Another "should I buy" thread... '82 240D

I do think $5K is a little high, but it's a nice car. You will end up spending a couple $1000 to fix the wood and replace the dash and seat cover if you want it correct. I paid about $3K for my 240K with a little lower mileage and a better interior. However mine had a couple of minor dings and needed the usual $1000 worth of AC work. I would probably try to get him down a little on price, but if you really like it, what's the difference? The only hard part will be finding a replacement blue dash that isn't cracked. I would probably just install a black dash anyway.

It depends what you want, for $5000 you can buy a serviceable, but not great, 300D with more power. Just don't expect to buy either for $5000, put in a couple more $1000 to clean up the nits, then get your money back if you sell it. These deals only work if you plan on keeping it for a long time.

I wouldn't get hung up on the auto transmission. Personally, I think autos are just fine in 240s, a four speed might be fun (for a while), but a five speed is pretty silly unless you spend all you time driving downhill. These cars are slow with either tranny, if you want a sports car buy something else.

[MaydayMike]

I thought the auto suited the car just fine. I havn't driven a manual 240, but I imagine it would be a lot like my Yugo, constant shifting to keep it in the narrow powerband, and it's still not much faster.
I'm looking for a car to keep for a while. The current owner says this is the nicest body that he has seen in a long time, which is the reason he bought it in the first place.

[Jim B.]

Sorry to hijack the thread but could we see a picture of the '64 Biscayne?
Been so long since I saw one. Not very many survive. I almost got a '64 Bel Air sedan as my first car. A family of nuns had one for sale. But I got their '64 Chevelle 300 instead (Almond Fawn) instead. It was for sale too - my first car. Will never forget it, and wish I had it today.

And the '82 240D auto. will be slooooow. Definatgely more than the stick,on hills. If you don't mind that, rust free ones are tough to find nowadays.

[Stevo]

Originally Posted by Craig

a five speed is pretty silly unless you spend all you time driving downhill. These cars are slow with either tranny, if you want a sports car buy something else.

I gota disagree with you on that one. True, my 5 spd 240Ds are no "sports cars" but they have plenty of zip and are a pleasure to drive on the back roads or on the freeway in fifth gear. I can actually stay in 5th going up a "not too steep" incline if I'm going 70+MPH, not too mention good fuel economy.

[t walgamuth]

I am concerned about the engine shake. A smooth even idle is the sign of a good engine. I would not buy it until I knew what is causing the shake. It could be anything from a tight valve to a broken ring.

His mechanic telling him to get a four speed donor sounds fishy. Swapping a stick into an automaitc car if you have a complete donor is pretty straight forward.

It is either a fishy story or the mechanic is not very knowledgable, imho.

Tom W

[holthoff]

^^^^ I agree with Tom's post above.

Also, the price is at least double what it should be. Five thousand dollars should get you a near perfect 240D automatic.

Originally Posted by Stevo

I gota disagree with you on that one. True, my 5 spd 240Ds are no "sports cars" but they have plenty of zip and are a pleasure to drive on the back roads or on the freeway in fifth gear. I can actually stay in 5th going up a "not too steep" incline if I'm going 70+MPH, not too mention good fuel economy.

I'm sure it will work on level (or nearly level) ground, especially near sea level, but it hardly seems worth the trouble to squeak out another 5-10 mph from a 70 hp car. I'm glad it works for you, but I don't think I would bother.