W123's have got me messed up now

[engatwork]

I have been driving a W123 (300D or TD) as a daily driver now for a couple years and the wife has been on me about wanting to purchase a new minivan. The problem is that EVERYTHING we have taken a look at just turns me OFF big time due to the cheap plastic and, in my opinion, very low quality construction and we are talking about $20,000+ vehicles. I look at these things and can't help but wonder what a pos they will be like in 5 years after hauling two active boys around, especially the interiors. We test drove a VW Eurovan this past weekend and although I like the idea of being able to use it when we go to drag races, etc.. some of the interior plastic pieces were already broken and it has not even sold yet.

I blame it all on the 300D/TD's for "skewing" my perception . We are going to test drive a Sprinter passenger van this Friday for conversion to a "weekend" (mini RV) type of vehicle. I'm optimistic that I will be more impressed with the interior build quality of it versus the Honda/Mazda/VW vans, we'll see.

Overengineered, and overbuilt, of materials better than they had to be, by people who cared about their work. The last of their kind...a "permanent car" of a type last seen only in the '20s and '30s at the top end of the market. And right now they're cheap to buy and keep up...much like classic Packards were in the '50s (my friends who bought such back then because they couldn't afford a new Chevy...and kept them...are quite happy today).

The world is filling up with junk FAST...unfortunately it's not "old" junk, but the new junk of indifferent quality that's fresh in the stores.

Either keep a computer-free, robust, rational W123, or get something that will be a chronic pest in five years, and never give you any more satisfaction of ownership than a toaster.

[BenzOnline]

the w126 had done that to me also!