Hi guys (and gals)...I'd like, and value your input in deciding between a VW Beetle, 73 in great condition or a 300CD, 83 in pretty good shape. [Both German made ] Prices are compatible. It's been suggested that I go with the one that has the lower maint cost since it'll be a daily driver - roughly 120 miles RT.

And advice?

Wow. I'd as soon get hit by a bus as drive a '73 Beetle 120 miles daily!

There are lots of factors to keep in mind but an early-80s MB Diesel is a wonderful daily-driver if the car is in decent shape AND you are willing to do a good bit of the routine maintenance yourself.

I drive my 300CD approx 70 miles RT every day.

I have a VW Thing, and a MB 300sd. In my experience, the Thing needs ALOT more love than the MB. The VWs don't seem to hold up like the MBs do.

Early 70s Mercedes already had wonderful things like 4 wheel disk brakes, crumple zones, and independent suspension that make it somewhat safe to share the road with homicidal SUVs and minivans.

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1959 Gravely LI, 1963 Gravely L8, 1973 Gravely C12
1982 380SL
1978 450 SEL 6.9 euro restoration at 63% and climbing
1987 300 D
2005 CDI European Delivery
2006 CDI Handed down to daughter
2007 GL CDI. Wifes

Thanks racerx and nrhills! I had a supervisor that owned a VW Thing, interesting vehicle, hardtop or convertible?
Any pics or the 'Thing' and the CD?

Good point wodnek - that's quite a collection!!

There is no way a '73 Beetle is going to survive that amount of driving....let alone be enjoyable. Not bagging on the Bug, it just isn't designed for that.

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Thanks Todd.....Nice coupe!!

Maybe I shouldn't say 'daily' more like two-three times a week. Too bad I can't $$$ both.

We'll assume "Southern1" is far enough south, that you won't need HEAT...

P

just a 'little'. more of the opposite - AC needed! It's looking like the bug would be 'fun' and maybe a short term 'investment' or 'toy' and the MB more suited for 'normal' use. Although there are those that swear by the VW and it durability.
Any 'D' or CD's for sale in the SouthEast region? I've seen a few up North and in the West - Tx being the closest thus far. I'll keep looking although I'd like to purchase one soon.

Craigslist and Autotrader online seem to be the best now. Ebay has gone crazy with the prices people pay. I kind of thought a 87 300TD would be a nice car for the wife. Saw one on E-bay with just a little rust, cracked driver seat and 300,000 miles. I thought for a couple grand i could fix it up with a parts car. WRONG! That car topped 9 grand! 20 years old with issues gee...

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1959 Gravely LI, 1963 Gravely L8, 1973 Gravely C12
1982 380SL
1978 450 SEL 6.9 euro restoration at 63% and climbing
1987 300 D
2005 CDI European Delivery
2006 CDI Handed down to daughter
2007 GL CDI. Wifes

Lets see... I have a 64 bug and a 79 240D, which gets much goes much further on a gallon of fuel, is about a bizzilion times safer, and more comfy, its a no brainer there.

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1985 Euro 240D 5 spd 140K
1979 240D 5 spd, 40K on engine rebuild
1994 Dodge/Cummins, 5 spd, 121K
1964 Allice Chalmers D15 tractor
2014 Kubota L3800 tractor
1964 VW bug

"Lifes too short to drive a boring car"

I like old bugs, I owned one in college and I'll probably buy a convertible to play around with at some point. However, I would not recommend one as a daily driver if you need to travel any distance. They are very cool toys, but from a safety , reliability, comfort, performance point of view they are really no match for an old benz.

Either one will eat your lunch if it not in decent condition to begin with. Find a good shop to check it out before you buy it.

Can or could the 73 vw type1 be reliable for a daily yes. Can you have ac and heat yes. vw super bettles had irs and ifs if your worried about the suspension. Would i choose the bug as a daily over the MB probably not. Much like your beloved MB diesels are miss understood( loud, smelly and slow ), so is the aircooled VW. If people would of actually maintaned the proper tolerances on the engines than most of the public wouldnt have the miss conception that the VWs are unreliable. Instead the general public would jump in there cute new aircooled cars and try and drive them without doing the routine maintenance. before long there cars would die and of course they would be considered junk and unreliable. Another more recent problem with the aircooled VW scene, last 20 years or so atleast, is the flooding of the market of inferior parts (taiwon, brazil, where ever else labors a few cents an hour).

Once again if I had the choice between a VW bug or a MB 300CD as a daily I would not hesitate with choosing the MB. As long as the MB wasn't about to become a money pit.

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For everything I've ever done there has always been a first time.

66 MB 200d
65 VW T2 Deluxe
76 VW T2 Westfalia

Simple choice:

The MB is a real car, with proper doors, proper features, decent power, and has everything you would expect from a proper car. Even in the early 80's they actualy have some decent crash safety features, throw in the decent mass your average W123 has and its a decently safe car.

The VW is not a real car, its a Nazi's scheme dreamed up to torture and kill there peasents. They who created them never actualy wanted them, they drove MB's insted. I hate VW's, I don't get what people see in these things.

120 miles a day in a Bug? I'd rather ride a bike.

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1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200