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I just wrote this on the RWD section. See what you think:
"My wife and I got a chance to drive both the '92 240DL and '93 940 Turbo, this afternoon.
240 is asking $4500. 143k miles.
940 Turbo is asking $3000. 160k miles.
Both have been sitting on the street through the winter months, just being moved for alternate side parking by my mechanic, who's friends with both the owners (and me, as well). Trust factor's good.
I think we're going to pass on the 240. My wife loves the familiarity (she's really in love with 240s), but I noticed a "thunk" when we were at a light. Checked the tranny fluid and the stick was bone dry. Doesn't matter how long it's been sitting, ime....that tells me there's a leak somewhere. A/C wasn't working. It's supposed to be a totally new one, from an independent. I wouldn't know. It just wasn't working. The front bumper and all the trim were being held onto the frame with screws. Grill was cracked. Hood latch doesn't spring back after it's been popped. Gotta push it forward to close the hood. Power steering fluid was green.
It started really funky, too. Both when I turned it over to first check it out and after checking the fluids. Significant shaking of the body. Started fine the third time I turned it over, both times.
Mechanic said it needs a catalytic converter. He knows that for sure.
Bottom line: why spend $4500 on a '92 240 which will need work when we can spend that money or less to get ours going again?
I really liked the 940 Turbo. I like the ride better than the 240. Handles really well, too. A/Cs working ok...but mainly when the car's in motion (I remember that from the 240 when the A/C worked). Mechanic said he hasn't checked it out at all, but it probably needs a fluid change, regardless.The interior's in very good (not excellent) shape. Paint's scratched here and there on the exterior, but I didn't see any rust and there's no way they painted over any of it. Stereo's antenna is in the rear side window (never seen that before). Sunroof's working well. The passenger side front door's cargo tray (don't know what it's called) is cracked. Needs replacement or duct tape.
Our main concern is that the car vibrated when it was in idle, at stop lights. Not horrible, but noticeably. Rachel's concerned that's about the turbo, but we used to have a 740 Turbo Intercooler and it was dead quiet and motionless in idle. If that's endemic to the car, then it's a no go.
As I said: my mechanic's selling both cars for his friends. I am a friend, too. Not close, but we're good. Known him for 30 years and we get along well. I trust him. He said he'd check whichever car we're interested in over with a fine tooth comb for nothing as long as he knows we're interested enough to buy it if there's nothing major wrong. He's selling as a favor. Not a used car dealer.
I had some interesting conversations with both him and the mechanics there. The mechanics like both cars, but when I told them that Rachel's a gardener who hauls stuff all over the city with whatever car we're getting, they strongly advised an older car (regardless of maker). Besides the obvious heartbreak of dings on a nice, new looking car, that constant city use will bring; they also said that the older cars, minus the computer system and extras, can take more abuse before requiring repairs than the newer counterparts. And that they're less expensive to repair.
The owner (head mechanic/friend), when I asked his opinion of the two cars, said that the 240DL is a true sentimental favorite of his, but that, as a total package, he'd prefer the 940 Turbo. Said that's just his personal...but I can take it as just that.
And that's what just went down. The 240DL's out of the picture. We might look for a place to put ours on cinderblocks or possibly just bite the bullet and really renovate it (new A/C included). My personal inclination is to go with the 940 Turbo, at this point."
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