[bidzar]

Hi there,

I have been thinking more and more about buying a Mercedes SL and I am hoping against hope that one of your members may be able to advise me...given that I know zip-nothing-nada about cars.

http://www.craigslist.org/eby/car/68751083.html
http://www.craigslist.org/pen/car/68851487.html
http://www.craigslist.org/nby/car/68828200.html
http://www.craigslist.org/eby/car/68875315.html
http://www.craigslist.org/sfc/car/68847432.html
http://www.craigslist.org/pen/car/68729338.html
http://www.craigslist.org/eby/car/68641021.html
http://www.craigslist.org/pen/car/68630081.html

Should I plan on having this as a second car only? I drive 8 freeway miles to work each way every day...and there may be some occasional longer day trips up to 50 freeway miles each way. What do you reckon?

The prices range all over the place...from 1900 to 13800...seems to be mostly related to mileage. Would you agree? I would like to keep this purchase in/around/under 5k if at all possible. If you were me (w/o the car maintenance experience) which of these options - if any - would you go for?

Thanks so much in advance for any advice you can offer to an inexperienced older car buyer and mercedes novice!
Biddy

 

[jhodg5ck]

5K is going to buy you a car in need of at Least a few K worth of work. You'll either have to go very high mileage w/ shoddy background or overall very poor condition.

If you double what you want to spend initially you'll save yourself a small fortune over time.

Wouldn't take the 1st one, chrome wheel moldings. I walk away from any car I see w/ them installed. No mention of timing chain AND it Will need to have it's heads done very, very soon..if not now.

2nd car, again, it will need heads at that mileage. No mention of when the chain was done last...inspection is one thing, but it Pays to know when it was done. BTW, US 380's are painfully slow..

3rd car is an SD..

4th car, again w/ the chrome wheel well bits..Ugh.... very little info to go on.

5th car looks to be nice, but again, I need more info.

the 6th car's price is way out of line.. Zebra rear cushions...?!?! and again w/ the moldings..what gives w/ these people?

The SLC's are VERY prone to rust, rebuilt title..could be opening said large can of worms.

The one w/ the pink seats and wheel well moldings has to be one of the saddest sights ever.. Figure at least 3K to put the interior back in order.

Based on what you posted ALONE I wouldn't take any of them. I would keep on looking, patience is absolutely key in buying an older MB as well as double your budget. That may be somewhat unreasonable as I know nothing of your financial situation, but again it would pay for itself time and again down the road.

Lastly, I wouldn't buy an SL now.. Everyone is looking to get one as it is convertable weather...Buy one in the middle of winter, you'll have a better chance of finding the car you want for a reasonable price.

Hope that helps a Bit..

Good luck!

Jonathan

 

[jhodg5ck]

Also, # 68851487...why is his steering wheel on upside down....??

Jonathan

 

[H-TownBenzoboy]

jhodg5ck - 4/17/2005 9:50 PM

Also, # 68851487...why is his steering wheel on upside down....??

Jonathan

I think it's just turned slightly, you can look at the wheels and see.
BTW- Jonathan, check your sig, you put down 1880 280SE, I assume you mean 1980.[]

 

[jhodg5ck]

Well, it's just so perfectly upside down..and I'd find it odd that someone would take the picture that way, but that may just be me..

Anywho, all the high mileage cars even w/ supurb maintance are Still going to need heads. They are designed to be worn out by 200K..no amount of anything will change that. If the car did Straight highway it's whole life they may last longer..if it lived in the city they'll be Shot by 150K..

Big expense either way you look at it..

And yea, I know about the sig..it's been like that for LONG time.. At this point I just leave it to see who notices/comments and who doesn't[}]

Jonathan

 

[jdc1244]

There isn’t an 1880 280 SE…?…

(bummer…) [V]


I would only buy an r107 with full service records and an inspection, just like a w126.