1980s Coupe..

[Count Chocula]

Hello,

I am a student at the moment and have recently come into a little bit of money (less than £1,000). For as long as I can remember I have wanted to own a Mercedes Coupe! I'm not really into trends and especially not the irritating 80s trend that all students my age seem to have embrassed but i have always liked the styling of the 1980s Mercedes Coupe's.

This is a prime example of what i am talking about:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/_Cars__1987-M...:1|65:2&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14#ebayphotohosting

In fact that car is absolutely perfect! The thing is I know nothing about them, what to look for, what to avoid etc etc etc. I know they last forever but is 208,000 miles too many? Bear in mind I am not going to be doing a huge amount of miles in it. Its just for trips around the country and then local trips.

If i decide to go for one am I going to be going in over my head and will I be swamped by repairs?

I'm really naive when it comes to this but I am really interested in what people think. If you think I am being stupid and unrealistic please do say. I just don't want to get a Ford Ka or Clio or something boring (they are not boring but i want something intersting) like that.

Any help, thoughts and suggestions would be very much appreciated.

Thank you!

 

[Gucci]

Welcome Count Chocula

The purchase of the car is the easy bit. You'll need to make sure that you're ready for bills though. The car you're looking at may well have been well rinsed or well cared for. You don't really know how long the parts will last.

Scenario, you buy the car, insure it, AA cover, FUEL!! - drive it for a few months, MOT reveals some work to be done. £500 please now...are you comfortable with that? You can't enjoy owning the car if you're dreading that knocking noise starting etc. If the car doesn't compromise your lifestyle - it adds to it - then you'd have made the right choice.

Oil light has come on - top up please £30 now ....just putting you in that frame of mind

 

[television]

Hello and welcome, have you also given much thought to the fuel consumption of the 420 as well as the good points raised by Gucci

 

[Will]

I think that SECs at this price point are going to be money pits. These were very expensive cars new and cost an awful lot to keep roadworthy and in a good condition. It will also use quite a lot of petrol, something to consider if you are a student on a tight budget with the current prices of fuel.

What may make more sense would be something like a 124 CE. Just as an example:

http://www.mbclub.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=51942

These will be much more affordable to run and maintain, and being quite a bit simpler should be more reliable and easier to work on

Will

 

[Ade B]

Sure CE's are cheap to run

Don't know how far into your degree you are and what you intend to do afterwards, and whilst I recall that in Withnail and I they drove a Mk II Jag, I would spend the money on something that is a little easier on the wallet to run.

You could look here for interesting alternatives to clios and the like.

Alternatively, I'd spend the cash on travelling or something that you'll keep for good.

Ade

 

[Count Chocula]

Thank you all for your replys, some really good points raised. Fuel is a very good one!

As for buying one that is sound is it just pot luck? I was reading somewhere that said it was a good idea to get a PPI (Pre purchase inspection??) done by a Mercedes garage...don't know if this would help.

In reagards to costs are Mercedes much more expensive than the rest? My brother has had ****ty little cars that he has had to spend a lot of money on so i am fully prepared for that.

The 124 CE looks like a nice car (and that looks like a nice example), does anyone have any other ideas when it comes to coupes?

I just came across this:

http://www.practicalclassics.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=3942&sid=c886392ee8276d40fe6878637d4009f0

So many choices!

Still think i want a coupe though.

EDIT: I have a question, wanted to ask howard about his CE (the link that was posted ab ove) but i guess I can't post in the sale thread and he can't be got by PM, does anyone have any ideas how could get in contact with him?

 

[Colin_b]

If you are a student, I guess you are not of mature years I'd get an insurance quote.

 

[jaymanek]

I would buy a W124 or W123 coupe... i prefer the latter, but as has been said there is nothing more expensive than a cheap merc... especially an SEC... they are expensive to look after so your 1K will not last a minute...

W123

 

[Count Chocula]

If you are a student, I guess you are not of mature years I'd get an insurance quote.

My dad has offered to get the insurance and put me on as a named driver. I know its not ideal but being 21 and male I don't stand a chance of getting a cheap quote regardless of what I buy.

The W123 looks gorgeous. I saw one in mustard somewhere, it looked beautiful.

 

[stever]

I've had 3 W123s and they're great cars - just don't think that you can run them on Ford money!

 

[television]

It has been said that the 123 was the last real DIY Benz, but there are things that you can do on the 124.

To put things into prospective there are 200 MB's in my little home town and I am the only one on a forum within 30 mlies and you might find 2 within 60miles

I talk to owners of all the 202's and 124's and most have run them for years and they have never missed a beat in the 10 years of ownership in most cases , and that is why there are so many running around. Some go wrong, most do not.

 

[KateBlundell]

I'm also thinking of the costs to you - yes, it's likely to hold value but road tax, insurance, fuel - it all adds up and you should probably be a bit of a saddo and work out the costs per mile of the merc and equivalents.. then look at realistically how much you can afford to spend in a month. I saw an article in MB magazine which was encouraging young people to buy mercs for around the grand mark as something reliable to keep you going.. but it's more the - if it goes wrong - might be costly to fix.

In my experience (I'm a 26 year old uni lecturer) you'd be better starting your own insurance policy to build up some no claims - unless you use someone like direct line who allow named drivers to build up their own.. at some point you're gonna be paying a huge premium of your own.

 

[grober]

In your circumstances don't even think about buying this car! Forget Mercedes till you have a bit more spending cash. Buy an old cabriolet instead. Look for an old convertible -loads of style for not much cash and easy on the pocket - VW Beetle , Morris Minor, or old Peugeot convertible from a specialist dealer or for sale ads in owners club mags.

 

[robert.saunders]

I've had 3 W123s and they're great cars - just don't think that you can run them on Ford money!

I can't run my Ford on Mercedes money but that's another story

 

[94mattda]

My dad has offered to get the insurance and put me on as a named driver. I know its not ideal but being 21 and male I don't stand a chance of getting a cheap quote regardless of what I buy.

The W123 looks gorgeous. I saw one in mustard somewhere, it looked beautiful.

Go for a w124 coupe....... i love mine and not to expensive to run... about 20mpg around town and 30 mpg on a run.... repair bills are a little expensive but who cares.... once you have had a merc you wont turn back.... try the Mercedes 190... great car and an icon.... and probably little cheaper to run....

 

[Howard]

great car and an icon.... and pobablya little cheaper to run....

Is this the Russian model ?

 

[94mattda]

lol... my typing is awful....thnaks ....

 

[robert.saunders]

Regardless of the car chosen:

Count Chocula????

What a fab name

 

[television]

Regardless of the car chosen:

Count Chocula????

What a fab name

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1cEOKS5-DcQ

 

[vijilants]

Re the W123 coupe, be careful.

They are coming to that age where they suffer from rot below - can be very expensive to put right. The chrome and body panels are also becoming very expensive.

Don't forget that these vehicles are approx 28 years old.

If you were thinking of buying one, I would strongly recommend that you buy one that has already been restored by a specialist.

I have owned one so I am speaking from experience here.

If you are looking for one where you don't have to go through too much of these issues, you are far better off with the W124 coupe.