Having looked at the available cars still about, most seem to be either very expensive ( £7000 for 25k 190E ) or falling apart.
As a result Im trying to come up with some alternatives. The two that spring to mind are the VW Jetta and the BMW 316.
I know the BMW is just about as solid as the Merc, but how about the Jetta? Are they on the same level? I know they are heavy to drive, most VW's of that age are but how bombproof are they?
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A Jetta is essentially a Golf with a boot, so everything you read about the Golf would apply. Obviously its FWD, as opposed to the RWD Merc and BMW you mentioned.
The 3-series was always the MB190E's main opposition but again I think you'll struggle on condition at this age.
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Audi 80 would be the obvious one.
Audis were still slightly eccentric back then, e.g., the five cylinder engines in the 90, but they were rust-free and built better than just about anything you can imagine, whilst being much, much nicer to look at than the Jetta, both inside and out. My Dad had three from 88 to 96 and they were the best cars he's ever owned (although he replaced the last of them with a Rover 214 Si...)
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snipurl.com/1ox5k {Shortened link to autotrader}
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I did think of the Audi 80 but the boot is quite small and its an arkward shape to fit a wheelchair in, which is part of the reason why the Fiat is going, so I want something that can atleast take that.
The 316 may not have a big boot, but its the right shape and big enough, as is the boot on the Merc. The Jetta has the biggest boot of the lot on paper and as it also comes with some smaller engines, should be cheaper to insure and run in general.
Im just wondering how much of a quality car the Jetta is and if it can hold its own in that respect against the other german makes for build/engineering/reliability.
Im still quite keen on the 316 BM as while its the ame age as the Merc, far fewer will be ex-taxis as it never seemed that popular in that role, prob due to interior space?
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The very last Jettas will be almost 17 years old - your chances of finding a decent one are slim. Based on the MK2 Golf, they are durable but most will be bangers now and probably suffering from a badly set up Pierburg carb - unless you can find one of the very rare GTi models.
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So am I perhaps best off looking at the mid 90's Vento instead? Im sure they are coming in quite cheap now?
Having looked round, late 80's BMW 316's are still quite numerous and not all with big mileages either. They seem to be priced more realistically than the Merc too which suprised me.
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The boot on the early (pre-92) cars was dire but the newer ones were better, although obviously not in the Jetta league. Of course there was also a very handsome estate from 1992 onwards as well that would easily take a wheelchair and I don't think it's much, if any longer than the saloon.
Of course I'm being sentimental because it was the car of my early teenage years at home.
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Audi 100 diesel? Lots of space.
Or early A6 TDI?
Or estate versions...?
All galvanised.. Or an A4 diesel estate?
All 10+ years..
madf
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Think about a Golf estate - Mark 3 or early Mark 4. 1.8 petrol or 1.9 TDI are better to drive than the 1.6. Plenty of room in the back, or if it's not enough go for the Passat. Both will be cheaper than Audis of the same vintage.
If this doesn't give you the feeling of quality you're looking for, maybe seek out a Saab. I used to call them the thinking person's Volvo, in the days when Volvos were tank-like to drive. They're much better now of course.
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Having looked at the available cars still about most seem to be either very expensive ( £7000 for 25k 190E ) or falling apart.
I don't understand what you are talking about Stu. I have owned, as a trader, 36 Mercs over the last 7 years, most of which have been W201 (190's) and W124's. There are literally loads around for between £600 - £1200 that are well worth buying. Many have been well cared for by fastidious owners that have hung on to them for years. You can't be looking very hard!
I tend to avoid anything that has had lots of owners (6+), has been modified in any way or anything showing signs of major neglect. Be wary of inner city cars too; many of these cars are still owned by respectable middle class suburban types and these are the ones you should be seeking out as the chavs tend not to look after their examples!
Listen for the timing chain rattle (tensioners are cheap & easy to get sorted though), rust in the usual places, whining diffs are about though not as common as some have led you to beleave, clonking suspension, 'flare up' between gear changes and general signs of abuse.
Parts are a doddle to source and quite cheap, and there are many small indepedent merc specialists for servicing.
Forget Jetta's, they are well past it now!
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I have found it quite hard to find low mileage examples that arent being sold for extortionate prices - I like my cars immaculate and with less than 100k if Im going to spend upwards of 2 grand on buying it - there is a shortage of such cars.
I looked on Ebay and almost all were not cars id give a second look on account of condition and patchy histories.
There may well be a lot of cheaper cars but they tend not to be in the condition and mileage that I like - Im picky about my cars having owned many older, low mileage cars over the years, and know that good ones are out there as I have owned several.
Add to that, I cannot travel more than 40 miles from Northampton, I just dont have the time spare working 7 days a week, with a girlfriend, her son and a son of my own to find time for, so my search is somewhat narrower than id like, but thats life.
As a bonus, Im in no real hurry and Im also thinking I may well look at Volvo 240's as Ive always fancied one and they have a good survival rate so theres some choice, if I can see my way to giving up on fuel economy - shall have to see about that one.
And yes, I do like my cars in the form of landbarges/tanks - owned Volvos before and loved them all.
Its a tough decision because I need to be able to rely on the car first and formost - most of my mileage is long journeys. Ive therefore got to make the right choice from both a financial point of view and that of requirements.
Its good to hear the varying views, it helps clarify many things atleast.
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Would a Volvo 940 be a better bet than a 240?
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Forget all these cars. If you are looking for a good reliable saloon from the late 1980s early 1990s there is only one choice. Honda Accord (1988 - 1992). Reputed to be the most reliable car ever built. We had four in our family.
First was bought at 72,000miles and three years and taken to 109,000miles in two years before being sold to a minicab driver. Only repair was a new radiator.
Second was three years and 16,000 miles and we kept it for one year. It look like new when we bought it and sold it to a friend. No repairs. We bought instead......the third one which was a 4WS model bought at 30,000 miles and 5 years and kept for seven years. Needed no repairs at all.
Fourth was 4WS model. Bought at 50,000 miles and six years and kept for two until I needed a bigger car due to children.
You do see a few around in good condition. Buy one - you wont regret it.
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The 940 is more modern, but I prefer the style of the 240.
Honda Accord may well be a sound choice, but its also exceptionally dull and as part of this choice, I want a car that I like, not just one that does the job - I have a 'white goods' car now - I want to change to something with a little character.
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