The C class cars, especially the four cylinders, have proven to be extraordinarily reliable cars.

The early C280s have the typical M104 problems with oil leaking at the head gasket.

I like the 123 as a beginner car. Son started out in a VW Jetta, nice car, but they fold up too easy. Daughter started out in '83 300D I got cheap. She did well and the Pickup truck she hit had more damage than her. Car is still on the road (and still dented). Simple engine, simple maintenance. Just do the normal stuff and fix things as they break. 300SD or SDL are similar but maintenance is higher.

Autozen:

The other two? I believe there are numerous Norse Gods. The two most popular other than Thor are probably Loki, who is usually associated with mischief and made popular by that Jim Carrey movie "The Mask", and Odin, who is considered the father of all the Norse gods.

Sorry to hijack the thread, now back to deciding on the right car for rjk's son...

I grew up on a 1977 240D. I helped my dad rebuild the engine at 110k (MB dealer screwed it up). Car was stolen Jan 25. 1991. If it would not have been stolen I would still have it and I'm 38 now. I loved that car. Man I think I'm going to cry. Excuse me, I need to be alone right now.

C220
I dont think slow = safe, and I do think E320/300E are fast cars even without the kickdown switch.
All W202/123/124/126/140 can give you the "heavy" feel esp those made b4 1993, they got heavy steering wheel
just my 0.02

I will choose W202 C220, C230, C230 Kompressor, or W201 190E. :D

You have received many suggestions on what you should buy him...my bicycle recommendation still tops my list. But what seems missing is a suggestion that might inure some sense of responsibility to him. Therefore, I amend my earlier suggestion to this: Let HIM buy anything HE is willing to pay for and insure. Let him maintain the car and learn what he needs to know by doing the work and paying for it himself.

230/8

Many years gone by...
At age 16, all my friends Dads got them their first car...So, my turn came ..
" Dad, can I get a car now ???"
Sure ..
"What kind should I get ?"
What ever you think you can afford ..

Best advise I ever got...

Dirtysocks,
I believe the three main Norse Gods are: Thor, Odin, and Frey. Darn, now I will have to do some research. Isn't this fun having a thread within a thread. I think we are being ignored.

Peter

I don't know about you, but any god, who's main tool is a hammer, is my kinda guy. Thor rocks!
As to the kid buying hteir own car, that just doesn't work for us. Kids go to private school and getting them there is a big problem. Having them drive themselves there and other places outweighed benefits of them buying their own car. Fuel and insurance are addressed on an individual basis. I heard ofone family whre dad agreed to buy the gas if kids agreed to buy the tires! Of course in a 240D, not really a big issue.

I think Larry's advice is the soundest (123 diesel) ---great cars for the money and reliable.

So true, especially here in Atlanta. You better keep up or you'll be a statistic. I vote for any model with an M119.

My first car was a E24 733i BMW. Great inline 6.

I think by slow, they mean accelleration wise.

acceleration is very important for safety where I live. I have to merge through a 50 degree turn into 70 mph traffic at least 4 times a day. A lot easier and safer with a 300e.



thread within the thread:
I personally find Norse mythology to be quite fascinating, a lot more interesting than much of the Middle-Eastern based mythology (not to take anything away from their worth).

Same here. When I turned 16, my parents matched me dollar for dollar to find what I wanted. I bought a '91 Olds Cutlass Calais and loved every minute of it, until her life was savagely taken by a red light runner 5 months after I got my license. I bought my consecutive 2 cars myself, and at age 19 bought (by myself) my Saturn VUE.
I look at it this way... offer some assistance for the first car, and let them work for the next ones after that. I feel that I respect my vehicles much more than many of my peers because of the fact I work so hard for them. It was a large leap of faith in my parents in letting their son finance $24K for a car at age 19, but now, at age 22 - my vehicle is paid off fully and happily churning along with 46K miles on it. If anything, I showed my parents what I am capable of, as well as bettered myself.
Now... only to get my damned 240D...argh.
~D.J.~