If you were going to purchase a used gasser for around $3500, which would it be?

Assume it needs to be a reliable daily driver, and that it has to sit out on the street at night... It will be driven by the wife, so I'd rather it has airbags and/or good safety rating... and reasonably good gas mileage. ugh, gas...

Year, make, model, issues you'd like to see already fixed, etc....

I'm currently considering choosing from between a volvo 240 series 4 cyl non turbo preferably '93 Classic badged wagon or '86 or newer as long as the wiring harness and timing belt has been done.

OR maybe a mid to late 90s honda accord EX with 5 speed... I don't know the MB gassers at all... and I don't fit comfortably in a w124 sadly...

What's your call? Most cars in that low price range are going to have their share of issues I know, but I'm trying to identify a few options to broaden the search

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Cannondale ST600 XL
Redline Monocog 29er
2011 Mini Cooper Clubman
2005 Honda Element EX

www.djugurba.com
www.waldenwellness.com

I'd get a used Buick LeSabre, although I'm not sure how the side-impact safety ratings are. It's got a super-reliable 3800 Series II engine, a rock-solid transmission, and gets pretty good gas mileage for a 3.8L V6. If we didn't have the Ram on the other side of our garage, we'd probably have one of these.

I would go for the Volvo 240............had a 92 ...still regret the day I sold it...

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1984 300D Turbo 290,000 Miles
1999 Volvo V70 GLT

I suggest you look at the 940 series Volvo. Some Volvo folks claim it was Volvo's best. More modern than the 240, but reliable and comfortable. Avoid the early 90's 960 6 cylinder, it has engine problems.
If you are considering a Volvo, I suggest you hang around brickboard.com. Lots of help there.
regards,
Mark

You guys will laugh at me, but used Saturns go cheap, are reliable and not too expensive to maintain, have good safety features, and the plastic door panels will save you a lot of heartache over door dings. I sold a nice coupe a year ago in really nice cosmetic and mechanical shape, 2000 SC2 with 70k miles, one owner for its life (me) for $4900... I was scalped but there's a college girl somewhere driving a nice little car.

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http://webwench.net/albums/new83-300...1700.thumb.jpg
1983 300D-T
348,000 miles

Is the wife not enamored of your diesel obsession?

If it needs to sit on the street,then the Volvo 240 or 740 wagon would be appropriate. I also like the late '80's BMW 3 & 5 series cars, but I wouldn't overlook the 300E either. Why won't you "fit" in a W124? I actually find it much easier to get comfy in my '87 300TD than the '84 300D, though I am only 6'.

Gasolene is such a pedestrian fuel, do you really want to go back there?

I came across a link to this place in Lawrenceville just now on another forum, and it has a cars for sale section. One of the cars is a 1983 280SE (pics) for which they're asking $2750. "127,600 one owner miles since new, zero rust, working r12 A/C, European dual zone climate control, power sunroof, manual windows, m110 six cylinder motor, automatic transmission, Sansui stereo, factory correct European headlamps with in car height control, cloth interior, steel wheels with European hubcaps, various new fuel and suspension parts, needs minor cosmetics to be a stunning example. Original owner purchased the car new in Germany and imported it himself when new. A true one owner Euro-spec w126 with low mileage!" Could be nice to keep the whole family in Benzes

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http://webwench.net/albums/new83-300...1700.thumb.jpg
1983 300D-T
348,000 miles

thanks for the replies.

I've had good luck with the volvos in the past, and am a long time brickboard member- it's through there that I found this place... I'm 6'5'' which leads to a tight squeeze in some cars- the w124 I looked at was a bit snug... and I think it would have been uncomfortable on the long drive from atlanta to pittsburgh and back that I undertake a couple times yearly. my 300sdl was clearly the favorite for that drive!

The wife doesnt mind the diesel addiction, but she's facing the possibility of a new job with travel and she's concerned about reliability. I'd drive either of the wagons to california tomorrow, but then I'd bring tools, fluids, belts, filters, etc. with me and know what to do if something happened....

Funny, one of her uncles and his family was in pittsburgh over the holidays in their brand new minivan. he remarked that it was the first trip he'd taken since childhood without two boxes of tools in the vehicle as insurance... I'm not willing to give that up just yet... but I also don't want to have to drive to wherever the field assignment might be to screw down the primer pump either. she's good at lots of things, but mechanically inclined she is not. so, she'll get something basic and bulletproof. some lucky soul will get a rust free w123 turbo wagon, hopefully to dig into the biofuels.

I've still got a set of snow tires for the volvo sitting around... but, I did drive a mid nineties v-tech honda accord v6 coupe with a 5 speed, and it was pretty enjoyable. who knows?

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Cannondale ST600 XL
Redline Monocog 29er
2011 Mini Cooper Clubman
2005 Honda Element EX

www.djugurba.com
www.waldenwellness.com

I didn't really laugh, as I've heard the same about Saturns.
But I did cringe. I think they're about as ugly a car as they come I briefly considered them last year when shopping to replace our very undependable Chrysler Cirrus, but just couldn't get past that front end. The ugly Subie we did buy at least has a certain "cute" factor

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past MB rides:
'68 220D
'68 220D(another one)
'67 230
'84 SD
Current rides:
'06 Lexus RX330
'93 Ford F-250
'96 Corvette
'99 Polaris 700 RMK sled
2011 Polaris Assault
'86 Yamaha TT350(good 'ol thumper)