Hello,

I am 20 years old. I started out with a 190D 2.5 when I was 16 that my father gave me. It was a good car, 3 accidents, no scratches, on my body that is, lol, I cant say the same for the car.

I liked the 190, but now that I am older I just dont see the point in owning a 190. I have a 86 190D 2.5, 84 300D turbo, and a 92 300D 2.5 Turbo. I think next I am moving up to a S600 this summer or next yr. 190's are just too small, you cant really sit 4 people comfortably, nor can you carry a lot of stuff in it.

If you spend a little more money and get a 300D, defintly a turbo, she will be more happy. You see, you dont want to get a 84 300 diesels, they are very slow and very hard to drive for a teenager, mine often sits in the garage.

Also, because of its lack of takeoff speed, etc. its actually somewhat dangerous when pulling into traffic. Sometimes you need a car that has the horsepower to get up and go.

I think she will be happy in a 90-93 300D turbo. And gasoline engine is fine, but not as good gas milage. Another benefit of a later model is they have airbags, antilock brakes, etc. Goodluck and feel free to contact me if you need more info.

Sparks,
Don't rush out and look for a 190E 1.8 and 190E 2.0 because those models where never imported to North America. If you are looking for a petrol or gas 190 then the choices are the 2.3, 2.3 16V, and the 2.6.

I think that a 190E is a good choice because of it's good size, performance, and modern styling. The 190E's are great cars to drive around town, they fit into tight parking spots very nicely, and that's one of the reasons the Baby Benz was such a hit in Europe. If you are concerned that the gas engined 190E's are too fast then look into a diesel model, they aren't nearly as common as the gas models.

W124's and W123's are also great choices. A 300E or a 1987 300D Turbo are very nice cars that might fit your budget. A diesel W123 is a great car but your daughter might not like them because sluggishness and their age. I don't think that a slow car equals a safe car. But who knows maybe a W123 will grow on her

82-85 300D. Tough, reliable & plenty fast.

Well I just turned 17, and my first car is an 81 280E that I bought as a project/fixer-upper, and needed a lot of work because it was very, very badly maintained by the previous owner (sure was cheap though ). A few things about the 123's and teenagers - they're very loud, not too fast, except the 300d turbo which is the loudest of the bunch. They're also very, very bad to put simple stereo's in; without a lot of work a cd player and some cheap new speakers won't sound half as good as they would in most newer cars (even 124's). A few of their common problems can also be quite a problem for teenagers - most of the 123's ive seen have quite a bit of play in their steering wheels, and though I don't know your daughter, most teenagers do tend to drive with one hand/no hands sometimes to show off, and if you don't have both hands firmly holding the wheel, the car does have a tendency to move to one side (usually the right) quite fast, which could easily cause problems. Also, make sure that if you get one the a/c works; a lot of them have a/c problems which can be a pain in the summer. The 123 does look a little too classic for a lot of teenagers, but it sure does get a lot of attention. I think a 190e would be a great idea; its quiet, pretty small, easy to drive, and looks pretty modern.

Well I just turned 17, and my first car is an 81 280E that I bought as a project/fixer-upper, and needed a lot of work because it was very, very badly maintained by the previous owner (sure was cheap though ). A few things about the 123's and teenagers - they're very loud, not too fast, except the 300d turbo which is the loudest of the bunch. They're also very, very bad to put simple stereo's in; without a lot of work a cd player and some cheap new speakers won't sound half as good as they would in most newer cars (even 124's). A few of their common problems can also be quite a problem for teenagers - most of the 123's ive seen have quite a bit of play in their steering wheels, and though I don't know your daughter, most teenagers do tend to drive with one hand/no hands sometimes to show off, and if you don't have both hands firmly holding the wheel, the car does have a tendency to move to one side (usually the right) quite fast, which could easily cause problems.
I learned how to drive in my car and a suburban, and I remember the first time I drove a honda accord how insanely easy to drive it was - the steering was firm and tight, and the gas pedal wasn't mushy at all. In my mercedes, i need to slow down a lot more when making turns, probably because it's so high off the ground and the suspension is so old, and the gas pedal feels really loose.
Also, make sure that if you get one the a/c works; a lot of them have a/c problems which can be a pain in the summer. The 123 does look a little too classic for a lot of teenagers, but it sure does get a lot of attention. I think a 190e would be a great idea; its quiet, pretty small, easy to drive, and looks pretty modern.

If you're still reading this thread, I can offer some Tampa - specific information. You probably already know that the 3 local Mercedes-Benz dealers want outrageous prices for their used cars. These are not the places to buy a car for a 16 year old.

Your next possibilities are used car places and private owners. Success is possible, but so is magnificent failure.

The last possibility is to buy from a trusted mechanic. Shops sometimes take cars on consignment and people usually tell their mechanics when they want to get rid of the car.

Unfortunately, I can recommend no Mercedes shop in our immediate area as "trustworthy". The primary reason I got rid of my two older Benzes was that I couldn't find anyone to work on them.

Don't despair, however. This is where MercedesShop's principal players come in. Steve Brotherton's shop is in Gainesville - not too far away. Benzmac is in Atlanta and I know he regularly comes up with cars for sale. Lee Sheeler is also in Atlanta and has mentioned a contact that is great at finding used cars. I certainly wouldn't mind driving 8 hours from Atlanta for a car that is "Benzmac certified."

So, I would say contact Steve, Donnie (Benzmac), and Lee through this board and tell them what you're looking for. Even if you find a car locally, it's probably worth a run up to Gainesville for an inspection by Steve and/or his underlings.

If you're interested, contact me privately for a list of shops to aviod in Tampa. There is one guy in Pinellas who was recommended to me, but I never went to him.

__________________
Rick Miley
2014 Tesla Model S
2018 Tesla Model 3
2017 Nissan LEAF
Former MB: 99 E300, 86 190E 2.3, 87 300E, 80 240D, 82 204D Euro
Chain Elongation References

O.K.
I think I will go against the grain when I give my sugestion but here it is:
Do not get your doughter a diesel. Diesel fuel is sometimes a P.I.T.A to find, and even under the best circumstances is rare at least here in California. There have been times when I was returning home late and had to take strange detours to get some fuel. This is definetly not something you want your teenager doing late at night!
Any increase in safety you get from a slower car would be offset by that. Also diesel pumps are usually covered in diesel fuel since the diesel does not evaporate as easily as gas. Do you honestly want to deal with having the responsibility of messing up your doughters wardrobe???
My sugestion would be to get your doughter a gas engined 190E. If you are concerened with speed then get a 2.3 liter automatic. Above all: let her choose the color of the car.

Mark.

make sure you upgrade the stereo though - those becker factory units and stock speakers are terrible!

i just turned 17 at the end of december and i have an '85 190e 2.3. I like the car alot because of its more modern look and the fact that its not too big. I get good gas mileage and i can say that my car is definitely NOT too fast. The car feels really solid. Ive changed the oil every 3k miles and I haven't had to replace anything but things that should be worn out in a 15 year old car with 184k+ miles. I have to agree with what moyukh said about the stereo. That is the only drawback with the early 190s. Ive had to do alot of work just to put in the typical cruising gear (sub, head unit, amp etc.)

PROS
Size
gas mileage
styling
Safety
relatively cheap

CONS
Terrible stereo setup
very small back seat
small trunk
Dim factory head lights

Overall I would say that i am rather pleased with my car. I get alot of compliments from people at my school who dont realize how old it is. (everyone always thinks its an '92 or so)
There are some people at my school with some pretty nice cars, (z3's, 3 series, ranges, disoveries to name a few)and my car blends nicely in the parking lot.
I would check autotrader.com and look for a private seller. I got mine from an older gentlemen who installed a nokia phone kit in the car ($250) and babied the car.
Good Luck

doug

I provided our three kids with old 504 Peugeot diesels while they were in high school and college. Floor it down hill with the wind behind you and in 3 miles my younger daughter managed 79 mph. Our son managed 40 mpg which fit his budget. Go with an old non-turbo diesel.

Robby

There is no better feeling than dieseling around town in my speedy 1982 300D Turbo. I'm 17 and this is my first car. I'd say the W123 300D turbos are a great first car. Safe and solid. The play in the steering wheel can be a a problem, and I always make sure I have BOTH hands on the wheel, otherwise the car might wander in the lane. To remedy this, the steering box can be tightened for a temporary fix, but the "real" way to fix it is to replace the steering box (US$500 is the best price i've found). Lack of anti lock brakes may be a concern too. Fortunately I've learned to pump my brakes pretty well....

It is important for her to keep fuel in the car so that she doesn't look for fuel late at night. Hmmm, maybe it would be best if a 16 year old girl isn't out late at night anyway. Even on Friday and Saturday nights my 16 year old daughter's curfew is 11:00PM. She is sometimes ten minutes late, but she has done well with this, I am very proud of her.

The "hard to find diesel fuel" argument doesn't wash in my book. She should not get in the habit of waiting until the reserve light is on to look for fuel.

I agree that getting on the freeway, extra power is a safety situation, but it is more than offset by the fact that you're not putting the teenager in a car that they are tempted to drive fast.

I put my precious daughter in a slow diesel almost a year ago, and I still think it was the correct decision.

My $0.02,

My old '78, 240D had well over a 500 mile range from fillup to empty. I always made a point of driving one of my kids cars at least once per week and usually filled their tanks then. (Hell, I was paying for it anyway.) That way you can be sure that the car won't run out of fuel and you are able to check on its operation before the kid gets stuck somewhere with something major.

__________________
'76 240D-Sold
'78 240D-Sold
'85 300 SD, 165K-Sold
'88 300 TE, 165K-Sold
'64 Porsche 356C Cabriolet- under restoration
'86 560SL 124K Miles-Sold
'94 320E Wagon, 74K Miles-128K Miles JUNKED
'06 E350 Wagon, 84K Miles
07 SL550, 14K Miles

Let me tell ya about the time I let my 16 year old Sister borrow my 300E.

I had just bought a second car, a one owner, garage kept, 73K mile 1986 300E (Gas 3.0) Being 18 and in school it was a stretch to get a second car, but I managed to pay cash for it. Her car was in the shop for a new paint job. I let her borrow my 300E to take out saturday night because my truck was too big for her. She promised to have it back by 11 pm... I wake up at 2:30 in the morning to a phone ringing. Its my sister... she was driving along and it "just died". I go to pick her up, only to find on further inspection that there is a hole in MY beautiful car's oil pan about the size of my head. She had run over something and didnt think about it and had driven about 3-4 miles with no oil.... Needless to say I drove my truck around for a month while the insurance paid for the rebuild as a road hazard. Not much fun... I say make them earn it.... I did and thats why my car is immaculate inside and out 24/7, thats why I can go to school and have two cars, thats why I dont have speeding tickets. Just a word of advice, A 300E is a great car w/ loads of safety features (also looks like a MUCH newer car) but she'd take better care if she worked for it.

Best of Luck

Jason M.
1986 300E 88K
1999 Crew Cab Chevy Dualie 7.4Liter
ASE Parts Specialist

I'm surprised that no one mentioned the older Volvo 240 series. Decent car, solid, well made, relatively easy to work on. HUGE owner's group on the internet too.