It’s a question on the parents of many teenagers: “what’s the best car to buy for my son/daughter?†A few adjectives and phrases usually enter into the conversation such as safety, practicality and “NOT FAST.†Recently a reader of ours, John, reached out to us inquiring if one car would fit the bill: the Mercedes-Benz 240D. I know you’re thinking, a Mercedes-Benz for a first car, that’s rich (literally). Well, these well-engineered beasts can be had for reasonable money these days and will last a lifetime if you put a little care and attention into them. While they wouldn’t necessarily be classified as basic transportation, they are certainly safer than many newer cars out there and wouldn’t be a tool in which your son or daughter would rack up a lot of speeding tickets. This 240D for sale in Washington state has well under 100,000 miles on the clock, meaning there is a whole lifetime or motoring pleasure ahead for the new owner.
Year: 1983
Model: 240D
Engine: 2.4 liter inline-4 diesel
Transmission: 4-speed manual
Mileage: 69,000 mi
Price: $13,900 Buy It Now
CLICK FOR DETAILS: 1983 Mercedes-Benz 240D on eBay
Mercedes-Benz introduced the W123 four-door sedan in January 1976. While there were some technical similarities to their predecessors, the new models were larger in wheelbase and exterior dimensions. The styling was also updated. Options included MB-Tex (Mercedes-Benz Texturized Punctured Vinyl) upholstery, interior wood trim, passenger side exterior mirror, 4-speed manual transmission, power windows, vacuum powered central locking, power sun roof, air conditioning and climate control. This car was recently purchased from the original owner, and he stated that the car has all original Biscayne Blue paint with zero rust and under 69k miles from new. We inspected the car and confirmed that it is in fact a rust free car. The interior is in excellent shape. Everything works except the clock does not keep accurate time. It comes with documentation from new including the window sticker, data cards and spare keys. The only non-factory mechanical items are the battery and tires as well as the shock absorbers. The documents show that the car was purchased at Thoroughbred Mercedes Benz in Colorado Springs, CO on September 3rd, 1983 with 11 miles on the odometer.
All in-person inspections are welcome and encouraged, by appointment only. The vehicle, its description and photos are accurate and honestly represented. And, like every other car of this era, is sold without warranty on a “as is where is basis.” Please feel free to contact Tim at 253-203-1472 with any questions.
At this price, I’m thinking this W123 won’t last very long, given that I’ve seen many with this kind of mileage edging $20,000. You could snag a 300TDT estate for about the same price but it will have typically around 120,000 to 150,000 miles on the clock. That’s still not a lot of distance covered when it comes to the W123. Sure, you can get much more modern and feature filled cars for this price, but for me, if I was looking for a dependable, economical motor, I wouldn’t look any further than this car right here.
Say you want to personalize your Mercedes just a little. How about a set of these Bosch euro market headlamps to liven things up?
CLICK FOR DETAILS: Mercedes-Benz W123 Euro Headlamps on eBay
-Paul
