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I have always heard you can run a Mercedes into the ground and it will still run, so I came across a 1990 300E class and was wondering if anyone had any information on these cars?

I did my research on Google, but just wondering if anyone had any qualms about buying a 20yr old car with 176k miles...

It's a Mercedez. It will still be around when you are 6ft under the ground.

I'm not a fan of the body style of the early 90's MB but they do run forever + an extra day.

Mercedes are like tanks...they will still exist after you do...but they will not run.

I used to work at a VW/AUDI/Merc only wrecking yard....

even at a wrecking yard, parts are going to cost you an arm and a leg, and they are terribly hard to work on. Parts are placed in the weirdest, malformed cavities of the car. I can not speak for new Mercs, but anything 1998 and back I have a pretty good grasp of. For example:

my main job there was to take a car, usually running, in good shape....and gang strip it. First out, the engine, tranny, and drive train. then, suspension, knuckles, shocks, etc. then the doors, some choice interior and fuel pump. On any given VW or Audi*, it would take me half a day. With ANY merc I ever stripped, it would be almost 2 days. I'm telling you man, the engines are built well, and the bodies are too, but everything else is always failing. And you have to pay your whole bag of jewels to fix it. and if you do it yourself, you are going to need a bottle of bourbon and a jar to keep your anger in.

*Audis actually ARE VWs...they just change the bodies a bit and make all the electrical more complicated and decide to you Torx +1 to put everything together just to piss you off.

A 20-yo car with 170+k miles? Are you paying real money?

Even a Benz has a lifetime, and that sounds like it's reached its end.

I'd suggest a 5-10-year-old Subaru. Or a Honda. Get either of those cars with <100k on the odometer, and you'll have another 50k+ miles use

JohnHwangDD wrote:A 20-yo car with 170+k miles? Are you paying real money?

Even a Benz has a lifetime, and that sounds like it's reached its end.

I'd suggest a 5-10-year-old Subaru. Or a Honda. Get either of those cars with <100k on the odometer, and you'll have another 50k+ miles use

good man. Subies are excellent cars. Even going back to late 80s you would be safe buying one. Or toyotas.

I've never used these so called "late model" warranty deals like Easycare . Any chance they would help with any repairs if it came to it?


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Would love to get a Subaru/Honda - but can't find one that is any less miles for the same money :(

Uriels_Flame wrote:I've never used these so called "late model" warranty deals . Any chance they would help with any repairs if it came to it?

Would love to get a Subaru/Honda - but can't find one that is any less miles for the same money :(

Third-party warranty on a non-certified car that's completely worthless? Not on your life.

Asking prices for 5-10 year-old Subarus with <100k miles within 100 miles of my home start around $12k on Auto Trader, with several Civics are below $5k.

If you don't have $5k for a car, then you're looking for disposable cars. Always have $500 to $1k in the bank, and when your current car dies, just buy another beater.

In the mean time, keep socking away a car payment of a few hundred each month, and you'll be able to buy one of those Hondas or Subies. If you're smoking and/or drinking and/or buying Warhammer, then those are also good sources of car money.

2 out of 3 ain't bad (I don't smoke)

I don't smoke, I only drink socially, and I spend $500 per year on Warhammer. This leaves me a fair amount of money that my wife then spends on other stuff.

BTW, if you're really serious about saving for a car, you might start eating more to ramen noodles and PB&J sandwiches.

Ah - just like college...

Exactly!

Ok - let's try a 98 Outback with 140k. Needs a head gasket, but I can buy for $1600.

What's the gasket repair cost?

Slightly less than a rebuilt engine.

When the head gasket goes, it's time to rebuild, as all of the other soft parts are going too, so you might as well rebuild.

Seriously, what are you driving now, and what's your budget?

Budget is $5k. Looking for wife car - but she does home health. She'll put 30k miles a yr easy.

Staying away from dealers and hopefully NADA/Carfax can lead the way to a deal.

30k miles/yr on a $5k car?

Honda Civic, with as few miles as possible.

Failing that, any Subie with a rebuilt engine will do quite well.

Look for private sellers on Autotrader.com, and you probably can do quite well.

Ok - newest find going to check tomorrow:

2000 Mitsubishi Galant - 77k miles = $3500.

Never owned or knew anyone who owned a Mitsubishi. Always considered Honda/Toyota/Nissan as top three Asian imports.


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I guess the Lancers are popular with racing, like Subs WRX but didn't know about the family sedan.

I agree the Mercedes are built like a tank and will last very long time. the one we have is older than me.

We had an accident before , our front bumper was sort of damaged , but the other car's whole front was compressed.

Uriels_Flame wrote:Ok - newest find going to check tomorrow:

2000 Mitsubishi Galant - 77k miles = $3500.

Never owned or knew anyone who owned a Mitsubishi. Always considered Honda/Toyota/Nissan as top three Asian imports.


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I guess the Lancers are popular with racing, like Subs WRX but didn't know about the family sedan.

nooooooooooo

Mitsubishis really bite.

Yep - that is confirmed. Looked like an older Taurus.

So still searching . . .

Uriels_Flame wrote:Never owned or knew anyone who owned a Mitsubishi.

Always considered Honda/Toyota/Nissan as top three Asian imports.

Mitsu is like Chrysler. Was Chrysler-affiliated. Not so good, tho the Lancer isn't bad.

From a long-term reliability standpoint, you look at Honda (engine), Toyota (body), & Subaru (general)

Nissan is OK, but their engines aren't great.

toyota engines are not bad either...ever wonder why you consistently see hondas and toyotas that are 20 + yrs old on the road?

but yeah, John is right, a lot of chryslers have mitsu engines, and they share some of the same platforms!


honda/acura or toyota/lexus (same companies) are the way to go, all the way...EXCELSIOOORR!!!

Well, I still went German, but not MB. Found an older ('99) Audi A4 and the wife was pretty happy. Also found there is an Audi/VW club here in town and they've been most helpful.

We'll see how things go.

good cars, learn how to work on them yourself, though. Little things go wrong a lot, but they are super easy to fix. If you learn to know that car inside and out, and you have a good group of people to help you find parts and such, you will be very happy...paying for even little audi repairs is 'spensive.

A4 is a good car - good choice.

I've got a 1992 mercedes, it's been around the clock.

Last parts i bought from main dealer cost me £16.85, for the gearbox 5th & reverse lever.

before that £7.95 for an indicator hardly expensive.

cool. I used to work in the auto industry as both a salesman (mazda) and in repairs and parts (VW, AUDI, Mercedes). They are expensive. One person's experiences with 2 a few parts on one model of car is hardly an argument for a car being cheap in repairs.

I drive a mazda ^^ it's a smooth ride.

The main car is an ML320, so I'm used to the "expensive" items...

I hate it when she drives that one. Putting 5k on my baby in two weeks almost drove me insane.

5,000 miles in 2 weeks? Holy crap.

But 30-40k miles per year? With that kind of mileage, you really should be budgeted for, and looking at off-lease Honda / Suby / Toyota compacts exclusively, with an eye to replacing them every 4-5 years.

Soladrin wrote:I drive a mazda ^^ it's a smooth ride.

what model?

I loves me some RX7s, Mazda 3 2.3s, MAZDASPEED Miatas, and the MAZDASPEED Protege.