Thanks everyone for the helpful information, especially around recurring issues and things to look for. I would never buy a used car without having it thoroughly inspected, but I always like to know what I'm getting into before spending money on inspections.
I've done a bit more research about the W124, I'm getting a better feel for the market and yes, that particular dealer's prices are a nonstarter. Didn't get a good vibe when I called to ask for more information about the car.
The market for clean W124s is small and requires buyers to be patient - no surprise there. I think there is a perception, right or wrong, that Mercedes wagons have a sort of cult following and are highly sought after. I just don't think I was prepared for the degree to which sellers overvalue these cars, especially as they continue to age and become more maintenance intensive.
Having a wagon is by no means a requirement in my case, and if there is better value in something like a clean E420 sedan, I'm happy to trade the utility of a wagon for the extra power of a V8. So I will change direction slightly and keep looking.
Quote:
Originally Posted by liquiddog
BTW that C63 looks like a nice ride. I'm getting interested in a CLA once a few years go by and the price drops on gently used samples to sub 20k.
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Just a quick response to this comment: the care and feeding of an AMG car is not a cheap endeavor, even by Mercedes standards. In my calculus, the C63 justifies its upkeep costs because the M156 engine is nothing short of thrilling - in performance, temperament, and sound. Not having learned much about the CLA45, I'd be interested to see if AMG is able to capture that depth of experience in the 4 cylinder, or even in the M157 TT engine of the bigger AMG cars.
But that's a subjective quibble. Can't argue with fuel consumption numbers, and any AMG car is going to be very fast and lots of fun.