I am in the market for a new used car. Either a 95 e320 or volvo 850. I like the looks of both and enjoy the volvos interior a bit more. Mpg are better with the volvo, but the merdes 6cyl engine is tryed and true. What should I do? My original plan was a 96 range rover, but the mpg's are horrible. I need a car that can take me from KY to Cali in 6 months. HELP ME! By the way i just turned 18.

Man I'd be looking at a BMW. Not a Volvo or Merc. The BMW is still all German and they run forever. I really would avoid the front wheel drive 850 unless you like working on cars (A/C system, tranny, drivetrain, etc...). A ten year old 850 is gonna be too much headache for you if you plan on traveling much.



Mike
'95 850T

Both will cost a lot for normal maintenance. Both will have more than 100K miles. Shop a lot and keep your options open. You could get an S70 or find an S320. If you look at Ebay, call the "dealer" and ask them for their lot price - you could easily buy it now for 1,000 less than that. I just did that with a 98 V70R, had to add $225 for plane tickets. I did see some old Mercedes in Texas with low miles and good prices. Just have fun looking and don't get in a hurry. If you have to have a car real soon, check locally. There are usually some good values around Ft. Knox when servicemen rotate overseas.

Klaus
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98 V70Rawd(101Kmi), 95 854T(85K mi), 88 245(165K mi)

i really like the 88 mercedes 300e i'm really considering a diesel.

I agree that a well-kept Merc will run a very long time. Both are foreign cars, so parts are expensive and not always available at the corner auto parts place. Keep in mind, German car parts are probably the most expensive on the market - most parts are made in Germany by highly paid workers (35-50 bucks an hour, with excellent benefits). That money has to come from somewhere. Germany is fighting the import of car parts that have reduced costs here in the US, at the expense of jobs, but that's the way it is. Swedish parts are close behind in cost, but some aftermarket parts are showing up, rotors for example, in my experience. Rotors used to be very expensive items, now they cost the same as a good set of brake pads. Since the car is used, you need to locate a good indep. shop to maintain them, the dealer costs will be high considering the purchase price. You may want to consider buying manuals for the car, and tech reports at alldata. com. If you can do a lot of repairs/diagnostics on your own, you will save a lot of time and money. For some reason, Euro cars like regular maintenance - with it, they run a long time. Japanese cars seem to take more neglect, within reason. Both are solid and safe cars, but not the cheapest to operate. I would check out consumer reports at the library for owner feedback, too.

The 300E cost close to $40k when it was introduced in the mid-1980s, not much less than an new E-Class costs today. They were BUILT, and among the last of the "real" Mercedes before Chrysler's accountants cheapened everything. Two problem areas are head gaskets andd AC evaporators, like Volvos except the evaporator procedure is TWICE as complicated and costs TWICE as much as the 850-70 evaporator replacement!

I was looking for one for my kid, there are several buyer's guides available on the net. The one I looked at for my kid was a "twofer", just on my cursory examination it had BOTH a leaking AC evaporator and a blown head gasket! (She's getting my '98 V70T5M even though it has a stick shift.)

Anyway, the W124 is just a GREAT car, try to find one with all the records and have a good Mercedes shop go over it with a fine-tooth comb!

-BTC

i love my turbo volvo but if you can get a 320 for the same price then i would have to say Mercedes. Volvo has pricey repairs and mercedes will have pricier repairs. Mercedes is the flagship of vehicles. (IMO)

If you're 18, chances are you don't have an unlimited amt of resources (thus, you are looking at 10 year old highline inports). I suggest that you get yourself a car that will not deplete what resources you have. I have had great experience with Subaru Loyale wagons. They are inexpensive to buy, inexpensive to repair/maintain, and will allow you to live a far more fulfilling life than you would if all of your funds went toward repairing a car.

However, IF you have the kind of resources that would allow you to put big bucks in a car, use them get a much newer Volvo wagon and I am sure you will be happ with your choice. Take a good look at the 98/99 V70R, too.

I'm 18, I don't want to be driving a wagon. I have enough resources, My first pick was a Range Rover and still is. But I like the gas mileage in the volvo and Mercedes. I hate japanese, korean and chinese made cars. Absolutely no personality! I got tired of my jeep in a year, typical time of joy with Amercican cars these days. I don't want a toyota or subaru I'll get tired of in 3 months. My mom's jag is the kinda car you never get tired of. She's had it fot years and it's been the most reliable car ever. Door handles are $800 each and they always break. But every thing else is built to last.

if you have enough resources for the extra oil changes, and you decide to go for the 850, get a turbo model because non turbo models are a bit sluggish

hi there,
first if u have enough resources why r u here and asking questions? U have the money to buy and maintain the car go and buy mercedes...But if u ask my personal opinion, i would go for a 89 volvo 740 GlE manual tranny, non turbo model..yeah that is rite i have one and i bout it for $900.00 from my friend 5 year ago.. It had 104.000 miles on it, now it has 160.000 miles on it .. it works like charm.. and for me it is really easy to work on.. inline 4 cylinder ,ect...
that is my opinion..
Sammy