I've been looking to buy a good condition 1981-1987 Mercedes Benz 300TD
turbo-diesel wagon as the Triumph parts & kids hauler and long rang trip car.
I've always liked them and BION, it is the only car that I ever test drove new
with intention to buy before I was married. I like the solid construction and
tractor like qualities of a car that was advertised as "Built for life". I
have seen where some folks have converted them to run on bio-diesel, straight
vegetable oil (SVO) and waste vegetable oil (WVO, greasel, free used French
fry oil). 300TD wagons have been going up steadily in price over the last few
years. Like a TR, it would be fun to blong to online lists, do your own
maintenance and look for used parts on the internet. However, what was a $2000
car 5 years ago is now a $6,000 car and mint low mileage examples are pricey.
I've been looking on Ebay (usually dogs that are over-represented and way
overpriced), Craig's List (people dumping dogs that will bankrupt you, and
they don't list phone numbers or respond to emails), local and LA papers (not
much out there...), AutoExtra.com, Cars.com, Hemmings.com, Traderonline.com,
TheBigLot.com, AutoTrader.com and the local camera ads. Tough to find a good
one. Anyone else have any ideas on where to look? If anyone runs across a good
one for sale, can they please let me know? I live in California about 2.5
hours North of LA. I would be willing to travel for the correct car. Can
someone in LA give me a weblink to any local camera ads down there?
I recently let a 300TD wagon pass on Ebay that I should have bought. It
was 127K documented miles, every maintenance record from the dealer, original
paint with not a scratch on it, like new. It sold for $12,100. It was about
double what I thought that it would sell for, so I didn't bid, but I have
since learned that nothing is as expensive as a cheap Mercedes and that it was
a bargain for what it was.
I was also considering replacing my Ford Escort work/commute car with a
MG ZB Magnette 4 door, but am concerned about reliability and safety (and
speed...). I've also considered a Volvo 122 wagon.
TIA,
Bill Brewer - Tehachapi, CA
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