How Safe? - Benzworld.org - Mercedes-Benz Discussion Forum

Woofy · 10-21-2007, 03:18 PM

Could anyone tell me how safe a 1984 Mercedes 300TD 4 door Sedan is? I am looking for something good for a new driver, and this is Biodiesel, which is awesome. Thanks!

alexnatt · 10-22-2007, 12:21 PM

That's a very hard question to answer. They were certainly built very safe for their era, with lots of structural steel. No airbags however, and if i'm right, no ABS. Having said that, in my completely unscientific opinion, I think its a good choice for a new driver.

79Mercy · 10-22-2007, 04:54 PM

It certainly not a hard question to answer.

They are still one of the safest cars in my opinion. They don't have air bags, he** air bags have already killed a bunch of people.

All you have to do is drive one and you'll it drive like a tank, it is almost 4 tons of solid steel. I have had mine since 1991 and still runs great.

B-McD · 10-22-2007, 05:28 PM

Even if it doesn't have ABS or airbags, the safety cell and crumple zone design is still one of the best built. So if your budget only allows for this merc or other smaller cars from America, Asia or Europe of the same era that also don't have great safety features, go for the merc.
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g.w.b · 10-22-2007, 05:48 PM

Yes In my books the 116 and 123 are still the best
Thy don’t build them like this anymore !

alexnatt · 10-22-2007, 07:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 79Mercy

It certainly not a hard question to answer.

They are still one of the safest cars in my opinion. They don't have air bags, he** air bags have already killed a bunch of people.

All you have to do is drive one and you'll it drive like a tank, it is almost 4 tons of solid steel. I have had mine since 1991 and still runs great.

4 tons of solid steel would make your car weigh 8000 lbs. I think the curb weight of a 300d is closer to 3000.

Woofy · 10-22-2007, 09:34 PM

Thank you all for your replies! The choices are actually the 300TD, which gets approximately 20 mpg and runs off of Biodiesel or Diesel, fits 5 people in it, or a few dogs, depending on whether or not they need to be crated, OR a massive 1989 Jeep Grand Cherokee (they don't make those anymore), which gets 10 mpg and runs off normal unleaded gas. I prefer the eco-friendliness of the Mercedes, but the Jeep might be safer in some crash instances. It's size makes it much harder to handle, though, encouraging more crashes in a new driver. That being said, I am leaning towards the Mercedes, due to the eco-friendliness (even if we are not using the Biofuel, it gets far better gas mileage), and because it was kept up much nicer than the Jeep. Also I hear Mercedes were built to last, and AMC (Jeep) is not necessarily the same case. Thank you very much for your information!

alexnatt · 10-23-2007, 07:21 AM

OK, context makes this an easy choice. The cherokee is certainly not as safe as the benz. suv's are notorious for rollover and while the benz has side impact protection, the jeep does not.

123Guy · 10-23-2007, 10:59 AM

Buy the 300DT, the later air bag versions of the MB line are not as strongly built as the 116, 126 and 123's. When you're driving the TD, you are the predator, not the prey. As for the early jeeps, they are junky compared to the MB's and that TD will be on the road long after an 89 jeep is in the junk yard - or in the side yard up on four cinder blocks.

Woofy · 10-23-2007, 05:55 PM

Thanks! I appreciate your replies! We are now trying to figure out the logistics of everything to buy the Mercedes. The BioDiesel was really my #1 interest in the car at first, and it sounds like a great car to boot!