The missus is due the 8th of June and I've become convinced she needs a wagon. I don’t like mini vans and am not an SUV kinda guy.

She has a 95 Dodge Stratus right now and has said several times that she wants a safer car. She says the Stratus is too "plastic" and that whenever she sees a smashed up car, it looks like hers.

I agree with her and am looking at mid 90’s Volvo and Mercedes wagons. We don’t have a ton of cash right now and can’t handle a loan payment but the income tax refund will get us something in the $5000 range. Trade in on the Stratus is about $1700 if we are lucky.

I’m leaning towards the 740 and 850 wagons right now ‘cause the Mercedes wagons have a lot of bells and whistles that just aren’t necessary. We both like the 240s but they don’t have air bags.

Thoughts and suggestions?

Michael

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Usta haves '69 250/8, '76 280C, 1971 250C 114.023, 1976 450SEL 116.033
Current have, 1983 300SD 126.120

Actually, I hadn't thought of them at all. Might look into it though. I do like the look of a mid sixties American wagon with Cragers (sp?).

I don't know what the milage on the Stratus is bit my 1971 250C gets 13MPG and the 1974 F250, lets just say it's not good.

According to
www.fueleconomy.gov
a 1993 Caprice wagon gets 16 city and 25 higway with the 350. Not too bad.

Michael

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Usta haves '69 250/8, '76 280C, 1971 250C 114.023, 1976 450SEL 116.033
Current have, 1983 300SD 126.120

Do a lot of reading on the volvos. Some really good, some really bad... I've had only good ones, fortunately! www.brickboard.com is a great place to start.

I hear good things about roadmasters, but they are so BIG!

k

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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 loved my MB wagon and my next "car" will like be a fast as hell new MB wagon.

I know it is a Ford, but the Taurus wagons are nice too.

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dtf
1994 E320 Wagon (Died @ 308,669 miles)
1995 E300 Diesel (228,000)
1999 E300 Turbodiesel ( died @ 255,000)
2006 Toyota Tundra SR5 AC 4X4 (115,000 miles) rusted frame - sold to chop shop
2011 Audi A4 Avant (165,000 miles) Seized engine - donated to Salvation Army
BMW 330 xi 6 speed manual (175,034 miles)
2014 E350 4Matic Wagon 128,000 miles
2018 Dodge Ram 21,000 miles

The Taurus just doesn't do it for me. Altho a '65 Falcon might.

We did test drive a 300TE 4-Matic, but with the electric seats, the very confusing radio and the expense of the AWD system we backed away from it. Liked the car, its just more gizmos than she wants.

We've driven a couple Volvos, including the V8 740 that was listed in cars for sale. That one was fast and fun but at the time, we didn't have the funds.

I have been lurking the brickboard for most of a year now and the same sorts of troubles that plague MB’s seem to also be a problem for Volvos.

She, like me drifts towards the clean lines and simplicity of older cars. She says she feels very safe in my ’71 250C. She also likes the open airy look of the 240’s.

Michael

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Usta haves '69 250/8, '76 280C, 1971 250C 114.023, 1976 450SEL 116.033
Current have, 1983 300SD 126.120

Either a 200 or 700 series Volvo wagon would be an excellent choice, and there are plenty of used examples to choose from up here in Western WA. I'll second the BrickBoard as a source of great info. They were invaluable back when I had my '88 740 wagon w/250k. One caveat to the Volvo though would be the awful fuel mileage. I don't think mine got much more than 22 mpg on a regular basis. The MB wagon is superior in nearly every way, but they're also much more sophisticated, with used parts harder to locate in the wrecking yards around here.

Are you handy and would you be able to keep up maintenance wise with a mid generation 124 wagon? The 4-matic sucks, but the normal ones rock with basically only the known 124 issues. Ours literally has no options on it (we had a CD changer installed). It's a great kidmobile.

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Michael

1988 300 SL (5 Speed)
1994 E320 Wagon
1997 C230

Had a 96' Camry wagon. Real nice car. Lots of power and driveability. Was a 6 so... little expensive on the repair side but mostly dependable.
http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/searchresults.jsp?advanced=y&certified=&isp=y&search=y&lang=&search_type=used&body_style=WAGON&start_year=1990&end_year=1999&max_mileage=&min_price=&max_price=&address=15235&distance=0&engine=&fuel=&drive=&transmission=&doors=&color=&make=TOYOTA&make2=&model=CAMRY&x=98&y=12

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-Marty

1986 300E 220,000 miles+ transmission impossible
(Now waiting under a bridge in order to become one)

Reading your M103 duty cycle:
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showpost.php?p=831799&postcount=13
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showpost.php?p=831807&postcount=14

I have owned several Volvo wagons. 240, 740, 760, 940. My 940 had air bags, so didn't my 740 and 240.

The best engine to have is the 4 cylinder engine. Don't even look at a 6 cylinder gas, and run from the diesel volvo.

Best investment you will ever make if you buy right. MB TD, TE, are great too, but like you said, many gadgets plus hydraulic rear suspension to maintain too.

You cant go wrong with either choice but you might need to spend more to maintain the MB.

BB

I bought a 91 volvo 740 Wagon with 210,000 miles about 4 months ago. I paid very very little money for the car, and although it was not the prettiest, but all the electrics work, including the A/C and the Cruise. The leather seats are in excellent shape and so is the headliner. It came with a telephone book full of receipts and a brand new set of tires. I bought this car as a commuter vehicle as I didnt want to put miles on my E420. Since then I have put almost 6000 miles on this car. Its not the fastest car on the planet and not the smoothest either, but it does a good job and being great reliable transport but dont expect it to be fast. I am a single guy with no family and I still find it excellent for hauling people, my bike and car parts for the old Mercedes Benz's that I love to spend my money on. I have put nothing into this car but a couple of oil changes and replacing the light lenses. The sbricks forum is a great place to go to when looking for one of these cars, you may get lucky and find an enthusiast that is selling. These cars are pretty cheap and plentiful, you should get plenty of bang for your $5,000 maybe a later model 940/960. If you decide to pull the trigger on a Volvo , then let me know and ill point you towards some parts sources.

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With best regards

Al

Thanks for the replys so far.

Heres a little background info for you.

I learned to drive in and later got my license in a 1969 Peugeot 504. My first car was a 1972 Renault 12 wagon. I've owned 3 Renault Caravelles. I've also owned a mid 80's 505STI. Anyone see a pattern here?

I've had 3 Mercedes, 3 Mustangs, a '76 Toyota Corolla SR5 Sport Coupe and several pickups. Oh yea, don't forget the 4CV. And the Land Rover Disco. And the Land Cruisers.

I'm very handy with things automotive. Rebuilt 4 or 5 engines. Owned Enumclaw Auto Electric, mobile automotive repair. Totally screwed up the auto tranny in my '65 Mustang. Earned a certificate in vocational automotive repair in high school and placed third in the Plymouth Troubleshooters program.

I looked on Autotrader.com for the GM wagons but not a one to be found within 150 miles of zip code 98198. More rare than the TE? Hard to believe.

The Camry looks good but she still equates it with "plastic" cars like hers.

Mata grew up in a country over-run with minimokes and trikes and where the speed limit is 60KPH.

How sturdy are the automatics in the Volvos? All of my Mercedes trannys have been bullet proof so far. The only manual she has driven was my 5.0 Mustang. I don't think shes ready for a baby and a 5 speed at the same time.

Michael







PS, for those trying to figure out the minimoke clue, she was born in Tonga.

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Usta haves '69 250/8, '76 280C, 1971 250C 114.023, 1976 450SEL 116.033
Current have, 1983 300SD 126.120

216000 miles and I have no problems with mine, I would hit the volvo forums and ask them. The engine and trannie on the non-turbo 740 is not silky like a Mercedes, personally I think the trannie in the Volvo changes gear too much and the car itself is underpowered. The Turbo model is supposed to have a lot more power but thought of as not as reliable. For 5k you may be able to find an W124 wagon. Or BMW 525i Wagon (E34 Style) both should do exactly what you want. I paid less then 2k for my Volvo wagon and think I got a fantastic deal.

FYI I have a 71 250CE back in England that I refuse to sell even though I have left the county.

Good luck with your purchase.

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With best regards

Al

The '82 Volvo 240 I had was bulletproof mechanically, however electrically....tons of gremlins there, most annoying was trying to avoid the bumps in the road cause it would knock the car out of OD. (electric OD) Rust killed mine but til then it was awesome, not at all fast but the manual made it useable. I once had 1100 lbs of concrete premix back there, and it drove basically the same as when it was empty. On snow, I had old michelin snows, in 3 inches and a heavy footy from a stop sign it would pull straight without a trace of sideways slip. Good car and I'm sure it would do you well.

Now a question of my own on the topic, I'm looking at a 85 300TD love the idea of a diesel, love the idea of the wagon as a familly hauler compared to an SUV or van, and it looks to be in great shape. But it says it needs injector work, which means it probably doesn't run, making it had to check things like transmission, engine and the rear hydro-pneumatic. The suspension is the biggie for me, a pump and two valves could ruin my day. Anyone give some advise on how to check these if I can't start this thing up?

Good luck on the wagon search, I've alway had a soft spot for them myself.

Mark

Yes you want a wagon, not for anything else except that the rear deck is good for changing babies and storing strollers.

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You don't need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows - Robert A. Zimmerman