02-26-2009, 04:44 PM | #1 |
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which one of these cheap older German sedans would you have?
As some of you may know i was shopping for a car for my son. This was a little while back and now i think it is time he gets a car(i decided to let him drive the 99 RX while learning) he actually wants. So far, after 2 years, no traffic violations or accidents, i think he should be rewarded.
So i gave him a price range and he quickly came up with all of these cars... 2000-2001 A4 2002-2002 A4 1999-2002 A6 1998-2000 Mercedes C class 1998-2002 E class 1999-2002 3 series Any of these can be had for not too much and they all seem pretty safe to me. However, i have never owned any of these cars so i have very little information on these. Any insight on which is the best car in here? I am looking for safety, reliability(which i know, they are all not great), service costs, size(son is 6'2) and haggling ability price-wise |
02-26-2009, 04:48 PM | #2 | |
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prolly the 3er
or the E, actually the 210 chassis was a great model
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02-26-2009, 05:30 PM | #3 |
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same^
either the e46 or the e class
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02-26-2009, 07:08 PM | #6 |
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hmm i hear the e class was pretty unsafe 1997ish, would 1999 or so be a good place to start?
also would the e class be the most expensive for service and repair? |
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02-26-2009, 07:36 PM | #9 |
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02-26-2009, 07:40 PM | #10 |
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02-27-2009, 12:51 AM | #11 | |
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STAY AWAY FROM THE E CLASS OR C CLASS PLEASE!
Everyone is recommending the E Class Mercedes...but the W210 chassis was a very unreliable car (in production 1995-2002). People this is the 1998-2002 E class: What everyone is thinking of...is the W124 (in production 1984 - 1995)...which is the AMAZINGLY durable car: I think a 1990-1995 E Class would be a WAY better bet. This is what Wikipedia has to say about the W210: Quote:
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02-27-2009, 12:59 AM | #12 |
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Personally I would get a E36 M3, E36 328 or E36 325. In that order. Either in coupe or sedan form. Although the E36 isn't the most reliable car...it can be bought for reasonable money. Also there are parts a plenty for these cars. And they are fun to drive! And your son will have fun learning to fix his car up.
I heart a black E36 with manual tranny in good shape. (Dreaming of the mods...full suspension kit, Wilwood BBK, a Vortech supercharger kit...pushing 350 to 400hp...in a car that weighs about 500 lbs less than a 335i). Hubba hubba! Random pic stolen off the interwebz. E46 is a good choice too... |
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02-27-2009, 01:02 AM | #13 |
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02-27-2009, 02:08 AM | #16 |
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02-27-2009, 07:49 AM | #18 |
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I love Benzes, and if it's a W124, I would say go for the 124 without a doubt. it's sedate, SMOOTh, solid and looks totally classic.
I recommend the silky smooth straight six E320 as long as: A/C evaporator, head gasket and engine wiring harness have been taken care of. The rest are rather minor. I think the w124 is one of the best cars ever... The 500E is quite a car but maintenance is horrendous especially as the awesome M119 starts aging. I had an E420 (similar engine but smaller), which developed weird stalling issues that nobody could diagnose.. I've also had a W208 CLK55, which has the same chassis as the W202 c class on your list... I personally recommend that you look at the E46 BMW instead. the w208 is a very uninspiring chassis (even in clk55 form). BUT, it was fairly reliable to be fair. I'm personally not a fan of the W210 e-class for one reason - it's .. not very pleasant to look at... not to mention the problems that it comes with. A good friend's parents had an E320 4matic and they were trying to give the car away... regarding the audis: i know too many people with those older audis you listed and they always talk about what to fix on weekends My preference: E46 W202 c class (look at C36 AMG) |
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02-27-2009, 10:24 AM | #19 |
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the OP says he gave his son a particular price range and asked people what they thought of the cars he listed (02 e46 on the list). You posted that he should look into a a 94 500E, which is no where near the price of any of the cars on the list.
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02-27-2009, 12:39 PM | #21 |
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What he said.
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02-27-2009, 02:04 PM | #22 | ||
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i know people who have these cars for over 200k miles and the worst thing theyve replaced was the spark plugs
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Last edited by Crimson92; 02-27-2009 at 02:46 PM.. |
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