PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum - View Single Post - Thinking of selling the 400E for a Corrado...

jrmd01 · #11 07-07-2004, 03:01 PM

1992 400E w/150K
-$1500 into it between tires, services, etc
-getting close to needing to do timing chain 150k, which is going to be about $2k

1992 Flash Red VW Corrado with 70k original miles on it.
-Previous owner was older gentleman who took the car to a local service station for every oil change / quirk that arose
-sell it to me for $7000

Ok here is my objective opinion. The Mercedes will definitely out last the Corrado in terms of class and style. To make it a "younger person's car" put some nice 17" or 18" AMG rims, lower the car, and tint it...drive up to a expensive hotel/restaurant with valet parking and your car will be parked near the entrance as a display to attract more customers (try that with a corrado, it'll just be parked in the back with all the other ricers). The downside of havnig a 400E is the repair cost. 8 cylinder cars are always more expensive to keep up. But I'd rather spend that money on a car that will hold its value and class than on a ricer. Most people set aside a budget to maintain their cars. I keep my budget at about 1,000-1,500/yr (for everything inlcuding oil and tires). Oh regarding the timing chain, I've never come across a broken timing chain....who knows maybe I've been lucky.

I've had friends & cousins who owned a:
1. Bug - like a chick....HIGH MAINTENANCE. We were constantly working on the carburator and the engine itself
2. Jetta - problem with the clutch (a plastic piece broke)
3. Passat - needed a complete engine overhaul
4. Scirroco - electrical problems after someone broke in and stole the radio (I could not trace the problem down)

If the Corrado has a timing BELT (instead of a chain) it WILL NEED to be changed IMMEDIATELY. Timing belts break around 60-80K. If you don't and the belt breaks prematurely...the valves WILL BE bent (been there, done that...I was stranded in Anaheim, Los Angeles and had my ricer Honda towed home to fix the belt & valves myself --- I lived in San Diego at that time). Changing the timing belt on the corrado will cost you about the same amount as Mercedes (give or take a few hundred dollars)

Since both cars will need it's timing belt/chain changed you can leave that out of your decision. I would choose the car that would last longer (cosmetically and mechanically) with the least amount of repairs needed.