Quote:
Originally Posted by Skid Row Joe
I would too, versus ANY of the older stuff - unless I was INTO the older stuff.
The overiding consideration is what the OP wants, mated to what the OP wants to or can spend on a car. I'm old-fashioned, but I wouldn't buy anything I couldn't pay cash for - but I would not necessarily jump at the first car unless it fit the bill to a "T." Chances are the opposing insurance company will pay for a rental car for the OP for the next few weeks while he is making up his mind.
The '98-'99 ETD would be an outrageously improved upgrade from a W123-4 in numerous ways. Once you've driven one and get the thrill of it's performance AND economy, you'll likely never go back to the snails pace of any diesel pre-'98.
If he can swing it financially, the CDI would be the way to go I certainly would. Because over time, the CDIs and Bluetec are the better plays looong term going forward, versus the ETDs of '98-'99. Just my expert opinion there.....
Rust is not an issue (anytime soon) in Austin, Texas, where the OP is located.
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I understand what you're saying. I really do. But I don't think I'll *ever* regard a Bluetec as a good long-term move. Anything that will electronically refuse to let me start it unless I refill their silly little emissions fluid tank... just doesn't sound "reliable" to me. I want a car that will start when I have to flee my home for whatever the next natural disaster is (I'm dramatizing here because I believe in being *READY* for the worst case even though I don't live in constant fear of it) even if I haven't changed its little urea fluid tank on time.
That's why the 3 I own are all 80's models. They may be older and slower, but I know that as long as there's current available from the battery and fuel/fluids in the thing, they're PROBABLY going to start every time I turn the key, or else be fixable without a computer problem when they do go down. It's all preferences. So I guess I'm just saying two things, 1) that I'm among those who are "into" the older stuff for those reasons, and 2) Even if CDI is the next best long-term gamble, I'm not ready to give Bluetec *with* urea injection that much credit yet. I understand from a previous thread debate that not ALL Blue-tec labeled Benzes actually use urea systems, so in my post, the comments about Bluetec assume that urea IS used.