what do you think about a '67 200D - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

WANT '71 280SEL · #1 07-24-2003, 11:52 AM

Would a car like that be good for a 17 year old boy? As you can tell from my signature I am looking for a car. I found one here in town. He is asking 1800 obo. How much should I offer? Are these cars very good in winter? Would they be dangerously slow enough that it culd be dangerous just driving it? It is a 4 spd. I assumer it is on the column. He has owned it for 3 years and replaced floor pans and wiper motor. It still has some rust around the fenders from what he described on the phone. I only briefly saw the front of it. Where could I find parts for this? They don't have much here at fastlane. He said he goes to Autozone or the MB dealership for his parts. What do you guys think?
Thanks
David
P.S.
He also has a '67 250S with a new paint job and brabus rims for 2,795 obo. I think that is too much though.

WANT '71 280SEL · #2 07-24-2003, 11:53 AM

I will try to post pics ASAP.
Thanks
David

axlechassis · #3 07-24-2003, 07:32 PM

I grew up with a 1967 230. 200D's are slow no doubt about it.(it will be hard to get a speeding ticket). That is a nice body style but has a bad reputation for rust. I would look very carefully at the rust situation. The factory undercoating has a tendency to trap and hide rust. The little bit you see probably means alot more lurking around. Also look carefully at the existing rust repair.
From your description of the rust situation you would be safe not paying much more than $500.00 for it. There are alot of rust buckets available. It is a buyers market. Accident and rust free cars are the ones that bring the money.
Nice 200D's turn up on the e-bay from time to time

ctaylor738 · #4 07-25-2003, 02:29 AM

It's OK, but some other thoughts ...

Our criteria for cars driven primarily by our teenagers was ABS and air bags. We also required them to keep a logbook and prove that they had driven 1000 supervised miles before they could "solo."

AAA also has an excellent "contract" on their website that we modified somewhat and then had them sign when they started driving.

omegabenz · #5 07-25-2003, 02:44 AM

Ha, how funny.

I bought my friend one for 400 dollars. His girlfriend blew it up though. Its too slow. Typically teenagers pull out infront of people, and if they dont have power, then they cant get out of the way. Everyone makes mistakes, but gas engines can bail you out of trouble a little better.

I think it takes more tallent to drive a slow car than a fast car.

Id like to see pics to tell you how much its worth.

They look cool, they are just slow.

300SDog · #6 07-25-2003, 05:32 PM

Lets see.... his father and brother are probably braggin about their cars, and makin the dude beg for keys on Saturday afternoons.

Taylor suggests his driving should be 'monitored' for at least 1000 miles, as if Ft.Wayne Indiana was filled with treacherous windey mountain roads.

My advice is for the kid to get himself a motorcycle that will restore his dignity and pride. The old man and big brother will probably turn green with envy. Vintage BMWs can be found at/near $1000..... They are incredibly reliable and very safe machines.

Otherwise, its a buyers market with plenty of excellent deals out there.

Returning to topic, am in agreement with omegabenz that 110 diesels are extremely esoteric items, easily the most 'special interest' of any MB product..... These are cult classic automobiles beloved by their owners, a select few, who are astonished the rest of the world cant appreciate sheer beauty in coachwork, extreme mechanical simplicity and 30-40 mpg.

1967250s · #7 07-26-2003, 02:49 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by WANT '71 280SEL
P.S. He also has a '67 250S with a new paint job and brabus rims for 2,795 obo. I think that is too much though.

Take a closer look at the 250s, it's like the one in my sig (without the euro). Is it manual or auto? Is it leather or MBtex?

Bring a hand mirror with you to look under and in hard to see places.
Bring a friend to back you up on inspection.
Feel the extremeties of the dash wood near the vents, to see if there is still wood behind the venir. (if no wood = water damage)
Don't be shy and ask to look under the carpet....you'll thank me later.
Make sure to check the heater fan and other control on the dash.
Check hanbrake and main brakes with engine turning.....check for a "spongy or hard" pedal.
Look closely at the windsheald seals, you may need to replace them soon.
Take the car for a spin on an old bumpy road and see if the car wanders in the bumps or follows the grooved section.
Check the shocks by pressing and leting go with your whieght above each wheel, it should stop bouncing very quikly.
Look very closely (inside and out) at the grill when the hood is up.
Look inside the bumpers if metal is good.
Check the transmission for good shifting (if auto).

Make yourself a check list and take notes of what is not quite right.
Then after taking the time to think about it (one or two days) and/or tell us what you have seen, offer him not more than $2000 (it may be worth it) give him your phone # and wait for is call. You have noting to lose by offering what you can and hope for the best. Sometime you'll be at the right place at the right time with the right price.

I don't know the amount you have to spend, but if the car is available for more (and is worth it) than what you can afford, tell the seller that you really like it, but you can't spend more than $X amount. You may be amased at the responce from the seller!

Good luck

Dan

omegabenz · #8 07-26-2003, 02:52 AM

If you want a bike, buy it right after christmas because thats when all the dads have to sell their bikes to pay for christmas. Or the wife tells them to sell it.

My dad has a BMW bike 1978 R100/7, great bike, but he said he liked his 1976 R something else, it was a little smaller bike.

I am looking into an F650 BMW bike for riding around here, we have lots of trails by my house.

Parents think hondas are good cars, but I think they ask for trouble. They are reliable though.

Cheap mercedes about the same price 1983 300D turbo diesel. 240D is too slow to learn on.

My 300CD is slow, but it has .5 million miles on it.

I started out with a Range Rover, quick enough to get out of the way, but not too fast. You can pick them up for about 4k now for a 1991 or so rover. Great in the snow...If you cant afford an 85k Gwagen-because I know I cant right now.

300SDog · #9 07-26-2003, 04:17 PM

Probably the bike he's talkin about is the R65..... boxer twin available in the USA only between '76 and '79. Its much smaller and lighter weight than the others and handles like a polo pony - using the same frame as the Euro R45 (450cc) that we never see.

Weird thing about motorcycles.... if you ride them from an early age, you will enjoy them for the rest of your life.

Hey Indiana dude, hope i didnt offend you makin wisecracks about old man and brother makin you beg for keys..... contact me by email if you might be interested in '77 Euro 280SEL 4-spd thats in decent shape johnbald1@hotmail.com

WANT '71 280SEL · #10 07-27-2003, 03:45 PM

so would you guys consider it too slow? I can deal with slow cars but I don't know if that would be out of my league.
David

omegabenz · #11 07-27-2003, 05:52 PM

190D 2.2 is way faster than that car. And the 2.2 I know is slow.

It does have somewhat of a solid axle in the back and maybe you could stick in a V8 or something.

joshhol · #12 07-27-2003, 08:23 PM

If you want a Fintail, don't get anything less than a sixer.
1963 on is preferred so at least you'd have front disc brakes. It's got enough power to get you outta trouble if your quick with the shifter. That's one issue on mine, the linkage is sloppy so there is some lag time between gears (no good in a sticky situation)

2795 for that 250S is good if the car runs well and doesn't need immediate major work, in my opinion. How much money do you have to spend on keeping a 30+ yr old car running? They need constant attention. You'd have to spend 5 grand to get something that was in tip top shape mechanically otherwise your playing catch up with age and neglect. It's always something on an old car.

Find yourself a decent 240D with 4-speed. Cheap to run, cheap to fix and reliable as a boulder.