My daughter has finally had it with her Audi and I am talking her into buying a MBZ. She wants something much newer than I have personal experience with, something in the 1993-1997 time frame, about a $20-25,000 purchase, a 4 door sedan, gasoline powered. Are there any models out there that she should avoid? Your advice would be greatly appreciated.

I definitly agree with John.
But when you and your daughter do decide what model to get, let us know so that we can further assist you with what to look for when buying that car. Good luck on the search!

Assuming she's thinking of a C-class, I had a 96 C200 which gave me loads of problems in the electronics wired around the engine. Some connection (they couldn't figure which one) was loose and the engine wobbled everytime it was started and sometimes it just wouldn't start. I was told that 96 was not a good year for the C200s. Perhaps its only a personal experience.

I agree with John

If you go for a 140 try to get a 1995 or newer(which I don't think you can for 25K)
But if you go with an older 140 unless you get it REALLY cheap don't buy one without a warranty.The car is very complex and the repairs are hurtful. Mine has had a myriad of AC issues to the tune of 6K(warranty..thank god!!)
I have owned 124 and 126 models and the 140 is definitely a step above those...but at a price
The best bet for drivability and economy at that price range is a mid's 90's 124. You lose some conveniences,luxury and ride...but I think the dollar difference justifies it over the 140

Warren
1992 300SD
Columbus Ohio

You can now pick up 88-93 E-series sedans for between $8K - $16K depending on condition...so that frees up some dollars for modifications...or repairs. If you find an accident-free car, you should be pleasantly surprised at the supreme quality of the paint and interior, which has withstood years of weather-related abuse.

By now, most of these cars have reached over 100K miles, so you will now be dealing with replacing components that will have age-related failures...radiator, head gasket, timing chain, suspension bushings, and some A/C and electrical components.

Fortunately, they are some of the best made cars, and probably the most common in that era of MBs history. So there is a world of knowledge with respect to expert advice and guidance on troubleshooting problems and going about repairs. The other nice thing is that parts for these cars are relatively inexpensive, even for OEM. Many of the repairs are DIY, if you are so inclined.

MB cars are robust, and you can enjoy many miles of service with proper maintenance. MB service at the dealerships are hugely (and sometimes unecessarily) expensive when doing non-warranty work, so find a trusted mechanic that will do good MB work for less.