Figure I'd gauge opinion on my car sale thoughts...

First off, I do love my 83 240d...it is as pristine as you will find anywhere on the planet, but I've only put 1k miles on it over the last 5 years. It only sees the light of day between May and September.

I now own a total of 3 MB diesels, (yeah, I tend to be boring and practical!)- plus one MB gasser and 2 non-MB antique cars.

The gasser and antiques have family "sentimental value" and I just can't bring myself to part with them. The 240 has no such "sentimental" value (other than the nostalgia of being psychically transported back to the early '80's everytime I sit in it) but I only bought it in 2003, so there's no real emotional "attachment".

That leaves my '99 E300 (which I bought new) or the 240. (or maybe I sell both...??)

I've convinced myself it's time for a more "fun" sports car (yeah, I think it is the ol' "mid life" dilemma...) and I've been looking at early to mid '70's W107 450 SL's...I love their (relative) simplicity and truly timeless style.

The wife says "something old has to go" before "something new arrives" (and SHE personally would be WAY too expensive to part with

She and I both enjoy the practicality of the '87 300TDT as a great daily driver and true family / hauling vehicle so that's not going anywhere either.

Any helpful opinions out there???..what's a mid life car nut like me with limited space to do???

J.G.

Nice car Jay. What do you think you might ask for it?

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I may sound like an idiot, but don't let that fool you...I'm not as smart as I seem.

'84 300DT Light Ivory 215K

Atlanta Metro, GA

You need to talk to power pig and keep all your cars and buy the mid life crisis car anyway. Tell her its "her" car.

I love the low mileage old cars (I've got three!), but the problem with the ultra-low mileage cars is that you feel like you shouldn't be driving it too often. First question is, what is the motivation? Money? Want something new? Want something more fun?

If you buy a convertible, be prepared to not drive it too often because the weather won't allow. I put less than 1000 miles a year on my SL because it's a pretty day car - when the weather is remotely bad, I take the 300D or one of my other drivers (LS430 or an '03 pickup). So, buying an SL means you probably won't drive it any more than you do the 240D. Is it worth to get rid of a low-mile 240D that you barely drive so you can get an SL that you barely drive?

You owned a 2.3-16 - was that fun to drive? Did you drive the heck out of it? Why did you sell it?

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- Brian


1989 500SEL Euro
1966 250SE Cabriolet
1958 BMW Isetta 600

When I bought it on E-Bay in '03, I was the high bidder at $15.5k. (The "buy it now" price was $17.5) I figure I should be able to get about what I paid for it given I've only seen maybe 2 cars CLOSE to as pristine and documented as mine since 2003- and they both went for between $15 and 18k. We'll see...they say there's always somebody out there who wants the same thing as you at least as badly as you want it! Just got to find him!...

J.G.

Tried it already...her response- "just how dumb do you think I am???" There is no-win EVER in answering that question!!

I'll probably drive an SL about as much as the 240, but will look a HELL of alot cooler tooling around in it!!

As for the 16 valve...that car was an absolute BLAST to drive!! Sold it shortly after the birth of our 2nd child for a new 5 door Saab Turbo for the extra space to carry "baby stuff" around in. That was a car trade I'll ALWAYS regret!

I don't think you'll get what you want out of it in this economy. Put it in storage and forget about it for a few years. If we pull out of this tailspin you might get what you paid for it originally.

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Kevin

1978 300D
1979 240D

The economy is definitely the wild card in this...and likely not getting much better for some time... I may just spend a few bucks to put it on E-Bay and see where it goes. Can't hurt...

On the flip side, I could probably get a better deal on a nice low mile SL in this environment as well...

Well, if you ebay it post the link. I'll have to bid on it for sure.

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Kevin

1978 300D
1979 240D

Post a link when you do so we can follow it.

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85 300D 75K Anthracite Grey 0-60 in 13 seconds **For Sale**
84 300D 333K Black (The Velveteen Rabbit) 0-60 in 14 seconds
00 Toyota Sienna 208K (Sold)
15 Subaru Outback 43K
11 Subaru Outback 67K
98 Ford Taurus 100K (Gertie - Was Grandma's - drove it to church and shopping - really) Daughter's car now.
30 Model A Ford 2 Door Sedan (Sold) 0-60 in . . . Never reached 60

I'll definitely post a link when I put it on E-Bay...probably in the next week or two.

J.G.

That is the only way to look at it. Cars aren't going to bring near what they did in todays economy, buying or selling.
Also, you're playing to a very small audience. The only value [extra value that is] is because of the low miles. But that means to retain most of the value you can't put miles on it. So why have it???
I'm stuck in that rut with a '67 Camaro. Don't ever drive it. Don't even keep it at the house. But the market today for classic cars is just awful. Plus, I'd rather drive a 67hp 240D. Sheesh, I must be getting old.......
As others have said, please post the link. I of course won't be buying, but I'd love to have a look.....

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Jimmy L.
'05 Acura TL 6MT
2001 ML430 My Spare

Gone:
'95 E300 188K "Batmobile" Texas Unfriendly Black
'85 300TD 235K "The Wagon" Texas Friendly White
'80 240D 154K "China" Scar engine installed
'81 300TD 240K "Smash"
'80 240D 230K "The Squash"
'81 240D 293K"Scar" Rear ended harder than Elton John

Have you considered the wife might be new husband shopping with that comment? Especially if she reads your post!

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Charles
1983 300D, bought new, 215k+ miles, donated to Purple Hearts veterans charity but I have parts for sale: http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/mercedes-benz-cars-sale/296386-fs-1-owner-83-mb-300d-turbo-rebuild-parts.html

Being married 22 years, there's alot of "cross-jabbing" that's done in good fun. Let's just say at this point in our lives, we know each other better than we know ourselves sometimes!