A HUGE 90 foot tall pine tree hit my home, then landed on My 1983 300SD (minimal roof damage) and the other part of the tree TOTALLED my 1997 E320.....Hopefully, the image uploaded so you guys can see...

A month ago, I purchased a 1995 E320 wagon with 108,000 miles on it, THANK GOD that was in my garage......

Anyways, as insurance goes, my E320 had 196,000 miles on it, at best I'm thinking that I'll get 5K in insurance money for it......

My question is: For 5k, what would be the best bang for the buck in a C class???? I've never owbed a C class before and would be using it for my daily commuter in HOTlanata.......Any suggestions are greatly appreciated......I'm actually leaning towards an older C220

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__________________
Currently Driving
2006 E320 CDI
1999 E300 Turbo Diesl
2002 ML500
1995 E320 Station Wagon


MBs I've owned
1997 E320 Assassinated by Pine Tree
1987 300E Wife Killed Engine
1981 300D Stretch Limo Total Loss
1970 250 Coupe 212,000 mi.
1974 450sel 184,000 mi.
1974 240D 377,000 mi.
1977 300D 204, 000 mi.
1979 280se God Only Knows!
1983 240D 130,000 mi.
1972 220D 280,000 mi.
1983 300SD 244,000 mi.

I'd look for a 1999-2000 C-klasse, good cars, should be able to find a halfway decent one for $5K. Also might be worth looking for a very nice W201 at that price.

W201s????? Nope, can't do it........I've never cared for them, in any respect.

__________________
Currently Driving
2006 E320 CDI
1999 E300 Turbo Diesl
2002 ML500
1995 E320 Station Wagon


MBs I've owned
1997 E320 Assassinated by Pine Tree
1987 300E Wife Killed Engine
1981 300D Stretch Limo Total Loss
1970 250 Coupe 212,000 mi.
1974 450sel 184,000 mi.
1974 240D 377,000 mi.
1977 300D 204, 000 mi.
1979 280se God Only Knows!
1983 240D 130,000 mi.
1972 220D 280,000 mi.
1983 300SD 244,000 mi.

Impressive to see how well the roof survived that impact.


That's an easy problem to fix. Just remove the radiator cap, slide a new car underneath it and tighten it back down.

-tp

Having purchased two W201's new, I would say there is no such thing as a nice one.

Looking back at my W202 C280, I can recommend one of those and the only real problem, namely the leaky head gasket, has undoubtedly been replaced years ago.

Don't buy another W210 as their rust problems are getting worse. The latest edition of the German car mag Auto Motor und Sport has a picture article showing all the rust areas which are all over the place. In the mashed car pic, I notice that the RF upper spring perch did not break off which is one of the latest problem areas to come to light.

One last, do not buy a 4-cylinder W202. Noisy, rough, agricultural.

__________________
Roger E.

The 4-cylinder W202 are noisy, and I think they get only marginally better fuel economy.

Here's a nice one and it's local to us. http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Cars-Trucks___1998-MERCEDES-C280-ONE-OWNER-NEW-CAR-IMMACULATE_W0QQitemZ150317413900QQddnZCarsQ20Q26Q20TrucksQQddiZ2282QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUS_Cars_Trucks ?hash=item150317413900&_trksid=p4506.c0.m245&_trkparms=65%3A-2|39%3A1|240%3A1318

__________________
'94 E320 with 272,000 miles. '92 500SEL 133,000 miles.
Mods to the '94: TomTom GPS in place of ash tray, Auto Dimming Mirror ,Memory seat, DEI 545T Auto lamps, DEI 530T Auto Up/Down Windows, DEI Remote Start, Motorola Bluetooth® Car Kit, Built in phone charger using factory phone wiring, RainTracker Rain sensing wiper, Keyless Entry, Ambient lighting of center storage compartment. Soon: factory heated seats, REST
Mercedes-Benz is my addiction of choice.
http://www.youtube.com/vanwiek

I wondered why my car always slows down near farms.

__________________
1998 C230 330,000 miles (currently dead of second failed EIS, yours will fail too, turning you into the dealer's personal human cash machine)
1988 F150 144,000 miles (leaks all the colors of the rainbow)
Previous stars: 1981 Brava 210,000 miles, 1978 128 150,000 miles, 1977 B200 Van 175,000 miles, 1972 Vega (great, if rusty, car), 1972 Celica, 1986.5 Supra

So, basically stay away from the 4 cylinder W202, is what you're saying????

Is there a recommended model/year C class in the 5K range that you DO recommend????

I stumbled across this car, locally.....It's an S class.....with apparently low mileage

http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.jsp?ct=u&car_id=255537200&dealer_id=100049422&car_year=1995&rdm=1230205261407&model=&num_records=25&systime=&make2=&highlightFirstMakeModel=&start_year=1994&keywordsfyc=&keywordsfyc=&keywordsrep=&keywordsrep=&engine=&certified=&body_code=0&fuel=&awsp=false&search_type=used&distance=100&marketZipError=false&search_lang=en&sownerid=89969&showZipError=n&make=MB&keywords_display=&color=&page_location=findacar%3A%3Aispsearchform&min_price=&drive=&default_sort=priceDESC&seller_type=b&max_mileage=&style_flag=1&sort_type=priceDESC&address=30039&advanced=&end_year=2001&doors=&transmission=&max_price=6300&cardist=16

Still, I think I want to own my first c class, as I suspect that gasoline prices will soar once again come spring time.....The ONE thing I'll miss about my E320 was the incredible fuel economy!

Thanx

__________________
Currently Driving
2006 E320 CDI
1999 E300 Turbo Diesl
2002 ML500
1995 E320 Station Wagon


MBs I've owned
1997 E320 Assassinated by Pine Tree
1987 300E Wife Killed Engine
1981 300D Stretch Limo Total Loss
1970 250 Coupe 212,000 mi.
1974 450sel 184,000 mi.
1974 240D 377,000 mi.
1977 300D 204, 000 mi.
1979 280se God Only Knows!
1983 240D 130,000 mi.
1972 220D 280,000 mi.
1983 300SD 244,000 mi.

Here's another that I'm seriously considering.....I'll throw an additional 2K on top of the 5K if this is in really great shape. they did not post the mileage, that does concern me a bit

http://atlanta.craigslist.org/ctd/962595043.html

__________________
Currently Driving
2006 E320 CDI
1999 E300 Turbo Diesl
2002 ML500
1995 E320 Station Wagon


MBs I've owned
1997 E320 Assassinated by Pine Tree
1987 300E Wife Killed Engine
1981 300D Stretch Limo Total Loss
1970 250 Coupe 212,000 mi.
1974 450sel 184,000 mi.
1974 240D 377,000 mi.
1977 300D 204, 000 mi.
1979 280se God Only Knows!
1983 240D 130,000 mi.
1972 220D 280,000 mi.
1983 300SD 244,000 mi.

Wow, hope you and the family are OK. That's sad to see it squashed like that... Can I buy your cup holder? Mine's broken... The insurance company won't miss it!

__________________
-Evan


Benz Fleet:
1968 UNIMOG 404.114
1998 E300
2008 E63


Non-Benz Fleet:
1992 Aerostar
1993 MR2
2000 F250

ROTF!!!!! Sorry, but the insurance company has already had it towed away......You can find the cup-holder on ebay for a reasonable price

__________________
Currently Driving
2006 E320 CDI
1999 E300 Turbo Diesl
2002 ML500
1995 E320 Station Wagon


MBs I've owned
1997 E320 Assassinated by Pine Tree
1987 300E Wife Killed Engine
1981 300D Stretch Limo Total Loss
1970 250 Coupe 212,000 mi.
1974 450sel 184,000 mi.
1974 240D 377,000 mi.
1977 300D 204, 000 mi.
1979 280se God Only Knows!
1983 240D 130,000 mi.
1972 220D 280,000 mi.
1983 300SD 244,000 mi.

A $4,800 W140 from a used car dealer in an iffy section of Atlanta? Run as fast as you can - away from that car.

The Diesel S-class that you posted in Dunwoody might be worth a look, but be prepared for potential terminal issues w/ that motor - search for "Rod Bender" on this site.

hey former jerze gotta love this -- jz

http://www.youtube.com/v/Aogz162O5pE&hl=en&fs=1

WOW - sorry to hear about the car, but glad no one was hurt!

That looks like a huge pine tree. Looks like a 100 year old (or older) Slash Pine tree to me. Those are very heavy trees. Looks like the car held up very well considering.

For that kind of $, you could buy a very nice W126.... or are you wanting a smaller, later model MB?

if you're buying that S class diesel, keep looking around for a 3L 603 engine. I hear they just drop in. Or you could try the 606DY conversion. I know they had the 606 in the S class in europe.

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All it takes for evil to prevail is for good men to stand by and do nothing.

Too many people tip toe through life, never attempting or doing anything great, hoping to make it safely to death... Bob Proctor

'95 S320 LWB
'87 300SDL
'04 E500 wagon 4matic