Teenage Son Wants to Buy This Car..Weigh In If You'd Like....

Hi All,

Hope all is well fellow covers brothers and sisters.
I love this forum for these kinds of posts as I feel many people
on here have a lot to contribute about off sports topics as such.
So here's the dealio: My 17 year old son has his sights set on
a car which he thinks is the ultimate reliable car for the money.
My wife and I are not as convinced and I'd like to bring this to the forum, The Car is a Mercedes Benz 300D 1982-1985. This is an early to mid 1980's Diesel. According to my son there is very little
electronics here and the engine is good for 300-400K miles.
He has a weekend job and some money saved and wants to buy
a half decent on for between 5-6K, I've always been under the impression that foreign cars and old ones are a nightmare. He says this is before major computerization and the car is very workable for the average person. I'm not so sure? Anyway, I'd like
to get the forums take on this car with value, reliability, service costs, and any other things any of you can think of to weigh in here?? Many Many Thanks in Advance and as always Great Luck to You All with Your Wagers :-)))

Diver.

I'd warn him that service costs are going to hurt his bank account when it needs to be serviced.  Odds are against him since it's an older vehicle.

$5-6k will get you a better car than that........but you're probably not going to convince him of that. If he has done his home work & wants to buy it anyway then it's a "live & learn" situation. At least he's not wanting a vette or Jaguar, etc.

6000$  usd????

if u lived in usa u could find 90-100,--- mile cars for 3000-5000 ez

First lesson you should teach him when it comes to cars is to buy new-NOT pre owned.

He's right about the engine longevity of that car but I might suggest you ask him to price out a new pair of say brake pads and calipers, or belt replacements, etc....

Thats way to much money for the make and year for that car. I would look at a 2016 (or around that year) C230.

Quote Originally Posted by searchwarrant:

He's right about the engine longevity of that car but I might suggest you ask him to price out a new pair of say brake pads and calipers, or belt replacements, etc....

Benz labor and parts can burn serious money. 

Anything major like a transmission slip ignition, problems can easily total it. 

By the time he's 20-21 he'll probably want a different car and the resale on the Benz will be very low. 

Good luck though diver, hopefully it works out. Teenagers do tend to think in the right now mode.

Says the car salesman.

Hey,been there done that!!! Involved in fleet/car business since the spring of 84. pulled pin in fall of 2015. Saw it all and then some. crazy interest rate swings, insurance companies feeding off his age group , which they continue to do,and money fluctuations. Now add about 7 -10 new ethnic groups and the words BUYER BEWARE could not be more in play. He is 17!!! He would like to invest his own money in the worlds biggest depreiciating asset. SO BUY ONE THAT IS 4.5 TO 7 YEARS OLD THAT HAS HAD ONLY 1 OWNER. Anything domestic or Asian. Nothing else. He stays inside these perameters and he will have a 50/50 shot at success. Wish I could have his ear for 10 minutes.

It's a Hit or Miss depending on previous care.  I bought a 1989 Mersedes 300SE in 2001 and drove it for 9 years when I replaced the Complete top head.  Then It ran like new for another 15K.  One of the beast cars mechanically I have ever owned.


From another viewpoint... There are many worse things your son and his friends could want to be involved with as far as hobbies go.  My advise would be to encourage their interests in cars and their maintenance.  And Pony -Up it you need to... Bad car Deals TRUMPS bad drug deals TEN THOUSAND to ONE

Try to persuade your son to consider a car from Japan, assembled in Japan even better. Maint. cost will be much lower than a Benz. You are a good Dad to help him,the best time of his life, with his first car.

Kinda silly to buy a 30-35 year old vehicle and not expect problems. 

Since he's impressed with few electronics, I take it he plans on doing his own maintenance?

Guys,

Great input and ty kindly!
I found a senior auto mechanic teacher at local vo-tech school
that my sons scout master referred me to, and just shot him
an email. I'll let you all know what he says.

TY all again very much :-)

I would do my best to help him choose a more reliable car, but maybe something a little sporty without the hp. Most young guys fall in love with the brand and name factor to impress. This may or may not be the reason he wants to buy it, but it is a factor.

At least he isn't putting a $4000 stereo system into a $2500 car.