Wow, that would be a switch from the WJ. :) I suppose you could keep the Jeep around for recreational stuff, but that means 3 cars at your home. C'mon, Woofer, it's time to part ways. Give the WJ a good home and move on. :/ You do need reliable transportation. What if you end up at a job where you would need to take the boss out to lunch or something? The Jeep would not fit that.
That car you've got your eye one looks nice. A 230D seem pretty rare, but the Germans know how to make some fine diesels. As for the price, that's no surprise. You know they just jacked that up as they expect to negotiate down from that price. I would also do some quick research on that model and year on Google or forums and see what history of problems the car might have. If there's a pattern, you could find out what kind of maintenance you've got coming up or if it has already been done.
The biggest problems with Mercedes, BMW and Audi/VW are electrical gremlins. This could range from instruments not working to electrical wiring harness problems. Make sure everything works electrically in that car.
Actually, that's not a 230D. Mercedes never sold a diesel version of that car in the U.S. (and still doesn't). I can see from the badge on the side that it's a 230 Kompressor, meaning a supercharged 2.3-litre four-cylinder engine, makes just under 200 hp.
Consumer reports rates reliability as only average, with specific trouble spots being major engine trouble, fuel system issues, electrical gremlins, power equipment (the top), exhaust, and audio system issues.
Yyyyeah... being that 1998 was the first model year for the SLK, you might wanna reconsider...
Ahhh, that makes much more sense then. A 230D seemed extremely rare for that year here in the US. I didn't think to look at the photo more closely. The only think working in his favor is the low mileage. That's likely why that jacked up the price too--still way too high though.
Yah, I'm with ya on that one. For my money, the mileage isn't quite low enough to offset the cost of things that are likely just about to go south. I'm betting that's why the previous owner sold it or turned it in--given its age & mileage, things are ripe to just now start going wrong on it...
Heh, am I cynical or what? I must be a German car owner... *grin*
Hehe, yep, the original owner probably knew that 45,000 was the limit. :) I've learned from my mom and dad not to drive your only reliable transportation into the ground. Always better to sell it when it's working.
Yes, us German car owners know we're not driving Toyotas. :) With 80,000 miles on my BMW 2003 325xi, it's time to start setting some money aside for repairs down the road. Still love my car though and it's a keeper for some time. What German piece of engineering do you have?
Got my first exactly one year ago: leasing a 2007 Audi A4 2.0T quattro 6-spd., black on black.
I do love it, it's very nice, and goes through bad weather like a Hummer. However, in the first 10K miles, the HVAC system went totally haywire, sunroof rattled, the left-side door seals needed replacement, and the powertrain control module is still randomly cutting power to the engine at the most bizarre moments (undiagnosable). Makes me really hesitate on replacing it two years from now w/ another German car... but that Tiguan TDI just looks perfect to replace our PT Cruiser...
Sorry to be taking up your LJ with personal chat Woofer!
Oh, well, we're still talking about cars. Nevertheless, I suppose the polite thing to do would be to get a room. :p I'll send you a message directly on this.
No problem, guys. my bad on the "D"...dont' ask me where that came from. Fixed. i started off with a '76 BMW 2600. i rebuilt both carbs at the same time...and got them BOTH put back together! And it RAN!! Then my buddy blew it up on the A8 near Pforzheim. i picked up a year-old '82 GTI and LOVED that car. i about kicked myself for trading it in on a brand new, first off the boat, '90 VW Corrado on 12 SEP 89. Had a love hate relationship. We love Matt's '95 280C though he warped the wood on the console with his damn coffee cup. LOL. Probably the best to give his one a pass. i like the second version of the SLK better anyway...which i might be able to afford in another 5 years when i can find an old used one of them. This one was supposedly purchased as a "certified pre-owned" about 1-1/2 years ago then the guy got transferred to Vienna. Who knows?
That car you've got your eye one looks nice. A 230D seem pretty rare, but the Germans know how to make some fine diesels. As for the price, that's no surprise. You know they just jacked that up as they expect to negotiate down from that price. I would also do some quick research on that model and year on Google or forums and see what history of problems the car might have. If there's a pattern, you could find out what kind of maintenance you've got coming up or if it has already been done.
The biggest problems with Mercedes, BMW and Audi/VW are electrical gremlins. This could range from instruments not working to electrical wiring harness problems. Make sure everything works electrically in that car.
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Consumer reports rates reliability as only average, with specific trouble spots being major engine trouble, fuel system issues, electrical gremlins, power equipment (the top), exhaust, and audio system issues.
Yyyyeah... being that 1998 was the first model year for the SLK, you might wanna reconsider...
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Heh, am I cynical or what? I must be a German car owner... *grin*
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Yes, us German car owners know we're not driving Toyotas. :) With 80,000 miles on my BMW 2003 325xi, it's time to start setting some money aside for repairs down the road. Still love my car though and it's a keeper for some time. What German piece of engineering do you have?
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I do love it, it's very nice, and goes through bad weather like a Hummer. However, in the first 10K miles, the HVAC system went totally haywire, sunroof rattled, the left-side door seals needed replacement, and the powertrain control module is still randomly cutting power to the engine at the most bizarre moments (undiagnosable). Makes me really hesitate on replacing it two years from now w/ another German car... but that Tiguan TDI just looks perfect to replace our PT Cruiser...
Sorry to be taking up your LJ with personal chat Woofer!
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Good luck, Woofer!
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