another big winner on BAT
 

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1983-mercedes-benz-240d-4/

pretty nice 240D, I must say...but I’m sure some here will beg to differ. I thought only the wagons were bringing the big money LOL

It’s not a bad one, but it’s nothing compared to the super clean ones that have sold in the last year for half this. Interesting.

Part of the appeal might have been the authenticity of the claimed lower overall milage. I guess value has to be in the eye of the beholder.


The time may be approaching where good original examples of 123s bring decent dollars as well. There will not be a great number of them out there. Yet there will be many claiming to be.

I like it but not $17K worth.....

My 82 looks better, cleaner, at 117k (interior and undercarriage) but since mine had an accident/repair in 90s it is limited. half this price would make me do a backflip.

The bat purchase price isn't set in stone... When the buyer comes and picks the car up is when the real haggling begins.

That price makes absolutely no sense to me...

I could get the exact car woth 50k more miles for 3 grand... And the engine and system would run exactly the same

That is not how BAT works. The sale is final, no further negotiations are possible. If buyer flakes on sale he/she is charged a percentage penalty on the credit card BAT has on file - and they are banned from BAT. If the car turns out to be not as described in the listing, BAT can/might cancel the sale. But the buyer cannot haggle on the price when they go scoop the car. It’s your responsibility to evaluate the car in full before you bid.

Buying with basically a no recourse system. Without a really serious inspection can be a real problem for the buyer.

I fear that far too many people get too emotionally involved and will not remove their rose colored glasses. Hype is another factor that people make illogical choices on. Without people making poor choices in the majority the economy would probably fold.

As for the buyers. To some 17K is a lot of money. At the same time in todays fragmented income stream differentials. More prevalent than ever in north America today. It is just little more than pocket change to some.

This income stream disparity makes it hard sometimes to offer opinions on our site. At least for me as I have no ideal of the posters financial situation.

It does matter as the poster could be a young guy or even an older one financially struggling. Just getting by or even relatively wealthy.

A persons actual financial circumstances change their perspectives in many ways. It is actually a very strong component in how we visualize many things as individuals. Even our attitudes.

I have observed that when the stock market shows signs of perhaps upcoming stress. Some money is parked in old cars for a time. More in fact than on average as investors will hold some cars normally as a hopeful hedge.

As a temporary haven only in many cases. In a way the speculative nature of the old car business rather than just as a hobby. Plus other factors have actually priced many out of the old car hobby. Sad but it is what it is. To me there is a chance than stock market investors are once again entering the old car market again.