280SE vs. Chrysler

[WANT '71 280SEL]

I have looked at old Mercedes (280SE/L) and some older Chryslers (Imperial/New Yorker '64-74?) Which would be a better car for a 17 year old who would have to pay for gas, part of ins. and all repairs? Chryslers have cheaper parts but the MB looks better and seems that it would get better fuel efficiency. Please help me.
Thank you
David

I'm only 16, but personally I'd go for the Benz. I think it's more reliable and safer, and it'll probably last you longer (some of these guys have cars with over (300,000 km on them), but parts are expensive. About fuel economy, I don't know. The Chryslers are nice, and parts are probably cheaper, but I highly doubt they'd last as long as the Benz. Also, the looks matter... Peace, and Props...

Philly

[WANT '71 280SEL]

Yes, but the Mercedes require more maintenance to go that long. They are more sophisticated, thus more things to break. When they cost as much MB parts, it really adds up, especially when I don't make much money.

I had a friend in high school with a '63 Chrysler Newport (383 ci) that he inherited from Grandpa. We literally beat the h*ll out of that car -- and could not destroy the old beast. It was fast, not good for a kid, unsafe (only lap belts), again unsafe, poor mileage (like 8-10 in the city). But parts were cheap, it was easy to work on and was cheap to insure. I think he drove it junior and senior yrs and never had any reliability problems -- with well over 100k miles.

The MB will last much longer, (overall savings in the long haul?) and much safer. Maintenance is more $$, but if you plan on keeping it for many yrs, probably worth it. As a parent, I'd go for the Merc, but looking back 16+ yrs, I'd take the Chrysler.

You might consider an old non-computerized Volvo like a 122 or 240. They are built like tanks, cheap to maintain with easy parts availability, get good gas mileage, safe in a crash and not bad looking. I own both a Mercedes and Volvo. My 66 Volvo is my daily driver because it is so reliable and my Mercedes is my sunnyday driver.

[WANT '71 280SEL]

I would like to have an old Volvo, but i can't find any in my price range with what I want. List of Volvos follows (#1 is most wanted)

#1) Early 70's 164. (5 or 4 spd.) (if they had a 5 spd.)
#2) Late 70's maybe early 80's 240 turbo 5 spd.
#3) Late 80's early 90's 240, cloth interior, 5 spd.

My mother has a 240DL wagon, I know what you mean when people talk about simplicity, mpg, and SAFETY!

[psfred]

If you avoid the air suspension of the 300 (and the 6.3L as well!), the 280 SE 4.5 is a nice car. Not all that expensive if in fairly good shape to begin with, and you can get around 16 mpg without too much trouble.

A 72 Chrysler, full sized, is a BIG car, but will get equivalent milage. Will have more interior problems, will be harder to find parts for now (engine is long out of production, etc), and lots more to go wrong -- the Benz of that vintage usually has power windows, add-on AC, and vacuum locks (the AC is Delco) only. No power seats, etc to break, no climate control, etc.

However, neither one is going to be inexpensive to maintiain, much too old. If you can spring $3000, look for a late model (80 to 83) W123 chassis benz, diesel or gas -- in good condition, they will run longer, use less fuel, and be cheaper.

Avoid a W116 chassis, they are gas hogs and RUST terribly.

Don't overlook the 740 Volvos, either. Yeah, I know, your mom's car, but they run forever, and are the lowest cost Volvos to maintain. Only real weak point is the interior plastic stuff breaks.

Peter

[joshhol]

I agree with psfred.
Get a diesel.
Your youngun wont be able to go hot rodding and get into bad situations. Built like a tank.
Also, significantly cheaper to maintain and fuel. MPG will be at least 25.
Get an older one and the purchase price and registration will be nominal.

[WANT '71 280SEL]

The thing is, my uncle is one of those American Car Guys. He is really into Chevy's. (I hate GM's). Diesels are not good for city driving. The exhaust gives you problems. (Fatt\her said that use to have once, 190D, 220D, 300D. He had those when he was a salesman. Diesels also need valve adjustments, etc. Any Mercedes will have expensive parts. They are about 3/4x thos of an old Chrysler. (I've looked)
Mercedes V8's are expensive to mainain. That is what I have heard.
David

Maybe you should go for the '74 New Yorker. Motor and trans parts are in abundance since they put the 440 and that trans (727?) in many, many models and years. Plus, it'll have lap belts AND shoulder belts.

[psfred]

MB V8s usually need a timing chain and valves done (and cams, usually) at 250,000 miles. May need new rings at 500,000, if will maintained. Balance that with a $1000 or so rebuild every 150,000 on the 440, max of two rebuilds if you go light on the bores the first time.

IF properly maintained, the V8 benz will be running strong long after the body is gone. Big no-no is allowing them to overheats, eats everything up and THAT is expensive. So is busting a timing chain by failing to check it perodically.

Old cars are disappearing out of junk yards at a fabulous rate all of a sudden, so a Chryco 440 and 727 tranny may be getting hard to find, they've not been used in cars since 1983 or so....

Peter

[WANT '71 280SEL]

What about a w126? I like the looks and I have heard good things about the handling. I have also heard about the nightmares with the maintenance. $1200 for a simple MB part is not uncommon.
I asked a local MB independent repair shop about a possible 108, and he said "maintenance is very expensive" he has fixed MB's for over 35 years. I don't know, however, if he knew about this forum and the help I could get with doing it myself.
I have seen 420SELs go rather inexpensive if they need a liitle work, what do you think?

P.S.
I didn't want to spend more than 1600 or so on the initial car. I want to be a car in that range so that I will have some left over for repairs.
David

As I wrote previously, time is the key. If you want to keep it 3 yrs the Chrysler (disposable) might be the better buy. If you want to keep it for 10 yrs and take into consideration some resale, then go for the Merc. A '74 Chrysler won't be collectible for a very long time.

In my experience of collecting American iron, I've never had a problem getting parts -- ranging from my '50 Packard to my '69 Caddy. On the other hand, I had to wait 3 days just to get a upper radiator hose (for the 126) from the NAPA 2 miles away. Recently, I found another parts source that is cheaper and has a one-day to a few hrs turn around, so that kind of thing won't happen again.

Hey! Trust me, get yourself a W123/W126 Diesel. Either a 300D/TD/CD or a 240D with a 4 speed manual (what I have) Diesel Mercedes are extremely reliable, many go 500,000 miles. The parts are a bit more expensive, but almost never break. They are also easy to work on. Brakes for my car (pads, rotors) were 50 bucks total. Valve adjustment every 30K miles will only cost 60 bucks from a decent mechanic, and you won't have to replace the stupid timing belt every 60,000 miles (ala Volvo 240DL and Volvo 740) Also, with a 240D 4 speed, you can easily get 30MPG, and they are fine in the city. Diesel Benzes have no catalayctic converters or MAF's to go wrong, or engine computers (ala Volvo) They are EXTREMELY reliable, and I could say the most reliable passenger vehicles ever built.
Buy an 80's Benz Diesel, and just drive it, change the oil, and adjust the valves. It will serve you for many years.

[WANT '71 280SEL]

Where could I find a 240D, -1983. I want the 123 body. I would prefer power windows and sunroof and 4spd. (who doesn't want those options?) I am in Fort Wayne, IN. I don't quite have all the money but I don't want to spend more than maybe 1300 or so.
Thanks
David