So I'm looking around for a replacement for my out Chevy S10 as a college car. So I want something that is cheap, not really hard to maintain (something I can work on myself), can actually carry people, and is some what cool. So I think I found a good solution in the 1980s Mercedes S class, specifically of the diesel variety. What should I be looking for on these cars, should I just run away? I know that they have a good reputation of going on forever. Also how are they to drive, I know that they will be fairly slow but do the handle like they look (tank like). Specifically I'm looking at this one
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1984-MERCEDES-300SD-TURBO-DIESEL-RUNS-DRIVES-GREAT-COLD-A-C-NO-RESERVE-/140844556912?pt=US_Cars_Trucks&hash=item20cafd6270#ht_29540wt_1165
Thanks Ryan
Looks like the rear window is starting to delaminate. Some of the w126 had 6 cylinder diesel engines which apparently are troublesome. Other than that, a mercedes of that era is really well built and most systems are user repairable. Just make sure the engine is straight before you buy it, diesel engines look to be very expensive and difficult to repair.
Front seat springs sag but are replaceable, handling is tidy for a large car, and they're built to last. Replace buth fuel filters every other oil change. Filters are cheap and the owner's manual illustrates how to re-prime the fuel system. The procedure is very DIY and takes a few minutes - there's primer mechanism underhood. The main repair you'd rather not do is the air conditioning because so much of it is behind the dash, but that's true of many imports. The HVAC blower motor is loud. I have had a few Benzes and like the diesels of this era a lot.
Woody
MegaDork
9/8/12 2:25 p.m.
The woman that now lives with my father bought one new and put 300,000 miles on it. She's a total bitch and I wish that she had kept on driving.
That's all I know about these cars.
I have an 83 300SD that had 376k miles showing on a broken odometer when I got it, and all I have had to do is rebuild the front suspension and it has been great. I'd certainly recommend one as long as you don't have to drive up hills a lot. As long as you are on mostly flat ground it easily goes as fast as any other car, hills it will do, but not quickly.
