I've been looking for a car to get lately. It will be my first, and I want something that will last a long time and get decent gas mileage. So I'm stuck on 2 cars; a Volvo 240 or a Mercedes 240d. Both are good cars and I just wanted to hear some opinions. I'm in diesel mechanic school so I can do my own repair if necessary. Any help/advice/opinions will be appreciated.
Don't forget to read this and add your introduction. -------> Clcik hereThe Welcome Wagon As for those wagons I have no idea but you are in the right place for information.
Well, since you are in diesel mechanic school, the obvious choice would be to get a Mercedes diesel. I'd suggest the 5-cylinder though, and get it in a wagon. Better if has a turbo as well - more things for you to work on. This one happens to be in my area..... $1,400 http://eugene.craigslist.org/sop/4993405530.html Good luck with your search... Marshall
Thanks ModelT1, i took care of that already. Also thanks Krash Kadillak, I do really like the mercedes wagon and was leaning towards it already. Thanks for the info you two. I appreciate it.
My mom is on her second Volvo 240 wagon, a 1990 named Arthur. At about 160,000 moles everything is original except brakes, exhaust and shocks. The car is a true workhorse. Parts are not too bad except for electrical, and that goes equally for the Mercedes, since both use Bosch. We have never once had to add a single drop of oil between changes. Fantastic wagon, and unstoppable in the winter with good snow tires. My brother had a 1985 Mercedes 300SD he got for about a grand. Getting it on the road was a $4,000 job. It, too, was a great car, but the transmission went at abiut 250,000 miles and there was so much else breaking he gave up. This is the man who got in excess of 500,000 out of a Colony Park. With the Mercedes, stay away from the non turbo models. They are slower than molasses in January. 0-60 is measured by a sun dial. Parts are easy, and often least expensive at the Mercedes dealer, surprisingly. The repair and maintenance history of the individual car is the most important factor for both. A little neglect goes a very long way indeed. Maintained, either will give a long and hard service life with minimal problems,esoecially if you can do your own work. Both are fairly easy to work on. The 300SD gave abiut the same gas mileage as Ma gets in Arthur, so that is close to a wash, what with diesel being more expensive than gas right now. Drive them, and pick the best one yiu can find. When you do, post pictures. We want to see. If you decide to go for the Volvo, there is a Facebook group for Volvo 240 wagon lovers. That could be a good place to find a nice one for sale. One aside. Volvo wagons from 88 and up were made from galvanized metal. They tend not to rust much at all. The Mercedes can be very rust prone.
Volvos have weird electrical issues (I have 4). Stay away from any 80's 240 older than 1989. The early 80's cars had Bosch K-jet fuel injection that is a major PITA; the later cars had Bosch LH2.2, which is OK, but they put a biodegradable wiring harness in them, that after 30 years, has. Unless you know that the harness has been replaced, be careful. Also, check the heater core and blower fan. It's dead center, up high on the firewall. You have to take half the car apart to replace it. I know people that have sold their cars rather than replace them. The 90's cars are the best of the bunch anyway, and the ones you'll be most likely to find (due to the wiring issues of the older cars.) Also, just remember, the Volvo 240 was the best 1968 car you could buy in 1993.
I don't know a LOT about Volvos, but this I learned from a friend who does: Some Volvos require premium gas. That costs about 30 cents or more per gallon than regular. Even though Deisel fuel is (for some reason) expensive, the deisel car will probably get better mileage. Plus, when you ask a girl for a date, saying: "I'll pick you op at 8 in my Mercedes" sounds so much better than :"I'll pick you up at 8 in my (Moms) Volvo." Good luck!
Thank you MikeT1961 and Breadbox, that is good information too. Thanks to you too PineBox, that's good and funny information too.
