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Registered
Join Date: May 2003
Location: The Beave, OR
Posts: 6,288
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1977 Mercedes as a Daily Driver?
Not familiar with these old cars, but for some reason they appeal to me. I'm looking for a cheap daily...something low stress to drive and own. My mind is telling me to get an "appliance" (Honda/Toyota/etc.), but my heart says try something interesting. So I found this 1977 Mercedes "Euro Coupe" locally. Haven't gone to look at it yet, but...again...something about it speaks to me. Any thoughts on a car like this? I've always thought of old Mercs as the epitome of reliability...am I wrong here? Would appreciate any thoughts...
 112k miles. Recent "service" including new plugs and wires. Clean interior. 
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Doug Currently Between Porsches PART OF MY SOUL: '09 Boxster 2.9 PDK, '86 911, '76 912E, '06 Cayman S, '90 911 C4, '74 911, '78 911 Targa, '01 Boxster, '70 911T, '99 Boxster (#2), '72 911T, '88 911, '99 Boxster (#1), '84 911 Turbo Look, '73 911 Targa, '88 944 |
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03-25-2015, 12:12 PM
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Bill is Dead.
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Alaska.
Posts: 9,633
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I used to have a W114 and loved it. Built well, drove and rode well. Classic MB styling.
1977 was the start of the W123, I think. They are good cars, IMO.
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-.-. .- ... .... ..-. .-.. -.-- . .-. The souls of the righteous are in the hand of God, and no torment will ever touch them. |
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03-25-2015, 12:38 PM
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Join Date: May 2004
Location: Lake Cle Elum - Eastern WA.
Posts: 8,417
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For the money, you can't go wrong if it checks out on a PPI:
1977 Mercedes-Benz 190 for Sale in Portland, OR
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Bob S. 73.5 911T 1969 911T Coo' pay (one owner) 1960 Mercedes 190SL 1962 XKE Roadster (sold) - 13 motorcycles |
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03-25-2015, 02:19 PM
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I'm with Bill
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Scottsville Va
Posts: 24,186
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The seats suck and become very nonsupportive, beyond that they are close to bullet proof
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Electrical problems on a pick-up will do that to a guy- 1990C4S |
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03-25-2015, 02:46 PM
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Preferred pronoun:Maestro
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Group W Bench
Posts: 11,359
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I've owned several 123s. Great cars! Most of the Euro ones were either 230s or 280s. One of my favorite cars ever was a Euro `85 280ce with a factory Getrag five-speed (only one I've ever seen - heard of another, but that's it). I'd buy that car back in a second.
So which model is this one?
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When in doubt, use overwhelming force. |
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03-25-2015, 02:50 PM
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Preferred pronoun:Maestro
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Group W Bench
Posts: 11,359
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Quote:
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When in doubt, use overwhelming force. |
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03-25-2015, 02:55 PM
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Registered
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Houston
Posts: 5,472
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Do it!
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Ole Skool - wouldn't have it any other way |
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03-25-2015, 03:56 PM
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Join Date: Oct 2013
Posts: 1,621
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For that price yeah! Sweet ride
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03-25-2015, 04:09 PM
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Registered
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Charlottesville Va
Posts: 5,804
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Wow. Killer car. Bog slow. I'd drive any Benz from the mid 80's thru mid 90's as a dd. 77 is pushing it, but its a freaking nice car for the money.
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Greg Lepore 85 Targa 05 Ducati 749s (wrecked, stupidly) 2000 K1200rs (gone, due to above) 05 ST3s (unfinished business) |
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03-25-2015, 05:15 PM
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Hell Belcho
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Oz
Posts: 9,251
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I can check it out for you if you like. DC Motors is around the block. Kind of a gold chain dealer though.
Those cars are slow but well built.
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Saved by the buoyancy of citrus. |
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03-25-2015, 05:18 PM
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Registered
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Lake Cle Elum - Eastern WA.
Posts: 8,417
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Quote:
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Bob S. 73.5 911T 1969 911T Coo' pay (one owner) 1960 Mercedes 190SL 1962 XKE Roadster (sold) - 13 motorcycles |
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03-25-2015, 05:21 PM
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Preferred pronoun:Maestro
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Group W Bench
Posts: 11,359
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Quote:
Well, MB did make their version of an econobox in eighties and nineties in the 201 series 190, but never in a 123 body that I'm aware of. My guess it they saw a four-banger and assumed it's a 1.9 liter, but in the 123 it's a 2.3.
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When in doubt, use overwhelming force. |
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03-25-2015, 05:42 PM
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Registered
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Clinton, NJ
Posts: 12,782
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The model is a 230C. 110 hp, and weighs approx 3,000 lbs. You won't get into trouble with that one.
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______________________________ Dave 1969 911T Coupe 1972 911E Targa |
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03-25-2015, 06:28 PM
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Preferred pronoun:Maestro
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Group W Bench
Posts: 11,359
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Quote:
"CE", actually.
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When in doubt, use overwhelming force. |
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03-25-2015, 06:54 PM
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Join Date: Apr 2010
Posts: 3,003
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I DD'd an 83 380SL for about 3 months. Honestly it was a much better weekend car than DD. Ergonomics are not good, steering is loose, slow, very cool with the 60+ crowd and not very good fuel economy. That being said, this white 230CE looks like a gem and for the money I'd be on a plane first thing tomorrow if I was in the market for another 70s German car.
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03-25-2015, 07:58 PM
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Registered
Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: Mid-life crisis, could be anywhere
Posts: 10,382
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Do it!
I would love to get an older SL for Mrs. Motion. She is always dressed to the hilt, and she would look great toddling around town in one.
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'95 993 C4 Cabriolet Bunch of motorcycles |
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03-25-2015, 08:01 PM
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I had a W123 300D and loved it. It was worth the low horsepower in cool points.
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A nose heavy airplane flies poorly, a tail heavy plane flies once. |
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03-25-2015, 10:12 PM
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Edministrator
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: SF east bay
Posts: 24,807
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Be careful. It's still a 38 year old grey market car. At this point it could potentially need a ton of deferred maintenance. In good shape I would think it would be a nice driver. They can still bite you now and then and hard. A good car for the right price isn't easy, so get a high quality PPI.
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03-25-2015, 10:43 PM
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Almost Banned Once
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Adelaide South Australia
Posts: 38,447
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Great car but they are getting on now. I know someone who daily's a convertible MB of similar vintage.
His is pretty reliable but things do go wrong. (mainly electrical) When I look at old cars with electric windows I always check the doors all the way around and door trims. A careless DIY owner often leaves the door trims loose and the clips and hardware can be missing. It's not a big deal to fix but it can tell you a lot about the history of the car. Also check... Is the "boot" clean and are the rubber mats OK? (rear trunk) How does the engine bay look? Dust is OK but an engine coated in crud and oil is not desirable. It's easy enough to fix but again it tells you a lot about the history of the car. Any service or ownership history?
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- Peter |
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03-25-2015, 11:02 PM
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Now in 993 land ...
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I would not do it. Dump truck steering wheel, heavy, thirsty. Another thing that scares me is safety. Chances to get banged up good in a daily driver are pretty high (compared to a weekend car). I like to be in something that has the latest safety features. As an extreme example, I have daily driven lap belt 60s and 70s cars for decades and am really glad I never got into a wreck in any of them. Scares me to think about it now ...
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03-26-2015, 12:28 AM
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1979 Porsche 911SC
