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If you had $3000 to spend.....
Basic question here.
If you had somewhere around $3000 to spend, what year and model of MB would you look at prospectively for a daily driver for both reliability and reasonable repair costs? What would be the best bet for the money? Thanks in advance, guys. |
W123 300D turbo
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Repair costs depends on how much you incur from the previous owner's lack of care. At your price range, most MBs need a few grand to get up to snuff mechanically initially, then its mostly minor repairs and maintenance. Cars that are maintained properly usually demand more coin, or have higher miles. |
W126 or W124....whichever can be found in the best initial shape.
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I just got a W124, It's great. I've seen a bunch for under $3k, look on craigslist.
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I forgot W126. A 300SD/SEL is one to consider. |
Around here you can get my car for 4K (or less), well not MY car, but the same year (and color...) It's a pretty good car for that price.
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I doubt you could get, and make nice an SD or SDL for that price. (By make nice I mean have all the features working, suspension working, all fluids up to date, air con blowing cold, seats not sagging all over the place, etc)
I would start with a car with a lower MSRP. -J |
Here's Why I Ask....
I'm looking for a ranking of sorts of which models are the most durable and low cost in maintenance if initial condition at the time of purchase is equal. I've had a 300E in the past and was happy with it- probably averaged $200 month in repairs over the three years I owned it and that included the $2500 A/C rebuild- but I'm trying to do my research before buying again. I understand if I'm looking for cheap trans, I can stick with my Celica, but that's not my question. I'm looking for which MB you'd buy for reliability and lower maintenance for a lower purchase price.
So far I'm hearing another 124 or a mid-80's SD? Is that correct? Any thoughts on an older 240D? Thanks in advance for the education. |
There is really very little out there, as the majority of Mercedes that you can buy for that price will require very soon if not immediately at least another $2000 in repairs. $3000 is in many ways the price for a Mercedes "parts car."
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Well if you are happy with 200 per month in repairs then definitely don't get a 98 C230. You won't be able to spend nearly that much.
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A big question would be... how many miles do you plan on adding per month, year and what area of the country do you live in?
I just found a 190 E with 90,000 in perfect condition and way under $3,000.00. And here in Arizona the boodies are perfect...no rust! |
My first MB was a 190E, and it was fairly simple and troublefree. But, there is a tradeoff in the technology: keeping the engine & tranny running just right required more frequent attention bosch k-jetronic (or whatever it was called), control pressure cables for the tranny etc. On the newer models, with less mechanical/analog and more digital, they're more set & forget until a component breaks. When it does break it can be a lot more expensive to replace.
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Here is the car I have for sale, it a good car I wish I could keep it!
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showthread.php?t=267023 SOLD!! |
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Just maintain it. |
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