I'm a fan of insane value, unrelenting comfort, and laser-focused build quality. That's why I drive a Mercedes-Benz. Last week I asked you to find the best cars by the German brand, under a $15,000 budget, and the replies I got were nothing short of fantastisch.
10. 1988 560 SEC
There's nothing that screams "class" like a pillar-less coupe with a V8 in front, drive wheels in the back, and build quality designed to outlive mankind's next three evolutionary steps. This one is so darn dependable that it comes with a 5-year warranty, which is unheard-of in a car that's nearly 30 year old.
(Suggested by DougHarlow)
9. 2004 E500 Wagon
Having a family doesn't mean that you need to pack up your dignity, buy a Caravan, and patiently wait until some unseen deity decides that it's time to call it a life. You can buy this pristine E500 wagon and have the luxury of a well looked-after german super-cruiser, while having no major mechanical issues and the power to overtake any mediocrity-mobile on the highway.
(Suggested by sampsonite24)
8. 1989 560SL
This beautiful top-spec German roadster was made at a time when Mercedes was more concerned about creating desirable icons than they were about penetrating market segments. That's why the iconic shape of this decades-old example will never go out of style. It's in great shape and for this price, you'd be hard-pressed to find a better and cleaner-running example anywhere.
(Suggested by NeilR)
7. 2005 CLK55 AMG
Here it is: a factory Mercedes-Benz hot rod. It's what happens when the company takes their 5.5 liter naturally aspirated V8 and puts it into their smallest available chassis. The result is nothing short of spectacular, with more power and torque on tap than the BMW M3 of the time. It's quite the find.
(Suggested by NotSoSlowAsThat)
6. 1976 Mercedes L206 DG Camper Van
Do you want to drive across the country with furniture in tow, but need everyone around you to know about your eclectic taste in fine German automobiles? Well, fret no more, as this is your chance to own this delightful blue short bus, complete with manual transmission and rear dining room.
(Suggested by alecmets2011)
5. W140 S-Class
This car is so ridiculously overengineered that it's still used by foreign heads of state to this day. It had dead reliable mechanicals, and just enough upscale gadgets to keep you entertained enough not to fall asleep from the supple ride. Arnold Schwarzenegger used to own one, and if it's good enough for him, it's good enough for you.
(Suggested by Shiftless)
4. 1962 404S UNIMOG
Have you ever played with Army men as a child? This is sort of like that, except with a lot more diesel fuel and property damage risk. This example has 2 doors, so it's a coupe. It also has 4-wheel drive and a manual transmission. It's practically a rally car. For this price, it has to be the best value here, if only for the weight of metal alone.
(Suggested by alecmets2011, TheCanadianCanuck)
3. 1985 190E-16
In the 80s, Mercedes-Benz and BMW had an all-out war between their equally high-strung saloons. MB's offering was known as the 190E 2.3-16, sporting a decent amount of power from its adequate 4-cylinder engine. This models is becoming more rare by the day, and it's only a matter of time before it skyrockets in value like its rival, the BMW E30 M3. This fixer-upper is so damn cheap I almost bought it myself. It's busted Honda Civic money for a rare German sports saloon. Can you really get any better than that?
(Suggested by alecmets2011)
2. 1977 450SEL 6.9
This car is such a good value that I fear the price may actually be a typo. It should be going for more than twice the asking price. Why? I'll let sm70- why not Duesenberg? explain:
This 1977 W116 450SEL 6.9 is everything a Mercedes should be. Big, safe, fast, high tech, luxurious, understated, cooler than hell, and black. You can't not look awesome . My god this car is perfect. Oh, and it's a European grey-market car, so no awful 5mph bumpers. And it has 32k original miles. This is my idea of heaven.
This car isn't on eBay, but here's an almost identical one that is.
(Suggested by sm70- why not Duesenberg?)
1. W220 S-Class
There aren't enough good things to say about this car. It's the ultimate bargain, in nearly every conceivable meaning of the phrase. I currently daily drive a modified S500, and have owned two others in the last two years. Whether it's the bone stock S430 to the formidable S600 (both naturally aspirated and bi-turbo), to the performance-oriented S55 AMG, there aren't any "bad" W220s. Sure, they can have expensive repairs, but these cars had original prices rivaling the asking price of 3-bedroom houses. The fact that you can buy them for 5-10 percent of their original price, with all mechanicals and electronics intact is nothing short of an automotive miracle. I love this car, and it looks like the rest of you share my sentiment.
Check out how seriously cheap they are right this second!
(Suggested by AMG OMG, Land_Yacht_225, BigNSlow, Mattypeeperz, DerW220, bobrayner)
For more awesome eBay challenges, check these out:
Tavarish is the founder of APiDA Online and writes about buying and selling cool cars on the internet. He owns the world's cheapest Mercedes S-Class, a graffiti-bombed Lexus, and he's the only Jalopnik author that has never driven a Miata. He also has a real name that he didn't feel was journalist-y enough so he used a pen name and this was the best he could do.