Decent Price for a 240D c/136k on it? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

TomJ · #1 12-24-2003, 02:03 AM

Have an opportunity to pick up a '79 240D with auto and 136k orig on it. Everything works, body and interior look great, orig paint. Daily driver, owner heading overseas.

Problem is, he wants $1900 (what I'd consider a good, no haggle price ) and I'm struggling to come up with the cash. Right now am just working on odd jobs, selling stuff on ebay, etc., barely paying bills. Girlfriend (who should probably be "future EX"...., just don't tell her or I'LL be just "ex") could care less about these kinds of things. Has a Tahoe with a 327 that has an on/off button for a throttle, would shoot one of these in a heartbeat for not making a 1/4mi in 6sec or less!

Could go out of state or overseas and make some good $'s again, but then it would defeat the purpose (as I've found many times in my life).

So..., for an auto 240D, is that a decent price, or just so-so?

Have a 4-sp tranny here that grimgaunt left for me, could probably slip that in with little effort? Orig tranny is in great shape, 136k orig miles, but it's an auto.

Damn why does all this stuff come up when I can't afford it!!

jseries · #2 12-24-2003, 04:02 AM

A big factor for me buying a car would be where the car spent it's life and where it presently is. If it was a from a non-road salt state or if it's from the rust belt. If it's from a rust belt state there is no way I'd pay near 2 grand for any 25 year old 240D even with a stick trans and whatever low miles.

billrok · #3 12-24-2003, 07:25 AM

It's a generally known axiom of life: The finest diesel Benz will come along just when you can least afford it. It happens all the time.

leathermang · #4 12-24-2003, 11:55 AM

The car is not the problem... you have the wrong girlfriend..... if you get this car she will never let you forget any problems you have to fix on it.. and it will never be fast enough....
Get a slower sootier girlfriend....

TomJ · #5 12-24-2003, 12:08 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by leathermang
The car is not the problem... you have the wrong girlfriend.....

Probably, but she pays all the bills right now, so she's the "right" girlfriend for the time being I guess ;-)

Never had a problem finding female companionship, but with the tough economy I've gotten pickier, now she's gotta have $'s if she wants me!!

Quote:

Originally posted by leathermang
......Get a slower sootier girlfriend....

Hah, that's harder than finding the rich ones! Slower is better in my book (in all ways), but sootier? Yeah, I guess that could be kind of kinky on some level.

leathermang · #6 12-24-2003, 01:03 PM

Maybe you could get it and park it at some neighbor's house ? Just to keep from upsetting her.... She sounds pretty nice other than her attitude about slow MB's ..... of course you are pushing the boundary of extremes considering an AUTOMATIC 240d... LOL

TomJ · #7 12-24-2003, 03:12 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by leathermang
..... of course you are pushing the boundary of extremes considering an AUTOMATIC 240d... LOL

Well, that's why I'm working on a system that would add a small belt drive booster to the rear wheels, driven off two Cox 049 engines. Should double the rear wheel HP.

leathermang · #8 12-24-2003, 03:16 PM

You are overengineering it .. you only need ONE to double it ... LOL

TomJ · #9 12-24-2003, 03:21 PM

Ahh, but remember, were shooting for a 1/4 mile in under 6!

leathermang · #10 12-24-2003, 03:39 PM

My manual shift 240 will already do the 1/4 in under 6 minutes....

TomJ · #11 12-24-2003, 04:02 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by leathermang
My manual shift 240 will already do the 1/4 in under 6 minutes....

Really? Did you turbo it? Blower? Briggs & stratton in trunk? What's your secret? Last one I saw at the track was lapped by a 78 y/o granny with a walker. But it was a FAST walker. The kind with teflon sliders at the back!

leathermang · #12 12-24-2003, 04:42 PM

My left leg is real strong....

Plantman · #13 12-24-2003, 07:48 PM

There is a very small crowd of people like us that are interested in these old smokey,reliable,noisy german things.

Perhaps you could strike a deal whereby you give the guy 500.00 now, to hold the car for you for a month or so, and then give him the balance at that time, if your $$$ position permits it.

I've done it a couple of times before with good results.

My .02 cents

Have a great holiday.

TomJ · #14 12-24-2003, 11:57 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Plantman
There is a very small crowd of people like us that are interested in these old smokey,reliable,noisy german things.

Perhaps you could strike a deal whereby you give the guy 500.00 now, to hold the car for you for a month or so, and then give him the balance at that time, if your $$$ position permits it.

I've done it a couple of times before with good results.

My .02 cents

Have a great holiday.

I would consider that, but my finances are iffy at best and committing to anything is risky. I don't like to commit if I can't fulfill. During the summer, I can teach classes and set up one on one instruction, during the winter, I'm screwed. Also, this year hit hard with more than half the teaching staff deployed, couldn't run enough classes to make squat.

Maybe I'll propose something like that to the guy, go sell some gold, bodily fluids, etc. to come up with it if I have to.