What car fir a 16 year old?
 

Daughter just got license and is asking for a car.

My response to date has been NO!!!

Well, let's think - what if I bought her one -

My concerns are :
Safety
Reliability
Cost

One suggestion I was given - 190D
Safe, not fast, but rare - may be expensive.

safe and slow, but not rare. Depends which 190D. My 2.2 (4 cylinder) is very slow, but very reliable. relatively dependable. Great first car except VERY underpowered (0-60 mph in about 17 seconds as per factory spec). That's not good if she gets in a jam and needs to get out in a hurry, say, when that 18-wheeler is about to hit her. Car teaches you timing and patience. 2.2's were sold '84-'84.

The 5 cylinder 2.5 is, apparently as reliable but much faster. like having a 6 cyl. with a 4 cyl. fuel consumption. These are rare and I don't know much about'em. My190D is a daily (124 miles per day) driver and is as reliable as my 1996 mustang. I fully expect my 2 year old drive it in 14 years as his first car (I'm NOT kidding).
feel free to ask any other questions.

i agree that a very slow car can actually be unsafe -- i've avoided many an accident by hitting the gas, not the brake.

another thing to think about is the availability of diesel in your area -- does NJ have it at most pumps? if not, it might be safer to go with gasoline.

having said that, i would have killed for ANY mercedes when i was 16, so your daughter is pretty lucky just for having you consider buying her one...

I started both my kids in 123 diesels. They are difficult to tear up and very slow. The kids enjoyed that they were "driving a Mercedes."

My son started in a 240D manual transmission and my daughter in a 300D, which, of course, are all automatics.

Worked great for us.

Good luck,

I vote for the 123 body. Try to find a 240D manual shift. The biggest problem with the automatics was the off the line abilities. Once underway my 300D is fine. It just scares you to try to pull out in traffic. Handles very well. Ferocious four wheel disk brakes. Body like a Tiger tank. Should be fairly cheap to buy and own if you shop carefully. Biggest trick is to not expect to find it in a week.

I am w/ Larry on this one !!!:D

The 240D is a very reliable car and the OM616 engine will run & run & run w/ the right maintenance. Safety in this car shouldn't be too big of a concern for you. The 240D like all other Mercedes is a VERY safe vehicle.

Another bonus is that the car is pretty econmical on fuel costs. !!:cool:

What ever she can afford
 

I vote she get which ever car she can afford.....

Just kidding, I am sure i'll be first in line to buy my kid a car when the time comes. Our first is on schedule for a june arrival. I am thinking S55AMG :)

I have often thought that a standard is a good first car. I think it's important to know how to drive a stick, you never know when it will come in handy and I think it keeps the driver alert and involved.

I am not sure if I would get a Mercedes as a first car for my kid. With all the systems and potential problems I am not sure it would be worth the effort unless you are handy and a DIY. Kids seem to find a way to break stuff.

I don't want to make any enemies on this site, as without your help my 300e would still be sitting in my garage. Plus I enjoy the threads and personalities. But I find the jap cars bullet proof, easy to work on, easy to drive and if new enough very safe.

Maybe my 300e wasn't properly maintained prior to my purchase, even though I have the records from previous owner and he did all factory recommended work at dealer.

Just my 2 cents,
Joel

The 123 is much more rugged and reliable than the 124. I've driven them both, and that's my opinion and experience.

Good luck,

I bought an '88 300SEL for my 16 year old. Nice big luxury sedan with an underpowered (but not slow) motor. It has decent acceleration because they cranked up the rearend, but he's not going to want to race anybody. He actually picked the body style and I found the car. I've had it for about 3 months now and I've gotten very familiar with the M103 engine. There seem to be a LOT of people in this forum with that engine, so information is plentiful.

Driver airbag too.

When I was 16 I bought a '77 300D. It was slow, but bearable.

It never left me stranded and put up with a 35 miles of commuting to school every day loaded with 5 kids.

I could afford the maintenance and fuel bills too.

It wasn't the coolest car around, but I never got pulled over in it either. When a kid in the parking lot hit me from behind, his car had over $1000 in damage, mine had a scratch.

Now I'm on my 3rd Benz.

Hi Tivoliman

If my 16 year old daughter asked for a car it would have to be something like a 1:32 scale model - still they are pretty safe.

But then 17 is the legal age for driving in UK.
;)

thanks
 

Well actually I'm still holding back on buying any car, as I didn't get one one till I was in college.

I was interested to learn the popularity of desiels.

we will see...

comment the actual real license is at age 17.

Awww, c'mon Dad. How 'bout a nice CL600? Safe? Yep. Reliable? Absolutely! Cost? ..................Hey, it's your little girls first car!!! Good luck

A 190E 2.3L would also be a good choice -- decent milage, no severe maintenance problems I know of, and fairly common, also getting a bit long in the tooth now, so not too expensive.

My perfect idea of a first car for anyone except the occasional truely reliable kid is a junker that barely runs. That way, when they run that traffic light or go too fast on an icy road and spin out into a culvert, you won't hurt so bad since it was junk anyway. Ditto for driving with their foot to the floor with the oil pressure light on.......

Seriously, if she is a reliable kid, a 190E would be a good combination of reliability, safety, and economy.

Peter

First Car
 

I'm assembling a fleet of 123's for my three youngsters. I don't feel that the 300D's are slow off the line. the lower geering makes thim move out with some alacrity. My 126, on the other hand is s. l. o. w. off the line, but cruises close to 80 at less than 3500rpm as opposed to 65mph@3000rpm in the 123's.

I would also prefer that the kids learn in a manual trans. car, but they seem hard to come by these days.

...I ramble on. A diesel MB is the perfect first car. Reliable, Durable, Safe, Economical and the satisfaction of driving the best.

RBM

When I turned 16 I started with a w123 300td. I loved the car. Motor ran forever. One big plus was nobody wanted to tailgate because of all the fumes pouring out of the back. And it is very safe.

Chris

:D I have soooooooooo much trouble with tail gaters, I think I am gonna get a diesel, I never thought that way. But I must say (though I don't speak from experience) w123 is from what I have heard a very reliable car. And also there is ONE 240D with over a million miles on it in this world, which shows that these cars are reliable. I found out about that when I ordered that high mileage badge.
It also depends on your daughter. My first car (age 17, 1996) was a 1991 300E AMG, it was a beautiful car and I never let the rpm go over 2500RPM in any gear. I kept it clean and waxed all the time and tire polished etc etc, and I was the one who would remind my dad about when the oil changes etc were due. That car spoiled me so much that I tried 7 different cars after that and came back to an MB (420SEL)

Sohaib

A while back I purchased a 240D with under 120k miles that did not run. Somewhere on this site I documented the engine rebuild and getting the car back on the road. Anyway, I sold the car to my sister for my neice (16) to drive. Since getting the car in May of last year she has dented the front left fender slightly and one of the kids at school rear ended her pulling out of the parking lot. I sold the car to my sister for $2k and the rear end incident repair was quoted by a local, reputable body shop at $2700. Anyway, the kids father did not want the rear end incident to show up on the insurance so he is paying my sister the $2700 for the repair. Understand that the body shop quoted all new parts - heck the rear taillights were quoted at around $238/each and I have two good, used sets sitting on my shelf at the house. I should be able to get the trunk lid at the local pull a parts place pretty cheap. I have a couple friends that do body repair work and am thinking we will be able to get the car fixed and totally painted (it needs a paint job bad) for under $1500.

The point of all this is to get her something (I strongly recommend a W123) that is safe and it won't break your pocket book nor heart if and when it gets damaged.

first car
 

I always thought that a first car ever for a new driver should be a light one, lower sized engine for speed control and economy and also one which is used, not brand new due to the amount of damage it will be given in the very first year of use. If you want protection from serious damage, look for a W123, but it will cost quite a bit for body and structural repairs unless Dad is in the money then its ok. Otherwise look for a cheap Honda or Toyota or others in this category just for the initial "getting used to driving" period of say 12 months or more for others. This is the case here and the newly graduated high school students usually get a 10 year old car like a Laser, Corolla, Camry, Civic and trash it around until they are ready for a new or nearly new car they are confident of taking care of.

i am the 16 year old daughter
 

I just want to say thank you to everyone that replied to my dads post. i really hope that it worked but we will have to see wont we. i love him but he is cheap so i think i might not be getting one. i just want to say thanks again and if u have anymore tips that may convince him to get me a MB please send them every little bit helps.


The 16 year old daughter

hi i am the 16 year old daughter
 

I like waht you said to my dad i hope that it works. we will see.
The daughter

For the record, I wholeheartedly agree with the general concensus of the members of this forum who have recommended 123 diesels' as a great first car. I have several friends who have sent children out of state to attend college, and they've ALL found 123's for their kids. Peace of mind is important. With that said, a nice new CL600 would be a nice second choice!!!

My first car was a '62 Bug my dad bought me in '71. I drove it about 15k miles when the engine seized. My dad's a great guy, but not as a source of automotive technicalities - such as engine oil is a maintenance item. At the cost of an engine rebuild - cheap on the Bug - I began my self-education in automotive mechanics.

It probably isn't so important WHAT you get your kid as long as it comes with a dose of common sense education on care. Wouldn't hurt to maintain it yourself if she isn't so inclined.

Steve

I think you should start her driving asap under your supervision so she has practice.

Dont get me wrong, but I love my w123c, but If I had it to do over again, I would have gotten a w124 like my brothers. THey got their cars for 10k a few years ago. Mine was 1600 dollars, but I have close to 8 grand in it already, and I am about to do a tranny rebuild, steering rebuild, and engine rebuild just to be safe because my car has a lot of miles on it. I dont think I will ever sell it.

Good luck.

I bought my wife a 1978 280E for $1400 in Hawaii. It had over 200,000 miles by all estimates and it ran like a champ. I hated to sell it when I moved to California. It had get up and go and awesome brakes. Highly recommended.

yep, get her a 123 300d, good ole cars, cheap, dependable, safe if she gets in a wreck, taxes are cheap, insurance isnt too bad either, i have an 85 with 280k, i drive it 200 miles to work everyday,

When I was 16, the day after I got my driver's license, I got into my mother's 1976 280C door door sedan, and got broad-sided on the passanger side by a huge american sedan that almost cut my mom's car in half. Accident avoidance? No chance...never even saw the car that hit me.

The impact was so great that I got burns on my hands from the friction of my hands being ripped off the streering wheel. The passengers in the car that broad-sided me were carted off to hospital, and luckily survived. Their car looked like and accordian, which the engine basically in the front compartment.

Our insurance agent told my parents that he had seen 100s of wrecks and could not believe that I walked away from it without a scratch (burns not withstanding).

Buy a Merc. sedan.... think BIG.