Vehicle Description
When gas prices spiked a few years ago, cars like this 1979
Mercedes-Benz 240D were suddenly very much in demand. Virtually
indestructible and capable of pulling down some rather impressive
fuel economy, they're always the first go-to vehicles when times
get tough. The fact that you can enjoy Mercedes-levels of luxury
while you save money is simply icing on the cake.
Yes, I'd call these fun cars, if not collectable, because good ones
never remain on the market for long. This one shows 141,948 miles,
and since Mercedes odometers go to a million before rolling over,
we'll interpret that as a sign of their reliability. It would also
be a mistake to bet against this car eventually running a million
miles because these are perhaps the most reliable machines ever
devised by man. The W123 series cars were notorious for rusting in
northern climates, but this one has lived its entire life in a
warm, dry climate, so the sheetmetal is as well-preserved as the
mechanicals. The Light Ivory paint is factory enamel and shows
minimal signs of age, another sign of quality materials and great
care over the years. It's very nicely preserved overall and
original paint means no injuries or problems lurking under the
skin. The chrome and stainless trim remains very good as well,
including the familiar Mercedes-Benz grille, which is still one of
the most recognized symbols of wealth and quality on the road.
The tan MB-Tex interior has been recently and comprehensively
freshened, so it is in excellent shape. The bucket seats show no
notable signs of wear (MB-Tex wears like iron) and there aren't
many cars that are better long-distance cruisers than this, as long
as your bladder can withstand the miserly fuel economy and range.
It is still a Mercedes, after all, so you get a beautiful walnut
instrument panel and console, a giant steering wheel, and big,
round gauges that should look familiar to anyone who has driven one
of these in the past few decades. There's also a Becker Europa
AM/FM radio that's fully operational, which is a nice surprise.
There's also automatic climate control, a sunroof, and a 4-speed
manual transmission, so this affordable Benz is hardly stripped
down. Plenty of room in back and the trunk will handle all the
luggage you can carry.
The 240D nomenclature suggests a diesel 2.4 liter 4-cylinder
diesel, which was a mainstay of Mercedes-Benz production for many
years. If you see a Mercedes in Morocco pulling taxi duty, this is
what's powering it. Indestructible, easy to maintain, and with fuel
economy that will rival the best of today's cars, it's all about
having your cake and eating it too. They're legendary for their
durability and should run practically forever with basic
maintenance. This one has been very well maintained along the way,
but you'll probably find that oil changes and an occasional wash
and wax are all it asks. It starts easily and idles with a familiar
diesel clatter, and while the horsepower and torque figures are
modest, this car will cruise all day at 75 MPH with the engine just
purring away up front. You can also thank the 4-speed manual
transmission and tall 2.88 rear gears, which certainly help in the
economy department, and the suspension and brakes make it feel
lively yet comfortable on the road. Like I said, there aren't many
better road trip vehicles. Standard steel wheels with color-matched
hubcaps look great and carry relatively recent 195/70/14 whitewall
radials.
A Mercedes is always a Mercedes, but when it's so affordable and
will pay you back with astounding fuel economy and reliability, you
can count it as a double win. Call today!