction today.

brucem105 · #8 11-29-2006, 11:10 PM

Ha, just kidding, it's me.

I am not a dealer, but I am a certified W126 lunatic. I usually have at least four, and am always looking for more. I find them for people on request, and sometimes just buy nice ones when I find them to enjoy driving them for a while until I find another one I want, then sell the previous one.

Sometimes I make a little money, sometimes I break even, sometimes I lose a little. My deal with my wife was that I would not bankrupt us with my car hobby, or put more than six cars in the driveway at one time (hence my secret deal with my mechanic to use his lot every once in a while).

So I happen to have a few REALLY nice ones now, in case anyone is looking. I can also provide references from ebay and Benzworld buyers that are satisfied with the cars they got from me.

Bruce

lee polowczuk · #9 11-30-2006, 10:39 AM

bruce, i like your style.

not in the market, but i like your style

holthoff · #10 12-02-2006, 12:26 AM

Mercedes Showroom currently has a listing for what looks like a great 300SDL: "Nautical Blue with parchment leather. One owner car with 142,000 miles. Books and records from Merceedes with every receipt. Owned by a Dr. who maintained it meticulously and garage kept it from day one. A very rare find." Sounds good, huh?

Well, I looked the car up on carfax and found it has had FIVE reported owners, including four owners over the last three years! Definitely not a good sign...

soypwrd · #11 12-02-2006, 12:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by holthoff

That place IS the old Mercedes Showroom, and I recommend avoiding them at all costs. At the risk of sounding like a complete fool, let me tell you why...

My story is not as bad as holthoff, but hold off

from dealing with these jokers... not to be trusted to be brief. Utterly dishonest, classic used car dealer. :fork_off:

uberwgn · #12 12-02-2006, 01:41 PM

This thread is a good reason for not buying a car via internet...the camera can hide nearly all flaws and can turn a tired, worn-out car into a gleaming "one-owner" jewel.

Waddya gonna do? You've paid for the car in full. You've just flow 2,000 miles to Ft Lauderdale to take delivery of a car that's not as the seller described.

Are you going to fly back home empty-handed - - or - - might you end up taking delivery of a car you know you shouldn't?

Caveat Emptor, and inspect any eBay (internet) car in person when spending in excess of $2500.

soypwrd · #13 12-02-2006, 02:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by uberwgn

This thread is a good reason for not buying a car via internet...

On the other hand, I bought two cars sight unseen from private sales and had the best of experiences.

Tomguy · #14 12-02-2006, 02:37 PM

Buying a car before inspecting it in person?

"...You've got to ask yourself a question: 'Do I feel lucky?' Well, do ya, punk?"

Seriously, it can go amazingly well or amazingly lousy. I'd never buy an expensive car without inspecting it in person myself. One that I felt was represented well (IE: "Has rust see pics" or "Needs xxxx to be roadworthy") I'd take, as well. If it wasn't represented well but was cheap, I'd risk it. Those cars that say "ONE OWNER IMMACULATE 140,000 MILES" or something along those lines I usually scoff at.

brucem105 · #15 12-03-2006, 12:34 AM

I sold enough on ebay that I have a big email list of people waiting for a nice W126. So when I get one, I send out an email. Sold the last few that way. If not, I'll run them on ebay.

Here is the earlier thread I was talking about:

Potentially five awesome W126 cars for sale

Thanks!

Bruce