If you're handy a beater could potentially evolve into a nice car. I was
originally intending to do that on Hammie my '83 240D until I got into the
differential debacle on my 190D and I had to put it into fulltime service much
sooner than I'd intended. With it in full time service I never had time for the
paint work which would have pushed me to work on the oil leaks etc to go from
beater to decent driver status.
That said there is something very freeing about driving an absolute beater
where nothing bothers you and you don't mind at all loaning the car out to
anybody. I also never bothered to lock the car unless my laptop was in it...
-Curt
Date: Tue, 24 Aug 2010 17:45:23 -0500
From: Fmiser <fmi...@gmail.com>
To: Mercedes Discussion List <mercedes@okiebenz.com>
Subject: Re: [MBZ] Am I goofy?
Message-ID: <20100824174523.c27d5758.fmi...@gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII
> R A Bennell wrote:
> Going to look at a cheap 1981 300SD.
> Can likely buy for $1K or less.
> I know there is nothing worse than a cheap MB (or boat for
> that matter).
> I can likely live with faded paint and the cloth interior if
> it runs well.
That's a beater price.
If your goal is to have a nice car, run away!!!
But if all you need/want is a beater...
I define a beater as a car that is in dependable mechanical
condition, but anything not essential may not work. Like power
windows, power locks, air conditioner, glow plug timer, fog
lights, rear window defogger, etc. Also, appearance is very
much secondary to function. Thus there's no intent to repair
faded paint, dented hood, torn seat covers, paint scratches,
ugly wheels, miss-matcher color on interior parts, etc.
So you spend $3000 on the car, a new transmission, and assorted
other needs (front end parts, ignition lock, filters, belts,
hoses, etc). You might get a much nicer car for $5000 - but it
too may need a transmission soon. Or you would feel obligated
to keep it washed and waxed. Or repair the paint scratch. Or
paint the sun visor mount bracket to match the interior color.
But it's a silly waste of time and money to buy a beater and try
to make a nice car from it. Buy nice if you need/want nice.
Buy a beater only if you don't mind it being a beater.
-- Philip, and his philosophy on car purchases
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