The insurance company is going to total my car. It did it's job well and protected my family.

Now I will be looking for a new set of wheels. Since my only MB experience was with a W124 diesel, it may be time to expand my horizons. Much to my childrens disappointment, I'm thinking about an early to mid 80s W123 Turbo diesel or even (perish the thought) a wagon, diesel or gas.

I'm going in for surgery tomorrow, unrelated to the accident, so I won't be ready to purchase for the next two weeks or so.

I'd like to ask my friends and members of this group to keep their eyes open for a car that they'd feel comfortable putting their family in. Of course I want a car that is perfect in every way. But when I venture out of Fantasy Land into reality, I'm more into fuction than style. A car that's mechanically sound is better than one with no wear on the seats. After all, I can always buy seat covers.

I've been looking at Ebay, but like I said, I won't be ready for about two weeks or so.

I have a little vacation time I haven't used yet. Depending on the airline situation, I am willing to fly and pick up somebodys gem.

Thanks again for the kind comments and thoughts.

--Craig

I would highly reccommend driving a good 81 to 85
300 SD with preium tires on it before you buy another MB.....
William Rogers.....

i second william's opinion. My 83 300SD was boughten for 2gs, and i have about 1500 in it. The car is mechanically beutifull and i even have newer model seats in it. I love the car. YOu should be able to get a good used one for about 4grand, if not alot lower. Great cars!
Ryan

Craig:

Haven't got a car for you to look at, but the following models are very nice, and run forever if taken car of:

W123, 79-86 sedans and wagon. Watch for rust on the wagon. These are getting a bit long in the tooth, but are still fine if you can find one with low milage and no rust.

W124 86-92 sedans and wagon. Wagon gets lousy milage (20 mpg on the highway) due to 3.72 rear end gears, sedans much better. Diesels you know about, except that only the '87 had the six, the rest are five cylinders. Nice cars, but don't have the acceleration. Very nice performace from the gas engines (much like the 87 300DT)

W126, 82-88? short (SD) and long (SDL) versions. The difference is in the rear door -- they are identical except for the 6" stretch between the front and rear seat. Lovely cars, generally underappreciated now, but often in excellent shape and at reasonable prices, if you don't mind an older car. Diesel, 5 or 6 cylinder (the one in your 300D) depending upon year, all are excellent, or choice of V8s. If you buy a 420 get thee hence to a mechanic AT ONCE and get the timing chain checked! The only bad point to these, as it is very expensive to repair when they break. Simple check every other oil change, and replace the chain if it gets stretched, and they run forever. The 500 and 560 are nice too, but eat gas. Do not buy a 350 SD or SDL -- the motor is a bored out version of the 300 and the bottom end isn't strong enough for the horsepower -- almost always bends the rods before 100,000 miles.

W140, short and long versions. Very nice car, kinda pricey.

Skip the 190s, by and large, too many reliablity problems, although some people love them. Kinda chintzy compared to a 300.

And look into having a frame shop fix your 87 -- get the insurance company to pay off if you can get it fixed for a decent price -- there are several threads on this (don't remember which ones, try a search) -- there are shops with European frame equipment that can work wonders.

Good luck! Once you've driven a Benz......!

Peter

__________________
1972 220D ?? miles
1988 300E 200,012
1987 300D Turbo killed 9/25/07, 275,000 miles
1985 Volvo 740 GLE Turobodiesel 218,000
1972 280 SE 4.5 165, 000 - It runs!