PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum - View Single Post

Jim B. · #5 01-11-2007, 04:04 AM

That "90 Volvo would be perfect but if it's in Italy, you'd have to go through the entire DOT/EPA certification, through a registered importer, in addition to the shipping. With the customs bond, fees and expenses of conversion, you can figure about $10,000 or so for the process over the price of the car. So that car looks out of the question

Family concerns probably would mandate a SAFE car above else. A rear wheel drive 4 cylinder B12, 112 hp Volvo like a 1985 -to about a 1992 Volvo 240 or 740 would be a good choice.

Also, why not consider a 1986-1993 or so Ford Crown Victoria or Mercury Grand Marquis sedan (or a Wagon throuogh 1991), or even a Lincoln Towncar, they are really bulletproof, easy to fix, roomy, comfortable, reliable and fairly safe cars, many of them are bought by Senior citizens so you might find a pampered one. They are undervalued and dollar for dollar one of the most inexpensive vehicles to run today. The Police and cab and livery companies run these to intergalactic mileages and the Police Interceptor retired cruisers are all over EBAY all the time, and might be worth a look

A 1995-1997 Subaru Outback AWD wagon might be another possibility, the new style started in 1995 and they are pretty well equipped with ABS, full power on most of them, they seem to be very reliable, and last to very high mileages with little repairs along the way.

The '92-'95 Buick Century could work for a few years of cheap transportation that was pretty reliable too.

If you get any of them in the Northeast, though, watch out for rust though.

(In the interest of full disclosure, I've owned a '91 740, and 88 Crown Vic and a '95 Outback and each of them were HIGHLY satisfactory, the Crown Vic especially cost virtually nothing to keep.)