Would you buy this? Mercedes content

http://boston.craigslist.org/nos/ctd/3762061227.html

Or this? http://boston.craigslist.org/nos/cto/3761072659.html

The first one, no: A supposedly Euro car with its speedometer in miles? A PO has gone to the trouble of adding clear front signal lenses but he couldn't be bothered to at least try to clean the seats? And what the hell is up with his keywords? If there were any more warning buzzers with this vehicle I'd have to get earplugs.

The second one I would definitely look at.

Interesting points sir! Btw, there seems to be a glut of Mercedes like the second one up my way in Ma. I keep coming back to them, I may be sick or stupid but it happens nonetheless.

Definitely the Gray '92. First, it is a much better car to start. Not only does it have fuel injection, but it also has a leather (vinyl? pleather?) interior, an airbag and a much more powerful engine. Second, it is in much better condition, the interior and paint looks richer on the '92 and it comes with a new set of tires and brakes to boot. I really question the legitimacy of the '84s mileage. Presumably, the speedometer (and odometer) was converted from KPH to MPH at one point (for US use) and I'm concerned that a few miles may have been annulled in the process. 77,000 miles over 29 years translates to just over 2,600mi. a year and I have trouble believing that. Furthermore, the lot it is parked in looks a wee' bit sketchy to me.

With the $1,100 you save, you could easily do a manual swap if you really want 3 pedals.

No. Stick with BMW's.

Sine_Qua_Non wrote: No. Stick with BMW's.

Is there a reason I see many more 80's Merc's than I see 80's BMW's for sale? Are the Beemers in the junkyard? Are there more 80's Merc enthusiasts than 80's BMW fans?

ebonyandivory wrote:

Sine_Qua_Non wrote: No. Stick with BMW's.

Is there a reason I see many more 80's Merc's than I see 80's BMW's for sale? Are the Beemers in the junkyard?

Yep.

ebonyandivory wrote:

Sine_Qua_Non wrote: No. Stick with BMW's.

Is there a reason I see many more 80's Merc's than I see 80's BMW's for sale? Are the Beemers in the junkyard? Are there more 80's Merc enthusiasts than 80's BMW fans?

It's usually because a lot of people see a Benz for $2000 and think "hey, a cheap Mercedes." Then, they find out the hard way that a $2000 Benz can easily eat up another $2000 in parts VERY quickly.

BMWs are slightly more forgiving maintenance-wise and tend to be more desirable to enthusiasts. You don't see them for sale often because people hold on to the good ones. I looked for six months before I found my E46.

amg_rx7 wrote:

ebonyandivory wrote:

Sine_Qua_Non wrote: No. Stick with BMW's.

Is there a reason I see many more 80's Merc's than I see 80's BMW's for sale? Are the Beemers in the junkyard?

Yep.

Nope.

You tend to find a lot more 1.6 Miatas for sale than 1.8s. Hint: it isn't because the 1.6 is more desirable.

SlickDizzy wrote: You tend to find a lot more 1.6 Miatas for sale than 1.8s. Hint: it isn't because the 1.6 is more desirable.

No, it's because they sold twice as many NA 1.6s (90-93) as they did NA 1.8s (94-97). IIRC, you have to add in the 99-01 cars to get as many 1.8s as 1.6s. The 02-05 years were pretty small sales-wise as well, the end result being that something like 40% of the NA & NB Miatas sold in the US are 1.6s from the first three years.

How were the sales #s for BMW vs Mercedes in the 80s?

Yeah, I would definitely prefer a Beemer. Mercedes roll around in the corners like a ship on the ocean and have the steering to match. However, that 92' looks tempting. For small cars, I think BMW (3er, 5er) is the way to go for Luxo barges (S-Class), Mercedes is the way to go.

ebonyandivory wrote:

Sine_Qua_Non wrote: No. Stick with BMW's.

Is there a reason I see many more 80's Merc's than I see 80's BMW's for sale? Are the Beemers in the junkyard? Are there more 80's Merc enthusiasts than 80's BMW fans?

Nope, I think it's cuz the Bimmers are still on the road. All the ones that pop up for sale here have 200k plus miles...heck my buddy's '92 has almost 325k!

I would look at the second Mercedes.

If you want a BMW, I would not search craigslist so much ... go to one of the forums. www.bimmerforums.com is one of them.

J

A NON Mercedes dealer near me has/had? a 240D of nearly the same vintage as that red car for sale last week at the same price....this week they have lowered the price to UNDER $2K. I don't know the exact horsepower rating of a 200, but have to expect it is down near that of the 240D....in other words, double digits.

In my area (northeastern Fl.) "vintage" BMWs, and even not so vintage NON 3 series BMWs are hard to find....they SEEM to be out numbered by vintage and not so vintage M-Bs. I suspect M-Bs are bought at a higher price point and therefore are worth a bit more for a bit longer than a similar year BMW. A situation sort of like Toyota versus Nissan.

Bit of trivia: in Germany, the price paid for a share of M-B stock? just under 40 Euros

price paid for a share of BMW stock? just under 80 Euros.

Strangely(?), price paid for a share of VW stock? around 140 Euros.

THe W201 2.6 is a GREAT car. My wife's is north of 260K, we bought it with about 190K.

The car is quicker than I would have imagined, to the point that I've actively searched for a 190E 2.6 with a manual trans. It feels SOLID. People that ride in the car comment how composed, quiet, and comfortable it is.

The engine bay is a bit cramped though. The engine is LONG.

Stealthtercel wrote: The first one, no: A supposedly Euro car with its speedometer in miles?

Back in the 1980s when they were importing grey market cars, part of the Federalization process included putting in a US spec speedometer.

I'd go for the first one, it has a clutch.

Don't think the 200e was ever imported, it has cloth seats so it is almost definitely a euro car. Looks like it has a carbed inline 4 engine, looks dirty and is probably slow. My car has a speedo in miles, that doesn't mean anything as stuart in mn says.

I don't know much about 190e just the old ones.

Good luck.

190e because I think finding pats for the other one will be a pain. I personally like Mercedes Benz over BMW but no one accused me of being normal.

Of coarse Jag is better then either cause England> German.

The second one has roughly the same reliability and service life as a B-52.

stuart in mn wrote:

Stealthtercel wrote: The first one, no: A supposedly Euro car with its speedometer in miles?

Back in the 1980s when they were importing grey market cars, part of the Federalization process included putting in a US spec speedometer. I'd go for the first one, it has a clutch.

What he said. Though if the 190 was a stick that might change my mind.