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Originally Posted by Skid Row Joe
Well, not exactly, that's why I asked.
It's not only inflation, it's the strength of the dollar and the associated exchange rate at any given time in history.
Still doesn't add up, since you can buy a 2014 E250 for $50K and change today.....there's no comparing the cars anyway.
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That doesn't seem right. What is important to a buyer, is how much they have to shell out for the car. Various things like exchange rates may be factor that cause the price to be set a certain level, but the buyer could care less.
What is important, is Purchasing Power. IOW, what the buyer in 1985 could have bought with their $32k vs what they could buy now for $56k. The Big Mac can be used to illustrate this. 1985 price was $1.69 (300D = 19,035 Big Macs) 2013 price is/was $4.37 (E25=12,815 Big Macs). Ratio 2.586. On this basis, a $32,000 300D would be $82,750 today.
I agree there is no comparing the 1985 300D and 2014 E250 - You can't buy a brand new 1985 W123 anywhere.
The e250 is obviously a much more sophisticated car and beats the venerable 300D on all counts (cost, performance, noise, fuel economy, road handling, comfort, audio!, and... ) Not for simplicity and perhaps longevity which is still to be determined. Same is true for all modern cars.
BTW: I have owned my 85 300D for 23 years!