With a recent paint job and a clean MB-Tex interior, today’s Nice Price or No Dice 300TD looks ready for duty. We’ll still have to decide what such duty might be worth.
I was kind of surprised at how yesterday’s 2008 Mitsubishi EVO X fared. At $19,999, its price seemed fairly par for the course for the model and spec. So, too, however, did the subtle engine mods the car maintained. It seems that no one can leave well enough alone when it comes to old EVOs. Such mods get an automatic ding from most of you, and, hence, the car did likewise, earning a 70 percent No Dice loss.
One of the more popular genres in books, film, and TV is life following the apocalypse. The details vary, but typically, it’s some wasteland rife with tumorous monsters that want to eat you, poisonous skies, or the threat of yet another unchecked pandemic. It’s all very speculative as no one is really able to Nostradamus the end of our existence with pinpoint accuracy.
What we all do know is that when that inevitable end arrives, the assured survivors of the end times will be cockroaches, Keith Richards, and stout Mercedes-Benz W123 diesels like this 1985 300TD wagon.
Few cars have earned the stellar reputation that the W123, especially in OM617 diesel form, has garnered. This wagon’s 295,000-mile history and its current survivor condition prove that the rep is not a fluke.
A lot of that renown comes from the 2998cc straight five-cylinder diesel under the hood. That’s long been considered one of the best and most durable engines ever made, competing with Redwood trees and Greenland Sharks for their longevity. With the Garrett turbo, the oil burner makes 123 horsepower and 181 lb-ft of torque, giving the Benz reasonable, if not scintillating, performance.
Other features include disc brakes all around and a standard four-speed automatic that feeds the independently-sprung rear wheels. On the wagons, the rear end features a hydraulically actuated self-leveling system. These can prove a sore spot on the models, but it is claimed to be fully functioning on this car.
In fact, everything appears to be doing its thing on this Benz. The sunroof is said to crank without fail, and all the windows go up and down as they should. A recent valve adjustment and fluid change ensures the engine keeps ticking along, too. There’s no word on whether the A/C has been converted to something modern or if it’s still evil R12, but as long as it works, that shouldn’t be an issue.
Aesthetically, it’s all pretty solid, as well. According to the ad, the car had a respray in its original black a couple of years back. It’s hard to tell from the pictures how good a job it was, but there isn’t obvious overspray evident. Inside, there’s Palomino MB-Tex upholstery that’s holding up just as spectacularly as one would expect, along with Zebrano wood trim. The upholstery does show some failing stitching on both the front and rear seats, but the material itself seems completely intact.
Other issues include some noticeable puckering on the door coverings and a loose window switch on one of the back doors. The car could also be dinged for the absence of the desirable third row of seats and the presence of an aftermarket stereo, but that’s just picking at nits. On the plus side, the car comes across in the ad as tidy, and the seller says it has a clean title and current registration. The asking price is $8,700.
The 300TD has been the band leader in the W123’s march up the value tree. This one looks to be a solid contender and, despite the amazing miles, a car with plenty of life left in it. Could it reasonably be worth that $8,700 asking?
What’s your take on this wagon and that asking? Does that feel fair, given the car’s presentation? Or does that price feel like yet another post-apocalyptic nightmare?
You decide!
Los Angeles, California, Craigslist, or go here if the ad disappears.
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