Market analysis required. Jump in with your thoughts and agree or disagree.
The title says it folks.....From looking at ads the more luxurious 1984 300SD fetches only the same price and takes longer to sell than an equivalent yr and mileage 300D, TD even 240D. This defies logic.......
In addition it is easier to find a babied SD and yet the more tested 123 seems to enjoy market preference.
If anybody can answer this it is you smart experienced guys of this fine forum.

Less luxury/power features = less to break. Also many people prefer driving something smaller than a W116/W126

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1979 240D- 316K miles - VGT Turbo, Intercooler, Stick Shift, Many Other Mods - Daily Driver

1982 300SD - 232K miles - Wife's Daily Driver

1986 560SL - Wife's red speed machine

Good point but do not Americans love lots of luxury?? The Germans prefer spartan and had to luxurify (correct verb??) their entries for the US market. In the German market they sell their 123's without Power Steering. They like road feel. Their entertainment systems of the 80's and before were infra dig per the American standard. This is as I have seen it.

I have never owned an SD, but from what I've found out by talking to others that have and making comaprisons between both, it would seem as if the W123 has fewer problems and is less prone to constant little tinkerings to correct the issues that pop up continuously.

My guess is that most people looking for a used luxury car are not experienced DIYers and would prefer something much newer and less of a potential money-pit than a 25+ year-old W126. As for myself, I believe any older vehicle could be trouble-prone so I prefer to keep my old cars as simple as possible. And I think my 240D is just the right size.

Happy Motoring, Mark

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DrDKW

This is all good for me... I LIKE W126 cars... Keep 'em cheap!

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"I have no convictions ... I blow with the wind, and the prevailing wind happens to be from Vichy"

Current
Monika '74 450 SL
BrownHilda '79 280SL
FoxyCleopatra '99 Chevy Suburban
Scarlett 2014 Jeep Cherokee
Krystal 2004 Volvo S60
Gone
'74 Jeep CJ5
'97 Jeep ZJ Laredo
Rudolf ‘86 300SDL
Bruno '81 300SD
Fritzi '84 BMW
'92 Subaru
'96 Impala SS
'71 Buick GS conv
'67 GTO conv
'63 Corvair conv
'57 Nomad

So everyone so far agrees with the initial finding!!!!

Come on. There have to be some naysayers out there..............

well, I have both. I have driven both. I love my 126, but the 123's are much nimbler, have a better road feel, are simpler to maintain, and they seem to hold their condition better. no power seats to fail. no electronic speedometer to need replacemtent gears or loose signal etc. it's kind of like comparing a camaro to an impala. they both come with the same motor, they both have similar qualities, but the camaro has a following the impala is just large.

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John HAUL AWAY, OR CRUSHED CARS!!! HELP ME keep the cars out of the crusher! A/C Thread
"as I ride with my a/c on... I have fond memories of sweaty oily saturdays and spewing R12 into the air. THANKS for all you do!

My drivers:
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 560SL convertible
1987 190D 2.5-5SPEED!!!

1987 300TD
2005 Dodge Sprinter 2500 158"WB
1994GMC 2500 6.5Turbo truck... I had to put the ladder somewhere!

My personal guess is that it has more to do with the market - the people shopping for the luxury car in the first place are going to be more nit-picky... If I'm going to go to the trouble of buying an S-class, if I'm that sort of individual in the first place, then I'm going to keep shopping until I find the babied one that has every button working, no worn out paint, etc.

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~Michael S.~
Past cars:

1986 300SDL
1987 300SDL
1982 240D
1982 300SD


Current:

1987 300SDL

I think the W123 has more of a cult following.

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2016 Corvette Stingray 2LT
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

Yes, think Jim Jones.

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1987 300TD 309, xxx 2.8.2014 10,000 mile OCI


Be careful of the toes you step on today, as they may be connected to the ass you have to kiss tomorrow. anonymous

“Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don’t matter, and those who matter won’t mind.” Dr. Seuss

A 25 year old 123 with manual MBtex seats and interior may show no signs of wear. A 25 year old 126 has badly cracked (at best) leather seats and power adjustment that probably doesn't work. Easier to park a 123!

If I were buying new, I'd buy down to get the MBtex and avoid the leather. That's what I did 25 years ago and I'm still driving that 1983 123. Had I paid more and bought a 126, it would have been traded or sold a long time ago.

when you keep a 126 in shape though, it's a much nicer car than a 123.
you don't feel like a greek taxi driver in a 126.
it all depends on how you treat it/ how it was treated.

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'87 300D
'74 450 SE
'83 300SD
'98 BMW 323 coupe
'02 civic SI
'99 CBR 900RR

I drive both routinely.
The SD has a superior ride, yet inferior interior. As some have eluded to. It gets better mileage than my current CD, different rear end gear. But as my DD (70 mile round trip commute), I'll take the slower car, just over 29 mpg.

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83 SD

84 CD

Maybe it has nothing to do with the way these two cars age, could it be that there has always been more demand for the 123 just like when they were new? Sooner or later the supply is going to dwindle and the real nice clean ones are going to be hard to find. Who wants a low powered diesel smelling luxury car anyways?

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Currently driving a very clean 1985 300SD from the West Coast.