First time Merc buyer - advice welcome!

[agence]

Hello,
I've just joined this forum as it looked like the best place to seek out some impartial advice and hopefully prevent myself from tripping at any obvious stumbling blocks.

I'm 21 and a student and my plan [verging on a bit of a dream] is to buy a Mercedes this summer, beginning of May. I'm in London at the moment but want to drive it down to Cornwall, where I'm from, with all my stuff and then hopefully back up to London and across to France to take my girlfriend home to Paris. So I need something that can do that!
I don't know if I'm living in lala land, but I though that Mercedes are at least pretty reliable over long distances.

What I've been looking around for so far is LPG conversions, to make travelling in it affordable! I don't know if there are any things to be wary about as far as this goes - any advice is much appreciated.

As far as price and age goes, the budget is limited, ideally around £1000 but maybe some more. I much prefer the look of the early 1980s models and before to the later ones. I've seen a couple of LPG conversions around at about the right price.
Insurance...yep that's a potential problem too I suppose.

Basically, I'm just hoping to glean some extra info from some people in the know here to whom I will be eternally thankful!
All the best, Alex

 

[SLinKyjoe]

ideally around £1000 .

<KOF>

Hmmmmmm...well, best bet is to take a look at autotrader and post up what you find, then someone will be able to offer advice perhaps on that car you see.

the insurance shouldn't make it too much of a problem as mercs are not as dear as you may be thinking. but your age may not help. but obviously insure it in Cornwall, and drive it to london. not the other way around!

 

[agence]

Hi Slinkyjoe;
Thanks for the reply - I don't think £1000-2000 is impossible...at least I hope not.
Yep - well I've done a search up to £3k on autotrader which only turned up 2 results for LPG
http://atsearch.autotrader.co.uk/WW...category=CARS&channel=CARS&id=200607225452561
and
http://atsearch.autotrader.co.uk/WW...category=CARS&channel=CARS&id=200607225539810

 

[Blobcat]

You might find an old diesel taxi (250) which would suit and you could then take it thru the channel tunnel.

 

[agence]

blobcat: lol - funny you should say that! I used to own a taxi - fancied a change! But it could happen...

Problem with them is fuel as well, my old one was terrible on consumption

 

[Blobcat]

Just found 4 250 diesels from £595 - £2,000 and a nice looking 1995 one for £2,495 all on auto-trader

 

[SLinKyjoe]

that one

http://atsearch.autotrader.co.uk/WW...category=CARS&channel=CARS&id=200607225452561

 

[Blobcat]

Also found 8 SLR MCLAREN Mercedes for sale on Auto Trader. Fuel economy may be an issue however

 

[agence]

Oh I see! I thought you were referring to a London Taxi cab! :Oops:

Showing up my lack of Mercedes knowledge...

I kinda wanted something a bit more classic than those 250s - early 1980s or before.
Those two I posted above are ideal, but I don't know about the possible downfalls of them.

 

[jberks]

I have to say that as a student with £1k to spend any merc is going to be a big gamble. They were very expensive motors in their day and whilst some parts can be sourced cheaply, IMO they are not the kind of thing to run on a very tight budget. You may be able to buy one, but can you really afford to run it? Fuel economy, even on a diesel or lpg will be pretty awful compared to anything more modern. I tried to run a 1980 250 once (as a student). It was worth £4k and that was back in the mid 80's Gave up after a week and got an escort instead. It would have bankrupted me. You picture yourself cruising along in a classic merc. Now picture yourself at the side of the road discussing with a breakdown mechanic the fact that you need a £500 repair.
Just think carefully.

 

[agence]

Just to follow up on this one - found a early 80s 200 123 series manual gearbox with LPG conversion for well under £1k - lots of miles, but the body is very good, interior shabby but that doesn't matter too much.
I've read a few of the other discussions and will bear them in mind, but just wondered if any of you experts have any particular worries to look out for on this model and age?
Thanks again for all your help

 

[E101]

You could look at a cheap 190E with good history as parts for these cars a cheap throughout Europe (if you break down).